Tax on salary is not deducted at source in Hong Kong. Employees need to complete a tax declaration detailing earnings at the end of each fiscal year (31st March). The declaration is often provided by the employer. Self-employed workers will need to make a personal assessment.
Income tax in Hong Kong is progressive, with rates from 2-17%, although the standard rate of tax is 15% (2013). Allowances for single parents, married couples and for the number of dependent children reduce the taxable amount from the total salary. There is no capital gains tax, dividend tax or inheritance tax in Hong Kong.
Depending on when you start working, you may get your first tax bill 18 months later. Bear in mind the amount of outstanding tax you owe on the bill can be a shock. A good idea is to put it in a separate account every month. You normally get an assessment notice from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) in autumn with the sum due.
For more information on tax declarations, check out the IRD website at www.ird.gov.hk . It also offers an automatic income tax computation service. Make sure to keep the IRD up to date with changes to your address and to inform them immediately in case of delayed payment. A surcharge of 5% is normally automatically added to late payments.