Hong Kong Company FAQ: Incorporation, Compliance, Tax & Banking

Yes. Non-residents can register a Hong Kong private limited company 100% remotely. Under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), there is no residency or nationality requirement for directors or shareholders, and no need to visit Hong Kong. Identity verification (KYC), company details and supporting documents are submitted online. Captime, as a TCSP-licensed provider (Licence No. TC010212), handles the statutory filings with the Hong Kong Companies Registry on your behalf.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

With Captime, a Hong Kong company can be incorporated in as little as 24 hours after ID verification. The Companies Registry processes electronic incorporations quickly once complete documents are e-filed. The overall timeline depends mainly on how fast identity verification and document preparation are completed.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

You typically need a valid passport or government-issued photo ID, proof of residential address, your proposed company name, details of directors and shareholders, and a brief description of business activities. Additional documents may be requested to satisfy AML/KYC requirements or to support a later bank account application.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

Search your proposed name against Hong Kong Companies Registry records before you apply. Captime's free Hong Kong Company Name Check (公司名查冊) at https://www.captime.hk/hong-kong-company-name-check gives a preliminary result in seconds with no account needed. Under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) the English name must end with "Limited" in full (not "Ltd."), a Chinese name must use traditional characters and end with 「有限公司」, one name cannot mix English words with Chinese characters, and a name identical to an existing registered name or containing restricted words without prior consent will be rejected. The check is an indication only; the Registrar of Companies makes the final decision when the incorporation is filed.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

The incorporation includes the Certificate of Incorporation, Business Registration Certificate, Articles of Association, government filings (NNC1 and IRBR1) at cost, and an introduction to a remote-friendly neobank. Registered office and company secretary are available as add-ons.

Read more: Company Incorporation

Every Hong Kong company must have a local registered office address and a company secretary that is ordinarily resident in Hong Kong. Captime can provide both as add-ons, or you can use your own if you already have them.

Read more: Company Incorporation

Yes. A Hong Kong private limited company requires a minimum of one director and one shareholder, and these can be the same person. There is no requirement for a second director or a local nominee.

Read more: Incorporation Pricing

The Certificate of Incorporation (CI) is issued by the Companies Registry and confirms your company's legal existence. The Business Registration Certificate (BRC) is issued by the Inland Revenue Department and authorises your company to carry on business in Hong Kong. Both are obtained during incorporation and included in your base fee.

Read more: Incorporation Pricing

Yes. Our name checker is free to use with no obligation. Enter your proposed name and a valid email address, and we perform a preliminary search against Hong Kong Companies Registry records — you can test as many name ideas as you like before incorporating.

Read more: Company Name Check

Your search result is delivered to the email address you provide, so it must be valid. We use your email only to send your result and to follow up on your enquiry. We do not share your details with third parties.

Read more: Company Name Check

No. The check gives a preliminary indication of availability. The final decision rests with the Registrar of Companies when your incorporation application is reviewed. A clear preliminary result, combined with following the naming rules, greatly reduces the risk of rejection.

Read more: Company Name Check

No. The registered English name of a Hong Kong limited company must end with the word "Limited" in full — the abbreviation "Ltd." cannot be registered as part of the official name. A Chinese name must end with 「有限公司」.

Read more: Company Name Check

Words suggesting a connection with the HKSAR Government or with regulated activities — such as "Bank", "Trust", "Trustee", "Chamber of Commerce", "Department" or "Stock Exchange" — require prior consent from the Registrar or the relevant regulator before they can be used in a company name.

Read more: Company Name Check

Modify the distinctive part of the name — adding a descriptive word or changing the wording — and run the check again. A name only slightly different from an existing one may still attract a "too like" direction later, so aim for a clearly distinctive alternative.

Read more: Company Name Check

The Fit Checker itself takes about 2–3 minutes. If Hong Kong fits, Captime can register a Hong Kong limited company in as little as 24 hours after identity verification.

Read more: Company Fit Checker

No single customer-location test determines suitability. Your wider commercial footprint, suppliers, operations, banking needs and business purpose all matter.

Read more: Company Fit Checker

It can be, particularly where the business has cross-border customers, suppliers or payment flows.

Read more: Company Fit Checker

No. Operating location alone does not determine Hong Kong tax treatment. The actual facts and circumstances of how profits arise need to be considered.

Read more: Company Fit Checker

Additional licensing, regulatory or provider review may be required. The checker therefore routes those profiles to a specialist-review result.

Read more: Company Fit Checker

No. The checker only provides an initial business-fit assessment. Tax treatment depends on the actual facts and circumstances and should be reviewed separately.

