Recently, the latest outbreak of COVID-19 has "overwhelmed" Hong Kong, and the number of confirmed cases is surging rapidly. In Hong Kong, the Inland Revenue Department also announced several preliminary confirmed cases, and issued the relevant notices to close some services and adjust public service hours.
People who need to go to the Inland Revenue Department for relevant business services should check the latest announcement, arrange their time properly, follow the requirements of epidemic prevention and control, and strengthen personal protection.
source: www.isd.gov.hk
On February 13, the Inland Revenue Department said that an Assessor who works on the 4th floor of Revenue Tower has tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19. At present, the department has completed a thorough cleaning and sterilisation on the 4th floor of Revenue Tower. The Business Registration Office (BRO) on the 4th floor of Revenue Tower, including the service counters, was closed from February 14 to 15, and the BRO reopens on February 16.
source: www.ird.gov.hk
According to the latest arrangements of public services for Business Registration Office of Inland Revenue Department, The service hours of the BRO will be 9am to noon and 1.30pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays).
Attention
The Business Registration Office will only provide limited services during the period from February 16 to 25 with the following services temporarily suspended:
1.Instant services for new application and amendment of business registration particulars;
2.Public search services in respect of application for business registration (BR) documents over the counter.
To reduce the flow of people and social contact in the community so as to curb the further spread of the COVID-19 virus, the department urges members of the public to submit documents to the BRO by post or through the BRO Drop-in Boxes on G/F and at Central Enquiry Counter on 1/F of the Revenue Tower, 5 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, to use the BR electronic services at GovHK to handle their BR affairs and to make payment of the BR fee and levy by electronic means, or by post, at post offices or convenience stores.
Kindly Reminder
The Business Registration Office of Inland Revenue Department has announced that some services will be temporarily suspended, which will affect the handling of the relevant business services involving the submission of BR documents.
HACOS suggests that enterprises that need to handle the relevant business should make arrangements in advance to avoid being delayed by the epidemic or causing unnecessary losses.
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According to the latest arrangements for Inland Revenue Department's public services, to effectively control the spread of the virus, the Inland Revenue Department announced that from February 4, the department will only provide the following essential public services:
Central Enquiry Counter
(only for enquiries relating to tax clearance
for taxpayers leaving Hong Kong)
Business Registration Office
Stamp Office
From 9am to noon; 1.30pm to 4pm
Monday to Friday
Central Telephone Enquiry
From 9am to 12.30pm; 1.30pm to 4pm
Monday to Friday
source: www.ird.gov.hk
Since tax payments, lodgement of objections and holdover applications, and submission of tax returns and information can be made or performed without social contact, the Inland Revenue Department says that the relevant deadlines will not be extended. Meanwhile, the relevant services of the Inland Revenue Department will only be provided at a much reduced scale and people should also be prepared to experience a longer waiting time before they can be served. Therefore, the department encourages the public to use electronic services to handle tax affairs as much as possible.
Important Thing!!!
Despite the severe epidemic situation in Hong Kong, the deadlines for annual examination for company and tax declaration in Hong Kong will not be extended, according to the regulations of the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department, and there is no grace period.
HACOS reminds enterprises to plan in advance and do the business in time if they need to handle the relevant business, and avoid losing money as enterprises that don’t complete the business within the time limit will be fined.
HACOS will always keep an eye on the latest information and post the updates.
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