644000Trusts, funds and similar financial entities
信託、基金及相關金融工具
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.
44/60 charactersFits the certificate
11/30 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.
SFC Licence for Type 9 Regulated Activity (Asset Management)
Securities and Futures Commission (SFC)
Required for corporations providing discretionary management of securities or futures portfolios or real estate investment schemes, including fund managers, hedge funds and private equity managers with discretionary mandates. Managers that do not hold client assets can operate under a licensing condition with reduced financial requirements.
Fund vehicles themselves are typically managed by a licensed Type 9 manager
- Capital requirement
- No paid-up capital requirement + HKD 100K liquid capital if subject to the licensing condition not to hold client assets; otherwise HKD 5M paid-up + HKD 3M liquid capital
- Processing time
- Approximately 15 weeks for a licensed corporation application (SFC published estimate)
Official sourceVerified 2026-07-14
Offshore profits claim feasibility
MediumProfits from trusts and funds can qualify for offshore treatment if the activities are managed and executed outside of Hong Kong. However, if the funds are marketed to local clients or require local licenses, the offshore status may be compromised.
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
- open-end funds 開端基金
- closed-end funds 閉端基金
- unit investment trust 單位投資基金
Classified elsewhere
These activities look similar but belong under different codes.
- activities of holding companies 控股公司活動
- pension funding 退休基金
- fund management 基金管理
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to operate a fund?
Yes, operating a fund in Hong Kong typically requires a license from the Securities and Futures Commission.
What are the tax implications for funds?
Funds may be subject to profits tax in Hong Kong unless they qualify for offshore treatment based on their operational structure.
Can I manage a fund entirely offshore?
Yes, if all management and operations occur outside Hong Kong, it may qualify for offshore tax treatment.
Incorporate in Hong Kong
Starting a trusts, funds and similar financial entities 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