Read more: Company Fit Checker

No. Bank onboarding and account approval are separate processes and depend on the bank’s own requirements and review.

Read more: Company Fit Checker

No. A plan to become a Hong Kong resident can support a longer-term personal connection with Hong Kong, but it does not replace a genuine commercial purpose for the company. This checker does not assess immigration, visa or residency eligibility.

Read more: Company Fit Checker

There is no universal answer. Hong Kong tends to suit businesses trading with mainland China and wider Asia under a common-law system with territorial taxation; Singapore suits other regional profiles; and a home-country entity is often simplest for domestic-only businesses. Compare jurisdictions on your actual customers, suppliers, banking and compliance obligations — not on headline tax rates alone.

Read more: Company Fit Checker

Yes. Under section 474 of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), every private limited company must appoint a company secretary — either an individual who ordinarily resides in Hong Kong or a Hong Kong body corporate. Under section 475, if the company has only one director, that person cannot also act as company secretary. Captime provides licensed company secretary services, including annual return (NAR1) filing, statutory registers and deadline monitoring.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

Yes. Under section 658 of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), every Hong Kong company must maintain a registered office address in Hong Kong (a physical address, not a P.O. box) to receive official correspondence from the Companies Registry and the Inland Revenue Department. Captime offers a registered office service with mail scanning and digital forwarding.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

Every year a Hong Kong private limited company must file an annual return (NAR1), renew its Business Registration Certificate, keep proper accounting records, prepare audited financial statements, file its profits tax return (PTR), and submit an employer's return if it has employees. Captime manages this full compliance calendar.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

A private company's annual return (NAR1) is due within 42 days of each anniversary of incorporation. Business registration is renewed annually (or every three years). A newly incorporated company usually receives its first profits tax return about 18 months after incorporation; later filing dates depend on the financial year-end. Captime tracks all of these deadlines for you.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

Under the Companies Ordinance, every Hong Kong company must appoint a company secretary who is an individual ordinarily resident in Hong Kong or a Hong Kong corporate body. The secretary maintains statutory records and ensures filings stay compliant.

Read more: Company Secretary

It covers statutory filings, maintaining registers, Annual Return (NAR1) preparation, AGM preparation, and Significant Controllers Register (SCR) compliance.

Read more: Company Secretary

We maintain your statutory registers, draft board resolutions and meeting minutes, file your Annual Return (NAR1), handle your Business Registration Certificate renewal, and keep your Significant Controllers Register up to date. We're also the named contact the Companies Registry writes to on your behalf.

Read more: Company Secretary Pricing

Absolutely — we do this all the time. We coordinate the handover with your previous firm, collect your statutory records, and file the change of Company Secretary with the Companies Registry. Most transitions complete within a week.

Read more: Company Secretary Pricing

Most Hong Kong private limited companies must prepare financial statements audited by a Hong Kong-registered CPA (Practising) each year under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622). There is no general small-company audit exemption (though dormant companies can be exempt under section 447). Captime coordinates bookkeeping, audit and tax filing as one workflow.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

No. Hong Kong imposes no VAT, GST or general sales tax. Companies pay profits tax under the two-tiered regime: 8.25% on the first HK$2 million of assessable profits and 16.5% above that.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

No. Hong Kong does not levy a capital gains tax. Whether a gain is treated as capital (not taxable) or trading income (taxable as profits) depends on the facts of each case. Professional advice is recommended for complex situations.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

Hong Kong taxes only profits sourced in Hong Kong. Income that is genuinely offshore-sourced may qualify for a 0% profits tax rate, subject to the Inland Revenue Department's rules and supporting documentation (see DIPN 21 — Locality of Profits). Captime prepares offshore claims and the supporting evidence the IRD expects.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

Every Hong Kong company must keep proper accounting records, prepare financial statements, have accounts audited by a certified public accountant, and file a profits tax return. Captime provides bookkeeping, financial statements, and profits tax filing support.

Read more: Accounting

Yes. Hong Kong companies must file an annual Profits Tax Return and have their accounts audited by a Hong Kong CPA even if there was no business activity (a dormant declaration is a separate, limited exception). Captime coordinates the audit and filing for you.

Read more: Accounting

The Inland Revenue Department issues the Profits Tax Return, typically around 18 months after incorporation for the first year, then annually. Filing deadlines depend on your financial year-end. Captime tracks the deadlines and prepares the filing so you avoid penalties.

Read more: Accounting

A financial audit is an independent review of a company’s financial statements to assess whether they present a true and fair view in line with recognized accounting principles. The auditor examines key records and supporting documents to verify accuracy and consistency, identify any material misstatements, and ensure the financial data reflects the company’s actual position.

