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News Archives (started from April 2019)

News Archives (started from April 2019)
Title Date
Government responds to media enquiries on Retail Sector Subsidy Scheme  31.03.2020
IRD's arrangements for issue of tax returns for 2019-20   30.03.2020
Circular Letter to Tax Representatives – Block Extension Scheme for Lodgement of 2019/20 Tax Returns  30.03.2020
Suspension of Service for Filing of Tax Return - Individuals through eTAX  30.03.2020
Latest arrangement for public services of Inland Revenue Department  28.03.2020
Business Registration Advance Notice – Suspension of Instant New Business Registration Service  27.03.2020
Country-by-Country Reporting - Notification Deadline  27.03.2020
DIPN 39 (Revised) on Profits Tax – Digital Economy, Electronic Commerce and Digital Assets  DIPN 39 (Revised) on Profits Tax – Digital Economy, Electronic Commerce and Digital Assets

The Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes No. 39 (Revised) has been updated to reflect the change in tax treatment of server permanent establishment in Hong Kong and to explain the tax principles that broadly apply to electronic commerce transactions and digital assets.

27.03.2020
Latest arrangements for public services of Inland Revenue Department  22.03.2020
Stamp Duty statistics (February 2020) 

Stamp Duty statistics (SSD / BSD / DSD) have been uploaded to the Department’s website.

10.03.2020
Arrangement between the Mainland and Hong Kong for automatic exchange of country-by-country reports in effect  04.03.2020
Gazettal of Rating (Exemption) Order 2020 and Revenue (Reduction of Business Registration Fees and Branch Registration Fees) Order 2020   04.03.2020
Gazettal of Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Tax Concessions) Bill 2020   04.03.2020
List of Qualifying Debt Instruments (as at 31 December 2019)  02.03.2020
Renewable energy facilitation measure takes effect  01.03.2020
Inland Revenue Department to resume public services  28.02.2020
Tax measures proposed in 2020-21 Budget   26.02.2020
2020-21 Budget – Concessionary Measures  26.02.2020
Newly published Advance Ruling Case No. 66  24.02.2020
Latest arrangements of Inland Revenue Department public services  22.02.2020
Latest arrangement of Inland Revenue Department public services  14.02.2020
DIPN 37 (Revised), DIPN 56 (Revised) and DIPN 57 (Revised)

The Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes No. 37 DIPN 53 , 56 DIPN 53 and 57 DIPN 53 have been updated to reflect the remedial interpretation of the term “marriage” and certain related terms in the Inland Revenue Ordinance as ordered by the Court of Final Appeal in Leung Chun Kwong v. Secretary for the Civil Service.

14.02.2020
DIPN 36 (Revised) DIPN 36 (Revised)

The Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes No. 36 has been updated to reflect the legislative changes in the definition of “residential care home” in recent years; and the remedial interpretation of the term “marriage” and certain related terms in the Inland Revenue Ordinance as ordered by the Court of Final Appeal in Leung Chun Kwong v Secretary for the Civil Service.

14.02.2020
DIPN 35 (Revised) DIPN 35 (Revised)

The Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes No. 35 has been updated to reflect the legislative changes in relation to entitlement years for home loan interest deduction in recent years; and the remedial interpretation of the term “marriage” and certain related terms in the Inland Revenue Ordinance as ordered by the Court of Final Appeal in Leung Chun Kwong v. Secretary for the Civil Service. 

14.02.2020
DIPN 18 (Revised)  DIPN 18 (Revised)

The Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes No. 18 has been updated to reflect the legislative changes in relation to personal assessment by the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 9) Ordinance 2018; and the remedial interpretation of the term “marriage” and certain related terms in the Inland Revenue Ordinance as ordered by the Court of Final Appeal in Leung Chun Kwong v. Secretary for the Civil Service. 

14.02.2020
Stamp Duty statistics (January 2020) 

Stamp Duty statistics (SSD / BSD / DSD) have been uploaded to the Department’s website.

