2026 Hong Kong Company Registration Guide: Fees, Process & 5 Vetting Criteria

Choosing a Hong Kong company registration provider is about more than price — it comes down to compliance and ongoing maintenance. Before signing, verify the TCSP licence, registered address, fee breakdown, and annual obligations, so you don't discover after incorporation that your address, tax filing, or bank documents don't line up.

The bottom line: what makes a provider worth recommending?

Don't compare on the "registration price" alone. A provider worth considering should meet at least five conditions:

1. When regulated company services are involved, it can provide verifiable TCSP licence details.
2. It clearly explains the Hong Kong registered address, mail handling, and statutory record arrangements.
3. It states who is responsible for incorporation, company secretary, accounting, audit, and tax — rather than glossing over it as "one-stop".
4. Its quote itemises government fees, first-year service fees, and second-year renewal fees.
5. It has reminder mechanisms for annual returns, business registration, tax filing, and audit.

Chan & Chung can provide company incorporation coordination, company secretary and annual compliance coordination, and advisory on cross-border tax and payment-collection arrangements. Regulated trust or company services are provided by its licensed partner Intelligent Services Limited (TCSP TC010349); Chan & Chung is not itself a licensed provider.

Hong Kong company registration fees overview (2026)

Government statutory fees

From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, the one-year Business Registration Certificate fee is HK$2,200, plus a Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund levy of HK$150. The incorporation fee varies depending on whether you file electronically or on paper.

HKD conversion uses the Bank of Taiwan HKD spot selling reference rate of HK$1 = NT$4.152 on 24 July 2026. Actual card, remittance, and currency-exchange costs may differ. For the latest amounts, refer to the Companies Registry fee schedule, the Inland Revenue Department business registration fee table, and the Bank of Taiwan exchange rates.

Typical provider and ongoing service pricing

Advertised incorporation service fees commonly start at around HK$1,300–2,500 (approx. NT$5,398–10,380); company secretary plus registered address annual fees run around HK$2,000–10,000 (approx. NT$8,304–41,520); and assistance with bank account opening documents is around HK$1,000–2,000 (approx. NT$4,152–8,304). These are not government-set prices and do not necessarily include statutory fees, KYC, mail forwarding, annual returns, or second-year renewal.

When comparing quotes, ask providers directly for three figures — "total first-year cost, total second-year cost, and exit or secretary-transfer fees" — which is more practical than looking at the headline starting price alone.

Hong Kong company registration process and documents

The typical process is as follows:

1. Check the Chinese and English company names and trademark risk.
2. Confirm shareholders, directors, shareholding ratios, and the company's purpose.
3. Prepare directors' and shareholders' identity proof, address proof, and shareholding-structure information.
4. Arrange the Hong Kong registered address and company secretary.
5. Submit the NNC1, articles of association, and IRBR1.
6. Obtain the Certificate of Incorporation (CI) and Business Registration Certificate (BR).

When the information is complete and the name needs no further approval, the Companies Registry states that electronic incorporation of a private company limited by shares can usually be certified within one hour, while paper filing takes about four working days. If handled through a provider, allowing for KYC, document checks, and signing, you should in practice budget 4–7 working days. Bank account opening has its own separate review process and should not be lumped in with the incorporation timeline.

The 5 criteria for choosing the right provider

1. Whether the TCSP licence is verifiable

If the party provides services such as company incorporation, company secretary, or registered address as a business in Hong Kong, it is in principle required to obtain a TCSP licence or meet a specific exemption. You can go to the Hong Kong TCSP licensee register, enter the English name or licence number, and verify the licensee, address, and licence status — don't judge by a badge on the website alone.

2. Whether the registered address can properly fulfil statutory functions

The registered office must be located in Hong Kong and cannot use a P.O. box. A business centre or shared address is not automatically illegal simply because "many companies share one address". What really needs confirming is whether the address can receive government mail, keep or provide statutory records, and how the handover works when you change providers. Banks and platforms have their own KYC rules, and a shared address may trigger requests for additional documents — but that does not mean rejection is inevitable.

3. Whether the chain of responsibility is transparent

Before signing, ask clearly about the contracting entity, the licensed service provider, and who handles accounting or tax work. If a partner takes on the work, the quote and contract should disclose this explicitly — external services cannot all be packaged as an in-house team.

4. Whether post-incorporation compliance is covered

After incorporation, a company must still maintain a company secretary and Hong Kong registered address, keep a significant controllers register, renew the Business Registration Certificate, and file the NAR1 within 42 days of the anniversary date. The registration fee for a private company filing its annual return on time is HK$105; late fees rise in stages. Tax filing, financial statements, and audit should also be handled according to the company's actual situation.

5. Whether fees and reminders are trackable

The contract should list government fees, secretary fees, address fees, mail fees, annual return fees, accounting and audit fees, and termination fees. An electronic platform is not essential, but at minimum it should be able to export documents, track deadlines, and provide a fixed point of contact.

Common misconceptions among applicants from Taiwan, mainland China, and Malaysia

Non-Hong Kong residents can incorporate and own a Hong Kong company, and can serve as the sole natural-person director; a director does not have to be a Hong Kong resident. However, the company must still have a Hong Kong registered address and a qualified company secretary, and the sole director cannot also serve as the company's company secretary.

Another common misconception is that "payment from overseas customers is automatically tax-free". Hong Kong applies the territorial source principle, but the source of profits must be judged based on contract negotiation, service performance, transaction operations, and evidence — you cannot look only at which country the funds are remitted from. For related explanations, see Hong Kong offshore profits tax assessment and Hong Kong company bank account opening preparation. Any offshore claim must be analysed case by case; there is no "guaranteed tax exemption".

FAQ

How much does Hong Kong company registration cost in total?

After 1 April 2026, the basic government fees total HK$3,895 for electronic filing and HK$4,070 for paper filing; on top of this, you add the provider's incorporation, secretary, address, and other optional fees. When comparing quotes, confirm whether government fees and second-year renewal are already included.

How many days does the process take, and what documents are needed?

Official electronic certification for a simple case can be as fast as one hour, but completing KYC, document checks, and signing through a provider usually means budgeting 4–7 working days. Common documents include a passport or ID card, address proof, shareholding structure, company name, and a business description.

Can Taiwanese or mainland Chinese applicants hold 100% of the shares?

Yes. The director also does not have to be a Hong Kong resident, but the company must maintain a Hong Kong registered address and a compliant company secretary.

What must be done every year after registration?

At minimum this includes business registration renewal, the annual return, company secretary and registered address maintenance, the significant controllers register, accounting records, tax filing, and applicable audit work. Having no business activity does not mean all filing obligations automatically disappear.

Is overseas income always exempt from Hong Kong profits tax?

Not necessarily. Whether it counts as Hong Kong-sourced profit must be judged based on the actual activities and evidence that generate the profit. An offshore claim is not an automatic exemption, and a provider should not guarantee the outcome.

Next steps

To confirm whether your shareholding structure, registered address, and annual obligations can connect smoothly, see Chan & Chung's Hong Kong outbound services. Chan & Chung can coordinate company incorporation and annual compliance; regulated trust or company services are undertaken by Intelligent Services Limited (TC010349).

This article is general information and does not constitute legal, tax, or banking approval advice; government fee rates and service terms should be re-checked before submission.