Do I need IRD approval to deregister a Hong Kong company?
Yes. Before applying to the Companies Registry to deregister, you must obtain a Notice of No Objection from the IRD under section 88B. Apply with Form IR1263 and a HK$270 fee. The IRD aims to reply within 21 working days and issues the notice only if there are no outstanding tax matters.
What the notice is. Section 88B of the Inland Revenue Ordinance lets the Commissioner issue a written notice that the IRD has no objection to a company being deregistered under section 750 of the Companies Ordinance.
Who can apply: a director, or a member or nominee with a director-signed authorisation letter.
How
- Complete Form IR1263.
- Pay the HK$270 fee (non-refundable whatever the result) by post, in person, or online (with iAM Smart+ or e-Certificate).
- The IRD normally replies within 21 working days of a valid application and payment.
Outcome
- If the company has no outstanding tax matters or liabilities, the IRD issues the notice of no objection.
- Otherwise it lists what is outstanding. Once cleared you can resubmit with no further fee.
Typical items to clear: unfiled profits tax returns, unpaid tax, unfiled employer's returns, and business registration matters.
Next step. Use the notice in the deregistration application to the Companies Registry; its own conditions and fees apply and are not covered here.
Related duties. Notify the IRD within one month of ceasing business, file IR56F for departing employees, and keep records for 7 years after deregistration where required.
Legal basis
- Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112), s.88B
- Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), s.750
Sources
Applies to As at 2026-10-29 · 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
- What must I file when an employee resigns or leaves Hong Kong (IR56F and IR56G)?File IR56F at least 1 month before an employee's employment ends. File IR56G at least 1 month before an employee is due to leave Hong Kong for more than a month. After IR56G, do not pay money or money's worth to that employee for one month from the notice without the Commissioner's written consent.
- Does a dormant Hong Kong company still have tax obligations?Yes. A dormant company must still file any profits tax return the IRD issues, though the IRD accepts returns without audited statements if the company has validly become dormant under the Companies Ordinance. Business registration continues until deregistration, and records must still be kept.
- What is Hong Kong's territorial source principle of taxation?Hong Kong charges profits tax only on profits that arise in or are derived from Hong Kong from a trade, profession or business carried on here. Profits that have a source outside Hong Kong are not chargeable. Where the source lies is a question of fact, decided case by case.
- Does a Hong Kong company pay tax on profits earned overseas?Generally no. Profits sourced outside Hong Kong are outside the profits tax charge, even if the company is incorporated here. The exceptions are certain foreign-sourced passive income received in Hong Kong by members of multinational groups under the FSIE regime, and any profits the IRD finds are actually sourced in Hong Kong.
- Does Hong Kong have VAT, GST or sales tax?No. Hong Kong has no value-added tax, goods and services tax or sales tax. The only taxes on income are profits tax, salaries tax and property tax, plus duties such as stamp duty. The government also confirms there is no capital gains tax and no withholding tax on dividends or interest.