All Hong Kong companies must undergo an annual review to confirm they remain operational and that their registration information is current. This review is compulsory, even for companies with no active business.
A Hong Kong company’s annual review involves two mandatory statutory procedures that must be conducted annually:
Each business registration certificate is valid for one year and the company must renew it before the expiry date each year (the business registration certificate can be renewed for one (1) year or three (3) years).
After a company has been incorporated for one full year, it must file an annual return with the Companies Registry, providing basic information such as the directors, shareholders, and their shareholdings. This document is only used to update company information and does not include financial reports.
Hong Kong companies are required to file their annual returns within 42 days of their anniversary of incorporation; failure to do so is an offense. The filing date may vary depending on the company type, so it is best to check using the Companies Registry's annual return due date calculator.
Important Notice
Properly handling annual audit matters is crucial for fulfilling legal obligations and avoiding penalties. OneSec can assist in preparing necessary documents and remind you of important deadlines to ensure all documents are submitted on time.
The annual review of a Hong Kong company includes renewing its business registration certificate and submitting an annual return. Failure to complete these procedures within the statutory deadline is an illegal act and will require the payment of an additional registration fee.
Companies that fail to complete their annual audit will risks two types of penalties:
The annual review of a Hong Kong company includes renewing its business registration certificate and submitting an annual return. Failure to complete these procedures within the statutory deadline is an illegal act and will require the payment of an additional registration fee.
Companies that fail to complete their annual audit will risks two types of penalties:
| Submission time (counted from the anniversary date) | Local private companies with equity | Locally-owned public companies with equity capital | Local Guarantee Company Limited | 註冊非香港公司 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Within 42 days | HK$105 | HK$140 | HK$105 | HK$180 |
| More than 9 months | HK$3,480 | HK$4,800 | HK$3,480 | HK$4,800 |
| More than 6 months but no more than 9 months | HK$2,610 | HK$3,600 | HK$2,610 | HK$3,600 |
| More than 42 days but no more than 3 months | HK$870 | HK$1,200 | HK$870 | HK$1,200 |
| More than 3 months but no more than 6 months | HK$1,740 | HK$2,400 | HK$1,740 | HK$2,400 |
Under the Business Registration Ordinance, any company that fails to renew its business registration certificate within a specified period may be subject to a fine of up to HK$5,000 and imprisonment for up to one year (see Inland Revenue Department announcement for details). Prosecution not only increases expenses but may also affect the personal reputation of directors and the company's future applications for banking services, tenders, and other approvals.
The annual review of a Hong Kong company includes renewing its business registration certificate and submitting an annual return. Failure to complete these procedures within the statutory deadline is an illegal act and will require the payment of an additional registration fee.
Companies that fail to complete their annual audit will risks two types of penalties:
提交時間 （自周年日起計）
Local private companies with equity
Locally-owned public companies with equity capital
Local Guarantee Company Limited
註冊非香港公司
Within 42 days
HK$105
HK$140
HK$105
HK$180
More than 9 months
HK$3,480
HK$4,800
HK$3,480
HK$4,800
More than 6 months but no more than 9 months
HK$2,610
HK$3,600
HK$2,610
HK$3,600
More than 42 days but no more than 3 months
HK$870
HK$1,200
HK$870
HK$1,200
More than 3 months but no more than 6 months
HK$1,740
HK$2,400
HK$1,740
HK$2,400
備註：「公司申報日期」指每年公司註冊成立日期或遷冊日期的週年日。所有類別的公司均須於該日期起計42天內，向公司註冊處提交周年申報表；否則將適用上表所列的逾期提交罰款。
| Submission time (counted from the anniversary date) | Local private companies with equity | Locally-owned public companies with equity capital | Local Guarantee Company Limited | 註冊非香港公司 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Within 42 days | HK$105 | HK$140 | HK$105 | HK$180 |
| More than 9 months | HK$3,480 | HK$4,800 | HK$3,480 | HK$4,800 |
| More than 6 months but no more than 9 months | HK$2,610 | HK$3,600 | HK$2,610 | HK$3,600 |
| More than 42 days but no more than 3 months | HK$870 | HK$1,200 | HK$870 | HK$1,200 |
| More than 3 months but no more than 6 months | HK$1,740 | HK$2,400 | HK$1,740 | HK$2,400 |
Under the Business Registration Ordinance, any company that fails to renew its business registration certificate within a specified period may be subject to a fine of up to HK$5,000 and imprisonment for up to one year (see Inland Revenue Department announcement for details). Prosecution not only increases expenses but may also affect the personal reputation of directors and the company's future applications for banking services, tenders, and other approvals.
The annual review of Hong Kong companies involves the regular renewal of the Business Registration Certificate and the submission of the Annual Return. Failure to comply with the regulations may result in hefty fines or even criminal prosecution. For many business owners, the annual review process is cumbersome and detailed, making it easy to violate regulations due to missing documents or missed deadlines.
OneSec Secretarial Services specializes in Hong Kong company compliance services, providing clients with a one-stop solution for annual company audits.
Our professional team will proactively remind clients of the annual audit deadline, assist in preparing and submitting required documents (such as NAR1, business registration certificate, change of information documents, etc.), and ensure that the beneficial owner register (SCR) is complete and compliant.
If you wish to avoid penalties for late company annual audits, or if you require more professional document processing and secretarial support, please contact the OneSec secretarial services team.
