What is the Annual Return, 2025 Annual Return NAR1 Form Sample and Notes, How much is the fine for forgetting to submit the Annual Return?
In addition to paying tax, you have to submit the annual return NAR1 every year. What is the annual return? What is NAR1? What information do I need to submit in NAR1? What is the purpose of NAR1? In this article, we will introduce the definition, content and function of the annual return, as well as the latest 2025 nar1 submission guidelines.
What is the Annual Return?
Annual Return Annual Return is a form of NAR1 that must be filed annually by local private limited companies registered in Hong Kong, whereas Hong Kong Unlimited companies are not required to file an annual return (they only need to submit the Business Registration Certificate fee and tax return on time).
The Annual Return can be used as an annual health check for a Hong Kong company. The Annual Return NAR1 is submitted to the Companies Registry at a specific time of the year, and the Companies Registry will learn about the financial and legal operations of the company from the Annual Return to ensure that the company's operations are in compliance with the regulations.
What is the use of the Annual Declaration Form?
The annual return submitted after the establishment of a Hong Kong company is not only for the government to understand the operation of your company, but also part of the return will be uploaded to the Companies Registry database for public inspection, so it is also a co-operation and competitors to understand your company's channels, and you will need to use the annual return in the following circumstances.
- Open a Corporate Account
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Transfer of Shares
- Business Transfer
- Bank Loan
- Application for government support
- Application for various types of licences
- Commercial activities such as signing of commercial contracts
- When required to certify the information of shareholders, directors and company secretary of the company
What information must be submitted in the Annual Return?
Local private companies are required to submit an annual return on Form NAR1 for each year of registration, which can be found in the Sample Annual Return, which sets out the information you need to provide:
1.Company Name
2. Address of Registered Office
3. Periods covered by the financial statements
4. Share capital (if any)
5. Details of Company Secretary
6. Details of Directors and Company Secretaries
7. details of the members of the company with share capital
8. Company Records
In the case of a public company or a company limited by guarantee, the annual return shall be accompanied by copies of the reporting documents relating to the financial year, including the financial statements, the directors' report and the auditor's report on the financial statements, which are required to be sent to every member of the company under section 430 of the Companies Ordinance. Such copies shall be certified as true copies by a director or the company secretary of the company.
When do I have to submit the annual return?
An annual return is required to be filed within 42 days after the anniversary date of the incorporation of a local private company and there is no extension.
Even if there is no change in the company's information or there is no business as in the previous year, the annual return is still required.
How do I submit an annual return?
Paper Form (2025 Annual Return NAR1 Form)
For paper filing in person or by post, you need to print out your own NAR1 form. If filing the annual return by post, the fee must be paid by crossed cheque in Hong Kong dollars payable to "Companies Registry".
Address: 14/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong
As the second phase of the Unique Business Identifier (UBIC) has been implemented on 27 December 2023, the Company Number column has been replaced by the business registration number of the UBIC, so the old version of the form needs not to be used anymore.Annual Return NAR1 Form。
Extended reading: "The4 Points to Note for Submitting Annual Returns》
electronic means
The electronic submission of the annual return is done through the Companies Registry Website submission and payment.
What is the annual declaration fee?
For local private companies and companies limited by guarantee, the annual registration fee is HK$$105 for timely delivery of the annual return within 42 days after the anniversary date. If the annual return is delivered late, a late registration fee will be added, which will increase from HK$$105 to more than HK$$870, as shown in the table below:
| Submission Time | Annual Return Fee |
| Within 42 days of the Company's anniversary date | $105 |
| Within 3 months after 42 days of the company's anniversary date | $870 |
| 3 months, but not more than 6 months, from the company's anniversary date | $1,740 |
| 6 months but not more than 9 months from the company's anniversary date | $2,610 |
| More than 9 months after the company's anniversary | $3,480 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Whose duty is it to submit annual returns?
Companies and their officers are obliged to comply with the requirements of the Companies Ordinance in relation to the delivery of documents. Therefore, the filing of annual returns is generally a statutory responsibility of company directors and company secretaries, so one of the company directors and company secretaries must have more professional corporate governance skills to ensure that the company's operations are in compliance.
What is the fine for late submission of annual return?
In addition to paying higher registration fees for late submission of annual returns, companies that are too late will be prosecuted by the Companies Registry and fined on the basis of the time and number of times they are late, with the amount ranging from 1 TP4T3,000 to 1 TP4T50,000.
What companies are required to submit annual returns?
As long as the company is a private limited company in Hong Kong, it is required to submit an annual return regardless of whether it is registered overseas or locally.
Do I need to use my company registration number or business registration number for the annual return?
In the past, the annual return was completed using the company registration number, but now the 8-digit business registration number is used.
If your company's incorporation date is on or before 22 December 2023 and the company registration number is only 7 digits, you have to find out the Business Registration Certificate; if your company's incorporation date is on or after 22 December 2023, the company registration number is 8 digits and the same as the Business Registration Certificate number.
Conclusion
The annual return is a corporate document that must be delivered annually by the company, as long as the company is not dissolved, to avoid the need to invite late registration fees. Filing the annual return on time is usually the statutory duty of the company directors or company secretary, if there is no company secretary, you can considerCompany SecretaryProfessional Services. Click here to submit your annual return to find out more!
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