How do I renew my business registration certificate, and should I choose 1 or 3 years?
You renew with the IRD before the certificate expires and choose a one-year or three-year certificate. Three years costs less per year in fee, but the levy and cash outlay are paid upfront. The fee and levy are not refunded if you close before a three-year certificate ends. Non-compliance is an offence with a fine up to HK$5,000 and imprisonment of one year.
Renewal basics
- Every business must hold a valid business registration certificate; companies, including dormant ones, must keep renewing.
- The certificate comes in two validity periods: 1 year or 3 years.
- The amount payable follows the commencement date of the new certificate, so a renewal starting in the 2026 to 2027 period costs HK$2,350 (1 year) or HK$6,170 (3 years).
- The IRD can be contacted via GovHK and its BR e-services; paper and online options exist.
1 or 3 years?
- Three years costs HK$6,170 against 3 x HK$2,350 = HK$7,050 for three one-year renewals at today's rates, a saving of HK$880.
- But it is a larger payment up front, and the IRD does not refund the fee and levy if the business or branch ceases before a three-year certificate expires.
- If rates rise at a later budget, a three-year certificate locks in today's amount for its term.
- If you expect to close the company soon, one year is simpler. A company is treated as carrying on business until it is dissolved or deregistered, so the certificate must keep being renewed until then. When a business ceases, notify the Business Registration Office in writing within one month, and pay the fee and levy up to and including the year of cessation.
Do not confuse with the annual return Renewing business registration does not file the annual return with the Companies Registry. They are separate duties.
Penalty The IRD guide states that anyone failing to comply with the Ordinance is liable to a fine of up to HK$5,000 and imprisonment for one year.
Legal basis
- Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310)
Sources
- IRD - A Brief Guide to Business Registration (PAM17, July 2025)
- IRD - Business Registration Fee and Levy Table
- Companies Registry - Filing Requirements of a Local Limited Company after Incorporation (PAM 5E, May 2025)
- IRD: Business Registration Certificate for 3 years
- IRD: Cancellation of Business Registration
Applies to 2026 · Last reviewed 29 October 2026
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.
Related questions
- How do I issue (allot) new shares in a Hong Kong company, and what is the NSC1 deadline?Issue shares through proper board and member approvals, then file Form NSC1 (return of allotment with a statement of capital) with the Companies Registry within one month after the allotment. Late filing risks up to HK$25,000 per breach plus a HK$700 daily default fine.
- Does my company need a registered office in Hong Kong, and how do I change it?Yes. Every Hong Kong company must have a registered office in Hong Kong where communications and notices can be sent. If it changes, file Form NR1 with the Companies Registry within 15 days, otherwise the company faces up to HK$50,000 per breach plus HK$1,000 per day.
- What is the annual return (NAR1) in Hong Kong and when is it due?A private company must file Form NAR1 with the Companies Registry within 42 days after each anniversary of its incorporation. The fee is HK$105 if filed on time. It reports company and officer details, member information and business nature. It is separate from business registration renewal.
- Which changes must I report to the Companies Registry and by when?Report changes in directors or company secretaries on Form ND2A or ND2B within 15 days, a registered office change on NR1 within 15 days, and a share allotment on NSC1 within one month. The annual return is due within 42 days after each incorporation anniversary. Some changes, like share transfers, wait for the annual return.
- Does a Hong Kong private company have to hold an annual general meeting (AGM)?Usually yes: a private company that is not a subsidiary of a public company must hold an AGM within nine months after its accounting reference period ends. But there are exemptions, including single-member companies, dormant companies, written resolutions covering all AGM business, and a unanimous decision to dispense with AGMs.