13.02.2020
Latest arrangement of Inland Revenue Department's public services  08.02.2020
Inland Revenue Department will partially resume its services from February 3  01.02.2020
Interest on Tax Reserve Certificates 31.01.2020
Suspension of Service for Filing of Tax Return - Individuals through eTAX 29.01.2020
Temporary suspension of all services of Inland Revenue Department from January 29 to February 2 28.01.2020
Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Ship Leasing Tax Concessions) Bill 2020 gazetted 17.01.2020
Interest on Tax Reserve Certificates 16.01.2020
Stamp Duty statistics (December 2019) 

Stamp Duty statistics (SSD / BSD / DSD) have been uploaded to the Department’s website.

10.01.2020
Inland Revenue Department Notice Pay promptly as tax is falling due Inland Revenue Department Notice Pay promptly as tax is falling due 10.01.2020
Notification of Change of Address Notification of Change of Address 09.01.2020
Business Registration Notice Business Registration Notice 08.01.2020
Change of Postal Address of Employer Change of Postal Address of Employer 02.01.2020
Stock Borrowing Relief – Filing of Return of Stock Borrowing Transactions Stock Borrowing Relief – Filing of Return of Stock Borrowing Transactions 02.01.2020
Relief Measure: Conditional waiver of surcharges for instalment settlement of demand notes for the Year of Assessment 2018/19 

To facilitate taxpayers who encounter financial difficulties to apply for instalment settlement of demand notes for the Year of Assessment 2018/19, the Department has simplified the application forms and provided further guidelines in the Frequently Asked Questions

31.12.2019
Hong Kong-Cambodia and Hong Kong-Estonia tax treaties in force  27.12.2019
Annual Open Data Plan for 2020-2022  19.12.2019
LCQ12: Relief measures for middle class  18.12.2019
Country-by-Country Reporting – Deadline for Local Filing  18.12.2019
e-Stamping Circular No. 1/2019 - e-Stamping of Share Transfer Instruments e-Stamping Circular No. 1/2019 - e-Stamping of Share Transfer Instruments 16.12.2019
Stamping Procedures and Explanatory Notes - e-Stamping of Share Transfer Instruments Stamping Procedures and Explanatory Notes - e-Stamping of Share Transfer Instruments 16.12.2019
LCQ12: Home-buying needs of Hong Kong people  11.12.2019
Fifth Protocol to Avoidance of Double Taxation Arrangement between the Mainland and Hong Kong in force  11.12.2019
Stamp Duty statistics (November 2019) 

Stamp Duty statistics (SSD / BSD / DSD) have been uploaded to the Department’s website.

10.12.2019
Inland Revenue (Amendment) (Profits Tax Concessions for Insurance-related Businesses) Bill 2019 gazetted   06.12.2019
Relief Measure: Conditional waiver of surcharges for instalment settlement of demand notes for the Year of Assessment 2018/19  04.12.2019
IMF commends resilience of Hong Kong's financial system and welcomes Government's policies to support economy and safeguard financial stability   04.12.2019
Hong Kong and Macao enter into tax pact  25.11.2019
LCQ18: Enhanced tax deduction for research and development expenditures   20.11.2019
Tax Guide for Charitable Institutions and Trusts of a Public Character (Chinese Version) Tax Guide for Charitable Institutions and Trusts of a Public Character (Chinese Version)

Tax Guide for Charitable Institutions and Trusts of a Public Character (Chinese Version) has been uploaded to the Department’s website.

12.11.2019
Stamp Duty statistics (October 2019) 

Stamp Duty statistics (SSD / BSD / DSD) have been uploaded to the Department’s website.

11.11.2019
Government welcomes passage of tax concessions bill  06.11.2019
Launch of Government Bill Payment Service through FPS  01.11.2019
Annual Report 2018-19  01.11.2019
Interest rate increase for Tax Reserve Certificates  30.10.2019
List of Qualifying Debt Instruments (as at 30 September 2019)  25.10.2019
Country-by-Country Reporting 

Frequently Asked Questions on Country-by-Country Reporting have been uploaded.  You may click here to visit the webpage.

