⚠ Many Taxpayers Claim the Wrong Allowance Level
The dependent parent allowance comes in two tiers: HKD 50,000 (if you or your spouse maintain the parent and the parent ordinarily resides with you) and HKD 25,000 (if you maintain them financially but they do not live with you). Claiming the wrong tier — in either direction — is one of the most common errors on HK tax returns.
Common Challenges
Cohabitation vs Financial Support
The higher allowance (HKD 50,000) requires the parent to "ordinarily reside" with you — not just that you pay their bills. Many taxpayers claim the higher allowance incorrectly when parents live separately.
⚠ Risk: IRD enquiry + disallowance + back-tax on incorrect allowance claimed
Age Threshold Requirements
Parents must be aged 60 or over to qualify for the standard allowance. Those aged 55–59 can qualify only if they are disabled. Getting the age wrong means a non-qualifying claim.
⚠ Risk: Claiming allowance for parent under 60 without disability → IRD disallowance
Residential Care Home Deduction
If your parent lives in a residential care home (elderly home), you can deduct actual costs paid up to HKD 100,000 per year — but this is mutually exclusive with the residential care allowance option.
⚠ Risk: Choosing the wrong claim basis → losing thousands in deductions annually
Sharing Allowance Between Siblings
Only one person can claim the dependent parent allowance for each parent. Siblings must decide who claims — or each claims the lower non-cohabiting allowance if both contribute.
⚠ Risk: Both siblings claiming full allowance → IRD disallowance of one claim + penalties
Who Is This For?
Adults supporting parents aged 60 or over
The most common scenario: financially supporting one or both parents who are retired in HK.
Those whose parents live in a residential care home
Adults paying for elderly care home fees for their parents — where the deduction route may be more valuable.
Caregivers for disabled dependants under 60
Those supporting physically or mentally disabled parents, grandparents, or siblings.
Taxpayers with parents in mainland China
HK residents whose parents live in the Mainland — allowance rules still apply with residency clarification.
Families splitting parental support between siblings
Multiple children contributing to parental support who need to coordinate allowance claims.
What We Do
Dependent Allowance Eligibility Review
We assess whether your parents or dependants meet all qualifying conditions for each allowance tier.
Age, residence, financial support, disability status
Residential Care vs Allowance Modelling
We model whether claiming the residential care home deduction or the dependent parent allowance produces a greater saving.
Based on actual care home fees vs allowance amounts
Sibling Allowance Coordination
We advise on how multiple children can optimally split or allocate dependent parent allowances.
Including interaction with joint vs separate spouse assessment
BIR60 with Dependent Allowances
We prepare your return with all dependent allowances correctly claimed at the correct tier.
With supporting evidence of relationship, age, and financial support
IRD Allowance Dispute Resolution
If the IRD queries or disallows a dependent allowance, we prepare a written response with supporting documentation.
Including HKID copies, cohabitation evidence, and support payment records
How It Works
Dependant Eligibility Assessment
1 dayWe review the age, residence, disability, and support status of each claimed dependant.
Care Home vs Allowance Analysis
1 dayWhere applicable, we model whether the care home deduction or standard allowance is more beneficial.
Documentation Compilation
2–3 daysWe help you gather HKID copies, birth certificates, support payment records, and cohabitation evidence.
Return Preparation & Filing
1–2 daysWe file your BIR60 with all dependent allowances correctly claimed and documented.
Case Studies
Professional supporting two elderly parents and one in care home
- •Father (68) cohabiting: HKD 50,000 allowance claimed
- •Mother (71) in residential care home: HKD 100,000 deduction vs HKD 25,000 allowance
- •Residential care deduction chosen for mother (4x more valuable)
- •Both siblings coordinated to avoid duplicate claims
“TAX.hk showed me the care home deduction was worth four times the standard allowance for my mother's situation.”
Married couple with three parents to support
- •Husband's parents (both 70+) cohabiting: 2 × HKD 50,000
- •Wife's mother (65) non-cohabiting: HKD 25,000
- •Joint assessment elected to maximise combined allowances
- •All three allowances successfully claimed with full documentation
“We had only ever claimed one parent allowance. TAX.hk identified we could claim three separate allowances.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the dependent parent allowance in HK for 2025/26?
For the 2025/26 tax year, the allowances are: HKD 50,000 per dependent parent/grandparent aged 60+ who ordinarily resides with you; HKD 25,000 per dependent parent/grandparent aged 60+ who does not reside with you but is maintained by you; and HKD 25,000 per dependent parent aged 55–59 who is disabled. An additional disabled dependant allowance of HKD 75,000 applies on top for certified disabled persons.
My parents live in mainland China. Can I still claim the allowance?
Yes, potentially. The IRD does not restrict the dependent parent allowance to parents living in HK only. However, you must demonstrate that you financially maintain them (i.e., regularly remit money for their living expenses) and meet the age requirements. For the higher "cohabiting" allowance, your Mainland parents must ordinarily reside with you — which implies they spend significant time in your HK home.
My mother is in a residential care home costing HKD 18,000/month. Should I claim the allowance or the care home deduction?
At HKD 18,000/month = HKD 216,000/year, the residential care home deduction (capped at HKD 100,000) is worth more than the standard dependent parent allowance (HKD 50,000 cohabiting or HKD 25,000 non-cohabiting). At the 15% tax rate, HKD 100,000 deduction = HKD 15,000 tax saved. We always model both and recommend the optimal choice.
My sister and I both help support our father financially. Who claims the allowance?
Only one person can claim the full dependent parent allowance (HKD 50,000 or HKD 25,000) per parent. If multiple children contribute, the allowance must be split — each sibling claims a proportionate share, each rounded down to the nearest HKD 1. Alternatively, siblings can agree that the higher-income one claims the full allowance in exchange for other contributions. We help families structure this optimally.
Can I claim the allowance if my parent receives MPF and has some income of their own?
Yes. The dependent parent allowance in HK does not require the parent to have zero income — only that you "maintain" them (i.e., contribute substantially to their living costs). A parent receiving a small MPF pension who you also support financially can still qualify as your dependent for allowance purposes.
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