Tax Smart Tips

2025-26 Budget Proposals

(Note: Legislative amendments are required for implementing the proposed tax measures)

• In his 2025-26 Budget, the Financial Secretary proposed a one-off reduction of profits tax, salaries tax and tax under personal assessment for the year of assessment 2024/25 by 100%, subject to a ceiling of $1,500 per case.
• The proposed tax reduction for the year of assessment 2024/25 is not applicable to property tax. Individuals earning rental income, if eligible, may elect for personal assessment in Part 7 of the tax return for the year of assessment 2024/25 to enjoy the tax reduction.
• For profits tax, the tax reduction ceiling is applied to each business. For salaries tax, the ceiling is applied to each individual taxpayer, but for couples jointly assessed, the ceiling is applied to each couple. For personal assessment, the ceiling is applied to each single taxpayer or married person who elects for personal assessment separately from his/her spouse. If married couples make their personal assessment election jointly, the ceiling will apply to each couple.
• A taxpayer who is separately chargeable to salaries tax and profits tax can enjoy the tax reduction under each of the tax types. If he/she elects personal assessment, the reduction will have to be based on the tax payable under personal assessment.
• Taxpayers should complete the 2024/25 tax returns as usual. Upon enactment of the relevant legislation, IRD will effect the tax reduction in the final assessment for the year of assessment 2024/25.

Other Useful Tips

• Inform IRD promptly if your correspondence address has changed.
• Check your copy of “Employer’s Return of Remuneration and Pension” (IR56B/F/G) carefully. In case of doubt, clarify with your employer immediately and inform IRD, if necessary.
• Deduction claims under salaries tax (i.e. outgoing and expenses, self-education expenses, approved charitable donations and contributions to the MPF or ORSO Scheme) can be made in relevant parts of Part 4.3 of the tax return.
• Deduction claims for interest payments to produce rental income from properties can be made in relevant parts of Part 8 of the tax return.
• Deduction claims for home loan interest and domestic rents, and election for using the home loan interest / domestic rents additional deduction ceiling amount can also be made in relevant parts of Part 8 of the tax return.
• Deduction claims for qualifying premiums paid under Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme Policy can be made in Part 9 of the tax return.
• Deduction claims for expenses on assisted reproductive services can be made in Part 10 of the tax return.
• Deduction claims for qualifying annuity premiums and tax deductible MPF voluntary contributions can be made in Part 11 of the tax return.
• When filing your tax return, do not attach supporting documents for deductions claimed. However, such documents should be retained for 7 years for examination when called for.
• When sending your completed tax return to IRD by post, affix sufficient stamp according to the appropriate category of postage so as to ensure delivery in order.
• To rectify any error or omission in your tax return discovered after submission, inform IRD in the soonest. State your name, phone number, file number, the relevant year of assessment and details of your amendments, and sign your rectification notice. eTAX users can also file their rectification notices through "Contact Us" in their eTAX accounts.