Read more: Audit

All limited companies in Hong Kong must have their financial statements reviewed by an independent, certified public accountant (CPA Practising). This isn’t optional — it’s part of staying in good standing with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).

Read more: Audit

Key financial records typically include: income statement and balance sheet, trial balance and general ledger, bank statements, invoices (sales, purchases, expenses), contracts and agreements, corporate documents such as incorporation and secretary filings, and the prior year audit report if available. Captime guides you through what’s needed and when.

Read more: Audit

Audits aren’t just about ticking boxes — they build trust with investors, partners, and regulators. A clean audit signals that your business is well-run and ready for growth.

Read more: Audit

We take care of the essentials — sorting your receipts, tracking transactions, organizing financial records, and making sure everything’s ready when tax season rolls around. It’s not just about staying compliant; it’s about staying confident.

Read more: Bookkeeping

Because your time is better spent building your business. Outsourcing means fewer distractions, cleaner records, and expert eyes on your numbers — accuracy, insight, and peace of mind without the spreadsheet stress.

Read more: Bookkeeping

Yes. If you’re running a company in Hong Kong, you’re required to maintain proper accounting records under local law. These records need to be kept for several years and are essential for tax filing and audits.

Read more: Bookkeeping

Think of it as a financial trail: invoices, receipts, bank statements, payroll data, contracts, and anything tied to your business transactions. Captime helps you keep it all in order.

Read more: Bookkeeping

Hong Kong regulations require businesses to retain accounting records for at least seven years. It’s not just about compliance — it’s about being ready for whatever comes next.

Read more: Bookkeeping

Hong Kong applies a territorial source principle. The source analysis focuses on the operations that produced the relevant profits and where those operations took place, based on the facts of each case.

Read more: Offshore Profits Tax Checker

No. Hong Kong applies a territorial source principle: Profits Tax generally applies to profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong, rather than automatically taxing all profits of a Hong Kong company. Where profits are chargeable and the two-tiered regime applies, corporations are taxed at 8.25% on the first HK$2 million of assessable profits and 16.5% on the balance.

Read more: Offshore Profits Tax Checker

No. Using a Hong Kong bank account does not, by itself, determine the source of business profits. Under IRD's operations test, the focus is on the activities that actually produced the profits and where those activities occurred. Banking and payment arrangements may form part of the overall facts, but they do not replace the underlying source-of-profits analysis.

Read more: Offshore Profits Tax Checker

Trading profits are determined by examining the operations that produced the profits and where those operations took place. For trading in goods, the place where purchase and sale contracts are effected is important, including their negotiation, conclusion and execution. IRD guidance also requires the wider profit-producing operations and the particular facts of each case to be considered.

Read more: Offshore Profits Tax Checker

For service fee income, the source of profits generally depends on where the services that give rise to the fees are actually performed. IRD's DIPN 21 identifies the place where the relevant services are performed as the key source factor. If substantial profit-producing services take place both inside and outside Hong Kong, the facts may require an apportionment analysis.

Read more: Offshore Profits Tax Checker

Potentially. E-commerce businesses are assessed using the same broad profit-source principles, with attention to the actual sales, fulfilment, contractual and other profit-producing operations.

Read more: Offshore Profits Tax Checker

Relevant records can include contracts, correspondence, order and transaction records, invoices, travel records, service-delivery records and other documents showing where the relevant activities took place.

Read more: Offshore Profits Tax Checker

No. Offshore treatment is not automatic. A company reporting that profits are offshore must support the position with the relevant facts and evidence if requested by the Inland Revenue Department. The source analysis considers what the company did to earn the profits and where those profit-producing operations took place.

Read more: Offshore Profits Tax Checker

Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department guidance states that trading profits are generally regarded as wholly taxable or wholly non-taxable and that apportionment is not normally appropriate for trading profits.

Read more: Offshore Profits Tax Checker

The Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department (IRD) decides whether profits reported as offshore are accepted as offshore. Whether profits are treated as offshore depends on the specific facts and where the relevant profit-producing operations take place. This checker is only a preliminary self-assessment to help identify factors that may support or weaken an offshore-source reading; it is not tax advice, a tax ruling, or confirmation that profits reported as offshore will be accepted. The IRD may review the reporting and supporting evidence before deciding.

