The latest from China & Hong Kong

Emerging fraud threats aimed at finance staff in China: fake tax audit notices, impersonation and phishing, and the controls, training and response plans that reduce exposure.

What the 90-day US-China tariff truce means for companies trading with China, whether to keep transacting there, and the point at which a local entity makes more sense than waiting it out.

Why domestic invoicing in China leads to the question of a local entity: the fapiao system, the tax and credibility advantages of registering, and the risks of staying offshore.

What is actually involved in establishing a company entity in China: regulatory compliance, IP protection, market dynamics, cultural hurdles and how to shorten the timeline.

Hong Kong's eMPF Platform explained: the MPFA's objectives, the phased trustee onboarding, what changes for employers on contributions and enrolment, and what employees gain.

How importers can centralise their Asian sourcing through a Hong Kong entity: the virtual office set-up, the 16.5% profits tax rate, offshore profits, FOB Asia sales terms and lower fixed overheads.

Why a Chinese subsidiary can be worth it: access to the domestic customer base and local talent, policy incentives, supply chain efficiency and the credibility that comes with a local presence.

China's revised Company Law and the registered capital management system in force since 1 July 2024: what changed, what it means for shareholders, and how to adapt.

Practical ways to reduce risk in China: due diligence on partners, protecting IP against infringement, contracting properly with local partners and avoiding the common pitfalls.

Reassessing a China strategy for 2025: current regulatory and economic obstacles, market entry methods worth revisiting, emerging sectors, supply chain resilience and local partnerships.

China's six-year rule for foreign residents: the 183-day test, how the count runs from 2019, how to reset it, and what crossing the threshold means at rates of up to 45%.

Getting organised for annual compliance in China: the procedures and deadlines for FIEs and representative offices, the consequences of missing them, and how to stay ahead.

Kristina Koehler-Coluccia explains what offshore tax status means for a Hong Kong company, the eligibility criteria for claiming an exemption, the documentation you need and how to engage with the Inland Revenue Department.

Why a presence on the ground in China matters: local market insight, regulatory navigation, trust with partners, operational speed, and choosing between an EOR and your own entity.

Meet Hong Kong significant controllers register requirements with guidance on ownership checks, designated representatives, records, and ongoing compliance.

The first real decision in China is not how to set up. It is what to set up. The entity you choose shapes what you can invoice for, how you are taxed, how profit leaves the country, and how easily you can exit later. Getting this right before you file saves far more than it costs. Start with what the structure has to do Foreign investors in China have several vehicles available, but only a few are realistic for most operating businesses. The right choice depends on whether yo

Foreign founders often treat China incorporation as a project with a finish line: choose a structure, file the paperwork, receive the business licence, done. In practice, the licence is the opening of an ongoing compliance relationship rather than the closing of a setup task. Understanding what you are committing to before you file is the difference between a clean operation and an expensive scramble in year one. The licence is a starting line, not a finish line A wholly fore

Keeping accounting in-house in China is a reasonable choice for many foreign-invested companies. It gives you control, proximity, and lower recurring cost. What it does not do is guarantee that your books line up with how China's tax administration now reads them. A periodic health check is how you find the gaps before the system does. The environment your books are being read in has changed China's Golden Tax System Phase IV cross-references data across tax, banking, and mar

If you keep accounting in-house in China, the value of a health check is in its structure. It walks the same ground the tax administration's systems now walk automatically, and it does so on your timetable rather than theirs. Here are the areas that most reward a careful look before audit season. 1. Invoice-to-revenue reconciliation The single most consequential check. Do your official invoices reconcile cleanly to your declared revenue? Because automated systems compare decl

Hong Kong annual return filing deadline: learn the 42-day rule, late fees, key dates, and how private companies can keep Companies Registry filings on track.