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Completion of Profits Tax Returns, Supplementary Forms and Other Forms
| Please take note of the following profits tax return filing requirements: | |||
| (1) | ALL supporting documents (including financial statements and tax computations) must be submitted together with the profits tax returns if corporations and businesses have gross income during the basis period | ||
| (2) | ALL required supplementary forms and other forms, if appropriate, must be filed electronically | ||
Note: Blank tax return forms are not available for download from the Web site for completion. If you want to obtain a duplicate Tax Return, please click here. The specimen return forms, Notes and Instructions and Pro forma computation that can be downloaded from this web page are saved in PDF format and can be viewed and printed by using the Adobe (R) Acrobat (R) Reader software.
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There are three series of Profits Tax return forms. The specimen return forms available for download hereunder are for reference only. No attempt should be made to use a printed copy of the specimen form for filing purpose.
- Profits Tax Return - Corporations (BIR51)
- Profits Tax Return - Persons Other Than Corporations (BIR52)
- Profits Tax Return - In Respect Of Non-Resident Persons (BIR54)
Supplementary Forms (S1 to S18 and S20) and Other Forms (IR1478, IR1481 and IR1482)
A supplementary form is part of the Profits Tax Return. You must fill in the supplementary forms, if applicable, to report information on preferential regimes and tax incentives. Other forms (IR1478, IR1481 and IR1482) are also provided this year to report the required information in respect of taxation on specified foreign-sourced income and onshore gain on disposal of equity interests as well as tax concessions for intellectual property income respecitvely. You are required to download the supplementary forms and other forms, as the case may be, and fill in the forms electronically.
All required supplementary forms and other forms must be submitted electronically through the eTAX irrespective of the filing mode of Profits Tax return for any year of assessment from 2018/19 to 2024/25 (both inclusive). In case your Profits Tax return and supporting documents will be submitted in paper form, please print and sign the Control List for Supplementary Form and Other Form (IR1477) and submit the Control List together with the Profits Tax return. The Control List must be signed by the same person signing the tax return. If the tax return will be submitted under the electronic filing or semi-electronic filing mode, please proceed to the Completion Service and the Submission Service. These services will link up to the uploaded data files with the Profits Tax return under the same Profits Tax File Number and Return Identification Number. Please refer to “Uploading of Data Files for Required Forms and Supporting Documents to Profits Tax Return” for further details.
Since built-in PDF viewers of some browsers (e.g. Google Chrome) may not be able to perform the validation check embedded in the fillable PDF form properly, please download the fillable PDF form to local drive, open and complete the form using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Below are the supplementary forms to Profits Tax returns and other forms for download:
For year of assessment 2018/19 onwards
For year of assessment 2020/21 onwards
For year of assessment 2022/23 onwards
For year of assessment 2023/24 onwards
| 21. | IR1481 - Onshore gain on disposal of equity interests – Tax certainty enhancement scheme |
| 22. | IR1482 - Tax concessions for intellectual property income |
Advice on Completion of Profits Tax Returns, Supplementary Forms (S1 to S18 and S20) and Other Forms (IR1478, IR1481 and IR1482)
| (1) | Notes and Instructions: The relevant Notes and Instructions are provided as follows to assist taxpayers in completing the return, supplementary forms and other forms:- |
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| (a) | Form BIR51 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (b) | Form BIR52 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (c) | Form BIR54 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (d) | Supplementary Form S1 - Person electing for two-tiered profits tax rates | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (e) | Supplementary Form S2 - Transfer pricing | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (f) | Supplementary Form S3 - Expenditure on research & development | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (g) | Supplementary Form S4 - Expenditure on energy efficient building installation | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (h) | Supplementary Form S5 - Ship-owner | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (i) | Supplementary Form S6 - Professional reinsurer | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (j) | Supplementary Form S7 - Authorized captive insurer | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (k) | Supplementary Form S8 - Qualifying corporate treasury centre | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (l) | Supplementary Form S9 - Qualifying aircraft lessor | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (m) | Supplementary Form S10 - Qualifying aircraft leasing manager | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (n) | Supplementary Form S11 - Qualifying ship lessor | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (o) | Supplementary Form S12 - Qualifying ship leasing manager | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (p) | Supplementary Form S13 - Specified insurer | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (q) | Supplementary Form S14 - Licensed insurance broker company | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (r) | Supplementary Form S15 - Persons deriving eligible carried interest | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (s) | Supplementary Form S16 - Qualifying ship agent | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (t) | Supplementary Form S17 - Qualifying ship manager | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (u) | Supplementary Form S18 - Qualifying ship broker | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (v) | Supplementary Form S20 - Tax concessions for family-owned investment holding vehicle (Formerly named as IR1479) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (w) | IR1478 - Taxation on specified foreign-sourced income | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (x) | IR1481 - Onshore Gain on Disposal of Equity Interests – Tax Certainty Enhancement Scheme | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (y) | IR1482 - Tax concessions for intellectual property income | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Details of the documents and information that should be submitted together with the return, supplementary forms and other forms are specified therein. