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There is less than one month left until March 31, 2026.
By the end of February 2026, the 2026/2027 fiscal budget announced by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has officially entered the effective stage. Although the overall focus of the budget is on "technology-driven innovation" and "financial empowerment", in terms of compliance details, there is one change that directly affects every entrepreneur - starting from April 1, 2026, the 150 Hong Kong dollars levy on the business registration certificate of Hong Kong companies will be fully reinstated.
As your dedicated Hong Kong secretarial service partner, we not only provide you with immediate policy interpretation, but also help you calculate this account and seize the final "original price" window period.
I. Policy Backlash: How did those 150 Hong Kong dollars come about?
To understand the current changes in costs, let's first take a brief look at the history.
According to the previous announcement issued by the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department, in order to alleviate the operational pressure on enterprises, the Hong Kong government made a structural adjustment to the business registration fee for the 2024/2025 fiscal year and simultaneously introduced a two-year exemption measure: namely, waiving the 150 Hong Kong dollars fee that was originally used for the insolvency wage protection fund.
During the two-year grace period (i.e. until March 31, 2026), the total cost for a one-year business registration certificate of a Hong Kong company is as follows:
Business registration fee: 2200 Hong Kong dollars
Business registration surcharge: 0 Hong Kong dollars
Total: 2200 Hong Kong dollars
II. The changes after the increase: It's not just an additional 150 Hong Kong dollars.
With the official implementation of the 2026/2027 fiscal budget and the fact that the government has not announced the continuation of the tax exemption policy, it means that the two-year "reduction period" has officially come to an end.
Starting from April 1, 2026, the fees for new business registration certificates or renewal will be restored to:
Business registration fee: 2200 Hong Kong dollars
Business registration levy: 150 Hong Kong dollars (reinstated)
Total: 2350 Hong Kong dollars
Core Interpretation:
Explicit cost increase: From a monetary perspective, each company only needs to pay an additional 150 Hong Kong dollars per year, which may seem insignificant.
Implicit signal release: The recovery of expenses is often interpreted by the market as a signal indicating that the regulatory environment and fiscal measures are gradually returning to normal. For group enterprises with multiple subsidiaries or SPVs (Special Purpose Vehicles), the cumulative administrative costs are also a significant expense that cannot be ignored.
The sensitivity of the time frame: There are only 28 days left until the expiration of the exemption policy.
III. Who Needs Attention the Most in These Final 28 Days?
We have identified three types of enterprises that require immediate action. If you fall into any of these categories, we recommend that you contact us as soon as possible:
1. Planning to register a new company
If you are already planning to register a Hong Kong company to expand your overseas business, every minute is precious now. As long as the company registration certificate (CI) and business registration certificate (BR) can be issued before March 31st, your first-year cost will still be the old standard of 2,200 Hong Kong dollars.
2. Companies whose annual review has expired
Please immediately check the expiration date of your company's annual review. For all companies whose annual review expiration date is in April or later, the official fee will be uniformly raised to HK$2,350 starting from April 1st. Only companies whose annual review expiration date is before March 31st can continue to enjoy the old standard of HK$2,200.
3. Complex conglomerate enterprises For enterprises that are undergoing organizational restructuring or establishing multiple subsidiaries as overseas holding platforms, and at the same time handling the registration or annual audits of multiple companies, this approach not only saves explicit costs but also significantly enhances internal administrative efficiency through centralized processing.
IV. Required Documents and Procedures for Hong Kong Company Registration
If you plan to register a Hong Kong company in the near future, the following list and process will help you get started quickly. We handle everything on your behalf, saving you both time and effort.
1. Registering Core Information
Company Name: Provide the Chinese name (optional) and the English name. The Chinese name should end with "Limited Liability Company", and the English name should end with "Limited". It is recommended to prepare 2-3 alternative names to facilitate quick registration check.
Identity Proof of Directors and Shareholders: Scanned copies of valid ID cards or passports of the directors and shareholders (clear). If the shareholder is a legal entity (i.e., the company holds the controlling stake), the company's business license and the list of directors and shareholders should be provided.
