Tax – Accounting & Auditing - FAQs

+ Hong Kong

1. What types of tax return I need to file in HK?

There are mainly 3 types af tax returns, you need to file to the IRD: Employer’s Return, Profit Tax Return and Individual Tax return.

Each entrepreneur is obligated to file these 3 tax returns each year since the first return is received.

2. When do I submit my first audit report to IRD?

If you have formed a HK company, you’ll receive your first Profit Tax Return (PTR) in 18 months after the date of incorporation. Thus you’ll need to well prepare your accounting records and submit your first audit report together with the completed tax return to the IRD.

3. What expenses could be deductible from Assessible Profits?

Generally, all outgoings and expenses, to the extent to which they have been incurred by the taxpayer in the production of chargeable profits, are allowed as deductions.

4. Do I need to file tax return to the HK Govt for my offshore business?

For those companies registered in offshore jurisdictions but having profit derived from HK, they are still liable to HK Profit Tax. It means these businesses need to file the Profit Tax Return to the IRD

Read more: Hong Kong offshore tax exemption

5. Do I need to audit the accounts if my Hong Kong company is inactive or the turnover is small?

The requirement to audit the accounts of the company is set down by the Companies Ordinance. The Ordinance does not provide any conditions under which no audit is required.

6. Which Types of Tax Returns I Need to File for Hong Kong company?

Generally, the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) will issue 3 types of tax returns to each entrepreneur every year since the very first return issued: Employer’s Return, Profits Tax Return and Individual Tax Return.

The IRD will issue Employer’s Return and Profits Tax Return on the first working day of April every year, and issue Individual Tax Return on the first working day of May every year. It is required for you to complete your tax filing within 1 month from the date of issue; otherwise, you may face penalties or even prosecution.

7. What is the tax rate of profits tax?

8.25% on assessable profits up to $2,000,000; and 16.5% on any part of assessable profits over $2,000,000 from 2018/19 onward.

8. How to manage the Profit Tax Return if it is received in the taxing period before the business of the limited company commence?

The Profit Tax Return shall also be submitted to the IRD even if the limited company has not commenced its business.

9. Do I need to do accounting for my offshore company in Hong Kong?

The Government of Hong Kong requires all companies incorporated in Hong Kong must keep financial records of all transactions including profits, revenues, expenses should be documented.

18 months from the date of incorporation, all companies in Hong Kong are required to file their first tax report which consists of accounting and auditing reports. Furthermore, all Hong Kong companies, including Limited Liability, the annual financial statements must be audited by external independent auditors who hold the Certified Public Accountants (CPA) license.

One IBC offers our Accounting & Auditing services to all of our clients who are operating their companies in Hong Kong. Our offered services include:

Coordination and advice for setting up bespoke accounting systems.
Bookkeeping and annual accounts preparation.
Periodic management accounts and reports.
Budget and cash flow preparation and forecasts.
Compliance with Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department (IRD), Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) reporting requirements if any.

For more information, please send us an inquiry via email: [email protected]

10. Why Does My Offshore Business Need to File Tax Returns to the HK Government?

The reason is that if your business has profits derived from HK, even if your company is registered in offshore jurisdictions, your profits are still liable to HK Profits Tax and you need to file the Profits Tax Return compulsorily.

However, if your company (whether it is registered in HK or offshore jurisdictions) does not involve a trade, profession or business in HK that has profits arising in or derived from HK, i.e. your company is operating and generating all profits wholly outside HK, it is possible that your company can be claimed as an ‘offshore business’ for tax exemption. To prove your profits are not liable to HK Profits Tax, it is suggested to select righ experienced agent at the initial stage

11. How to submit the Profit Tax Return for a limited company in Hong Kong?

The accounts of a limited company shall be audited by a Certified Public Accountant before submitting to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) together with an auditor's report and Profit Tax Return.

