Renewing your Business Registration Number (BRN) is non-negotiable for every Hong Kong enterprise. If you want to stay compliant with Hong Kong’s law, you need a valid BRN. This process involves renewing the Business Registration Certificate (BRC), which serves as an official record confirming a business’s identity with the government.
Think of your BRN and your BRC as your company’s passport: without an active BRN and BRC, you cannot open a bank account, sign major contracts, or issue official invoices.
Not just that, under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310), letting your BRN or BRC lapse can lead to a fine of up to HK $5,000 and 12 months’ imprisonment—a steep price for missing a simple renewal date.
Ps: Business Registration Number (BRN) is NOT the same as Company registration number (CRN). Read this guide, BRN vs. CRN if you’re confused.
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How to renew your Hong Kong Business Registration Number (BRN)
BR renewal is straightforward once you know the timeline, how demand notes work, and which payment channel fits your style. Let’s break down each of those points so you never scramble at the last minute.
In Hong Kong, every business—local or foreign, sole proprietorship, partnership (incl. LLP) or limited company—renews its Business Registration Certificate in the same way.
About one month before expiry, the Inland Revenue Department issues a demand note. Paying that note automatically renews the certificate, whether you choose a 1-year or 3-year term, with responsibility resting on the owner(s) or company officers.
Four ways to renew your BR
Option | What to do | Good to know |
By post | Mail a photocopy of the old BRC + crossed cheque to the Business Registration Office | They’ll post the receipted certificate back to your business address. |
In person | Visit the IRD counter with your old BRC (or to get a fresh demand note if it’s lost) | Handy if your address has changed—you can update it on the spot. |
Through a representative | Authorise your company secretary, CPA, or other agent to handle the renewal | Common for SMEs whose secretaries manage annual compliance. |
Online / electronic payment | Pay the demand note via Internet banking, phone banking, ATM, e-Cheque, or the eTAX portal | Once payment registers, the demand note itself doubles as the new BRC—no extra paperwork. |
Build your business on a solid foundation
When to renew your Hong Kong Business Registration Number (BRN)
The IRD’s Business Registration Office mails a renewal demand note to your registered office address around mid-month before the new certificate starts—think mid-April for a 1 May commencement.
Pay the fee and levy shown, and that stamped demand note immediately becomes your valid BRC.
Important Note: You cannot pay or renew without the original demand note. If it has not turned up, write to the Commissioner of Inland Revenue within one month of the certificate’s expiry to request a replacement. Not having the demand note is NOT a reason to miss deadlines.
BR Renewal timeline: 1-year vs 3-year certificates
Most businesses stick with the standard 1-year BRC, but you can lock in a 3-year certificate to cut down on admin. To switch, file the IRBR 184 selection form at least one month before your current certificate expires (e.g., by 15 April if it ends on 15 May).
Should you renew for 1 year or 3 years?
- Choose 1 year if you might close, sell, or pivot within three years.
Note: Unused years on a 3-year certificate are not refundable. - Choose 3 years if the business is stable and you want fewer renewals. The overall cost is cheaper, and you have less paperwork to do.
How to change your BR term
Direction | Form | Deadline | What happens next |
1 year → 3 years | IRBR 184 “Election for 3-year BRC” | File at least one month before the current certificate expires | IRD sends a demand note for three years; pay it and the new 3-year cycle begins |
3 years → 1 year | IRBR 199 “Revocation of Election” | Same timeline—no later than one month before expiry | IRD issues a 1-year demand note; pay it and you return to annual renewal |
Both forms must be posted or delivered in person (fax and email are not accepted). Once filed, the only step left is to pay the demand note, exactly as you would for a routine renewal.
Updating your business details before BR renewal
Before you pay that renewal fee, make sure the government has your current address and business nature on file. The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) treats any mismatch as non-compliance, and you only have one month from the date of change to put things right. Here is how to stay in the clear.
Address or business-nature changes
Hong Kong businesses must inform the IRD whenever they:
- move to a new trading or registered office address
- add, drop, or reshape a line of business (for example, from “consulting” to “consulting and software development”)
Failing to report within one month can lead to prosecution under the Business Registration Ordinance.
