Registered or exempted society
A club, association or other local society that applies to the Societies Officer (Hong Kong Police Licensing Office) within one month of being established. It is an unincorporated association, not a body corporate.
- Entiva fee to form
- $809
- Government fees to form
- None listed
- Run plan
- $129 a month
- Steps to form
- 3
- Ongoing filings
- 1
- Ways to close
- 1
Who it suits, and what defines it.
Governed by the Societies Ordinance (Cap. 151).
Who it suits
- Clubs, associations and other local societies.
- Religious, charitable, social or recreational societies, which can apply for exemption instead.
Key facts
- Statute
- Societies Ordinance (Cap. 151)
- Legal status
- Unincorporated association
- Apply to
- The Societies Officer
- Deadline
- Within 1 month of establishment
- Signed by
- 3 office-bearers
- Fees
- No fee, annual return or annual fee
- Processing
- Normally 12 working days
- Changes
- Notified within 1 month
What the law requires.
5 rules, each in plain words.
Apply within one month of establishment
For registration, or for exemption from registration.
Three office-bearers sign the application
One is the person-in-charge. They give copies of their Hong Kong ID card or passport, and Hong Kong correspondence addresses.
Proof of the principal place of business
A utility bill, bank statement or government letter from the last 3 months, plus the occupier's consent if the premises belong to someone else.
Changes notified within one month
Changes of name, objects, office-bearers or principal place of business, and the closure of a branch.
Branches are registered separately
How Entiva forms it.
3 steps. Entiva prepares and files each one, and collects every signature the law needs.
The steps
3 steps- 1Register the society
Within 1 month of establishment, signed by 3 office-bearers. No fee, and normally 12 working days.
- 2Apply for exemption from registration
An alternative for societies set up solely for religious, charitable, social or recreational purposes.
- 3Apply for charity tax exemptionOnly if needed
Optional. Recognition under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance.
Documents
8- Application for Society Registration or Exemption from Registration
- Constitution, articles or minutes showing the objects and purposes
- Clear copies of the Hong Kong ID card or other valid ID of all office-bearers
- Proof of the principal place of business or correspondence address
- Office-bearers' qualifications and the activities held or proposed
- Consent letter from the lawful occupier of the premises, if needed
- Consent letter where the name relates to another association or person
- Certificate of Registration of a Society
Who takes part
3- Three office-bearers sign, one of them the person-in-charge
- Every office-bearer is verified
- The occupier of the premises consents in writing if the society does not own them
What has to be filed, and when.
Entiva tracks every deadline from the day it is formed, and files before each one.
Every year, and as things happen
1 filing- Provide accounts when the IRD reviews the charity
Only for tax-exempt charities; the IRD reviews them from time to time. No fixed date
The changes Entiva handles.
Each change is prepared, approved, signed and filed.
The most common changes
2 changes- Notify changes of name, objects, office-bearers or place
- Apply for charity tax exemption
How it closes.
One route, filed step by step.
Voluntary dissolution
The members dissolve the society.
- 1
Notify the Societies Officer in writing within 1 month
What Entiva does for you.
From the first filing to the last.
Registered or exempted society
- Prepares the application for registration, for three office-bearers to sign.Formation
- Prepares the application for exemption from registration, where it applies.Formation
- Notifies the Societies Officer of changes within one month, on form POL.1148.Changes
- Prepares the written notice of dissolution and delivers it within one month.Closing
- Posts the application for IRD recognition as a tax-exempt charity under section 88.Ongoing
Build it with the API.
Every step on this page is an action in the Entiva API, with its documents, signatures and filing.
What it costs, item by item.
Every Entiva fee and every government fee, from forming it to closing it.
Forming it
$809one-off
- Government fees
- None listed
Steps marked only if needed are not counted.
Closing it
From $679
- Entiva fee
- Fixed, quoted first
- Government fees
- At cost
Included in the Run plan
- Routine changes
- Every deadline tracked
Extra, at a fixed fee
- Apply for charity tax exemptionOnly if needed
- Provide accounts when the IRD reviews the charity
Each extra is quoted before it starts, and nothing is done until you approve it.
Forming it
Entiva's formation fee is $809, one-off. Government fees are passed through at cost.
Excludes steps marked only if needed.
Every year
The Run plan costs $129 a month ($1,548 a year).
Changes
Routine changes are included in the Run plan.
Closing it
Closing is a fixed-fee project, quoted before it starts.
Entiva fees are in US dollars. Government fees are in the currency each authority charges, passed through at cost when the filing is made. Taxes are separate.
Start with your first company.
We are onboarding a small group of founders and finance teams with entities in more than one country.