PRESS RELEASE

Latest arrangement of Inland Revenue Department public services
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     In view of the extension of the special work arrangements for government departments to February 23, the Inland Revenue Department announced today (February 14) that from February 17 it will continue to suspend the provision of all of its services, except the following:

(1) Business Registration Office;
(2) Stamp Office; and
(3) Central Enquiry Counter, only for enquiries relating to tax clearance for taxpayers leaving Hong Kong.

     The above three offices will provide services from 9am to noon, Monday to Friday.

     The department appeals to members of the public for their understanding that the above services will only be provided at a much reduced scale and that services in all other areas will not be provided at the service counters. They should also be prepared to experience a longer waiting time before they can be served. The department encourages the public to use its electronic services to handle their tax affairs as much as possible. A list of such services can be found in the department's website at www.ird.gov.hk/eng/ese/index.htm.

     The department further announced that deadlines for tax payments, lodgement of objections and holdover applications, and submission of tax returns and information that fall between January 29 and February 23 will be automatically extended to February 24.

     The department will review the situation and make further announcements as necessary.

Ends/Friday, February 14, 2020
Issued at HKT 11:00

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