Hong Kong Business Registration Fees Went Up Again on 1 April 2026: Here's What It Means for Your Company
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 3
If you've registered or renewed a Hong Kong company recently, you may have noticed the bill was higher than last year. That's not a mistake. From 1 April 2026, the Hong Kong government increased the Business Registration Certificate (BRC) fee, and the change applies to every company operating in Hong Kong, not just new incorporations.
What actually changed
Every Hong Kong company needs two separate certificates to operate legally: a Certificate of Incorporation from the Companies Registry, and a Business Registration Certificate (BRC) from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD). The BRC is the one that changed.
For the period running from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027:
A one-year BRC now costs HK$2,350, up from HK$2,200 the previous year.
A three-year BRC now costs HK$6,170.
The increase comes from the reinstatement of the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund (PWIF) levy, which had been waived for the prior 12-month period. That HK$150 levy is now back, and it's added on top of the base registration fee.
Combined with the Companies Registry's incorporation fee (HK$1,545 for electronic filing), the total government cost to set up a new Hong Kong private limited company now sits at HK$3,895 — before you factor in a company secretary, registered office, or any professional support.
Why this matters even if you're not incorporating right now
The BRC isn't a one-off cost. It renews every year (or every three years if you chose that option), and the fee applies at renewal just as much as at incorporation. If your renewal notice lands in the coming months, expect it to reflect the new rate — the IRD typically issues the demand note around a month before your certificate expires.
Missing that renewal isn't just an admin inconvenience either. Operating without a valid BRC is an offence under the Business Registration Ordinance, and the certificate must be displayed at your registered place of business. Late renewal can also complicate other filings, since your BRC number now doubles as your company's Unique Business Identifier (UBI) across government departments.
What this means for budgeting your Hong Kong company
For founders comparing jurisdictions or planning a first-year budget, it's worth being precise rather than working from last year's numbers or a generic online quote. A realistic year-one Hong Kong company formation cost, government fees plus a licensed provider's incorporation package, company secretary and registered office, typically runs somewhere between HK$8,000 and HK$12,000. From year two, ongoing annual upkeep (BRC renewal, Annual Return filing, company secretary, registered office and basic accounting) usually falls between HK$11,000 and HK$25,000, depending on how much is bundled in.
The headline number you see advertised online is often just the Companies Registry filing fee. The BRC, the mandatory company secretary, and the registered office address aren't optional extras, they're statutory requirements under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), and any complete quote needs to include them.
Getting your numbers right from the start
Fee changes like this one are exactly the kind of detail that's easy to miss if you're managing a Hong Kong entity from overseas, or filing renewals yourself without a local partner keeping track of statutory deadlines. Woodburn's Hong Kong team handles company registration, company secretary, and registered office services together, so renewals, fee changes, and filing deadlines are managed as part of one ongoing relationship rather than something you have to track separately.
Setting up or renewing a Hong Kong company this year? Explore Woodburn's Hong Kong company registration services or book a free 30-minute advisory call to get a clear, current cost breakdown for your specific situation.
Woodburn Accountants & Advisors is one of China and Hong Kong’s most trusted business setup advisory firms.
Woodburn Accountants & Advisors is specialized in inbound investment to China and Hong Kong. We focus on eliminating the complexities of corporate services and compliance administration. We help clients with services ranging from trademark registration and company incorporation to the full outsourcing solution for accounting, tax, and human resource services. Our advisory services can be tailor-made based on the companies’ objectives, goals and needs which vary depending on the stage they are at on their journey.