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) | All items in the Profits Tax return must be completed fully and properly. Return should be filed on time, together with the following documents [collectively called "Supporting Documents" (You may refer to Format Specifications for Supporting Documents.)]: | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | For corporations, they are | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (i) | a certified copy of Statement of Financial Position/Balance Sheet, Auditor's Report where required by Hong Kong or foreign Law or has otherwise been prepared and Statement of Comprehensive Income/Profit and Loss Account in respect of the basis period; | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (ii) | a tax computation with supporting schedules showing how the amount of Assessable Profits (or Adjusted Loss) has been arrived at; and | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (iii) | other documents and information as specified in the Notes and Instructions. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (b) | For unincorporated businesses, they are | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (i) | a certified copy of Statement of Financial Position/Balance Sheet and Statement of Comprehensive Income/Profit and Loss Account in respect of the basis period; | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (ii) | a tax computation with supporting schedules showing how the amount of Assessable Profits (or Adjusted Loss) has been arrived at; and | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (iii) | other documents and information as specified in the Notes and Instructions. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (3) | If corporations and businesses have any gross income during the basis period, they are required to furnish their returns together with all the supporting documents except in those cases mentioned in paragraph (4) below. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (4) | For corporations, audited financial statements should be submitted with the returns in all cases except:- | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | dormant companies (within the terms of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622)); | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (b) | companies incorporated in a jurisdiction whose laws do not require financial statements to be audited and an auditor’s report has not been prepared; or | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (c) | Hong Kong branch of a foreign company provided that the following information is supplied together with the return:- | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (i) | the place of incorporation of the foreign company, | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (ii) | whether the laws of that country require a statutory audit of the world-wide financial statements of the company, | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (iii) | whether that audit has been conducted, and | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (iv) | a brief summary of the financial and accounting records maintained by the Hong Kong branch. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (5) | Pro forma Profits Tax Computation A "Pro forma Profits Tax Computation" (IR957), which is intended to assist the owner of an unincorporated business who has not appointed a tax representative to submit a tax computation showing how the amount of Assessable Profits/(Loss) has been arrived at can be obtained through the Fax-A-Form service (Telephone No. 2598 6001) or from the Central Enquiry Counter. |
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| (6) | Election for Personal Assessment If any partner of a partnership decides that his/her share of profits/(loss) be dealt with under Personal Assessment, he/she may state his/her intention in the Profits Tax return. However, election must be made in his/her own Tax Return - Individuals (BIR60). |
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| (7) | Hiring of a Practising Accountant to Complete the Return Form The Inland Revenue Department does not require a person to engage a practising accountant in completing the Return Form. If a person has any difficulty in completing it, he/she should first prepare the financial statements and tax computations, and should be able to explain how they have been constructed. He/she should also complete the return to the best of his/her ability. Taxpayers may also call upon the officers at the Central Enquiry Counter on G/F of Inland Revenue Centre who will explain what is required, or direct him/her to see the Assessor handling his/her file. No charges are made for any services rendered by officers of the Department. |
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| (8) | Engagement of Service Providers to Furnish Returns With effect from 1 April 2022, a taxpayer may engage a service provider to furnish Profits Tax return for or on behalf of the taxpayer, irrespective of the mode in which a return is furnished (that is, paper or electronic mode). In furnishing a tax return, the service provider must obtain a written confirmation, “Confirmation for Engagement of Service Provider to Furnish Return” (IR1476) , from the taxpayer stating that the information contained in the return is correct and complete to the best of the taxpayer’s knowledge and belief. The duly signed IR1476 should be filed together with the return. Despite the engagement of a service provider, a taxpayer is not relieved from his/her obligation of furnishing the tax return. There are provisions for penalties against service providers in relation to furnishing of returns. Frequently Asked Questions & Answers on Furnishing of Profits Tax Returns by Service Providers |
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| (9) | Different modes of return filing and the corresponding data formats of supplementary forms, other forms, and supporting documents are summarized in the table below:
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| 1 | A paper Control List generated by the eTAX is required to be printed for signature and submission together with the Profits Tax return in paper form. Please refer to “Uploading of Data Files for Required Forms and Supporting Documents to Profits Tax Return” for further details. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | It is not required to print the Control List under the semi-electronic or electronic filing mode as these modes do not involve submitting paper documents except the paper simplified return to be furnished under the semi-electronic filing mode. | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | A simplified Profits Tax return (BIR51(ie) (ic) / BIR52(ie) (ic)) generated by the eTAX is required to be printed for signature and submission in paper form. Please refer to “Submission of Profits Tax Return” for further details. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Electronic Filing of Profits Tax Return