16.10.2019
Acting FS responds to "The Chief Executive's 2019 Policy Address"  16.10.2019
Jail sentence and fine for two property owners omitting rental income and falsely claiming deduction of home loan interest   15.10.2019
Stamp Duty statistics (September 2019) 

Stamp Duty statistics (SSD / BSD / DSD) have been uploaded to the Department’s website.

10.10.2019
Order on Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement with Estonia gazetted 09.10.2019
Notify Inland Revenue Department promptly of change of address Notify Inland Revenue Department promptly of change of address 03.10.2019
Orders on Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement with Cambodia and Protocol to Comprehensive Avoidance of Double Taxation Arrangement with the Mainland gazetted  02.10.2019
Two property owners convicted of omitting rental income and falsely claiming deduction of home loan interest  26.09.2019
SFST signs CDTA with Estonia in Tallinn (with photos)  26.09.2019
Stamp Duty statistics (August 2019) 

Stamp Duty statistics (SSD / BSD / DSD) have been uploaded to the Department’s website.

10.09.2019
Tax Guide for Charitable Institutions and Trusts of a Public Character Tax Guide for Charitable Institutions and Trusts of a Public Character

Tax Guide for Charitable Institutions and Trusts of a Public Character has been updated to set out the Department’s interpretation and practice in relation to the taxation of charitable institutions or trusts of a public character and other related matters.

06.09.2019
Penalty policy has been updated 

The webpage on penalty policy has been updated to include the major penalty provisions in relation to relief from double taxation, exchange of information, transfer pricing requirements, advance pricing arrangement, mutual agreement procedure and arbitration, etc., as well as the Department’s penalty policy on transfer pricing cases. You may click here to visit the webpage.

04.09.2019
Transfer Pricing Documentation – Master File and Local File 

A webpage has been set up to explain the requirements in relation to master file and local file, and the Department’s approach to ensure compliance with the requirements.  You may click here to visit the webpage.

28.08.2019
FS announces measures to support enterprises and residents  15.08.2019
Stamp Duty statistics (July 2019) 

Stamp Duty statistics (SSD / BSD / DSD) have been uploaded to the Department’s website.

09.08.2019
List of Qualifying Debt Instruments (as at 30 June 2019)  08.08.2019
Mainland and HKSAR sign Fifth Protocol to Arrangement for Avoidance of Double Taxation (with photos) 19.07.2019
DIPNs 58, 59 and 60

DIPN 58 – Transfer Pricing Documentation and Country-by-Country Reports DIPN 58 
DIPN 59 – Transfer Pricing Between Associated Persons DIPN 59 
DIPN 60 – Attribution of Profits to Permanent Establishments in Hong Kong DIPN 60 

The Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 6) Ordinance 2018 has codified the transfer pricing rules and documentation requirements. Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes Nos. 58, 59 and 60 have been issued to set out the Department’s interpretation and practice on the relevant rules and requirements, and the latest international standards relating to transfer pricing.

Transactions between associated persons or non-Hong Kong resident persons’ permanent establishments in Hong Kong, to which the transfer pricing-related provisions in the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 6) Ordinance 2018 do not apply, should be dealt with in accordance with Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes Nos. 45 and 46.

19.07.2019
DIPN 28 (Revised) – Profits Tax: Deduction of Foreign Taxes DIPN 28 (Revised) – Profits Tax: Deduction of Foreign Taxes

Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes No. 28 has been updated to set out the Department’s interpretation and practice on the provisions relating to foreign tax deduction after the enactment of the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 6) Ordinance 2018.

19.07.2019
Stamp Duty statistics (June 2019) 

Stamp Duty statistics (SSD / BSD / DSD) have been uploaded to the Department’s website.

10.07.2019
Tax Obligations of Taxpayers and Employers Tax Obligations of Taxpayers and Employers 04.07.2019
Expansion of e-Stamping services to cover instruments related to stock transactions   03.07.2019
Stock Borrowing Relief – Filing of Return of Stock Borrowing Transactions Stock Borrowing Relief – Filing of Return of Stock Borrowing Transactions 02.07.2019
Filing tips for 2018/19 Profits Tax Returns [BIR51 & BIR52]  02.07.2019
Hong Kong and Cambodia enter into tax pact  26.06.2019
Tax obligations of property owners Tax obligations of property owners 13.06.2019
Stamp Duty statistics (May 2019) 

Stamp Duty statistics (SSD / BSD / DSD) have been uploaded to the Department’s website.

11.06.2019
Performance Pledge Annual Report 2018-19 

The Inland Revenue Department has achieved all the targets, and exceeded many, in its performance pledges in 2018-19.  The Performance Pledge Annual Report 2018-19 has been uploaded to the Department’s website.

06.06.2019
Community service order for taxpayer convicted of false claims for additional dependent parent allowance   04.06.2019
DIPN 23 (Revised) DIPN 23 (Revised)

The Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes No. 23 (Revised) (“Recognized Retirement Schemes”) has been updated to reflect changes brought about by various legislative amendments concerning MPF schemes; and set out the Department’s revised assessing practice relating to defined benefit schemes.

31.05.2019
Business Registration Notice Business Registration Notice 28.05.2019
Tax Obligations of Taxpayers and Employers Tax Obligations of Taxpayers and Employers 16.05.2019
Taxpayer convicted of false claims for additional dependent parent allowance 14.05.2019
Stamp Duty statistics (April 2019) 

Stamp Duty statistics (SSD / BSD / DSD) have been uploaded to the Department’s website.

10.05.2019
List of Qualifying Debt Instruments (as at 31 March 2019)  09.05.2019
File Your Tax Return on Time File Your Tax Return on Time 09.05.2019
DIPN 56 & DIPN 57

Starting from the year of assessment 2019/20, taxpayers can claim deduction for (a) qualifying premiums paid under Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) policies; and (b) qualifying annuity premiums paid under qualifying deferred annuity policies and tax deductible MPF voluntary contributions (TVC) paid.  The following two Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes are issued today to explain the conditions for deduction of the premiums/ contributions paid and the Department’s interpretation and practices on the provisions relating to the new concessionary deductions:

(1) Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes No. 56 DIPN 53 - Concessionary Deductions: Sections 26H to 26M Health Insurance Premiums; and

(2) Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes No. 57 DIPN 53 - Concessionary Deductions: Sections 26N to 26U Annuity Premiums and MPF Voluntary Contributions.

07.05.2019
Over 2.6 million tax returns issued for individuals 02.05.2019
Press Conference 2 May 2019 - The Gist of CIR's Speech and Major Statistics File Your Tax Return on Time 02.05.2019
DIPN 5 (Revised) & DIPN 55

Starting from the year of assessment 2018/19, capital expenditure incurred for procuring environmental protection installation is deducted in full in one year instead of over five years. The Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes No. 5 (Revised) DIPN 53 has been updated to set out the Department’s interpretation and practice on the provisions relating to the accelerated tax deduction. The part relating to tax deduction for research and development (“R&D”) expenditure is covered in the Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes No. 55. 

Taxpayers can claim enhanced tax deduction for R&D expenditure incurred on or after 1 April 2018 in respect of qualifying R&D activities. The Departmental Interpretation and Practice Notes No. 55 DIPN 53 explains how a taxpayer can be entitled to the 100% tax deduction or enhanced tax deduction for R&D expenditure.

11.04.2019
Employer’s Return of Remuneration and Pensions Employer’s Return of Remuneration and Pensions 11.04.2019
Stamp Duty statistics (March 2019) 

Stamp Duty statistics (SSD / BSD / DSD) have been uploaded to the Department’s website.

10.04.2019
SFST's speech on public finance at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting   09.04.2019
SFST's speech on financial services at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting   09.04.2019
LCQ20: Regulation of virtual asset investment activities  03.04.2019
IRD issues tax returns for 2018-19   01.04.2019