By Vlad Cuc, specialist in company formation matters
Our team can help you set up a limited liability company in Hong Kong.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Best used for |
Small and medium-sized businesses and Start-ups for the Private Limited Company |
Minimum capital | N/A |
Minimum number of shareholders | 1 |
| Shareholder liability | Limited to the amount of capital invested in the company |
| Residency requirements for foreign investors | No |
| Full foreign ownership permitted (Yes/No) | Yes |
| Company name requirements | It is an original one and it is not offensive or contrary to the public interest In can be in English and/or Chinese. A combination of English and Chinese is not permitted The name ends with a specific word (for English "Limited") or characters for Chinese |
| Registered office requirement | Yes. A local Hong Kong address, P.O. Box not permitted |
| Main registration documents |
Articles of Association containing complete information about the company Copy of the company founder's identification documents |
| Registration requirements | Mandatory registration with the Companies Registry |
| Licenses and permits | Yes. To be applied for after registration |
| Annual filing | Yes |
| Corporate tax rate | 8.25% on the first taxable HKD 2 million 16.5% on the remainder of the taxable profits |
| Other taxes for companies |
Social security contributions: both by the employer and the employee Real property tax Stamp duty |
| Tax incentives | Tax concessions for qualifying carried interest. Subject to conditions. |
Table of Contents
What are the characteristics of the Hong Kong LLC?
Our team summarizes the main characteristics of the Hong Kong limited company below:
- It can be limited by shares or by guarantee;
- To open a Hong Kong company limited by shares, at least one founding member is required;
- There is no requirement for a minimum paid-up capital. See below for more details;
- The locally incorporated LLC follows Hong Kong’s taxation, accounting and reporting requirements. The main taxes for companies are listed below;
- All LLCs in Hong Kong must have a registered office address. This is a physical location in Hong Kong, and P.O. boxes are not accepted.
While there is no minimum requirement for the paid-up capital, the standard authorized share capital utilized in practice can be HKD10,000 (about 1,276 USD).
In case you are thinking of starting a business in a different Asian jurisdiction, such as Vietnam, we can put you in contact with our partners – CompanyIncorporationVietnam.com.
What are the steps required to set up a limited company in Hong Kong in 2026?
A short step-by-step guide is presented below:
- Decide on the company’s particulars: as stated above, the company must have a registered address, and it must have a shareholding structure, along with an appointed director;
- Choose an available name: when investors set up a limited company in Hong Kong, they usually propose two or three names for the business. The name is verified for compliance and availability and, if ready to use, it can be reserved;
- Prepare the company’s incorporation documents: these are the company’s Articles of Association, prepared in accordance to law to include information about the company and its founders;
- Submit the company registration application: this step takes place with the Companies Registry. Online and hard copy submissions are accepted, however, in practice, online registration is faster;
- Wait for the confirmation: if all the business registration documents are in order, the Registry issues the Business Registration Certificate.
These steps are followed by the post-registration procedures, which have to do with hiring employees, obtaining special permits and licenses, and ensuring compliance with ongoing requirements.
What documents are required to set up a limited company in Hong Kong?
You will be required to provide the following as part of the company incorporation procedure:
- The passport copies for each company shareholder and director;
- A recent proof of address for these persons.
Must I open a bank account for the LLC in Hong Kong?
Yes. Bank account opening is mandatory, and it can be included in our company formation packages.
The following is generally required:
- Document submission with the chosen bank;
- Bank review to determine suitability. In some cases, additional documents may be required by the bank;
- Interview with a bank representative. This is a standard process, and in-person presence is required.
How fast can I open a limited company in Hong Kong?
The company registration process can be expected to take 8 to 10 business days, provided that all the documents are in order and no public holidays are in place within the chosen submission period.
Business registration delays can be caused by:
- Incorrect or incomplete documents;
- Name approval issues (such as names that are too similar or identical to those of a company that is already registered in Hong Kong).
Our Hong Kong incorporation representatives invite you to watch a short video about the LLC in Hong Kong:
How is an LLC taxed in Hong Kong?
One of the main advantages of opening a private limited company in Hong Kong is that the company enjoys the low taxation regime applicable in this jurisdiction. Below, our team of Hong Kong company formation agents lists the rates for the Hong Kong corporate income tax:
- 8.25% on the first 2 million HKD of assessable profits as from the year of assessment 2018/2019;
- 16.5%: on the remainder of the assessable profits;
- 7.5% and 15%: the rates applicable in the same manner as above, but in the case of unincorporated businesses.
Other taxes for an LLC in Hong Kong in 2026 include social security contributions. Both the employer and the employee are subject to this, and the mandatory regular contributions have a value of 5% of the employee’s relevant income. Real property tax has a standard rate of 15% of the net assessable property value. Stamp duty is imposed on certain documents (such as those for lease, sale, or transfer of immovable property) and on the sale of Hong Kong shares (in which case it has a value of 0.2% of the value of the transferred shares).
If you are interested in setting up a company in Hong Kong as a limited company, you should know that there is no withholding tax on dividends or interest payments made from a Hong Kong company to another resident or non-resident company. There is no payroll tax and no capital duty in Hong Kong.
The tax year is calculated from April 1 to March 31 the next year. The filing date for tax returns is usually one month after they are issued. A provisional profits tax for the current tax year is charged. Companies in Hong Kong do not have the option to file consolidated returns. The Internal Revenue Department (IRD) is the principal tax authority in the city, and it is under the administration of the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau.
Hong Kong has an expanding network of double tax treaties. These are useful for foreign companies that want to establish their presence in Hong Kong. You can find out more from our company formation agents in Hong Kong. Limited liability companies can also benefit from tax deductions.
Please contact our company formation specialists for more information related to the setup of a limited company in Hong Kong in 2026 or company registration in other countries such as Serbia and Luxembourg.