Hong Kong – 2021-2022 Budget Measures
HK – 2021-2022 Budget Measures
Hong Kong’s government delivered the 2021-2022 Budget with proposed relief measures for those affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Key proposals affecting individuals and their employers include a reduction of the 2020-21 salaries tax and tax under personal assessment by 100 percent, subject to a ceiling of HKD 10,000. There were no changes to salaries tax rates and allowances for individuals.
The Hong Kong government delivered the 2021-2022 Budget, which includes a series of proposed relief measures to provide much needed assistance to those affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.1
In this GMS Flash Alert we highlight some of the key tax measures announced impacting individuals and their employers.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The proposed relief measures for 2021-22 and tax reduction for 2020-21 will potentially affect the tax payable by employees in Hong Kong. The proposals, once they come into effect, may necessitate adjustments to tax equalisation and tax protection calculations. The measures may also provide taxpayers some relief in trying times.
In Summary
In the Hong Kong Budget 2021-22, the government projected the largest fiscal deficit in 20 years. However, despite this, Hong Kong fiscal reserves remain strong at an estimated HKD 902.7 billion as of 31 March 2021.
Key proposals affecting individuals and their employers include:
— A reduction of the 2020-21 salaries tax and tax under personal assessment by 100 percent, subject to a ceiling of HKD 10,000;
— No changes to salaries tax rates and allowances for individuals;
— A reduction of the 2020-21 profits tax payable by 100 percent, subject to a ceiling of HKD 10,000;
— HKD 5,000 e-consumption vouchers for Hong Kong permanent residents and new arrivals;
— HKD 1,000 subsidy on each residential electricity account;
— Waived rates for non-domestic properties – cap at HKD 1,500 per quarter in the first two quarters and HKD 1,000 per quarter in the remaining two quarters for each rateable property;
— Increase in Stamp Duty on stock transfers from 0.1 to 0.13 percent.
KPMG NOTE
This year’s Budget substantially follows past years’ mixed bag of measures and sweeteners designed to address a wide range of expectations from the general public.2
For a full analysis of the Budget, see “Hong Kong Budget Summary 2021-2022,” a publication of the KPMG International member firm in Hong Kong; also visit the Hong Kong member firm’s dedicated Budget webpage.
Legislative proposals do not generally become law until their enactment and may be modified before enactment.
FOOTNOTES
FOOTNOTES:
1 For the text of the Budget speech (in Mandarin/Chinese and English), and related documentation and videos, see: https://www.budget.gov.hk/2021/chi/index.html.
2 For coverage of last year’s Budget, see GMS Flash Alert 2020-142 (2 April 2020).
HKD 1 = EUR 0.108
HKD 1 = USD 0.13
HKD 1 = GBP 0.0926
HKD 1 = AUD 0.167
Source: Foreign currency conversion data provided by XE.com.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Hong Kong.
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