A Simple Guide on The Territorial Source Principle of Taxation

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Foreword

Hong Kong adopts a territorial source principle of taxation. Only profits which have a source in Hong Kong are taxable here. Profits sourced elsewhere are not subject to Hong Kong Profits Tax. The principle itself is very clear but its application in particular cases can be, at times, contentious. To clarify the operation of the principle, we have prepared this simple guide on the territorial source principle of taxation. It gives a brief explanation of how the principle operates and provides simple examples for illustrative purposes of the tests applied to different types of businesses. If you wish to explore the subject in relation to your specific scenario, we are happy to discuss with you.

Hong Kong’s basis of taxation on profits from businesses

Hong Kong adopts a territorial basis for taxing profits derived from a trade, profession, or business carried on in Hong Kong. Profits Tax is only charged on profits which arise in or are derived from Hong Kong. In simple terms this means that a person who carries on a business in Hong Kong but derives profits from another place is not required to pay tax in Hong Kong on those profits.

Many places levy tax on a different basis. Unlike Hong Kong, they tax the world-wide profits of a business, including profits derived from an offshore source.

Pre-conditions for liability to Profits Tax

Under the Inland Revenue Ordinance, a person is chargeable to Profits Tax under the following conditions –

  • he carries on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong;
  • the trade, profession or business derives profits; and
  • the profits arise in or are derived from Hong Kong.

The first two conditions are straightforward. Some elaboration is necessary for the third. Let us have a brief look at the basic principles for determining the source of profits.

Basic principles for determining the source of profits

The Courts have over the years considered the subject of the source of profits. The following principles have emerged from authoritative court decisions –

  • Matter of fact
    • The question of locality of profits is a hard, practical matter of fact. No universal rule can apply to every scenario. Whether profits arise in or are derived from Hong Kong depends on the nature of the profits and of the transactions which give rise to such profits.
  • The operations test
    • The broad guiding principle is that one looks to see what the taxpayer has done to earn the profits in question and where he has done it. In other words, the proper approach is to identify the operations which produced the relevant profits and ascertain where those operations took place. The source of profits must be attributed to the operations of the taxpayer which produce them and not to the operations of other members of the taxpayer’s group.
  • Antecedent or incidental activities
    • The relevant operations do not comprise the whole of the taxpayer’s activities. The focus is on establishing the geographical location of the taxpayer’s profit-producing transactions as distinct from activities antecedent or incidental to those transactions.
  • Place where decision is made
    • The place where the day-to-day investment/business decisions take place is only one factor which has to be taken into account in determining the source of profits. It is not usually the deciding factor.
  • Gross profits from transactions
    • The distinction between Hong Kong profits and offshore profits is made by reference to the gross profits arising from individual transactions.
  • Business presence overseas
    • A business may maintain a presence overseas which earns profits outside Hong Kong but the absence of a business presence overseas does not, of itself, mean that all the profits of a Hong Kong business invariably arise in or are derived from Hong Kong. However, in the vast majority of cases where the principal place of business is located in Hong Kong and there is no business presence overseas, profits earned by that business are likely to be chargeable to Profits Tax in Hong Kong.

Profits of trading firms

Contracts for purchase and sale 
The factor that determines the locality of profits from trading in goods and commodities is generally the place where the contracts for purchase and sale are effected. “Effected” does not only mean that the contracts are legally executed. It also covers the negotiation, conclusion and execution of the terms of the contracts.

How relevant facts are considered 
In considering the relevant facts the nature and quality of the activities matter more than their quantity. It is the cause and effect of such activities on the profits that is the deciding factor.

Irrelevant facts 
Facts not directly related to the trading activities are considered irrelevant in determining the locality of profits. For example, renting office premises, recruiting general staff, setting up office, etc.

