Which business expenses are deductible for Hong Kong profits tax?
Expenses are deductible to the extent they are incurred in producing chargeable profits, and are not of a capital nature or private. Typical allowable items include rent of business premises, staff costs, bad debts, repairs, trade mark registration, MPF contributions for employees, and approved charitable donations within limits.
The general rule in the Inland Revenue Ordinance is that outgoings and expenses are deductible to the extent they are incurred in the production of profits chargeable to profits tax (section 16). The IRD's guide lists common items:
- Interest on money borrowed for the business, subject to conditions.
- Rent and rates of business premises.
- Bad and doubtful debts (recoveries are taxable when received).
- Repairs of premises, plant, machinery used to earn profits (improvements are capital).
- Registration costs of trade marks, designs, patents.
- Employer's contributions to MPF or a recognised retirement scheme, limited to 15% of an employee's total emoluments.
- Research and development, within the rules.
- Approved charitable donations of at least HK$100 in total, capped at 35% of adjusted assessable profits.
- Reinstatement costs of leased premises (from 2024/25).
Specific write-offs apply to some capital items: certain IP purchases, refurbishment of premises over 5 years, manufacturing machinery and computer hardware/software written off at once, and depreciation allowances on plant (see separate answers).
Evidence. Keep invoices and explain business purpose; the IRD wants schedules for large or unusual items such as fees to related parties, commissions and repairs.
Legal basis
- Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112), s.16
Sources
Applies to YA 2025/26 · 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 does provisional profits tax work in Hong Kong?Provisional profits tax is an advance payment charged for a year of assessment, calculated from the previous year's assessed profits. It is then offset against the final tax for that year, with any excess applied to the next year's provisional tax or refunded. It is paid in instalments set out on the demand note.
- How can I hold over (reduce) my provisional profits tax?You can apply in writing to pay less or none of your provisional profits tax on prescribed grounds, most commonly if profits for the year are likely to be below 90% of the base figure. Apply at least 28 days before the due date or within 14 days after the demand note is issued, whichever is later.
- What tax reduction did the 2026-27 Budget give to Hong Kong businesses?The 2026-27 Budget provides a one-off 100% reduction of profits tax for year of assessment 2025/26, capped at HK$3,000 per business. It applies to the final tax, not to provisional tax, and needs no application. Profits tax rates were not changed. The legislation was passed on 13 May 2026 and gazetted on 22 May 2026.
- What expenses cannot be deducted for Hong Kong profits tax?The law prohibits deductions for domestic or private expenses, capital losses and expenditure, insurance recoveries, rent of premises not used for the business, profits tax and other IRO taxes, and remuneration or interest paid to a sole proprietor or partners and their spouses.
- How are depreciation allowances calculated in Hong Kong?Accounting depreciation is not deductible. Instead the IRD gives statutory allowances: plant and machinery get a 60% initial allowance plus annual allowances of 10%, 20% or 30% on a reducing balance; industrial buildings 20% plus 4%; commercial buildings 4% a year. Certain assets can be written off immediately.