The obligations are the same for every Hong Kong limited company. What differs is volume, complexity and therefore cost. These scenarios are composites drawn from common client situations, with indicative figures.
Online retailer, first full year
Profile: sole director and shareholder, 60–80 orders a month through a marketplace and a payment gateway, no staff, small stock holding, 31 March year end.
What is needed: monthly bookkeeping (Plan B), reconciliation across the marketplace payout account and two bank accounts, year-end stock count, statutory audit, profits tax return.
Indicative annual cost: bookkeeping from HK$4,800, audit from HK$4,500, tax return HK$270, annual return HK$500, business registration HK$2,350.
Watch out for: marketplace payouts are net of fees — recording only the net receipt understates both revenue and expenses, which distorts the gross margin and can trigger IRD queries.
Consultancy, one person
Profile: professional services, 5–10 invoices a month, no stock, no employees, working from home.
What is needed: annual bookkeeping, statutory audit, profits tax return, company secretary and registered office.
Indicative annual cost: bookkeeping from HK$900, audit from HK$2,000, tax return HK$270, company secretary and address from HK$1,700.
Watch out for: mixing personal and company spending. Keep a separate company bank account from day one — see the first-year bookkeeping guide.
Trading company with staff
Profile: import and distribution, 150+ transactions a month, three employees, stock in a third-party warehouse, letters of credit.
What is needed: monthly bookkeeping with receivables and payables ageing, payroll and MPF, year-end stock count, statutory audit, profits tax return, possibly an offshore review.
Indicative annual cost: bookkeeping from HK$8,400, payroll from HK$3,600, audit from HK$8,000, tax return HK$270.
Watch out for: cut-off at year end. Goods shipped but not invoiced, or invoiced but not shipped, are the most common source of audit adjustments.
Holding company
Profile: holds shares in operating subsidiaries, a handful of bank movements a year, dividend income only.
What is needed: annual bookkeeping, statutory audit, profits tax return (dividends from Hong Kong companies are generally not chargeable, but the return is still required).
Indicative annual cost: bookkeeping from HK$900, audit from HK$2,000, tax return HK$270.
Dormant company
Profile: incorporated but never traded, kept for the name or a future project.
Two options: keep filing normally (bookkeeping, audit from HK$2,000, tax return), or pass a special resolution under section 447 to become dormant — which removes the audit requirement while the company has no accounting transactions. The annual return and business registration continue either way.
Which scenario is closest to your business? Call 3687-1127 or send us your details for a fixed quote.