PRESS RELEASE

(Source : Information Services Department)

Latest arrangements for Inland Revenue Department's public services
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     In view of the extension of the special work arrangements for government departments to August 2, the Inland Revenue Department announced today (July 24) that from July 27 it will continue to suspend the provision of all of its public services, except for the following:

* For service users who have made online appointments for counter services before 9am on a day, please go to the Business Registration Office at 9am or 10am on the day. For those who have made online appointments for counter services after 4pm on a day, please go to the Business Registration Office at 2pm on the day.

     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 July 20 and August 2 will be automatically extended to August 3.

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