The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has recently revisited its approach to the issuance of Hong Kong Certificate of Resident Status (HK CoR) and announced that effective from 12 June 2023, it will base its decision of whether an HK CoR can be issued on the plain definition of ‘resident of Hong Kong’ in the relevant comprehensive avoidance of double taxation agreement/arrangement (CDTA). The application forms have also been revised to reflect its latest approach.
As an entity incorporated or constituted under the laws of Hong Kong would by definition qualify as a Hong Kong tax resident in most CDTAs signed by Hong Kong, such an entity is now only required to provide basic information about its business particulars in the revised application forms.