Accounting & Tax

Profits Tax Return Filing in Hong Kong (BIR51 and BIR52)

Name: Primasia Corporate Services Limited
Address: Suite 1901-04, 19/F, Tai Yau Building, 181 Johnston Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, HK
Telephone: +852 2882 2088
Price range: $$

Every Hong Kong business files a profits tax return, whether or not it made a profit. We prepare the tax computation from your audited financial statements, complete the BIR51 or BIR52, file by the applicable deadline, using a block extension for your year end where eligible and manage provisional tax so payments match the business you actually have.

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TCSP licence TC000446
Xero Silver Partner
Established 2002
HKFRS statutory accounts
Hong Kong and mainland China
One in-house team
TCSP licence TC000446
Xero Silver Partner
Established 2002
HKFRS statutory accounts
Hong Kong and mainland China
One in-house team

How we help

Profits Tax Filing with Primasia

Tax computation

Accounting profit adjusted to assessable profit: non-deductible expenses, depreciation allowances, offshore items and losses brought forward, each one documented.

The return

BIR51 or BIR52 completed and filed, with the financial statements and computation the IRD expects to see alongside it.

Provisional tax

Provisional tax checked against current-year trading, with a holdover application filed where profits have fallen.

After filing

Assessments checked, IRD enquiry letters answered and objections lodged within the time limit when an assessment is wrong.

What's included

Profits tax computation and supporting schedules
BIR51 for corporations and BIR52 for partnerships and sole proprietors
Two-tier profits tax rate election
Block extension filing as your tax representative
Provisional tax review and holdover applications
IRD enquiries, assessments and objections

Hong Kong profits tax in brief

Hong Kong charges profits tax only on profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong. Under the two-tiered regime, corporations pay 8.25% on the first HK$2 million of assessable profits and 16.5% on the remainder. Unincorporated businesses pay 7.5% on the first HK$2 million of assessable profits and 15% on the excess. Eligibility restrictions apply to the lower rates. Only one entity in a group of connected entities can elect the lower tier, so the election needs to be planned across the group.

Capital gains and dividends are generally not taxed, and profits sourced outside Hong Kong may qualify for an offshore claim.

BIR51 and BIR52: which return you file

Corporations file the Profits Tax Return BIR51. Partnerships and sole proprietorships file the BIR52. Corporations generally submit their audited financial statements and a tax computation with the return. A return must be filed even when the business made a loss or did not trade, and a dormant company should tell the IRD rather than ignore the form.

Provisional tax and holdover applications

Alongside the final assessment, the IRD charges provisional tax for the following year based on the profits just assessed. It is usually payable in two instalments. If profits have fallen, or the business has ceased, you can apply to hold over some or all of it. The application must be made before the deadline stated on the notice, so we review provisional tax as soon as each assessment arrives.

Paying profits tax

Tax can be paid online, through banks and by other channels the IRD accepts. Businesses that expect a dispute or want to set funds aside can buy tax reserve certificates, which earn interest and can be used against future tax. Late payment attracts a surcharge, so we diarise every due date with you.

From year end to filed return

Profits tax filing is the last step of the year-end cycle. Clients who use our Year End Accounting service move straight from audited accounts to the computation, and clients with overseas operations can have an offshore claim prepared at the same time. Where the numbers need more strategic attention, our Virtual CFO service takes the analysis further.

Filing route

How a profits tax return is filed

Returns are normally issued in April. Block extensions through a tax representative depend on eligibility and the applicable year’s IRD timetable; we confirm the deadline for your financial year end.

01
Close and audit
- Close the books for the financial year
- Prepare financial statements for audit
- Liaise with your auditor through sign-off
02
Compute and file
- Prepare the profits tax computation
- Complete the BIR51 or BIR52 and elect the two-tier rate where available
- File by the applicable deadline for your accounting date code, subject to block-extension eligibility
03
Assess and pay
- Review the notice of assessment for accuracy
- Apply for a holdover of provisional tax where justified
- Pay final and provisional tax by the due dates

Deadlines

Block extension deadlines by year end

The usual timetable is subject to block-extension eligibility and the IRD’s annual announcement. The dates below distinguish the usual schedule from the specific 2025/26 paper-return extensions; we confirm your applicable deadline at engagement.

N code: year end 1 April to 30 November

No extension beyond the issue period
Return due in early May

D code: year end 1 to 31 December

Usually mid-August; eligible 2025/26 paper returns: 31 August 2026

M code: year end 1 January to 31 March

Usually mid-November; eligible 2025/26 paper returns: 30 November 2026
Loss cases may be extended further

New companies

First return usually issued about 18 months after incorporation
Due within three months of issue

Profits tax

File this year's profits tax return with confidence.

Tell us your year end and where your accounts are today. We will confirm your filing deadline and what we need from you.

Get help with my profits tax return

FAQs

Profits Tax Filing: questions we are asked most

What is the profits tax rate in Hong Kong?+

Under the two-tiered regime, corporations pay 8.25% on the first HK$2 million of assessable profits and 16.5% on the balance. Unincorporated businesses pay 7.5% on the first HK$2 million of assessable profits and 15% on the excess. Eligibility restrictions apply to the lower rates.

What is the BIR51?+

The BIR51 is the profits tax return for corporations. Partnerships and sole proprietorships file the BIR52.

When is the profits tax return due?+

Returns are normally issued in April and due within one month of issue unless extended. Subject to block-extension eligibility, the usual timetable is early May for N code, mid-August for D code and mid-November for M code. For 2025/26 paper returns, D code was extended to 31 August 2026 and M code to 30 November 2026. These are year-specific dates, not permanent annual deadlines.

Do I need to file a profits tax return if my company made a loss?+

Yes. A return must be filed whenever the IRD issues one, including in loss-making or non-trading years.

What is provisional tax and can I reduce it?+

Provisional tax is an advance payment for the following year, based on the profits just assessed. If profits have fallen you can apply to hold it over before the deadline on the notice.

Do I need audited accounts to file?+

Corporations generally submit audited financial statements and a tax computation with the BIR51. Our Year End Accounting service prepares the accounts and audit file and coordinates with the appointed auditor through sign-off; the tax computation follows from the audited statements.

Other services in Accounting & Tax

02Accounting & Tax 05Xero 07Virtual CFO 08Offshore Claims 22Employer's Return 24Year End Accounting

Related services

Where we deliver this

Hong Kong

Our home market, and the base for most of Asia's holding structures.

Mainland China

WFOE and Representative Office registration, then the first year of reporting.

Let's start a conversation

Tell us where the business is heading. We will tell you what it takes to get the structure, books and filings in order.

Discuss this service with an advisor +852 2882 2088