In this course · 1 of 8
Course 7
Prepare your yearly accounts
8 lessons · 8 min
- 1Deadline to Send Financial Statements to Members in Hong Kong
- 2What do a Hong Kong company's annual financial statements include?
- 3What is a directors' report in Hong Kong and who signs it?
- 4What Is Simplified Financial Reporting for Hong Kong SMEs?
- 5What are the size thresholds for a small private company in Hong Kong?
- 6Small Group and Eligible Private Company Tests in Hong Kong
- 7Who prepares and approves a Hong Kong company's financial statements?
- 8How should I prepare my company's books before the annual audit in Hong Kong?
The short answer
For most Hong Kong private companies, directors must lay the reporting documents (financial statements, directors' report, auditor's report) before the annual general meeting, or send them to members, within 9 months after the accounting period ends, for example by 30 September for a 31 December year end. Public companies have 6 months.
Sections 429 to 431 of the Companies Ordinance set the timetable.
| Company type | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Private company (not a subsidiary of a public company) or company limited by guarantee | 9 months after the end of the accounting reference period |
| Other companies (for example public companies) | 6 months after the end of the period |
| First period longer than 12 months | the later of (a) 9 months (6 for public) after the first anniversary of incorporation and (b) 3 months after the period end |
| Shortened period | the later of the normal deadline and 3 months after the directors' resolution that shortened it |
The "reporting documents" are the financial statements, the directors' report and the auditor's report. In practice the steps are: finalise the books, audit, directors approve and sign, then send to members or table at the AGM.
Directors who fail to take all reasonable steps to comply with the laying rule commit an offence, and a company that fails to send copies to members faces a level 5 fine (HK$50,000) for the company and responsible persons.
Plan backwards: if the year end is 31 December, the 9-month limit falls at 30 September, but tax filing dates may come earlier.
Legal basis and sources
The law
- Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), ss.429-431, 433
General information for business owners, not legal, tax or professional advice. Rules change, so check the sources or ask a licensed professional before you act.
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