On November 17 2021, the IRD provided an update on the latest status of the IRD’s e-filing project at a webinar hosted by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA). The key points are summarised below.
Status of the proposed IRD taxonomy package
The IRD conducted a consultation on the proposed IRD Taxonomy Package (IRD Taxonomy) from January to March 2021 and is now enhancing the IRD Taxonomy based on the comments received during the consultation.
The IRD Taxonomy includes: (i) the full HKFRS taxonomy; (ii) the HKFRS taxonomy for private entities and small and medium-sized enterprises; and (iii) the tax computational taxonomy. Taxpayers using non-HKFRS standards in preparing their financial statements may submit their financial statements in PDF or iXBRL format, if available.
The new Form IR1476
Under the existing legislative framework for e-filing of tax returns, before furnishing a profits tax return, the service provider must obtain a confirmation from the taxpayer stating that the information contained in the return is correct and complete to the best of the taxpayer’s knowledge and belief.
The confirmation will need to be obtained through a new Form IR1476 to be uploaded by the IRD on its website. Taxpayers will be required to make a declaration, date and physically sign the form.
Free iXBRL conversion tools from the IRD
The IRD will provide free iXBRL (i.e. Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language) preparation tools to assist taxpayers in converting the financial statements and tax computations in Word or Excel files to iXBRL data files.
To encourage ‘small businesses’ (currently defined as businesses with gross income not exceeding HK$2 million ($257,000) and satisfying certain conditions) to voluntarily e-file profits tax returns, only the following items will need to be tagged for small businesses:
Financial statements – statement of comprehensive income, statement of financial position, related-party transactions, and property, plant and equipment; and
Tax computations – profits tax computation and detailed profit and loss account.
In addition, the IRD will provide specified iXBRL templates to small businesses for them to input data to the pre-defined templates for generating iXBRL format files.
Other support from the IRD
The IRD will also provide other support to taxpayers such as one-on-one e-concierge consultation on the use of the preparation tools, IT support service hotline to help businesses to upgrade their own computer programs, online walkthrough demo, user guide and frequently asked questions.
Implementation timelines
The proposed implementation timelines of the e-filing project are as follows:
Uploading of the IRD Taxonomy onto the IRD’s website in early 2022;
Rollout of the iXBRLPreparation Tools by the end of 2022 or early 2023;
Launch of trail/pilot run in the fourth quarter of 2022;
Voluntary and mandatory e-filing of profits tax returns by April 2023 and 2025 respectively for large multinational enterprises; and
Mandatory e-filing of profits tax returns in general by 2030 tentatively.
Consultation on the IRD’s proposed IT support
The IRD is currently conducting another round of consultation on the e-filing project.
Views are being sought on the following proposed IT support from the IRD: (i) upgrading or developing computer programs for converting financial statements and tax computations into iXBRL format; (ii) provision of free conversion tools by the IRD; (iii) simplified tagging requirements; (iv) provision of e-concierge to businesses; and (v) invitation to trial/pilot run for all businesses and interested parties. The consultation period will end on January 31 2022.
KPMG observations
It is encouraging to see that the IRD is taking a pragmatic approach and engaging with the stakeholders during the consultation process of implementing the e-filing of profits tax returns.
Given the IRD’s ultimate goal of implementing e-filing for all profits taxpayers in general, businesses should plan ahead and evaluate whether it is more beneficial to do the e-filing in-house or outsource it to a service provider based on their specific circumstances.
If taxpayers would like to handle the e-filing themselves, they should assess what accounting system changes/upgrade will be required and how to leverage the IRD’s free conversion tools.
Lewis Lu
Partner, KPMG China
John Timpany
Partner, KPMG China