General practice

  • Where the contracts of purchase and sale are effected in Hong Kong, the profits are taxable here.
  • Where the contracts of purchase and sale are effected outside Hong Kong, the profits are not taxable here.
  • Where either the contract of purchase or the contract of sale is effected in Hong Kong, the initial presumption is that the profits are taxable here. However, other relevant facts will have to be examined to determine the source of profits.
  • Where the sale is made to a Hong Kong customer (including the Hong Kong buying office of an overseas customer), the sale contract will usually be taken as having been effected in Hong Kong.
  • Where the effecting of the purchase and sale contracts does not require travelling outside Hong Kong but is carried out in Hong Kong by use of telephone, or other electronic means including the Internet, the contracts will be considered as having been effected in Hong Kong.
  • Trading profits are regarded as being either wholly taxable or wholly non-taxable here. Apportionment is not appropriate.

Profits of manufacturing businesses

The place of manufacture
The source of profits for a manufacturing business is the place where the goods are manufactured. The profits arising from the sale of goods manufactured in Hong Kong are fully taxable here. Where goods are manufactured partly in Hong Kong and partly outside Hong Kong, that part of the profits which relates to the manufacture of goods outside Hong Kong will not be regarded as arising in Hong Kong. The place where the manufactured goods are sold is not relevant.

Sale or purchase commissions

The place where service is performed 
When a business earns commission by securing buyers for products or by securing suppliers of products required by customers, the activity which gives rise to the commission income is the arrangement of the business to be transacted between the principals. The source of the income is the place where the activities of the commission agent are performed. If such activities are performed in Hong Kong, the income has a source in Hong Kong.

Factors such as the place where the principals are located, how they are identified by the commission agent, and the place where incidental activities are performed prior or subsequent to the earning of the commission are not generally relevant in determining the source of the commission income.

In the event that the commission income is earned by a person carrying on a business in Hong Kong but the activities which give rise to the commission are performed entirely outside Hong Kong, the commission is not taxable in Hong Kong.

Treatment of other profits

Some examples of the tests used to determine the source of the main types of other business profits are as follows –


Profits
 
Tax liability in Hong Kong
 

Rental income from real property
 
Taxable if the property is located in Hong Kong
 

Profits derived by an owner from the sale of real property
 
Taxable if the property is located in Hong Kong
 

Profits from the purchase and sale of listed shares and other listed securities
 
Taxable if the stock exchange where the shares or securities in question are traded is located in Hong Kong

Where the purchase and sale took place over-the-counter, taxable where the contracts of purchase and sale are effected in Hong Kong
 

Profits accruing to a business (other than a financial institution) from the purchase and sale of unlisted shares and other unlisted securities
 
Taxable where the contracts of purchase and sale are effected in Hong Kong
 

Service fee income
 
Taxable if the services which give rise to the payment of the fees are performed in Hong Kong
 

Royalties received by a business
 
Taxable if the licence or right of use is acquired and granted in Hong Kong
 

Royalties on intellectual property received from Hong Kong by a non-resident
 
Taxable if the intellectual property is used in Hong Kong

For royalties received or accrued on or after 25 June 2004, if the intellectual property is used outside Hong Kong, taxable if the royalty payment is deductible in ascertaining the assessable profits of the payer under profits tax
 

Interest accruing to a business (other than a financial institution)
 
Taxable if the lender provides the funds in Hong Kong to the borrower
 

Apportionment of profits and expenses

For manufacturing profits or service fee income involving substantial activities, both inside and outside Hong Kong, apportionment of profits is appropriate. In contract processing cases, a 50:50 basis of apportionment is applied as the norm, in view of the contractual conditions imposed on the parties to the arrangement. For other cases where apportionment is appropriate, the basis applied will depend on the facts of the case.

When apportionment is applied, it may lead to the question of how indirect expenses are to be allocated. Briefly speaking, when these expenses contribute to both Hong Kong and offshore profits they should be apportioned on the basis of the ratio that Hong Kong and offshore profits bear to total profits.

These notes have no binding force and do not affect a person’s right of objection or appeal to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue, the Board of Review (Inland Revenue) or the Courts.

This guide is issued by the Inland Revenue Department of Hong Kong.