12. What are tax exemptions for offshore companies in Hong Kong?

Generally, offshore companies are free from tax liabilities, all foreign-sourced incomes are tax exempted for companies incorporated in Hong Kong. To be qualified for Hong Kong offshore tax exemption, companies need to be assessed by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) of Hong Kong.

According to IRD, the following are excluded from the assessable profits:

dividends received from a corporation which is subject to Hong Kong Profits Tax;
amounts already included in the assessable profits of other persons chargeable to Profits Tax;
interest on Tax Reserve Certificates;
interest on, and any profit made in respect of a bond issued under the Loans Ordinance or the Government Bonds, or an Exchange Fund debt instrument or a Hong Kong dollar-denominated multilateral agency debt instrument;
interest income and trading profits derived from long term debt instruments;
interest, profits or gains from qualifying debt instruments (issued on or after 1 April 2018) exempted from payment of Profits Tax; and
amounts received or accrued of a specified investment scheme by or to one person

If you still want to know more information about tax exemptions for Hong Kong offshore companies, you can contact our consulting team via email: [email protected]

13. What happens if I fail to file my tax return or provide false information to the Inland Revenue Department of Hong Kong?

Any person who fails to file tax returns for Profits Tax or provide false information to the Inland Revenue Department is guilty of an offence and liable to prosecution result in penalties or even imprisonment. In addition, section 61 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance addresses any transaction which reduces or would reduce the amount of tax payable by any person where the Assessor is of the opinion that the transaction is artificial or fictitious or that any disposition is not actually in effect. When it applies the Assessor may disregard any such transaction or disposition and the person concerned shall be assessed accordingly.

14. In which case will Hong Kong company be exempt from Profits Tax?

If the corporate profits do not derived from Hong Kong, and the company has not set up an office in Hong Kong nor hired any Hong Kong employees, its earned profits will be exempt from Profits Tax. But the Company should apply for the offshore claim exemption position from IRD.

15. What will be the consequence of not submitting a Profit Tax Return Hong Kong?

A beginning penalty of few thousand dollars or above may be applied if a Profit Tax Return hong Kong is not submitted before the due date.

A further fine may also be applied by a district court from the Inland Revenue Department.

+ United Kingdom

1. How many accounting standards are there in the UK?

However, the UK does the laying down of accounting standards mainly through the FRC (Financial Reporting Council ). It ensures that financial statements across sectors are prepared consistently and transparently. The main body of UK accounting standards consists of International Financial Reporting Standards and Financial Reporting Standards. Generally speaking, bigger public listed companies follow IFRS, while smaller ones operate under the framework of FRS.

The UK FRS framework consists of four major standards, each serving specific types of entities and needs of financial reporting. FRS 100, "Application of Financial Reporting Requirements," provided a roadmap of which reporting standard an entity should follow given its size and requirements. FRS 101, the "Reduced Disclosure Framework," could be applied to qualifying entities. Full IFRS may also apply with some reduced disclosures. FRS 102 is one of the most applied standards to non-publicly traded entities. It has an extended version of the reporting framework since such mid-sized entities have broader needs. On the other hand, FRS 105 is for micro-entities; it downscales the system of reporting to proportions relevant for such entities.

Added to these, UK companies whose shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange are required to present their financial statements according to the IFRS standard, which aligns the UK with international accounting standards. IFRS provides detailed guidance that assures better comparability and transparency of cross-border financial information, which is a significant factor for UK companies operating internationally.

Therefore, the UK has an organized nature in setting standards for accounting that met both national and international requirements. From the small to large enterprise level, the multi-tier allows flexibility in applying standards that best suit their nature of operations. This framework shall guarantee appropriate and reliable financial reporting for investors, regulatory bodies, and companies themselves. Accounting standards are borne continuously by the UK, both FRS and IFRS, in consistency and clarity of financial reporting to support a robust and transparent economic environment.

2. How short can an accounting period be in the UK?

In the UK, an accounting period is usually the period for which a company prepares its accounts and reports its profits to HMRC for Corporation Tax purposes. By law, an accounting period for Corporation Tax cannot be longer than 12 months, but it can be shorter in certain circumstances.