Read more: Offshore Profits Tax Checker

Yes. Captime supports clients through the business account opening process across both traditional banks (such as Hang Seng Bank, DBS, China Citic Bank International, or OCBC) and digital providers (such as Airwallex, Aspire, Rapyd, or Wise Business). We assist with document preparation, business profile reviews, KYC readiness, and application guidance. Captime-prepared applications that reach formal submission have achieved approval rates in the region of 85% (mix of traditional banks and digital providers). Final approval remains strictly at the discretion of the respective bank or institution and is never guaranteed. Our role is to match your business model with the right banking pathway, strengthening your application through a fully compliant, risk-assessed submission.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

No. Approval is strictly at the discretion of the respective bank or digital provider, based on your business activities, ownership structure, target markets, and KYC risk profile. No honest service provider can guarantee approval. Captime's role is to evaluate your profile, match you with suitable traditional banks or digital platforms, and maximize your readiness. Captime-prepared applications that reach formal submission have achieved approval rates in the region of 85%.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

Neither route is automatically better for every Hong Kong company. Online financial platforms can be particularly relevant to international payments, multiple currencies, foreign exchange, cards and digital money management. Traditional banks may be more relevant where trade finance, lending, relationship banking or branch-based services are important. Many companies usefully compare both routes against their actual operating and banking requirements rather than treating the choice as binary.

Read more: Business Banking Fit Checker

Corporate account opening generally requires information that allows the bank or platform to understand the company, its ownership, why the account is required and how it is expected to be used. This commonly includes company registration documents, ownership and director details, business activity description, expected transaction patterns, source of funds and supporting commercial evidence. Requirements vary by provider and risk profile.

Read more: Business Banking Fit Checker

Having non-resident directors or beneficial owners does not by itself determine whether a corporate account application should be accepted or rejected. Providers still need to identify and verify relevant individuals, understand the company's purpose and activity, and apply their own customer due-diligence and risk-assessment procedures. Non-resident ownership can increase documentation and verification requirements but is common for Hong Kong companies.

Read more: Business Banking Fit Checker

A well-prepared application should make it easy for the provider to understand what the company does, who owns and controls it, why the account is required and how money is expected to move through it. Prepare company and ownership documents, a clear business description, commercial evidence (contracts, invoices, website), and a realistic account-usage profile covering currencies, corridors and expected activity levels.

Read more: Business Banking Fit Checker

No. This checker compares the company's stated operational needs with broad characteristics commonly associated with traditional banking and online or fintech-led services. It does not rank or endorse individual institutions, determine whether a particular provider will accept the company, or replace that provider's onboarding assessment. A route-fit result indicates a route worth exploring or prioritising for comparison — not an approval prediction.

Read more: Business Banking Fit Checker

There is no general rule that every Hong Kong incorporated company must keep its business account with a Hong Kong bank. The practical question is whether the account setup supports the company's real operations: receiving customer payments, paying suppliers, holding the currencies it uses, making local or cross-border transfers and keeping business transactions clearly separated from personal funds.

Read more: Business Banking Fit Checker

Yes. A newly incorporated company can apply, but being incorporated does not by itself guarantee account opening. Because a new company may have little or no transaction history, the provider may rely more heavily on information explaining what the business will do and how the account will be used.

Read more: Business Banking Fit Checker

No—not necessarily. “Fintech” describes a technology-led delivery model, not one single legal type of account. A fintech platform may provide payment, multi-currency, foreign-exchange, card or collection services under a regulatory framework that differs from that of a licensed bank. Deposit protection, safeguarding arrangements, credit facilities and other features can differ materially.

Read more: Business Banking Fit Checker

Yes, subject to each provider’s eligibility and terms. Some companies use a traditional bank for core banking, local payments, financing or trade-related facilities while using a digital provider for multi-currency collections, foreign exchange, international transfers, cards or integrations.

Read more: Business Banking Fit Checker

Remote corporate onboarding is possible with some Hong Kong banks and other providers, but it is not a universal entitlement and the process varies. HKMA guidance permits remote onboarding frameworks while still requiring appropriate customer due diligence.

Read more: Business Banking Fit Checker

Registering a Hong Kong private limited company with Captime costs from HK$4,315 all-in. That total includes HK$3,895 of Hong Kong government fees (Companies Registry incorporation fee and Business Registration levy, passed through at cost) plus Captime's service fee. Optional annual services — registered office address and company secretary — are available separately. There are no hidden charges.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

No. Captime passes all government fees (Companies Registry, Business Registration, etc.) through to clients at cost with zero markup. Every fee is published upfront before you pay, so there are no surprises at incorporation or renewal.

Read more: About Captime

We'll move you up to ComSec Pro at the start of your next annual period. You're never charged retroactively for the change.

