Why incorporate in Hong Kong
The simplest serious jurisdiction for international business
Hong Kong is consistently ranked among the world's freest economies and top three global financial centres. For entrepreneurs trading with Asia, selling online, providing services internationally or holding investments, a Hong Kong company combines credibility with remarkably light administration.
- Territorial tax system — only Hong Kong-sourced profits are taxedTwo-tier rate: 8.25% on the first HK$2M, 16.5% above
- No VAT / GST, no capital gains tax, no withholding tax on dividendsNo tax on dividends received or paid out
- 100% foreign ownership, no local director requirementOne director and one shareholder; may be the same person
- No minimum share capital, no capital controlsFree movement of funds in any currency
- Common-law legal system and independent judiciaryContracts and IP protected under English-based law
- Gateway to Mainland China via CEPA and the Greater Bay AreaPreferential access for HK companies to the mainland market
- 45+ comprehensive double taxation agreementsIncluding Mainland China, UK, France, Japan, Korea, UAE
- World-class banking and fintech infrastructureHSBC, Standard Chartered, BOC, DBS plus Airwallex, Statrys and more
Who incorporates in Hong Kong? E-commerce and Amazon sellers, trading and sourcing companies, IT and SaaS businesses, consultants and agencies, crypto and fintech projects (with licensing where required), and holding companies for investments in Asia.
What you receive
A complete, ready-to-operate company — not just a certificate
Every iCorp.HK incorporation package delivers a fully compliant company with all statutory appointments in place. There are no hidden "activation" fees after registration.
Certificate of Incorporation
Issued by the Companies Registry — your company's birth certificate, with the company number.
Business Registration Certificate
Issued by the Inland Revenue Department. Required to open bank accounts and sign contracts.
Articles of Association
Tailored constitution of the company, plus the incorporation form (NNC1) as filed.
Share certificates & registers
Register of members, directors, secretaries, charges and the Significant Controllers Register.
Company chop & seal
Signature chop and common seal in a corporate kit, couriered to you anywhere in the world.
Secretary & registered address
Licensed company secretary and Hong Kong registered office for 12 months — both legally mandatory.
Also included: first board resolutions, consent-to-act forms, a digital copy of every document, and a compliance calendar with your company's deadlines for the coming year.
Packages & pricing
Transparent fixed fees — choose what you need
Both packages cover every mandatory item for the first year. The difference is banking: Essential adds our banking desk, which pre-screens your profile, selects the right bank or fintech and prepares a complete application pack.
| What's included | Basic | Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Company name search & reservation | ||
| Incorporation & Business Registration (1 year) | ||
| All government fees (Companies Registry & IRD) | ||
| Registered office address (12 months) | ||
| Company secretary (12 months) | ||
| Full corporate documents, registers, chop & seal | ||
| Significant Controllers Register & designated representative | ||
| Compliance calendar & deadline reminders | ||
| Bank / fintech pre-screening & selection | ||
| Bank application pack & KYC interview coaching | ||
| Dedicated account manager | ||
| First-year fee | US$1,350all inclusive | US$1,800all inclusive |
| Choose Basic | Choose Essential |
Optional add-ons
- Nominee director or shareholderRefundable security deposit applies
- Certified true copies, apostille & legalisationFor banks and authorities abroad
- Virtual office with mail scanning & phone answering
- Trademark registration in Hong Kong / China
- Accounting & audit bundle for year oneDiscounted when ordered with incorporation
- Investment or employment visa application
Annual renewal. From year two, maintenance covers the Business Registration fee, Annual Return filing, registered address and company secretary. We quote the renewal fee upfront at incorporation, so there are no surprises later. See company secretary services →
How it works
From first call to operating company in four steps
- Consultation & name checkWe discuss your business, confirm the structure and reserve your company name.Day 0
- Documents & KYCYou send ID and proof of address; we prepare incorporation documents for e-signature.Day 1–2
- Filing & registrationWe file with the Companies Registry and IRD. Certificates are issued electronically.Day 3–7
- Kit delivery & bankingChop, seal and documents are couriered; the banking desk starts your account application.Day 7+
Documents we will ask for
- Passport copyFor each director, shareholder and beneficial owner (colour scan of the photo page).