The shortest period for an accounting period is one day. This would usually happen in certain circumstances, such as when a company is just incorporated, when it undergoes structural changes like changing its accounting reference date, or when it stops trading.

1. Main Instances for a Short Period:

Newly Incorporated Companies: The accounting period commencing with the date of its incorporation will be the company's first accounting period, and ends on the accounting reference date. When an ARD happens shortly after incorporation, a period less than 12 months may eventuate.
Change in Accounting Reference Date: When an organization condenses its accounting year, the accounting period will be shorter than 12 months. This is done in practice to align with group reporting requirements and the company's operational cycle.
Company Ceases Trading: Where upon cessation of trading or prior to dissolution, the accounting period ends on that date, thus being very short.
The company goes dormant: In case the company stops its active operations and becomes dormant, a short accounting period may apply.

2. Implications of a Short Accounting Period:

Corporation Tax return: Every accounting period requires a Corporation Tax return to be filed by the company, even if it is just one day. If there are more than one short periods in a year, then separate returns are required.
Accounts Filing with Companies House: Even though the period is short, the financial accounts for the accounting period must still meet statutory deadlines and disclosure requirements.
Practical Considerations: The preparation of accounts for a very short period may result in increased administrative work and costs. However, it can offer strategic advantages, such as aligning financial years or managing tax liabilities.

Understanding these subtleties is important for businesses to maintain compliance with UK regulations and work out the best financial reporting strategies. The engagement of a professional accountant ensures that this is dealt with correctly.

3. What if you don’t receive a ‘Notice to deliver a Company Tax Return’ from HMRC?

You still must tell HMRC your company is liable for Corporation Tax. You must do this within 12 months of the end of your Corporation Tax accounting period. If you don’t, your company or organisation may be charged a penalty. HMRC calls this a ‘failure to notify’ penalty.

4. When is the deadline for filing the first account?

The first account must be filed in 21 months after registration with Companies House.

5. How many types of primary business Tax in UK ?

Income Tax
National Insurance
Corporation Tax
Capital Gains Tax
VAT

6. What are the penalties for keeping inadequate business records?

HMRC may charge a penalty of up to £3,000 per tax year for a failure to keep records or for keeping inadequate records.

7. When you must register for VAT?

You must register for VAT with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if your business’ VAT taxable turnover is more than £85,000.

How to register a company in United Kingdom?

8. What is a dormant company?

A company or association may be ‘dormant’ if it’s not doing business (‘trading’) and doesn’t have any other income, for example, investments.

9. Does the dormant company need to file account to Companies House?

Yes. You must file your confirmation statement (previously annual return) and annual accounts with Companies House even if your limited company.

10. What is my unique tax reference (UTR) number in UK?

Your unique taxpayer reference , is a unique code that identifies either an individual taxpayer or an individual company. UK UTR numbers are ten digits long, and may include the letter ‘K’ at the end.

Unique taxpayer reference numbers are used by HMRC to keep track of taxpayers, and is the ‘key’ that the taxman uses to identify all of the different moving parts related to your UK tax affairs.

11. The dormant company need to file account to Companies House?

Yes. You must file your confirmation statement (previously annual return) and annual accounts with Companies House even if your limited company

12. Do overseas companies need to send accounting documents to Companies House in UK after registration?

In most cases, overseas companies are required to send accounting documents to Companies House in UK. The accounting documents an overseas company delivers will depend on the following circumstances,

The company is required to prepare and disclose accounting documents under parent law (the law of the country in which the company is incorporated)
If it is required to prepare and disclose accounting documents under parent law is it an EEA company. An EEA company is an overseas company governed by the law of a country or territory in the European Economic Area (EEA)

13. Internal audit and external audit in the UK?

In the UK, internal and external audits serve different functions and adhere to different standards:

1. Internal Audit

Objective: Focuses on evaluating and improving the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes within an organization.
Scope: Broad and varies, covering areas like compliance, risk management, and operational efficiency.
Functionality: Internal auditors are either employees or contractors for the organization, reporting functionally to the audit committee and administratively to management.
Frequency: Conducted throughout the year based on a risk-based audit plan.