What to notify and where when renewing BR
Send the IRD a written notice, or the prescribed form with:
- Business or branch registration number
- Existing details on your current BRC
- New address or updated business description
- Effective date of change
Documentation required in BR renewal
Attach a signed copy of the relevant IRD form:
- Form IRC 3111A for a change of business address
- Form IRBR 193 for a change in business nature
Include any supporting proof (for example, a new tenancy agreement) if the IRD asks for it. Keep a copy of the filed form and the IRD’s acknowledgement with your compliance records—you may need it at audit time.
BR fee structure
Keeping track of the dollars and cents is half the battle when you renew. Below is a quick snapshot of BR fees that starts between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026—plus how to settle the bill and get instant proof of renewal.
Current BR fees (2025/26)
Certificate | Fee (HK$) | Levy (HK$) | Total due |
1-year BRC | 2,200 | 0 levy waived until 31 Mar 2026 | 2,200 |
3-year BRC | 5,720 | 300 | 6,020 |
Branch (1 yr / 3 yr) | 80 / 208 | 0 / 300 | 80 / 508 |
Why the zero levy on the 1-year certificate?
The Government is waiving the HK $150 Environmental & Conservation Fund levy for certificates that begin on or before 31 March 2026. No extra concessions were added in the 2025/26 Budget, so the headline fee stays at HK $2,200.
How to pay your BR fee
Receipt issuance & renewal confirmation
- Demand note = Certificate once paid. The IRD mails a renewal demand note about a month before the new certificate starts. As soon as you pay, that stamped/paid demand note itself becomes your valid BRC—no further paperwork.
- Posting a cheque? The Business Registration Office will return a receipted certificate to your business address.
- Electronic payments generate an immediate payment record; file it together with the paid demand note in your statutory records.
With the fees, payment channels, and receipts squared away, you’re all set to tick the “paid and compliant” box before the due date.
How to Register a Business in Hong Kong
What to do if you don’t receive the renewal demand note
In most cases, your renewal demand note should arrive on schedule. Then, renewing your BR is an easy 2-step process.
Step 1: Receive a demand note from the authority
Step 2: Pay the necessary fees
However, what should you do if your demand note goes missing or doesn’t arrive in time?
Even the IRD’s mail-outs can go astray, but not getting your Business Registration renewal demand note isn’t an excuse to miss the deadline.
Below is a quick action plan—follow it and you’ll still renew on time, avoid penalties, and keep trading without hiccups.
Step 1: Confirm the note is truly missing
Step 2: Tell the IRD within one month of expiry
Step 3: Get a fresh (or duplicate) demand note
Step 4: Pay and file as usual
1. Confirm the note is truly missing
The Business Registration Office normally issues the demand note around the middle of the month before your new certificate starts (e.g., mid-April for a 1 May renewal). If nothing shows up, move to Step 2.
2. Tell the IRD within one month of expiry
By law, you must inform the commissioner in writing within one month after your current BRC expires that the demand note never arrived. Missing this extra deadline can itself trigger penalties.
3. Get a fresh (or duplicate) demand note
4. Pay and file as usual
Once you have the replacement demand note, pay it by your preferred channel (cash, cheque, FPS, e-Cheque, etc.). The paid demand note immediately doubles as your renewed BRC, so keep both the note and the payment slip in your statutory records.
Key contact
Business Registration Office hotline: 187 8088 (Mon–Fri, office hours).
Penalties for late renewal or non-compliance
Miss the renewal deadline and the IRD first adds a HK $300 surcharge to your demand note. Let it slide further and the case can escalate to a court-imposed fine of up to HK $5,000 plus 12 months’ imprisonment under the Business Registration Ordinance. For a complete breakdown of how these charges build up and the other compliance traps to watch out for, see our detailed guide on business penalties in Hong Kong.
Staying proactive, especially about that one-month notification window, means a missing piece of mail never puts your Hong Kong business on ice. Let Sleek’s company-secretarial team track your renewal dates, file IRBR 184 or IRBR 199 when you want to switch certificate length, and settle the demand note on time. We keep your Hong Kong business compliant so surcharges and court summonses never reach your desk.
