Hong Kong Tax on Overseas Income — Individual Guide

Foreign Employment Income

Working for an overseas employer from HK creates fully HK-sourced income — the territorial system applies to where services are rendered, not employer location.

⚠ Risk: Assuming foreign employer = foreign income = tax-free → IRD back-assessment

Foreign Investment Income

Dividends from overseas shares, interest from foreign bank accounts, and capital gains from overseas assets are generally not taxable in HK — but must be analysed case by case.

⚠ Risk: Over-declaring foreign investment income → unnecessary tax payment

Overseas Rental Income

Rental income from property located outside HK is not subject to HK property tax — but if received through a HK company, profits tax rules may apply.

⚠ Risk: Incorrectly including overseas rent in HK returns → double-counted income

Double Taxation Risks

Even where HK does not tax foreign income, the foreign jurisdiction might. Without claiming treaty protections, you risk paying full tax in two countries.

⚠ Risk: Failing to claim CDTA relief → double taxation on same income

Overseas Income Tax Analysis

We review all your overseas income streams and determine HK tax treatment for each category.

Employment, dividends, interest, rental, pension, capital gains

CDTA Double Tax Relief Claims

We identify applicable Comprehensive Double Taxation Agreements and claim all available relief.

HK CDTAs with 45+ countries including UK, US, China, Australia, Singapore

HK Tax Return with Offshore Treatment

We file your BIR60 or BIR52 correctly, declaring only what is assessable in HK.

With documentation supporting any offshore exemption claimed

Offshore Income Substantiation

We prepare comprehensive documentation for offshore income claims to withstand IRD scrutiny.

Travel records, contracts, payment evidence, source analysis

IRD Offshore Challenge Defence

If the IRD challenges your offshore claim, we respond with legally referenced written submissions.

Including DIPN references and relevant Board of Review case law

UK national in HK with London rental and UK pension

• •UK rental income GBP 18,000 (correctly excluded from HK return)
• •UK state pension GBP 9,000 (correctly excluded)
• •Had been advised to declare both in HK — advice was wrong
• •TAX.hk provided written analysis confirming HK non-taxability

“My previous adviser told me to include my UK rental income in my HK return. TAX.hk showed me that was completely wrong.”

Finance professional with overseas equity portfolio

• •USD 2.1M overseas equity portfolio
• •Annual dividends USD 63,000
• •Had been declaring dividends on HK tax return for 4 years
• •Refund application filed for 4-year overpayment

“I had been declaring my US dividends for years. TAX.hk got me a refund for the last 4 years.”