香港公司缴纳利得税基本原则
缴纳利得税的基本验证法:
(a)该名人士必须在香港经营行业,专业或业务;
(b)应课税利润必须来自该名士士在香港所经营的行
业,专业或业务;以及
(c)利润必须在香港产生或得自香港。
是否经营行业,专业或业务
it is often difficult to determine whether an isolated transaction or a series of transactions constitutes a ‘trade’ or not, and the commonly used criteria are the so-called ‘badges of trade’. i.e. the original intention of acquisition, the funding arrangement, frequency of similar transaction, any supplementary work done on the property, length of holding period and the circumstances leading to the disposal.
比方说购买房地产的时候是预计短期内房价会飙升,使用短期借款资金来购买,频繁地进行买卖,在卖出去前做一些改良以便卖得更好,持有时间短,除了可观的利润外没有其他促成销售的理由等等当然不会限定就这几项,每个案例会综合考虑所以经常看到这句话。:
“each case should be assessed on its own merits.”
举个例子:题目太长,摘一小部分
Generally, if the property has been let for rental income since acquisition, it would likely be accepted as an investment property unless other factors prove otherwise.
However, in the case of Property A, the fact that the property has only been let on a short-term basis, and that the second lease was not proved in written contract would not be convincing enough to prove that the intention of holding the property was for long-term investment purposes. In addition, the property was initially listed at the property agency for sale immediately after the acquisition. Coupled with the fact that 90% of the acquisition cost was financed by bank borrowing, it is very likely that the profit would be regarded as trading profit and chargeable to profits tax.
Property B was occupied by Mr Ko himself since acquisition during the period from July 2011 to September 2011.
Like Property A, the question of whether the profit is taxable to profits tax arises.
Apart from the general principles of ‘badges of trade’, it is also relevant to consider whether the intention of Mr Ko has changed at any time during the year.
注意:除了'交易徽章'还有个改变意向的问题,即购入的时候是为了长期持有,但出售前的某个时点,长期持有目的改变为短期盈利了。
是否在香港经营行业,专业或业务
There have been numerous cases debating the factors that determine the place where a business is carried on. In general, the IRD’s practice is to look at the place of the company’s effective management and control, which usually refers to the place where the board of directors meet and make decisions, and where the company’s day-to-day activities are conducted.
利润是否得自香港产
There is no statutory or comprehensive guidance under the IRO as to how the source of profits is to be determined. Based on case law and DIPN 21 (revised 2009), the broad guiding principle is the so-called ‘operation test’, (that one looks to see what the taxpayer has done to earn the profit and where he has done it)
举个例子:
However, if BVI co is carrying on business in Hong Kong, the profit, if any, arising from the sale of the 50% shareholding in HK Business would need to be reported to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD); but it may be claimed as a non-taxable profit on the basis that it arises from a capital transaction given that BVI co has been holding the shares in Business for investment purposes over a number of years, it is probable [possible] that the capital profit argument may be sustained, unless there is a change of intention of BVI co from holding the shares for a capital investment purpose to a profit-making trading purpose
决定权在IPD,当然纳税人可以lodge objection or appeal.
利润是否得自香港
对买卖上市公司股票,看股票交易所的位置。非上市公股票,还是‘operation test
对服务业来说,一般是看劳务提供地。
对生产企业来说,一般是看生产运行的地方。
这里有个减免规定是对来料加工的:只对生产所得的50%征所得税:
The IRD provides a concession where a Hong Kong manufacturing business enters into a processing arrangement contract processing’. with a Mainland entity, under which the Mainland entity provides the factory premises, the land and labour while the Hong Kong manufacturing business provides the raw materials, technical know-how, management, production skills, design, skilled labour, training and supervision for the local labour and the manufacturing plant and machinery.
The Mainland entity is responsible for processing the goods, for which it is paid a processing fee by the Hong Kong manufacturing business. This kind of arrangement is called ‘contract processing’. Strictly, the profits of the Hong Kong manufacturing business should be fully taxable, [in the Department view, the HK company operations in China complement its operations in HK]
as the manufacturing is carried out by an independent contractor and the question of apportionment does not arise. However, recognising that the Hong Kong manufacturing business is involved in the manufacturing activities on the Mainland, an apportionment of profits on a 50:50 basis is usually accepted.
The concession under paragraph 16 of DIPN No. 21 is only available to ‘contract processing’ and not to ‘import processing’
进料加工不适用此规定。
另处,银行,保险公司,,航空,陆地,江河货客有特别的规定。
再补充一点:香港有个视同利润得自香港的反避税规定。
举例
s.20 of IRO
This section is designed to counteract the diversion of profits from Hong Kong to a closely connected non-resident. Since HK Co carries on business with BVI Co which is closely connected to HK Co, and the sale of the equipment gives rise to an overly significant tax deduction of equipment cost to HK Co , s.20(2) would apply to deem BVI Co to have carried on business in Hong Kong through HK Co. As a result, an assessment would be issued to tax the profit of BVI Co in the name of HK Co as an agent.