Address Proof: Water and electricity bills, bank statements, or government agency letters issued by the director or shareholder within the last 3 months (showing name and address).
Registered Capital: The standard registered capital is HK$10,000 (no need for capital verification). You can set a higher amount according to your actual needs, but be aware of the stamp duty cost (0.26% of the transfer amount when transferring shares).
Business Scope: You can write "Business Nature", with the Chinese name not exceeding 30 characters and the English name not exceeding 60 characters (including punctuation). You can choose 1-2 specific businesses or provide a broad description, such as "Trade" or "Investment Holding".
Registered Address: A local address in Hong Kong must be provided for receiving government correspondence. We offer legal and compliant registration address services, and you do not need to personally go to Hong Kong to lease an office.
Company Secretary: According to the Hong Kong "Company Ordinance", every company must appoint a company secretary. As a professional secretary company, we can act as the legal secretary for you to ensure compliance.
2. Registration Process
Step 1: Name Search (1 hour) We submit a company name search application to the Hong Kong Companies Registry to confirm the availability of the name.
Step 2: Submission of Application Documents (1-2 days) You provide the required materials, and we prepare and prepare the legal documents such as the company's articles of association, directors' and shareholders' statements, etc., and submit them to the registry.
Step 3: Government Approval (5-7 working days) The Hong Kong Companies Registry and the tax authority review the documents, and after approval, the "Company Registration Certificate" (CI) and the "Business Registration Certificate" (BR) are issued. Generally, the electronic certificate can be issued within 1-3 working days.
Step 4: Collection of Complete Company Documents (1 day) We collect the certificates for you and prepare the complete green box documents such as the company's articles of association, stocks, board meeting minutes, company seals (round seal, long seal, steel seal), etc., and deliver them to your designated address by express delivery.
Step 5: Bank Account Opening (Concurrent Process) After the registration is completed, we can assist you in reserving a Hong Kong bank account or an offshore account in the mainland. You need to prepare background materials such as business plans, purchase and sale contracts, etc., and we provide professional guidance.
V. Professional matters, entrusted to the professionals
In the face of the urgent window period, many clients may ask: "Would it be the same if I handle it myself?"
Theoretically, it can be done, but in actual operation, you may encounter situations such as the name search being rejected, file format not matching, or even the entire process being delayed due to a small decimal point error. Once you miss the deadline of March 31st, the cost increase is inevitable.
As a professional Hong Kong secretarial company, what we can offer you is:
Timeliness control: With our familiarity with the procedures of the Hong Kong Companies Registry and the Taxation Department, we can precisely arrange the submission schedule, striving to complete all legal procedures within the window period and help you secure the current costs.
Risk avoidance: Pre-screening the director and shareholder information to prevent rejections due to document flaws and ensure "one-time success".
Full-cycle service: We are not just about helping you with registration or annual review. Leveraging local resources in Hong Kong, we provide services throughout the entire life cycle of the company, including company registration, bank account opening, subsequent annual review, accounting audit, equity notarization, and even company liquidation.
Cautionary Notice:
If you haven't initiated the registration process yet: Please start preparing the director and shareholder documents, determine the company name, and complete the search.
If you are an existing customer: Please pay attention to your annual review deadline, promptly reply to our reminder emails, and confirm whether you need to take action in advance.
Shengsen International is a licensed secretary company in Hong Kong, holding a professional secretary service license (TCSP). With over 10 years of registration experience, it offers a one-stop service including Hong Kong company registration, company bank account opening, annual review, and accounting audit and tax filing. It has a team of licensed accountants and maintains close cooperation with major banks in Hong Kong, enabling you to successfully open an account. If you wish to learn more about Hong Kong company business, please contact us at the hotline: 139 2740 6543 [vx is the same number] and add WeChat. Professional consultants provide one-on-one services. Welcome to consult at any time👇.