2. External Audit

Objective: Provides an independent opinion on the financial statements, ensuring they are free from material misstatement and comply with statutory and accounting standards.
Scope: Narrowly focused on financial records and statutory compliance.
Functionality: External auditors are independent of the organization, appointed by shareholders, and must strictly maintain their independence.
Frequency: Typically conducted annually, culminating in an annual audit report.

3. Key Differences

Independence: External auditors require strict independence; internal auditors have functional independence within the organization.
Reporting: Internal auditors report to both the audit committee and management to improve business processes, while external auditors report to shareholders, focusing on transparency and regulatory compliance.
Purpose: Internal audits aim to enhance internal controls and business efficiency; external audits validate financial integrity for stakeholder assurance.

These distinctions ensure that both types of audits work in tandem to enhance organizational accountability and efficiency while meeting regulatory requirements.

14. What is the function of accounting in business in the UK?

In the UK, accounting serves several essential functions in business operations:

Financial Reporting: Accounting ensures systematic recording of transactions, leading to the creation of financial statements that summarize a company’s financial status and performance.
Regulatory Compliance: It helps businesses comply with statutory regulations, including tax laws and financial reporting standards (UK GAAP or IFRS), ensuring accuracy in tax filings and other mandatory reports.
Decision Making: Financial data derived from accounting assists in making informed business decisions, helping managers with budget allocation, investment choices, and strategic planning.
Budgeting and Forecasting: Accounting is crucial for preparing budgets and forecasts, which predict future financial conditions and guide effective resource management.
Performance Evaluation: It enables the evaluation of the efficiency and profitability of different departments or projects within the business, aligning performance with strategic goals.
Risk Management: By analyzing financial ratios and trends, accounting helps identify financial risks, facilitating proactive management to safeguard the company’s interests.
Audit and Assurance: Organized financial records support audit processes, enhancing the credibility of the business with stakeholders.
Cost Management: Effective accounting aids in tracking and controlling costs, optimizing pricing and resource use to improve profitability.

Overall, accounting underpins financial transparency, compliance, and strategic management in UK businesses, forming the backbone of financial health and operational effectiveness.

15. What is the difference between Tax Planning and Tax Management in the UK?

In the UK, tax planning and tax management serve different functions in handling taxes:

1. Tax Planning

Tax planning is about strategically arranging financial affairs to minimize tax liability. This proactive process involves:

Utilizing tax-efficient investments and allowances.
Timing income and expenses to optimize tax benefits.
Structuring business operations to reduce tax obligations.

2. Tax Management

Tax management focuses on ensuring compliance with tax laws and managing administrative tasks associated with taxes. This involves:

Timely and accurate filing of tax returns.
Keeping detailed financial records.
Handling communications and audits from tax authorities.
Ensuring that all tax payments are made on schedule.

3. Key Differences:

Purpose: Tax planning aims to reduce future tax liabilities, whereas tax management ensures compliance with current tax laws.
Timing: Tax planning is a proactive, forward-looking activity; tax management is reactive, dealing with ongoing tax obligations.
Scope: Tax planning involves strategic financial decision-making; tax management focuses on administrative accuracy and procedural compliance.

Together, both practices ensure that an individual or business optimizes tax liability while adhering to legal requirements.

16. Can an external auditor perform an internal audit in the UK?

In the UK, it is generally discouraged for external auditors to also perform internal audit functions due to independence and conflict of interest concerns:

External Auditors provide an independent opinion on financial statements, which requires them to remain completely independent from the organization they audit.
Internal Auditors assess and enhance internal controls and governance within the organization, often working closely with it, which could compromise the independence required of an external auditor.

