641202Restricted licensed banks
有限制牌照銀行
IRD business nature helper
Business Registration wording for this activity
The business nature on your Business Registration Certificate is limited to 60 English characters printed over two 30-character lines, and 30 Chinese characters. Test your wording below.
49/60 charactersFits the certificate
9/30 characters
Certificate preview
Business Registration Certificate
商業登記證 (layout preview)
Nature of business 業務性質
The IRD prints the English business nature across two lines of 30 characters. Text that cannot break cleanly at a word boundary gets wrapped or truncated on the printed certificate.
Compliance and incorporation playbook
Licences and regulatory approvals
Activities under this code trigger the following licensing regimes. Emerhub prepares and files each application on your behalf.
Banking Licence (Licensed Bank)
Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)
Required for institutions carrying on banking business in Hong Kong, meaning taking deposits of any size and maturity from the public and operating current and savings accounts. Licensed banks form the top tier of the three-tier banking system under the Banking Ordinance (Cap. 155).
- Capital requirement
- Minimum capital of HKD 300M
Official sourceVerified 2026-07-14
Deposit-taking Company Authorization
Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)
Authorization for companies engaged in specialised activities such as consumer finance, trade finance or securities business that take deposits from the public. Deposit-taking companies may only take deposits of HKD 100,000 or above with an original term to maturity of at least three months, forming the third tier of the banking system under the Banking Ordinance (Cap. 155).
Third-tier authorization for deposit-taking finance companies
- Capital requirement
- Minimum capital of HKD 25M
Official sourceVerified 2026-07-14
Restricted Licence Bank Authorization
Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA)
Authorization for institutions engaging mainly in merchant banking and capital market activities that take deposits from the public. Restricted licence banks may take deposits of any maturity of HKD 500,000 or above and form the second tier of the three-tier banking system under the Banking Ordinance (Cap. 155).
Second-tier authorization for merchant banking and capital market business
- Capital requirement
- Minimum capital of HKD 100M
Official sourceVerified 2026-07-14
Offshore profits claim feasibility
LowRestricted licensed banks primarily operate within Hong Kong's regulatory framework. Their services are typically directed towards local customers and require HK licenses. As a result, profits are closely tied to the HK market and do not qualify for offshore treatment.
Profits Tax Return deadlines under the Block Extension Scheme
With Emerhub as your tax representative, the filing deadline for the Profits Tax Return (BIR51) extends far beyond the standard one month, depending on your accounting year-end. A 31 December year-end extends the filing to August of the following year.
| Year-end | IRD code | Without representative | With Emerhub as tax rep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April to 30 November | N | Within 1 month of return issue | No block extension: early May of the following year |
| 1 December to 31 December | D | Within 1 month of return issue | Mid-August of the following year |
| 1 January to 31 March | M | Within 1 month of return issue | Mid-November of the same year |
Inland Revenue Department, Block Extension SchemeVerified 2026-07-14
Standing compliance calendar
These obligations apply to every Hong Kong company regardless of industry. Each fact links to its primary government source.
Two-tiered profits tax
Incorporated businesses pay 8.25% profits tax on the first HKD 2 million of assessable profits and 16.5% on the remainder. Only one entity within a group can elect the two-tiered rates.
Inland Revenue DepartmentVerified 2026-07-14
Annual Return (Form NAR1)
A private company delivers its Annual Return to the Companies Registry within 42 days of each anniversary of incorporation. Emerhub prepares and files the NAR1 as part of company secretary service, so the deadline never reaches your calendar.
Companies RegistryVerified 2026-07-14
Business Registration Certificate renewal
Every business carries a valid Business Registration Certificate from the Inland Revenue Department, renewed on a 1-year or 3-year cycle. Emerhub handles the renewal filing and keeps the certificate current.
Inland Revenue DepartmentVerified 2026-07-14
Significant Controllers Register
Every Hong Kong company keeps a Significant Controllers Register identifying persons with more than 25% ownership or control, available for law-enforcement inspection at its registered office. A designated representative must be appointed; Emerhub acts as designated representative for client companies.
Companies RegistryVerified 2026-07-14
Company secretary requirement
Every Hong Kong company appoints a company secretary resident in Hong Kong. A corporate secretary must hold a Trust or Company Service Provider (TCSP) licence. Emerhub is a licensed TCSP and acts as company secretary for client companies.
Companies RegistryVerified 2026-07-14
MPF enrolment for employees
Employers enrol every Hong Kong employee aged 18 to 64 employed for 60 days or more in an MPF scheme. Employer and employee each contribute 5% of relevant income, capped at HKD 1,500 per month each. Emerhub administers MPF enrolment and monthly contributions under its payroll service.
Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes AuthorityVerified 2026-07-14
Annual audit with SME reporting exemption
Every Hong Kong company files audited financial statements; there is no small-company audit exemption as in Singapore. Small private companies meeting any two of revenue at or below HKD 100 million, assets at or below HKD 100 million, or 100 or fewer employees qualify for the reporting exemption and prepare simplified accounts under the SME Financial Reporting Standard, which lowers audit preparation cost. Emerhub structures client accounts under the reporting exemption wherever the criteria are met.
Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), s.359Verified 2026-07-14
This classification includes
- restricted licensed banks 有限制牌照銀行
Frequently asked questions
What is a restricted licensed bank?
A restricted licensed bank is a type of bank in Hong Kong that can only engage in specific banking activities and must comply with local regulations.
What are the licensing requirements?
To operate as a restricted licensed bank, you must apply for a banking license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and meet capital and operational standards.
How is tax treated for restricted licensed banks?
Restricted licensed banks are subject to Hong Kong's corporate tax regime, and profits are generally taxable unless specific offshore criteria are met.
Incorporate in Hong Kong
Starting a restricted licensed banks business in Hong Kong?
Emerhub incorporates your company, registers the business nature above with the IRD, files every licence application, and runs your company secretary and compliance calendar. You provide the documents; Emerhub handles every government interaction.
Start incorporation with Emerhub