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Sell online
E-commerce in Hong Kong
You will learn how to start, run and grow an online store within the rules, from registration to tax, payments and customer data.
- 6 courses
- 42 lessons
- Each lesson about a minute
Course 1
Start selling online legally
6 lessons · 6 min
- 1Do I need business registration to sell online in Hong Kong?
- 2Do I need business registration for a side hustle or a few online sales in Hong Kong?
- 3How do I register an online business in Hong Kong and what does it cost?
- 4Sole proprietorship or limited company for an online store in Hong Kong?
- 5Can a non-resident or foreign owner run an online store through a Hong Kong company?
- 6Which products need a licence or are restricted when sold online in Hong Kong?
Course 2
Set up your store's books
6 lessons · 6 min
- 1How long must an online seller keep business records in Hong Kong?
- 2How should an online seller record marketplace payouts versus gross sales in the books?
- 3Are platform fees, advertising and shipping costs deductible for profits tax?
- 4How do I record refunds, returns and chargebacks for an online store in Hong Kong?
- 5How do I value inventory and work out cost of goods sold for an online store?
- 6Do online businesses in Hong Kong need audited accounts, companies and sole proprietors?
Course 3
Profits tax for online sellers
9 lessons · 9 min
- 1Is there VAT or sales tax on online sales in Hong Kong?
- 2What profits tax rates apply to an online store in Hong Kong?
- 3How and when does an online seller file profits tax returns?
- 4Can a new online store carry forward its trading losses?
- 5Does server location decide whether e-commerce profits are taxed in Hong Kong?
- 6What evidence does the IRD want for an offshore profits claim for an online store in Hong Kong?
- 7Can a Hong Kong trading company claim offshore profits if it buys in mainland China?
- 8What penalties apply if an online seller files an incorrect or late profits tax return?
- 9How can a Hong Kong company get a tax residency certificate for Amazon or other platforms?
Course 4
Sell across borders
8 lessons · 8 min
- 1Must a Hong Kong seller charge EU VAT when selling to EU customers?
- 2Must I charge UK VAT on goods shipped from Hong Kong to UK customers?
- 3Do I owe US sales tax when selling from Hong Kong to US customers?
- 4Do I need an import or export declaration for online orders shipped in or out of Hong Kong?
- 5Is selling alcohol or tobacco online legal in Hong Kong, and which goods are dutiable?
- 6Is dropshipping legal in Hong Kong, and do I need to register and pay tax?
- 7Can a Hong Kong online store sell to mainland China consumers?
- 8Does selling to mainland China create mainland tax for a Hong Kong company?
Course 5
Customers, data and payments
8 lessons · 8 min
- 1What does the Trade Descriptions Ordinance require of online product listings?
- 2Is there a cooling-off period for online purchases in Hong Kong?
- 3What product safety rules apply to consumer goods sold online in Hong Kong?
- 4What do I need to do with customer data to comply with Hong Kong privacy law?
- 5Do I need consent to send marketing emails or WhatsApp messages in Hong Kong?
- 6How do Stripe, PayPal and other payment gateways work for a Hong Kong online store?
- 7How can an online company open a bank account in Hong Kong?
- 8Can an online store sell gift cards or store credit without a licence?
Course 6
Grow, hire or close
5 lessons · 5 min
- 1What do I need to do when hiring my first employee in Hong Kong?
- 2Can an online store use freelancers or overseas staff, and what changes for the owner?
- 3How do I transfer my sole proprietorship online store to a Hong Kong limited company?
- 4How do I close an online store run as a sole proprietorship in Hong Kong?
- 5How do I deregister or close a Hong Kong limited company that ran an online store?
