Hong Kong SAR vs Cayman Islands
Corporate Tax Comparison
Time of Update: Hong Kong SAR: 4/02/2026 / Cayman Islands: 4/05/2026
Compare Hong Kong SAR and Cayman Islands corporate tax rates, filing due dates, withholding tax, VAT, capital gains tax, and effective tax metrics for cross-border company planning.
Hong Kong SAR vs Cayman Islands Corporate Tax Comparison
Basic Corporate Tax Comparison
Corporate Income Tax (CIT)
Hong Kong SAR
Cayman Islands
General CIT Rate:
Corporations: 8.25% on the first HKD 2 million of assessable profits and 16.5% on the remainder; unincorporated businesses: 7.5% on the first HKD 2 million and 15% on the remainder.
General CIT Rate:
N/A
CIT Return Due Date:
The tax return forms are typically released on the first working day of April each year. The filing deadline is usually within one month from the day the forms are released. Certain companies (e.g., those with a fiscal year ending on December 31) may have an extended filing deadline, typically until August 15 of the year the forms are released, and in certain circumstances (e.g., electronic filing), extensions may be granted.
CIT Return Due Date:
The Cayman Islands has no tax reporting requirements.
CIT Payment Due Date:
For companies with a fiscal year ending on December 31st, the final tax payment for a specific tax year is typically due in November of the year when the tax return is filed.
CIT Payment Due Date:
N/A
CIT Estimated Payment Due Date:
For companies with a fiscal year ending on December 31st, interim taxes for a specific tax year will be paid in two installments, typically due in November of the current year and January of the following year.
CIT Estimated Payment Due Date:
N/A
Withholding Tax (WHT)
Hong Kong SAR
Cayman Islands
Resident Withholding Tax (Dividend/Interest/Royalty):
0/0/0
Resident Withholding Tax (Dividend/Interest/Royalty):
N/A
None-Resident Withholding Tax (Dividend/Interest/Royalty):
0/0/2.475-4.95
None-Resident Withholding Tax (Dividend/Interest/Royalty):
N/A
Value-Added Tax (VAT)
Capital Gain Tax (CGT)
Hong Kong SAR
Cayman Islands
General Capital Gain Tax Rate:
N/A
General Capital Gain Tax Rate:
N/A
Effective Tax Rate (ETR)
Hong Kong SAR
Cayman Islands
Composite Effective Average Tax Rate:
14.28
Composite Effective Average Tax Rate:
Composite Effective Marginal Tax Rate:
2.01
Composite Effective Marginal Tax Rate:
