Double Taxation Relief

Double taxation arises when two or more tax jurisdictions overlap, such that the same item of income or profit is subject to tax in each.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong) adopts the territoriality basis of taxation, whereby only income / profit sourced in Hong Kong is subject to tax and that derived from a source outside Hong Kong by a local resident is in most cases not taxed in Hong Kong. Therefore, Hong Kong residents generally do not suffer from double taxation. Many jurisdictions which tax their residents on a worldwide basis also provide their residents operating businesses in Hong Kong with unilateral tax credit relief for any Hong Kong tax paid on income / profit derived from Hong Kong.

Notwithstanding this, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSARG) recognises that there are merits in concluding Comprehensive Double Taxation Agreements / Arrangements (DTAs) with our trading partners. A DTA provides certainty to investors on the taxing rights of the contracting parties; helps investors to better assess their potential tax liabilities on economic activities; and provides an added incentive for overseas companies to do business in Hong Kong, and likewise, for Hong Kong companies to do business overseas. Therefore, it has been the policy of the HKSARG to establish a DTA network that would minimise exposure of Hong Kong residents and residents of the DTA partner to double taxation. Hong Kong has actively engaged the trading partners in negotiating DTAs (covering various types of income).

Due to the international nature of aircraft operations, airline operators are more susceptible to double taxation than other taxpayers. As negotiation of DTA may take longer time, it has been Hong Kong’s policy to include double taxation relief arrangements for airline income in the bilateral air services agreement negotiated between Hong Kong and the aviation partners.

Shipping income is another area of concern. Hong Kong has amended the legislation to provide a reciprocal tax exemption from 1 April 1998 for shipping income so that ship operators can benefit from the tax relief offered by places with similar reciprocal tax exemption legislation. In parallel, Hong Kong has entered into negotiations of double taxation relief arrangements for shipping income with other places that either do not provide reciprocal tax exemption in their legislation or, even reciprocal exemption provisions exist, prefer conclusion of a bilateral agreement.

There are also agreements that cover both airline and shipping income.

HKSARG welcomes your views on the general double taxation relief policy and on the choice of the negotiation partners. Representations should be addressed to:

Senior Assessor (Tax Treaty)
Tax Treaty Section
Inland Revenue Department
17/F, Inland Revenue Centre
5 Concorde Road, Kai Tak, Kowloon, Hong Kong

You can also email the Inland Revenue Department at taxtt@ird.gov.hk.

You may also raise issues relating to specific country / region with which negotiations have been scheduled. The representation should preferably reach the Inland Revenue Department at least 2 weeks before the scheduled negotiation date.

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