Corporate Services
IncorporationBank Account OpeningCross-border Payments
Incorporation & Bank Account for a Foreigner
Set up a Hong Kong company and corporate bank accounts to streamline currency exchange and local payments.
2026-06-22Read Case
Success Cases
Joint Assessment Tax Relief: From HK$21,500 to Zero
RegionHong Kong
CategoryTax Advisory
Date2026-06-08
Spotted a family's tax filing gap during a casual conversation and helped reduce their bill from HK$21,500 to zero through Joint Assessment.
$0
Final Tax Bill
HK$20,000+
Cash Saved
Challenge
The husband of a married manicurist (annual income HK$400,000) filed his tax return individually and faced a tax bill of HK$21,500 (excluding provisional tax), causing the family great anxiety. When filing, the couple overlooked Joint Assessment and chose separate individual taxation. The manicurist's annual income was only HK$120,000—below the Basic Allowance of HK$132,000—and she lived with and fully supported her mother throughout the year. Under separate assessment, her unused personal allowance and Dependent Parent Allowance (living together) could not be transferred to her husband, leaving him to bear the full tax burden alone.
“Spotted a family's tax filing gap during a casual conversation and helped reduce their bill from HK$21,500 to zero through Joint Assessment.”
Solution
During a casual conversation while providing a manicure, we spotted the family's unusually high tax bill and followed up with a detailed discussion that revealed gaps in their filing strategy. We advised the couple to switch to Joint Assessment so the manicurist's remaining basic allowance and her eligible dependent parent allowance could be combined and fully utilized against the husband's income. We then assisted them in formally submitting an objection and application for revision to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), requesting a recalculation of their tax liabilities based on Joint Assessment.
Result
Following recalculation and IRD approval, the husband's original tax bill of HK$21,500 was completely reduced to zero ($0), saving the family over HK$20,000 in cash and fully alleviating their financial worries. By pinpointing a major financial loophole through everyday conversation and delivering an effective solution, we not only resolved a real-world problem for the client but also built immense trust and professional credibility.
Success Cases