Mixing these roles can lead to conflicts of interest and may impair the external auditor's ability to provide an unbiased opinion. UK professional standards, upheld by bodies like the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), emphasize the importance of maintaining strict auditor independence, thereby generally advising against an external auditor undertaking internal audit duties.

+ Singapore

1. What are Singapore accounting standards?

The Singapore accounting standards are issued through the Accounting Standards Council of Singapore, or ASC for short, and are known as Singapore Financial Reporting Standards or SFRS. They are substantially similar to the standards under IFRS to reduce divergence and provide comparability across the world.

The SFRS framework comprises two sets of standards, mainly: SFRS and SFRS(I). SFRS, applicable for companies incorporated in Singapore, is grounded on the principles of IFRS with slight modifications. SFRS(I) - or Singapore Financial Reporting Standards-International-targets those entities listed on the SGX with standards that fully align with IFRS to facilitate proper comparability of financial statements across borders.

SFRS for Small Entities gives the small business enterprise a lighter reporting framework. The standard will reduce the financial reporting burden by providing simpler requirements for small- and medium-sized entities meeting certain criteria. Thus, applying the Singapore accounting standards becomes easier without problems that may be felt by larger companies.

Additionally, sustainability reporting requirements have been integrated into Singapore's accounting standards. The listed entities on the SGX are required to prepare a sustainability report that expresses all the dimensions of ESG performance, reflecting the emphasis that Singapore places on responsible and transparent business practices.

The ASC reissues SFRS periodically to ensure that it keeps up with the changes made to IFRS, which enables the Singapore standards to meet international needs regarding both investment and operations.

2. Do I need to apply for the waiver of Form C-S/ C Submission on a yearly basis, if the company is dormant?

Once a company has been granted a waiver from a specific date, the company will not be issued with Form C-S/ C from that date onwards.

As such, a company whose waiver application had been approved will not need to submit the application form on a yearly basis to IRAS.

3. What is Annual General Meeting (AGM)?

An AGM is a mandatory annual meeting of shareholders. At the AGM, your company will present its financial statements (also known as "accounts") before the shareholders (also known as "members") so that they can raise any queries regarding the financial position of the company.

4. What if I e-Filed the ECI beyond three months after the company’s financial year end?

You can still e-File the ECI if no assessment for the YA has been issued to your company. However, you cannot pay by instalment. Instalments are only granted by IRAS when a company files its ECI within three months after its financial year end and is on GIRO.

5. Is it necessary to file financial reports in Singapore with full XBRL format?

All companies incorporated in Singapore which are either limited or unlimited by shares (except exempted companies) are required to file their full set of financial statements in XBRL format according to the recent guidelines released by ACRA (Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority) Singapore June 2013.

6. Do I need to file an ECI for my company if it is nil?

You do not need to file an ECI for your company if it is nil and if your company meets the following annual revenue threshold for the Waiver to File ECI:

Annual revenue not exceeding $5 million for companies with financial years ending in or after Jul 2017.

7. How is XBRL filing useful?

XBRL is an acronym for eXtensible Business Reporting Language. Financial information is converted to XBRL format then, sent to and fro between business entities. Singapore government has mandated it for each Singapore company to file its financial statements only in XBRL format. The analysis of the data, thus, accumulated gives accurate information about the trends in finance.

8. Is income received in the form of virtual currencies such as Bitcoins taxable?

Remuneration or revenue received in the form of virtual currencies (such as Bitcoins) is subject to normal income tax rules. The receipt will be taxable if it is revenue in nature, and non-taxable if it is capital in nature

9. What is the Financial Year End (FYE) of Singapore?

The financial year end (FYE) of Singapore is the end of the fiscal accounting period of a company which is up to 12 months.

10. When AGM is held since the date of incorporation?

Generally, a private limited company is required under the Companies Act (“CA”) to hold its AGM once in every calendar year and not more than 15 months (18 months for a new company from the date of its incorporation).

11. How long Financial statement reports are laid at AGM?

Financial statements no more than 6 months old must be laid at the AGM (section 201 CA) for Private limited companies.

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