Business Registration post-renewal obligations
Renewing is only half the job; you also have to show the world (and the authorities) that your paperwork is in order. Below are the three quick checks every Hong Kong business should run once the fresh certificate is in hand.
1. Put the new BRC on display
The law says the valid certificate must hang “in a conspicuous place” at every business address so inspectors (or visiting clients) can see it without asking.
2. Keep the registries in sync
If your registered office or principal place of business moves or your business nature wording changes, tell both regulators:
- Companies Registry: file Form NR1 (address) or the relevant form for other particulars.
- Inland Revenue Department (IRD): send a written notice or the IRD’s fillable PDF (e.g., IRC 3111A for address, IRBR 193 for nature) within 1 month of the change. A handy one-stop e-filing option on the Companies Registry portal updates both records at once.
3. Update your BRC after structural changes
Any material shake-up, whether it is a new branch or a change of shareholders, directors, or business name, also triggers a BRC update. File the relevant IRD form inside the same one-month window so the certificate mirrors your current structure and avoids future banking or licensing hiccups.
Tick these three boxes, and you’ll stay on the right side of the Business Registration Ordinance long after renewal day.
Common BR renewal pitfalls and how to avoid them
Even experienced owners slip up at renewal time. Below are three frequent errors, plus the easy habits that stop them.
1. Forgetting to track the renewal date
- Set two calendar alerts: one month before expiry and another a week before.
- Opt for a 3-year certificate if paperwork is a burden; fewer deadlines mean fewer chances to miss one.
2. Misplacing the demand note
- Scan and save the note to a shared compliance folder as soon as it arrives.
- Have a backup plan: if the note is lost, request a duplicate through eTAX or collect one at the IRD counter, then pay immediately.
3. Not updating details before filing
- Review your address and business nature as soon as the note lands; any changes must be reported within one month.
- Synchronise filings: submit updates to the Companies Registry (Form NR1, etc.) and the IRD (IRC 3111A or IRBR 193) at the same time so the new BRC shows the correct information.
Follow these simple practices and renewal remains a quick task, not a last-minute scramble.
Renew stress-free with Sleek
Why wrestle with paperwork when Sleek can handle it for you?
Our Hong Kong incorporation package already includes a one-year Business Registration Certificate, company secretary service, and an intuitive dashboard that tracks every deadline.
Sign up at Sleek today and let dedicated experts submit your renewal, update your details, and keep you compliant while you focus on growth.
FAQs about how to renew your Business Registration Number in Hong Kong
Do I still need a BRC if my business is inactive?
Yes. Every Hong Kong business must hold a valid Business Registration Certificate until it is formally deregistered or declared dormant with the Companies Registry and IRD.
How do I know when my business registration is due for renewal? Does the IRD send reminders?
Check the expiry date printed on your current certificate. The Business Registration Office mails a renewal demand note about mid-month before the new certificate starts, which serves as your reminder.
What is the difference between a one-year and a three-year Business Registration Certificate?
Only the validity period and the upfront fee differ. A one-year certificate lasts 12 months; a three-year certificate lasts 36 months and saves two future renewals, but you must choose it at least one month before the current certificate expires.
Can someone else renew my business registration on my behalf?
Yes. You can authorise a company secretary, CPA or any trusted representative to visit the Business Registration Office or pay the demand note for you.
What is the difference between a new business registration and a renewal?
A new registration creates your Business Registration number for the first time. A renewal simply pays the demand note to keep that existing number active and updates any changed details.
Do foreign-owned companies have different renewal requirements?
No. Once a foreign company sets up a place of business in Hong Kong, it follows the same renewal timetable, fees, and filing rules as local entities.
Are there any exemptions from renewal fees?
Yes. Approved charities and very small sole-proprietor or partnership businesses with average monthly turnover below HK $10,000 (services) or HK $30,000 (other trades) can apply for a fee waiver each year.
How can I contact the IRD about business registration renewal issues?
Call the Business Registration Office hotline at 187 8088 or visit the counter at 2/F, Inland Revenue Centre, 5 Concorde Road, Kai Tak, Kowloon, during office hours.
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