Home / Formation / Hong Kong Limited company
Hong Kong
Form a Hong Kong Limited company, from anywhere.
A private company limited by shares, registered with the Hong Kong Companies Registry. A common base for brands that source in Asia and sell worldwide.
At a glance
What is included.
Name availability check
We check your company name against the Companies Registry before filing.
Incorporation filing
We prepare the incorporation form and articles with you and file them.
Company secretary
Every Hong Kong company must appoint a secretary based in Hong Kong. We arrange it with you.
Registered office address
A Hong Kong address for the company’s official mail.
Business Registration Certificate
Issued together with the Certificate of Incorporation.
Your company file
Certificates, articles and registers, stored in your member area.
How it works
What a Hong Kong company is
The usual vehicle for a business in Hong Kong is the private company limited by shares. It is registered with the Companies Registry and exists as a separate legal person that can contract with suppliers, hold bank accounts and own a store in its own name. Its shareholders own it and its directors manage it. One founder can be both the only shareholder and the only director.
The company needs at least one director who is a natural person and at least one shareholder, and neither has to live in Hong Kong. Two elements must be local. The company must have a registered office in Hong Kong, and it must appoint a company secretary based in Hong Kong, who is responsible for the statutory records and filings. Atiko arranges both as part of the formation so that a founder abroad can meet these requirements.
Incorporation is made by filing an incorporation form and the company’s articles of association with the Companies Registry. When the file is accepted, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Business Registration Certificate are issued together. The first proves that the company exists, and the second registers the business with the Inland Revenue Department. The process typically takes a few working days from a complete file.
Atiko prepares the file with you, submits it and delivers the full set of company documents. Government fees are set by the registry, are the same whoever files, and are shown separately from Atiko’s own fee. The decision to use Hong Kong is yours. How the company and its owners are taxed depends on facts that an independent licensed professional should review with you.
Why founders choose it
What a Hong Kong company makes possible
E-commerce brands that source in Asia and sell worldwide most often mention these points.
Closeness to your supply chain
A Hong Kong company is a familiar counterparty for manufacturers and freight partners across Asia. Contracts, purchase orders and supplier payments can run through an entity that suppliers already know how to deal with.
A territorial profits tax system
Hong Kong taxes profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong. The standard corporate rate is 16.5%, with 8.25% on the first HK$2 million under the two-tier regime. How this applies to your business is a question for a licensed tax professional.
No VAT or sales tax in Hong Kong
Hong Kong does not levy VAT or sales tax. Obligations in the countries where your customers are located still apply and need to be assessed separately.
Full foreign ownership
The director and the shareholder do not need to live in Hong Kong, and one person can hold both roles. The local requirements are met through the registered office and the company secretary.
Access to international payments
Stripe and Shopify Payments are available to Hong Kong companies, each subject to the provider’s own verification. A Hong Kong company can also apply for business accounts that hold several currencies.
Before you start
What we need from you
The Companies Registry and the company secretary both need accurate information about the people behind the company. This is what we collect at the start.
The process
From first call to working company
Intake and name check
You complete the intake form and send your documents. We check the proposed name against the Companies Registry index and flag anything that needs attention.
Due diligence
The company secretary is required to verify the identity of the people behind the company. We collect the documents once and tell you exactly what form they need to take.
Preparation and signature
Our filing specialists prepare the incorporation form and the articles of association. You review the details and sign, usually electronically.
Filing with the Companies Registry
We submit the application. When it is accepted, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Business Registration Certificate are issued together.
Delivery of the company kit
You receive the certificates, the articles, the share certificates and the statutory registers kept by the secretary. We also give you a calendar of the filings that will fall due.
Bank account applications
We help you prepare applications for business accounts suited to a Hong Kong company. You are the applicant and the account holder, and each institution makes its own decision.
Set by the government, not by Atiko
Government fees in Hong Kong.
| Official fee | Paid to | When | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private company incorporation, electronic (paper HK$1,720) | HK$1,545 | Hong Kong Companies Registry | At formation |
| Business Registration Certificate, one year: fee | HK$2,200 | Inland Revenue Department (Business Registration Office) | At formation, then every year |
| Business Registration Certificate, one year: levy | HK$150 | Inland Revenue Department (Business Registration Office) | At formation, then every year |
| Annual return, private company (on time) | HK$105 | Hong Kong Companies Registry | Every year, within 42 days of anniversary |
Official fees were checked in October 2026 on the website of each authority. They are the same whoever files, they change from time to time, and they are shown separately from Atiko’s own fee on your written quote.