- Proof of residential addressUtility bill or bank statement issued within the last 3 months.
- Brief business descriptionActivities, main markets, expected turnover — used for the Business Registration and for bank pre-screening.
- Proposed structureCompany name (English and/or Chinese), share capital, shareholding percentages, director(s).
For corporate shareholders we additionally need the parent company's certificate of incorporation, register of directors and shareholders, and identification of its ultimate beneficial owners.
Requirements
What a Hong Kong private limited company needs
| Company name | English, Chinese or both. Must end with "Limited" / "有限公司". Certain words (Bank, Trust, Insurance, Chamber of Commerce…) require approval. |
| Directors | Minimum one natural person director, aged 18+, any nationality or residence. Corporate directors allowed in addition. |
| Shareholders | One to fifty. Individuals or companies, any nationality. Director and shareholder may be the same person. |
| Company secretary | Mandatory. A Hong Kong resident or a Hong Kong company licensed as a TCSP — provided by iCorp.HK. |
| Registered office | Mandatory physical address in Hong Kong (not a P.O. box) — provided by iCorp.HK. |
| Share capital | No minimum. Any currency. Typically HK$1,000–10,000 issued at incorporation. |
| Significant controllers | A register of persons with >25% control must be kept at the registered office with a designated representative. |
| Annual obligations | Annual Return, Business Registration renewal, audited accounts, Profits Tax Return. Learn more → |
Need it today?
Ready-made shelf companies
If you cannot wait a week, take over one of our pre-registered, never-traded companies. Shares are transferred and directors changed within 1–2 business days. We guarantee a clean history with no liabilities, and you can rename the company if you wish. Request the current shelf list →
FAQ
Hong Kong company formation — frequently asked questions
Typically 5–7 business days from the moment we receive your signed documents and KYC. The Certificate of Incorporation and the Business Registration Certificate are issued together under the one-stop registration service. Electronic copies are available immediately; the physical corporate kit follows by courier.
No. Incorporation is entirely remote — documents are signed electronically and identity is verified through certified copies or a short video call. Some traditional banks require a visit for the account-opening interview; several banks and all major fintech providers accept fully remote applications.
Our Basic package is US$1,350 for the first year and already includes all government fees, the registered address and the company secretary. Essential, at US$1,800, adds full bank account support. Annual renewal fees are quoted upfront.
Yes. Hong Kong places no restrictions on foreign ownership or on the nationality or residence of directors. A single person can be the sole director and sole shareholder. Only the company secretary and registered address must be in Hong Kong — both are provided by us.
There is no legal minimum — HK$1 is sufficient. Most clients issue HK$1,000–10,000. Capital does not need to be deposited in a bank before incorporation, and there is no capital duty. We advise on an amount that looks credible to banks and counterparties without creating unnecessary obligations.
Not automatically. Hong Kong taxes profits sourced in Hong Kong at 8.25% on the first HK$2 million and 16.5% thereafter — already one of the lowest rates in the world. There is no VAT, capital gains or dividend tax. If your operations are genuinely conducted outside Hong Kong, you may apply for an offshore profits claim, which can exempt those profits. Our tax team assesses eligibility before you rely on it.
Yes — a company may have an English name, a Chinese name, or both. The English name must end with "Limited" and the Chinese name with "有限公司". A combination of English letters and Chinese characters in one name is not permitted. We check availability and restricted words before filing.
You open a bank account, start trading and keep accounting records. Within 18 months of incorporation the IRD issues the first Profits Tax Return, which must be filed with audited accounts. Every year the company files an Annual Return and renews its Business Registration. As your company secretary we track and handle all of these deadlines.