Hong Kong (China)
Hong Kong (China) (“Hong Kong”) has met all aspects of the terms of reference (OECD, 2017[3]) (ToR) for the calendar year 2019 (year in review) and no recommendations are made.
Hong Kong can legally issue four types of rulings within the scope of the transparency framework.
In practice, Hong Kong issued rulings within the scope of the transparency framework as follows:
The Inland Revenue Department of Hong Kong may publish some advance rulings on its website in redacted form.1
No peer input was received in respect of the exchanges of information on rulings received from Hong Kong.
A. The information gathering process
475. Hong Kong can legally issue the following four types of rulings within the scope of the transparency framework: (i) preferential regimes;1 (ii) cross-border unilateral APAs and any other cross-border unilateral tax rulings (such as an advance tax ruling) covering transfer pricing or the application of transfer pricing principles; (iii) permanent establishment rulings; and (iv) related party conduit rulings.
476. For Hong Kong, past rulings are any tax rulings within scope that are issued either: (i) on or after 1 January 2015 but before 1 April 2017; or (ii) on or after 1 January 2012 but before 1 January 2015, provided they were still in effect as at 1 January 2015. Future rulings are any tax rulings within scope that are issued on or after 1 April 2017.
477. In the prior years’ peer review reports, it was determined that Hong Kong’s undertakings to identify past and future rulings and all potential exchange jurisdictions were sufficient to meet the minimum standard. In addition, it was determined that Hong Kong’s review and supervision mechanism was sufficient to meet the minimum standard. Hong Kong’s implementation remains unchanged, and therefore continues to meet the minimum standard.
478. Hong Kong has met all of the ToR for the information gathering process and no recommendations are made.
B. The exchange of information
479. In the prior years’ peer review reports, it was determined that Hong Kong’s process for the completion and exchange of templates were sufficient to meet the minimum standard. With respect to past rulings, no further action was required. Hong Kong’s implementation in this regard remains unchanged and therefore continues to meet the minimum standard.
480. Hong Kong has international agreements permitting spontaneous exchange of information, including being a party to the (i) Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters: Amended by the 2010 Protocol (OECD/Council of Europe, 2011[4]) (“the Convention”) and (ii) bilateral agreements in force with 35 jurisdictions.2
481. For the year in review, the timeliness of exchanges is as follows:
482. Hong Kong has the necessary legal basis for spontaneous exchange of information, a process for completing the templates in a timely way and has completed all exchanges. Hong Kong has met all of the ToR for the exchange of information process and no recommendations are made.
D. Matters related to intellectual property regimes (ToR I.4.1.3)
484. Hong Kong does not offer an intellectual property regime for which transparency requirements under the Action 5 Report (OECD, 2015[1]) were imposed.
References
[3] OECD (2017), BEPS Action 5 on Harmful Tax Practices - Terms of Reference and Methodology for the Conduct of the Peer Reviews of the Action 5 Transparency Framework, OECD Publishing, Paris, http://www.oecd.org/tax/beps/beps-action-5-harmful-tax-practices-peer-review-transparency-framework.pdf.
[1] OECD (2015), Countering Harmful Tax Practices More Effectively, Taking into Account Transparency and Substance, Action 5 - 2015 Final Report, OECD/G20 Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Project, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264241190-en.
[4] OECD/Council of Europe (2011), The Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters: Amended by the 2010 Protocol, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264115606-en.
Notes
← 1. With respect to the following preferential regimes: 1) profits tax concession for corporate treasury centres; 2) profits tax concession for professional reinsurers; 3) profits tax concession for captive insurers; 4) profits tax exemptions for ship operators; and 5) profits tax concessions for aircraft lessors and aircraft leasing managers.
← 2. Parties to the Convention are available here: www.oecd.org/tax/exchange-of-tax-information/convention-on-mutual-administrative-assistance-in-tax-matters.htm. Hong Kong also has bilateral agreements with Austria, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Belarus, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China (People’s Republic of), Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Korea, Latvia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Viet Nam.