Comparison
Hong Kong company compared with a UK Ltd
| Hong Kong Ltd | UK Ltd | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered with | Companies Registry | Companies House |
| Minimum people | One director, one shareholder | One director, one shareholder |
| Local requirements | Registered office and company secretary in Hong Kong | Registered office in the UK |
| Tax on profits | Territorial, 16.5% standard rate, two-tier regime | Corporation tax, 25% main rate, 19% small profits |
| Consumption tax | No VAT or sales tax in Hong Kong | VAT applies separately |
| Yearly accounts | Audited financial statements required | Annual accounts filed with Companies House |
| Typical formation time | A few working days | Typically within 24 hours online |
This table describes the two structures in general terms and is not tax or legal advice.
After incorporation
What the company must do each year
A Hong Kong company has four recurring obligations. It files an annual return with the Companies Registry, which confirms its directors, shareholders, secretary and registered office. It renews its business registration. It prepares financial statements that must be audited by an independent Hong Kong auditor. It files a profits tax return with the Inland Revenue Department when one is issued to it.
The audit is the point that most often surprises founders used to other jurisdictions. It means the company needs proper bookkeeping from the first transaction, with invoices, supplier contracts, shipping documents and bank statements kept in order. Bookkeeping, the audit and the tax return are carried out by independent licensed professionals. Atiko keeps the calendar, gathers the documents and coordinates between you and them.
Changes during the year, such as a new director, a share transfer or a change of address, are reported to the Companies Registry through the company secretary within set time limits. Late filings lead to penalties and can lead to prosecution or to the company being struck off. A clean and current record also supports your bank and payment accounts, because those institutions review the company over time.
Avoid these
Common mistakes with a Hong Kong company
Assuming profits are automatically untaxed
The territorial system taxes profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong, and whether yours fall outside it depends on the facts of how the business operates. That assessment is made with a licensed tax professional and, ultimately, by the Inland Revenue Department.
Leaving bookkeeping until the audit
Reconstructing a year of transactions for an auditor is slow and expensive. Keeping records monthly makes the audit straightforward.
Underestimating bank due diligence
Institutions that serve Hong Kong companies ask detailed questions about suppliers, customers and the flow of funds. A vague or inconsistent business description is the most common reason for delay.
Letting the secretary or address lapse
The company must have a Hong Kong company secretary and registered office at all times. If either lapses, the company is out of compliance and official mail goes unanswered.
What Atiko does not decide
Atiko is not a law firm, an accounting firm or an audit firm, and we do not give tax advice or determine how your profits will be taxed. The Companies Registry decides on the incorporation, the Inland Revenue Department decides on tax matters, and banks and payment providers make their own decisions. Audits and tax returns are carried out by independent licensed professionals.
Questions about forming a Hong Kong company
Do I need to live in or travel to Hong Kong?
No. Neither the director nor the shareholder needs to live in Hong Kong, and the incorporation is handled remotely. Some banks may ask for an interview or a visit as part of their own process, which we tell you about before you apply.
How long does incorporation take?
It typically takes a few working days from a complete, signed file. The Companies Registry controls the timing, and the due diligence that comes first depends on how quickly documents are provided.
Why does the company need a company secretary?
Hong Kong law requires every company to have a company secretary based in Hong Kong. The secretary maintains the statutory registers and makes the company’s filings with the Companies Registry. Atiko arranges this role as part of the service.
What documents will I receive?
You receive the Certificate of Incorporation, the Business Registration Certificate, the articles of association, share certificates and the statutory registers. These are the documents banks and payment providers ask for.
How is a Hong Kong company taxed?
Profits tax is territorial and applies to profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong. The standard corporate rate is 16.5%, with 8.25% on the first HK$2 million under the two-tier regime. How this applies to you should be confirmed with an independent licensed professional.
Is the audit really required every year?
Yes. A Hong Kong company must prepare audited financial statements each year, including in years with little activity. The audit is performed by an independent Hong Kong auditor.
Can I use the company with Stripe and Shopify Payments?
Both are available to Hong Kong companies, subject to each provider’s own verification. Requirements for the account representative vary and change, so we confirm the current position with you before you apply. Atiko is independent of both providers.
Does the company come with a bank account?
No. A bank account is a separate application in which you are the applicant and the account holder. Atiko helps you prepare it, and the institution decides whether to open the account.
Related pages
Hong Kong company for e-commerce
A longer guide to using a Hong Kong company for an online brand.
OpenRelatedChoosing a jurisdiction for your store
How the United States, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong compare.
OpenRelatedBookkeeping and tax filings
How records, audits and returns are handled each year.
OpenThis page is general information, last reviewed in October 2026. It is not legal or tax advice and may not reflect the latest rules in every state. Atiko is not a law firm or an accounting firm. Please consult a licensed attorney or tax adviser about your own situation.
Ready to start your company?
Book a 20-minute call. We tell you exactly what we set up, and how fast.