With no capital gains tax, and one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the world, Singapore has topped the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index year after year. Also, the time taken to incorporate a business entity here is just under few hours if all the paperwork is in order. Add to it no controlled foreign company rules, 76 comprehensive double taxation agreements and eight limited trade treaties, and the city-state surpasses Hong Kong as the most preferred destination for company incorporation in Asia by a long distance.
Better tax laws, more options for incorporating entities and a business-friendly government are the reasons for Singapore’ successful incorporation climate. The comparison between Singapore and Hong Kong’s business climate can be summarised as:
We discuss this in detail below. You can also have a look at our infographic on the subject here.
Differences between Singapore and Hong Kong Incorporation Requirements
Singapore is an independent sovereign nation and Hong Kong is a specially-administered region of China. Notably, both occupy the top two places of the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings. This is the reason they are looked upon as Asia‘s future international banking and trading centres, which provide immense benefits to holding companies looking to invest in emerging markets of China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia among others.
Both are known for their relatively stable banking and legal systems, no value-added tax, and have positioned themselves as the go-to destination for providing an additional layer of distance between an Asian subsidiary and the parent company.
The two jurisdictions have relatively flexible tax laws with dividends generally not taxed.
We compare the incorporation requirements of the two jurisdictions below:
Differences between Singapore and Hong Kong Taxation Requirements
While the incorporation requirements doesn’t vary too much in the two jurisdictions (that’s why both occupy the top two places in Ease of Doing Business rankings), Singapore’s main edge over Hong Kong lies in it’s taxation policies.
In general, while Singapore follows territorial taxation with remittance, Hong Kong’s jurisdiction is purely territorial. Both impose no capital gains tax. There is also no withholding tax on dividend distribution in the two jurisdictions and advance rulings on taxation is possible too.
Foreign-sourced Income
Notably, Hong Kong only taxes Hong Kong-sourced taxable profit from a business carried out in Hong Kong. Offshore profits and most Hong Kong bank deposit interest income are exempt even if these are remitted to the region.
Comparatively, Singapore resident companies are taxed on profits derived in Singapore, as well as on foreign soil, which are then remitted to Singapore. It is calculated on the basis of the company’s chargeable income i.e. taxable revenues less allowable expenses and other allowances. Though, as detailed in Sections 13 (7A) to 13 (11) of the Income Tax Act (ITA) of Singapore, companies can benefit from the foreign sourced income exemption scheme (FSIE).
FSIE is applicable to:
Foreign sourced dividend
This is a dividend paid by a non-Singapore tax resident company, which may have been temporarily deposited into a foreign custodian account before its remittance into Singapore.
Foreign branch profits
These are profits generated by business operation of a Singapore company registered as a branch in a foreign country.
Foreign-sourced service income
This is income generated by a resident taxpayer for services provided through a fixed place of operation in a foreign country
But, importantly, the exemptions apply only when the headline corporate tax rate in the foreign country from which the income is received is at least 15%, and the income had already been subjected to tax in that particular country.
Double Taxation
Also, to help companies avoid paying double taxation, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) has a foreign tax credit (FTC) scheme allowing companies to claim a credit for the tax paid in the foreign country against the Singapore tax that is payable on the same income. FTC has two components: Double Tax Relief (for countries with which Singapore has a DTA) and Unilateral tax credit (where there is no DTA in place).
Moreover the Singapore Government introduced a FTC pooling system in 2011 to give businesses greater flexibility in their FTC claims, reduce the taxes payable on foreign income, and to simplify tax compliance.
Importantly, for foreign sourced service income, the IRAS always determine the “fixed place of operation”, before deciding on the tax exemption. It refers to a place of management, an office, or a certain amount of floor space, with a degree of permanence and regular usage. Merely leasing an office doesn’t qualify if only auxiliary activities are carried out from the said premises.
Singapore Tax Residency – Certificate of Residence
The Authority usually takes into account from where the management and control of the company was exercised while deciding the residency of a company and issue a Certificate of Residence (COR).
The factors, which determines if the control and management was indeed carried out from Singapore, include the decision-making body’s power to raise finance and control the company’s bank accounts; approve accounts; appoint those who manage the company’s day-to-day operations; declare dividends; as well as decide on matters relating to mergers/acquisitions/joint ventures. Also, it is important for getting the COR that the directors live and keep the books and records of the company in Singapore.
Some examples which may find it hard to convince IRAS about their Singapore tax residency can be an investment holding company owned by a non-Singapore entity having passive sources of income or receiving only foreign-sourced income. Another instance can be of the Singapore branch of a company with its headquarters overseas.
The “subject to tax” condition in Singapore
As more and more countries are giving tax concessions to attract investments, there may be some instances where a Singapore tax-resident company has not paid any foreign income tax. Such cases where the income was not subjected to tax under some incentive schemes of the foreign country are regarded as having met the “subject to tax” condition by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). The company is then not taxed in Singapore.
Taxes on Non-residents or Non-resident companies (withholding tax rates)
With reference to taxes on non-residents (withholding tax rates), Singapore imposes 15% rate on rental income, corporate tax rate on technical service fees, 20% on director’s fees and charter fees (0% for ships and 2% on air-crafts). Whereas Hong Kong has no withholding tax provisions on such fees but non-residents must file their tax returns to the Hong Kong’s Inland Revenue Department.
Singapore is a Safe Harbour
This means that gains derived from the disposal of equity investments by companies will not be taxed, if the divesting company holds a minimum shareholding of 20% in the company whose shares are being disposed; and if the divesting company maintains the minimum 20% shareholding for a minimum period of 24 months just prior to the disposal.
Business Losses
While Hong Kong doesn’t allow carry backward of business losses, Singapore does it for one year with a cap of S$100,000. Both the jurisdictions allow carry forward of such losses indefinitely, but in Singapore it is subject to the shareholding test.
Conclusion
The above comparison clearly proves that while Hong Kong has the advantage of being nearer to China, Singapore with it’s extensive tax treaties and lesser payable taxes (with it’s wide array of incentives) remains the most preferred holding company incorporation destination in Asia.
Not to mention the recent political unrest that Hong Kong has been witnessing in the last couple of years. Comparatively, Singapore is known for its political and economic stability.
Other advantages include robust IP protection, excellent connectivity, world-class infrastructure, strategic geographical location with proximity to world’s largest emerging markets, and a top-notch financial centre with availability of private and government funding.
In a nutshell, Singapore is simply the place to be if you are looking to incorporate a holding company in Asia!
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