PRESS RELEASE

(Source : Information Services Department)

Inland Revenue Department to resume basic public services
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In view of the latest developments of the epidemic situation and in line with the announcement made by the Government yesterday (August 20) that it will gradually resume more public services in a safe and orderly manner, the Inland Revenue Department announced today (August 21) that the following offices will provide basic public services from August 24:

Offices	Opening hours
Central Enquiry Counter Business Registration Office Stamp Office Estate Duty Office Collection Enforcement Sections Refund Section	From 9am to noon and from 1.30pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday
Central Telephone Enquiry	From 9am to 12.30pm and from 1.30pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday

The department appeals to members of the public for their understanding that the above services will be provided at a reduced scale and they should be prepared to experience a longer waiting time before they can be served. The department encourages the public to use electronic services to handle 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 (not applicable to Auto Tax Payment Service under the Tax Reserve Certificates Scheme), lodgement of objections and holdover applications, and submission of tax returns and information that fall between July 20 and August 30 will be automatically extended to August 31.

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

Ends/Friday, August 21, 2020
Issued at HKT 16:01

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