Govt to resume collection of Hotel Accommodation Tax on Wed

The government announced that starting Wednesday, it will resume the collection of a hotel accommodation tax, which will be set at 3 percent of the accommodation charges. This announcement was made by the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) on Tuesday.

The FSTB revealed today on its social media page that it has been in continuous dialogue with the tourism sector. In collaboration with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD), the bureau has conducted numerous meetings with representatives from the hotel industry and online travel platforms to discuss the operational details of the tax implementation. Additionally, a communication platform has been established to address the industry's concerns and feedback promptly.

The IRD is committed to keeping the industry informed by regularly updating the FAQ section on its website. It will also maintain a hotline and a dedicated service desk at the Inland Revenue Centre to assist stakeholders.

Furthermore, the IRD plans to organize a sharing session for the hotel industry in the first quarter of the next year. This session aims to gather feedback on the initial experiences of the tax collection resumption and to clarify the procedures for tax filing and payment.

To ensure that travelers are well-informed, electronic signage at the airport and various control points will display information about the tax. The department has also engaged with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, and InvestHK, among others, to promote awareness about tax resumption.