The Inland Revenue Department today (April 3) issued about 180,000 profits tax returns, 130,000 property tax returns and 300,000 employer's returns for the year of assessment 2016-17.

     About 2.6 million tax returns for individuals will be issued on May 2.

     In this year's Budget, the Financial Secretary proposed a one-off reduction of 75 per cent of profits tax, salaries tax and tax under personal assessment for 2016-17, subject to a ceiling of $20,000. Upon enactment of the relevant legislation, the department will effect the tax reduction in this year's tax bills.

     "Individuals with rental income, if eligible, can enjoy the reduction by electing personal assessment. They can make the election when completing their 2016-17 tax returns for individuals. The department will check in each case whether the election will reduce the amount of tax payable, and assess each taxpayer in the way most advantageous to him," a spokesman for the department said.

     The department encourages taxpayers to use the convenient and easy-to-use services under eTAX. As in the past, an eTAX account holder can file through the Internet his property tax return in respect of a property owned by him and another person. Filers of employer's returns can sign through their own eTAX Account and submit the annual employer's return and upload up to 200 IR56B records. Employers with not more than 30 IR56B records may also choose to complete IR56B directly online. Precedent partners of partnerships and directors, secretaries or managers of corporations holding eTAX Accounts can also file profits tax returns for their businesses through their eTAX Account.

     "Using eTAX services is simple. Any registered taxpayer can log in to eTAX with his Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) (printed on the tax return or tax demand note) and the eTAX password registered with the department or his digital certificate issued by a recognised certification authority," the spokesman said.

     If a taxpayer/filer of employer's return has not yet registered for eTAX or has forgotten the password, he can open an eTAX account or apply for a new password at www.gov.hk/etax. They can choose their own TIN and eTAX password when they open their eTAX account.

     Taxpayers/filers of employer's returns can visit the department's website at www.ird.gov.hk for common questions and answers on how to complete tax returns. Taxpayers/employers are reminded to file their properly completed tax returns on time. If tax returns are delivered to the department by post, sufficient postage should be paid to ensure timely and successful delivery. 

     Underpaid mail items will not be accepted by the department. Mail items addressed to the department without sufficient postage will be returned by Hongkong Post to the sender, who will be charged with the deficiency plus a surcharge. Mail items without return address will be disposed of by Hongkong Post in accordance with their established procedures for handling undeliverable mail. For proper delivery of tax documents to the department, please ensure the mail items bear sufficient postage before posting.

Ends/Monday, April 3, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:00

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