Form NAR1: A Beginner’s Guide to Annual Returns

Form NAR1 is the annual return that most Hong Kong companies must submit to the Companies Registry. For a local private company, it is generally due within 42 days after its incorporation anniversary—even if its information has not changed or it has not conducted business.

What is Form NAR1?

NAR1 is the prescribed form used to report a Hong Kong company’s key information as at its annual return date. It gives the Companies Registry an annual snapshot of the company.

The form covers details such as:

• Company name and Business Registration Number
• Registered office address
• Email address and Hong Kong contact number
• Company secretary
• Directors
• Share capital
• Shareholders and their shareholdings
• Registered mortgages and charges
• Location of the company’s statutory records

NAR1 is not a tax return and does not report the company’s profit or loss. A private company also does not normally submit its audited financial statements with its NAR1.

Who must file an NAR1 annual return?

Every local private company must generally submit an NAR1 each year, even when:

• it has not traded;
• it has made no profit;
• its information has not changed;
• it has only one shareholder and director; or
• it plans to close but has not completed deregistration.

A newly incorporated private company does not file NAR1 during its year of incorporation. Its first annual return is due within 42 days after its first incorporation anniversary. 

A company formally declared dormant under section 5 of the Companies Ordinance may be exempt. Simply stopping business activities does not automatically make a company dormant.

When is the NAR1 filing deadline?

For a local private company, the deadline is 42 calendar days after the anniversary of its incorporation date.

Example:

Suppose your company was incorporated on 10 March 2025:

• First anniversary: 10 March 2026
• First NAR1 filing deadline: 21 April 2026

Sundays and public holidays are included when counting the 42 days. The Companies Registry does not have the power to extend the statutory deadline, so companies should avoid waiting until the final day.

How much is the NAR1 filing fee?

The fee for a local private company depends on when the Companies Registry receives the form.

The higher late registration fee cannot be waived by the Registrar, even if the company did not receive a reminder or is not conducting business. 

Does NAR1 update your company information?

No. NAR1 reports the company’s information as at the return date; it is not a substitute for notifying the Companies Registry when a change happens.

For example, separate forms may be required when the company:

• appoints or removes a director;
• changes its company secretary;
• changes a director’s particulars;
• moves its registered office; or
• issues new shares.

Do not wait until the next NAR1 to report these changes. File the appropriate notice within its own statutory deadline, and make sure the NAR1 reflects the company’s correctly registered position.

How do you complete and submit Form NAR1?

Step 1: Download the current NAR1 form

Download the latest bilingual NAR1 form and relevant schedules from the Companies Registry website. Avoid relying on an old saved copy or an unofficial Word template. 

Step 2: Check the company’s records

Compare the form against:

• the Certificate of Incorporation;
• Business Registration Certificate;
• register of directors;
• register of company secretaries;
• register of members;
• share records; and
• previous filings.

Remember to complete the shareholder schedule even if the members and their shareholdings have not changed. An incomplete return may be rejected.

Step 3: Complete the form consistently

Complete the NAR1 in either English or Chinese. If completing it in Chinese, use Traditional Chinese characters.

Check that the Business Registration Number, company name, addresses, share numbers and officer details match the company’s records.

Step 4: Sign the NAR1

A director or the company secretary must sign the paper form. An unsigned annual return is an unsatisfactory document and may be rejected.

Step 5: File online or in paper form

You can submit NAR1:

• electronically through the Companies Registry’s e-Services Portal;
• by post; or
• in person at the Companies Registry.

For paper filing, include the correct registration fee. A cheque should be crossed, issued in Hong Kong dollars and payable to “Companies Registry.”

How can you check or obtain an NAR1 copy?

Use the Companies Registry’s e-Search service to conduct a Document Index Search and check whether an NAR1 has been registered for a particular year.

You can then order and download an image record of the registered annual return. If a bank, investor or professional adviser requests a certified NAR1, you can order a certified copy through the e-Services Portal; certified copies are collected in hard-copy form.

Common NAR1 mistakes to avoid

Before submitting, check for these common problems:

• Using an outdated form
• Missing the 42-day deadline
• Entering the wrong Business Registration Number
• Leaving the shareholder schedule blank
• Reporting share figures that do not reconcile
• Using NAR1 to report an earlier company change
• Forgetting the signature
• Paying the wrong registration fee
• Posting the form too close to the deadline

Keep a complete copy of the submitted NAR1, payment record and filing acknowledgement.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if NAR1 is overdue?

The company must pay a higher registration fee of between HK$870 and HK$3,480. Failure to comply is also a criminal offence, and the company and every responsible person may face prosecution.

Do I file NAR1 if nothing changed?

Yes. A private company must still file an annual return unless a specific exemption applies.

Is NAR1 the same as a profits tax return?

No. NAR1 is filed with the Companies Registry and reports corporate information. A profits tax return is filed separately with the Inland Revenue Department for taxation purposes.

Does a dormant company need to file NAR1?

A company properly declared dormant under the Companies Ordinance is generally exempt. A business that has merely stopped trading remains subject to filing requirements unless the formal dormant-company procedure has been completed. 

Need Help Filing Your NAR1?

iBlynq Limited, a Hong Kong corporate service provider (TCSP licence: TC009084), can assist with preparing Form NAR1, reviewing company records and completing the required Companies Registry filing.

For annual compliance and company-secretarial support, contact services@iblynq.com for a confidential initial discussion.