In Hong Kong, there are three types of stamp duties: 1) Ad Valorem Stamp Duty; 2) Special Stamp Duty; and 3) Buyer's Stamp Duty.

1)  Ad Valorem Stamp Duty

1.1  On Sale or Transfer of Immovable Property in Hong Kong

On Sale or Transfer of Immovable Property in Hong Kong	From 1st April 2010	Scale 2
Instruments of residential property	On or after 23rd February 2013 but before 5th November 2016	Part 2 of Scale 1
Instruments of non-residential property	On or after 23th February 2013	Part 2 of Scale 1
Instruments of residential property	On or after 5th November 2016	Rate of Part 1 of Scale 1 (15%)

1.2  Stamp Duty - Hong Kong Tenancy

Lease, tenancy agreement and any other files with similar performance (including documents for duplicates and counterparts) (called the "Lease" here) are required to pay stamp duty. Landlords, tenants and any other persons who have executed the lease payment have to pay stamp duty.

Lease shall be stamped within 30 days after the date of signing. Lease commencement date and time for stamping has no association. A lease which is not stamped shall not be counted as evidence in civil proceedings, nor can it be used in any public officer or body corporate that shall be filed or acted with.

Duration	Stamp Duty Rate
Not defined or is not fixed	0.25% of yearly rent or rent of average term/td>
Lease period not exceeding 1 year	0.25% of total rent payable
Exceeding 1 year but not exceeding 3 years	0.5% of yearly rent or average annual rent
Exceeding 3 years	1% of yearly rent or average annual rent
Moneys mentioned in the lease fee and the cost of construction fees	4.25% (such as rent under the lease); otherwise the same as the sale of immovable property as payment of stamp duty
Duplicates and counterparts	HKD 5 for each

1.3  Stamp duty - Transfer of Hong Kong securities

With effect from 1 September 2001, the sale or purchase of any securities is subject to Hong Kong stamp duty and it will be charged by the amount or value is calculated as follows :-

Natures of Documents	Charges
Contract Notes for sale or purchase of any Hong Kong stock	For each invoice amount or 0.1% of value of the consideration
Voluntary disposition of transfer	$5 plus 0.2% of the value of transferable securities
Any other kind of assignment	$5

If such sale or purchase in Hong Kong is completed within 2 days after the transaction, it must pay stamp duty; if such sale or purchase is completed elsewhere, it must pay stamp duty within 30 days after the transaction.

2)  Special Stamp Duty

Holding Period (Residential property)	The property was acquired on or after 20 November 2010 and before 27 October 2012	The property was acquired on or after 27th October 2012
6 months or less	15%	20%
More than 6 months but for 12 months or less	10%	15%
More than 12 months but for 24 months or less	5%	10%
More than 24 months but for 36 months or less	-	10%

3)  Buyer's Stamp Duty

With effect from 27 October 2012, unless specifically exempted, Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD) is payable on an agreement for sale or a conveyance on sale executed for the acquisition of any residential property. BSD is charged at 15% on the stated consideration or the market value of the property (whichever is the higher).

Documentation

Under the Stamp Duty Ordinance, Ch. 117, there is a certain amount of tax on several types of documents. They are:-

• Conveyance on Sale (Assignment)
• Residential Property Sale and Purchase Agreement
• Immovable Lease (Lease)
• Securities Assignment

Any person who wishes to use a document which is chargeable but without duly stamped for that instruments, that person shall be responsible for such stamp duty and is subject to penalty in respect of legal liability.

Overdue Stamp Duty - Fines

Overdue	Fine
Not more than 1 month	2 times the amount of stamp duty
More than 1 month, but not more than 2 months	4 times the amount of stamp duty
Other cases	10 times the amount of stamp duty