Q:
|
What is a qualifying corporate treasury centre (“QCTC’)?
|
A:
|
A corporation is a QCTC for a year of assessment if:
1.
|
it has carried out in Hong Kong one or more corporate treasury activities, but it has not carried out in Hong Kong any income-generating activity other than a corporate treasury activity;
|
2.
|
it has carried out in Hong Kong one or more corporate treasury activities and income-generating activity other than a corporate treasury activity, but it has satisfied the safe harbour rule under section 14E of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (“IRO”); or
|
3.
|
it is a CTC which the Commissioner has determined under section 14F(1) of the IRO to be a QCTC even though it satisfies neither of the conditions in (a) and (b) above.
|
Please note that a financial institution is not eligible to be a QCTC.
|
Q:
|
What is meant by “corporate treasury activity”?
|
A:
|
Corporate treasury activity is defined as:
1.
|
carrying on an intra-group financing business;
|
2.
|
providing a corporate treasury service; or
|
3.
|
entering into a corporate treasury transaction.
|
|
Q:
|
What is the benchmark of carrying on an intra-group financing business?
|
A:
|
Generally, Commissioner of the Inland Revenue Department would accept that a corporation is carrying on an intra-group financing business if:
1
|
the corporation has not less than four borrowing or lending transactions each month;
|
2.
|
each borrowing or lending transaction exceeds HK$250,000; and
|
3.
|
borrowing or lending transactions are with not less than four associated corporations in the relevant basis period.
|
|
Q:
|
Once a corporation satisfies the conditions of a QCTC, will all of its assessable profits be taxed under concessionary tax rate?
|
A:
|
Even though a corporation satisfies the conditions of a QCTC, profits derived from the following corporate treasury activities will be taxed under profits tax at full tax rate:
1.
|
intra-group financing transaction under which money is lent to a Hong Kong associated corporation;
|
2.
|
corporate treasury service which is provided to a Hong Kong associated corporation;
|
3.
|
corporate treasury transaction that is related to the business of a Hong Kong associated corporations; and
|
4.
|
corporate treasury transaction that is not related to the business of an associated corporation.
|
|
Q:
|
Do QCTC still qualify for the two-tiered profits tax rates?
|
A:
|
No. A QCTC who has made the election under for the concessionary tax rate will not qualify for the two-tiered profits tax rates.
|