Many people think that if they keep their money in a Hong Kong bank, the mainland tax authorities won't be able to see it.

Since 2018, this view has become outdated.

Hong Kong completed its CRS legislation in 2017 and officially began exchanging account information with other countries and regions in 2018. As of 2026, Hong Kong has entered into agreements withMore than 110 countries and regionsA mechanism for the automatic exchange of financial account information has been established—including mainland China.

This means that the mainland tax authorities have the right to access your account information in Hong Kong.

💡 If you're concerned that CRS might affect your Hong Kong account and aren't sure if there are any risks, feel free to add me on WeChat. qcygscszk or call 18676749275, text 【CRS】 to receive a compliance risk assessment and action plan.

What is CRS?

The CRS (Common Reporting Standard) is an international standard for the exchange of tax information developed under the leadership of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Core Mechanics: Financial institutions such as banks, insurance companies, and investment firms report account information on nonresident clients to their domestic or regional tax authorities each year, and those tax authorities then exchange the information with the tax authorities in the clients’ countries of tax residence.

Simply put: Your account information in Hong Kong is compiled annually by the Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department and then exchanged with the tax authority of the country (the Mainland) where you are a tax resident.

What types of information will be exchanged?

Under what circumstances is information exchanged?

Not all accounts will be subject to the exchange, but accounts that meet the following criteria will be given special attention:

Scenario 1: The balance in the individual account exceeds the equivalent of USD 250,000
High-net-worth individual accounts are a key focus of CRS reporting.

Scenario 2: Holding a “non-resident account” with an overseas financial institution”
If you are a tax resident of the mainland and hold a Hong Kong bank account, you meet the definition of a “non-resident account.”

Scenario 3: A mainland resident is the actual controller of the company’s account
For Hong Kong companies, if the controlling shareholder or beneficial owner is a Mainland resident, the company’s account information will also be included in the scope of the exchange.

How to Comply with CRS Legally

Misconceptions: CRS is not a question of “how to get around it,” but rather a question of “how to comply with it.”

The Correct Approach:

Approach 1: Ensure the structure complies with regulations and does not involve holding shell companies

If your Hong Kong company is merely a shell used to receive payments and has no actual business operations, and after the CRS information exchange, mainland tax authorities discover that you have large amounts of overseas funds that you have never reported, this is the primary source of tax risk.

Solution: Either ensure that the company has genuine business operations to support its operations (a reasonable source of profit), or conduct a self-audit and file amended tax returns for past years.

Approach 2: Proactively Report, Rather Than Wait to Be Investigated

Mainland China has reporting requirements for offshore financial assets (for high-net-worth individuals and businesses). The outcomes differ significantly between voluntary reporting and being investigated:

• Voluntary Disclosure: Compliance Adjustments and Back Tax Payments
• Unsolicited Audit: Back taxes + fines (up to three times the amount of underpaid taxes) + criminal liability

Approach 3: Making Effective Use of Tax Treaties

There is an "Arrangement between the Mainland and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation on Income" in place between the Mainland and Hong Kong. Income generated under a compliant structure is exempt from double taxation in both jurisdictions.

The Key to Utilizing Tax Treaties: Compliance with the Structure + Genuine Business Activities + Complete Documentation.

📌 If you’d like to establish a compliance framework to prepare for the CRS, or need to conduct self-assessments and file amended returns for past years, please contact Qicaiying for a one-on-one solution.
Cell phone: 18676749275 ｜ WeChat: qcygscszk

An Important Reminder

CRS cannot be “circumvented,” but it can be “appropriately addressed.”

The most effective approach is to establish a compliance framework from the very beginning, rather than waiting until information has already been exchanged and the tax authorities have issued an inquiry before taking corrective action.

The cost of remediation is several times that of compliance efforts.

The Four Core Advantages of Qicaiying’s Hong Kong Company Services

🔹 1. A team of experts to guide you throughout the process

Our team of nearly 400 professionals, comprising senior Hong Kong licensed secretaries, certified public accountants, tax accountants and cross-border business consultants, handles tens of thousands of Hong Kong company registration and maintenance cases annually. We provide ”one-to-one” customized solutions from company structure design (e.g. Mainland-Hong Kong dual entity, VIE structure), name search, document preparation to government filing. We have 3 TCSP licensed secretaries and 1 self-owned Hong Kong CPA firm to ensure that every step of the process is legally compliant and to avoid risks from the source.

🔹 2. digitally empowered, smart and efficient

We have invested tens of millions of dollars to develop our own digital system ”E-Tron”, which realizes the standardization of the whole process and visualization of the progress of Hong Kong company registration, bank account opening, annual review, audit and tax filing, and so on. Customers can track the key nodes such as certificate issuance, bank interview, tax return submission, etc. in real time. The integration of AI intelligent analysis can quickly assess whether your business is suitable for applying for offshore exemption, whether you need to do transfer pricing, and assist in generating the optimal compliance program, so that complex matters are clear and transparent.

🔹 3. Eco-links, extra value

We connect over 500,000+ entrepreneurs with domestic and international associations (e.g. Shenzhen Cross-border E-commerce Association, Hong Kong Chinese General Chamber of Commerce), and regularly organize cross-border salons and seminars on finance and tax law. Registering a Hong Kong company through us is not just about getting a certificate - it is also about linking ecological resources such as green channel for bank account opening, cross-border payment, overseas warehouses, auditing and taxation, etc., which solves the problem of ”not knowing who to look for next after registering”, and creates secondary business opportunities.

🔹 4. Full-cycle accompaniment for worry-free sailing

Our services go beyond ”successful registration” to provide full life-cycle support for Hong Kong companies:

Previously: Free assessment of whether you need a Hong Kong company, recommending the optimal type of entity (Mainland company/Hong Kong company/Offshore company);

Midterm: Assist in completing Hong Kong company registration, bank account opening (HSBC / Overseas Chinese / Dah Sing / CBI and many other green channels), VAT / EIN application;

Late: Annual audits, audit tax returns, offshore exemption applications, CRS compliance, account freezes in case of emergencies, to become a long-term and robust partner for your overseas business. We automatically remind and handle all annual compliance matters on behalf of you on a nodal basis, and you just focus on your business.