Read more: Company Secretary Pricing

ComSec Pro includes up to 4 change filings per year. ComSec Easy treats changes as add-ons, billed per filing. If you expect multiple changes in your first year, Pro is usually the better fit.

Read more: Company Secretary Pricing

No. Captime's annual fee covers our professional service. The Business Registration Certificate (around HK$2,150 per year, set by the government) and the NAR1 filing fee are charged at cost and invoiced separately.

Read more: Company Secretary Pricing

Captime's audit and tax plans are fixed annual fees that start from the published rates for each plan's base tier. The final quote depends on your annual turnover, the volume of accounting transactions, and the overall complexity of your audit, and is confirmed after a brief review of your books.

Read more: Audit & Tax Pricing

Yes. The prices shown are Captime's service fees, and the audit opinion is signed by a separately engaged Hong Kong-licensed CPA that Captime arranges and manages on your behalf. You deal only with Captime, and the auditor's fee is bundled into the plan price.

Read more: Audit & Tax Pricing

Government charges such as IRD late-filing surcharges and stamp duty on share transfers, along with any third-party out-of-pocket expenses, pass through at cost and are invoiced separately. There is no markup on these pass-through costs.

Read more: Audit & Tax Pricing

Pricing is based on your most recent audited turnover, or the first 12 months of trading for a new company. If your revenue sits close to a band line, Captime quotes both bands so you can compare before committing.

Read more: Audit & Tax Pricing

Captime's bookkeeping and payroll plans are fixed annual fees that start from the published rates for each plan's base tier. The final quote depends on your average monthly operating expenses, the volume of accounting entries, and the overall complexity of your books, and is confirmed after a brief review.

Read more: Bookkeeping & Payroll Pricing

No. Bookkeeping is a distinct service from audit. The annual audit, profits tax filing, and tax representation are engaged and billed separately under Captime's Audit & Tax plans.

Read more: Bookkeeping & Payroll Pricing

All plans are fixed annual fees that start from the rates shown. Exact pricing is confirmed after a brief review of your turnover and transaction volume, so you know the full figure before committing.

Read more: Bookkeeping & Payroll Pricing

Yes. You can transfer your company secretary, registered office, accounting, audit or tax services to Captime at any time. We review your current records, handle the statutory change filings and manage the handover with your outgoing provider — with no disruption to operations.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

Yes. Captime provides the complete post-incorporation stack: bookkeeping, payroll, statutory audit coordination, profits tax filing, offshore exemption claims and annual renewals — with deadline tracking in the Captime Client Portal. One licensed local team covers the full compliance lifecycle.

Read more: Homepage FAQ

Yes. Captime Corporate Management Limited holds Trust or Company Service Provider (TCSP) Licence No. TC010212, issued by the Hong Kong Companies Registry. It can be verified on the official TCSP public register.

Read more: About Captime

Captime was founded by Sunny Pong, a law-trained founder educated at the London School of Economics (BSc Economics), Tsinghua University (LL.M.) and City University of Hong Kong (JD), with years of legal and operational experience across Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. Day-to-day client work is handled by a local Hong Kong team.

Read more: About Captime

Yes. All client cases are handled by Captime's local Hong Kong team — professionals who live and work in the city, understand Hong Kong's regulatory environment, and communicate fluently in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. Client work stays with the local team rather than being outsourced offshore, a structure founder Sunny Pong maintains for oversight and accountability.

Read more: About Captime

Captime's office is in Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong (Rm E, 11/F, On Wah Industrial Building, 41-43 Au Pui Wan Street). All services are delivered 100% digitally, so clients worldwide can incorporate and stay compliant without visiting Hong Kong.

Read more: About Captime

No. Captime's entire process is 100% remote and digital. You can incorporate a Hong Kong company, appoint a company secretary, handle annual filings, bookkeeping, audit coordination and tax filing without ever travelling to Hong Kong. Identity verification, e-signatures and document delivery are all completed online.

Read more: About Captime

Company secretary services, annual renewal, bookkeeping, payroll, accounting, statutory audit coordination, profits tax filing, offshore profits tax exemption claims and business account opening support with digital and traditional banks — the full lifecycle of a Hong Kong company.

Read more: About Captime

Captime is fully digital — incorporation as fast as 24 hours after identity verification, versus weeks at traditional firms. Every fee is published upfront and government fees pass through at cost with zero markup, and every client works directly with a local Hong Kong specialist instead of a ticket queue.

Read more: About Captime

Entirely remotely. Document signing, share certificates, resolutions and filings are handled digitally. Calls are on Zoom. Most of our founders have never set foot in our Hong Kong office.

Read more: Company Secretary Pricing