Hong Kong signed on March 25 an agreement with the United States of America (US) for exchange of information (EoI) relating to taxes. Please click here for the details.

Hong Kong and Vietnam signed second protocol to comprehensive agreement on avoidance of double taxation on 13 January 2014. Please click here for the details.

The Agreement between the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the State of Qatar for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income ("the Agreement") was formally signed on 13 May 2013.

According to Article 27 of the Agreement, the Agreement shall, upon the written notifications by both Sides of the completion of their respective required domestic procedures, enter into force on the date of the later of these notifications.

For the purpose of giving effect to the Agreement, an Order was made by the Chief Executive in Council on 24 September 2013, under section 49(1A) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. The Order was published in the Gazette as Legal Notice 150 of 2013. The Order was laid before the Legislative Council for negative vetting on 9 October 2013. The vetting period expired on 6 November 2013 and no resolution was made by the Legislative Council to amend the whole or any part of the Order. Thereafter, the Order came into operation on 29 November 2013. Qatar sent Hong Kong a notification dated 11 October 2013 confirming the completion of their requisite domestic procedures. Hong Kong sent a notification of the completion of the domestic procedures to Qatar on 5 December 2013. The Agreement has therefore become effective on 5 December 2013 and shall have effect in Hong Kong, according to paragraph 2 of Article 27 of the Agreement, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 April 2014.

The Agreement between the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Canada for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income ("the Agreement") was formally signed on 11 November 2012.

According to Article 27 of the Agreement, the Agreement shall, upon the written notifications by both Sides of the completion of their respective required domestic procedures, enter into force on the date of the later of these notifications.

For the purpose of giving effect to the Agreement, an Order was made by the Chief Executive in Council on 23 April 2013, under section 49(1A) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. The Order was published in the Gazette as Legal Notice 67 of 2013. The Order was laid before the Legislative Council for negative vetting on 8 May 2013. The vetting period expired on 5 June 2013 and no resolution was made by the Legislative Council to amend the whole or any part of the Order. Thereafter, the Order came into operation on 28 June 2013. On 3 July 2013, Hong Kong sent a notification of the completion of the domestic procedures to Canada. Hong Kong also received a notification dated 29 October 2013 from Canada confirming the completion of the requisite domestic procedures. The Agreement has therefore become effective on 29 October 2013 and shall have effect in Hong Kong, according to paragraph 2 of Article 27 of the Agreement, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 April 2014.

Second Protocol Modifying the Protocol to the Agreement between the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Austria for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital ("the Second Protocol") was formally signed on 25 June 2012.

According to Article 2 of the Second Protocol, the Second Protocol shall, upon the written notifications by both Sides of the completion of their respective required domestic procedures, enter into force on the date of the later of these notifications.

For the purpose of giving effect to the Second Protocol, an Order was made by the Chief Executive in Council on 23 April 2013, under section 49(1A) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. The Order was published in the Gazette as Legal Notice 66 of 2013. The Order was laid before the Legislative Council for negative vetting on 8 May 2013. The vetting period expired on 5 June 2013 and no resolution was made by the Legislative Council to amend the whole or any part of the Order. Thereafter, the Order came into operation on 28 June 2013. Austria sent Hong Kong a notification dated 26 February 2013 confirming the completion of their requisite domestic procedures. Hong Kong sent a notification of the completion of the domestic procedures to Austria on 3 July 2013. The Second Protocol therefore came into force on 3 July 2013 and has immediate effect.

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The Agreement between the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the State of Kuwait  for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income ("the Agreement") was formally signed on 13 May 2010.

According to Article 27 of the Agreement, the Agreement shall, upon the written notifications by both Sides of the completion of their respective required domestic procedures, enter into force on the date of the later of these notifications.

For the purpose of giving effect to the Agreement, an Order was made by the Chief Executive in Council on 17 April 2012, under section 49(1A) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. The Order was published in the Gazette as Legal Notice 96 of 2012. The Order was laid before the Legislative Council for negative vetting on 23 May 2012. The vetting period expired on 20 June 2012 and no resolution was made by the Legislative Council to amend the whole or any part of the Order. Thereafter, the Order came into operation on 13 July 2012. Both sides have already exchanged notifications confirming the completion of the requisite domestic procedures. The date of the later of these notifications was 24 July 2013. The Agreement has therefore become effective on 24 July 2013 and shall have effect in Hong Kong, according to paragraph 2 of Article 27 of the Agreement, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 April 2014.

The Agreement between the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Jersey for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income ("the Agreement") was formally signed in February 2012.

According to Article 27 of the Agreement, the Agreement shall, upon the written notifications by both Sides of the completion of their respective required domestic procedures, enter into force on the date of the later of these notifications.

For the purpose of giving effect to the Agreement, an Order was made by the Chief Executive in Council on 23 April 2013, under section 49(1A) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. The Order was published in the Gazette as Legal Notice 68 of 2013. The Order was laid before the Legislative Council for negative vetting on 8 May 2013. The vetting period expired on 5 June 2013 and no resolution was made by the Legislative Council to amend the whole or any part of the Order. Thereafter, the Order came into operation on 28 June 2013. Jersey sent Hong Kong a notification dated 31 May 2012 confirming the completion of their requisite domestic procedures. Hong Kong sent a notification of the completion of the domestic procedures to Jersey on 3 July 2013. The Agreement has therefore become effective on 3 July 2013 and shall have effect in Hong Kong, according to paragraph 2 of Article 27 of the Agreement, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 April 2014.

Hong Kong signed on May 13 an agreement with Qatar for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. Please click here for the details.

The Agreement between the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and the Government of Malaysia for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income ("the Agreement") was formally signed on 25 April 2012.

According to Article 28 of the Agreement, the Agreement shall, upon the written notifications by both Sides of the completion of their respective required domestic procedures, enter into force on the date of the later of these notifications.

For the purpose of giving effect to the Agreement, an Order was made by the Chief Executive in Council on 9 October 2012, under section 49(1A) of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. The Order was published in the Gazette as Legal Notice 159 of 2012. The Order was laid before the Legislative Council for negative vetting on 24 October 2012. The vetting period expired on 21 November 2012 and no resolution was made by the Legislative Council to amend the whole or any part of the Order. Thereafter, the Order came into operation on 14 December 2012. Hong Kong sent a notification of the completion of the domestic procedures to Malaysia on 18 December 2012. Malaysia sent Hong Kong a notification dated 28 December 2012 confirming the completion of their requisite domestic procedures and formally acknowledged receipt of Hong Kong’s written notification on 30 April 2013. The Agreement has therefore become effective on 28 December 2012 and shall have effect in Hong Kong, according to paragraph 2 of Article 28 of the Agreement, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 April 2013.

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Hong Kong signed on April 22 an agreement with Guernsey for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income. Please click here for the details.

Please click here for the details.