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Launch Your Hong Kong Holding Company
Fast, Compliant, Ready for Growth
Set up a Hong Kong holding company with Orbit. We handle incorporation, company secretary, registered office, bookkeeping, audit coordination, tax filings, and governance — so you can hold shares, receive dividends, and maintain a clean, compliant structure with confidence.
Quick facts
| Feature | Value | Why it matters | |
| Best | Asia-focused holding company, regional headquarters, investment holding | Proximity to China, ASEAN, and major capital markets | |
| Setup speed | ~3–5 business days | Fast and predictable | |
| Minimum share capital | None (practical: HKD 1) | Very low entry cost | |
| Local director needed | No | Foreign owners retain full control | |
| Company secretary | Yes (must be Hong Kong resident or company) | Needed for filings and compliance | |
| Registered office | Yes | All companies must have a local address | |
| Corporate income tax | 8.25% (first HKD 2M) / 16.5% standard | Territorial tax system | |
| Capital gains tax on shares disposals | No (facts and circumstances) | Efficient exits | |
| Withholding tax on dividends (outbound) | None | Clean repatriation of profits | |
| Foreign-sourced income exemption | Available if substance + subject-to-tax conditions are met | Keeps foreign income untaxed | |
| Goods and Services Tax (GST) | None | Simplifies indirect tax compliance | |
| Audit | Yes – mandatory annual audit by a CPA | Adds compliance cost | |
| Treaty network | ~45 treaties | Reduces foreign withholding tax | |
| Banking ease | Moderate | Strong but due diligence is strict |
Key Considerations
- No resident director requirement — foreign directors are fully permitted.
- A Hong Kong–resident company secretary and local registered office are mandatory.
- All companies must prepare audited financial statements annually, signed off by a Hong Kong CPA.
- Hong Kong operates a territorial tax system — only profits arising in or derived from Hong Kong are taxed.
- The FSIE regime (effective 2023) applies substance and subject-to-tax conditions to foreign-sourced income.
- There is no GST/VAT and no withholding tax on outbound dividends.
Cost snapshot (USD)
| Cost item | One-time setup | Annual ongoing | |
| Incorporation (via licensed partner) | 600 – 1,200 | – | |
| Company secretary | – | 300 – 800 | |
| Registered office | – | 200 – 500 | |
| Accounting & bookkeeping | – | 800 – 1,500 | |
| Profits tax return filing | – | 800 – 1,500 | |
| Substance support (if needed) | – | 1,000 – 3,000 | |
| Mandatory audit | – | 1,500 – 3,000 | |
| Estimated total | 600 – 1,200 | 4,000 – 7,500 / year |
Why Hong Kong works for holding companies
Tax Regime for Holding Companies
- Corporate income tax: 8.25% on the first HKD 2 million of assessable profits, 16.5% thereafter.
- Territorial taxation: Only profits sourced from Hong Kong are taxable.
- Capital gains on shares: • Generally not taxed if held as capital investment.• Dividends: Dividends paid by or received by a Hong Kong company are not taxed, and outbound dividends have no withholding.
- Foreign-sourced income exemption: Applies to foreign dividends, disposal gains, interest, and IP income — exempt only if economic substance and subject-to-tax tests are met.
- Tax treaties: ~45 double tax agreements help reduce foreign withholding at source.
What you get with Orbit
Pre-incorporation planning
Shareholding structure design, treaty mapping, and tax efficiency planning.
Company setup
Name approval, constitution, incorporation filing, company secretary, and registered office.
Substance & governance
Local director or virtual office options, board minutes, and compliance record-keeping.
Banking support
Assistance with bank and fintech onboarding for multi-currency accounts.
Accounting & tax
Ongoing bookkeeping, management accounts, and profits tax filings handled through licensed partners.
Audit coordination
Preparation of financial statements and coordination with Hong Kong CPA firms.
