Tax Loan Strategic Guide: How To Choose The Best Tax Loan Plan in Hong Kong

Tax Loan Strategic Guide: How To Choose The Best Tax Loan Plan in Hong Kong

Regardless of whether you are living from paycheck to paycheck or saving up for a rainy day, you still have to pay taxes! Taxpayers receive their tax bills from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) around September to October every year and have to pay for it by the following January.

What if you are stuck in a financial rut? Well, thankfully there is a solution because every year during tax season, banks and private lenders offer special personal loan plans commonly called “tax loans” to help taxpayers pay off their tax bills. So what exactly are tax loans, why should you take and what exactly differentiates tax loan plans from personal loan plans? We got you a all-in-one tax loan strategic guide to save you some bucks from using a tax loan.

Table of contents: Hong Kong tax loan


MoneySmart latest tax loan offer

WeLend Personal Loan (Available for tax season)

WeLend logo

Monthly Payment

HK$12,860

Monthly Payment
MoneySmart Exclusive
Guaranteed application reward HK$600
The lowest APR
1.88%
Total Amount Payable
HK$308,640
Total Interest Payable
HK$8,640
Monthly Payment
HK$12,860
MoneySmart Exclusive:

 Selected customers can receive up to HK$16,000 Cash Rebate upon successful draw down!



【Last Chance! Apply for Tax Loan at the Beginning of the Year of Loong! 🐲】Earn with Your Tax Loan Application. From now until 31 March, apply for WeLend Personal Loan (Available for tax season) via MoneySmart, you can earn the application bonus of HK$800 vouchers (given out as 8,000 SmartPoints) regardless of approval! But that's not all - SmartPoints can be freely exchanged for cash vouchers from 20+ brands or converted into HK$533 cash! Click here to learn more.

Valid until 31 Mar 2024
WeLend provides the most flexible repayment periods from 3 – 84 months. You can also draw down a loan up to HK$1,500,000 for personal use. For loan smaller than HK$150,000, WeLend Personal Loan doesn’t require income proof & address proof.

BOC Express Cash Instalment Loan – Tax Season Loan

Bank of China logo

Monthly Payment

HK$13,131

Monthly Payment
APR as low as 1.78%*
APR*
1.78%
Total Amount Payable
HK$315,148.80
Total Interest Payable
HK$15,148.80
Monthly Payment
HK$13,131

BOC Express Cash Instalment Loan offers a loan up to HK$4,000,000 with a repayment period between 6 months – 60 months. And if you are a BOC banking customer, you can easily apply for the loan via mobile app or online banking with ease.


Hong Kong tax loan 101

What is tax loan?

During tax season, banks and private lenders offer a special type of personal loan called tax loans to help taxpayers pay off their tax bills. (Here we have a beginner salary tax guide.)

Tax loans have lower interest rates and a shorter repayment period compared to personal loans and credit cards. However, they may have additional application requirements, such as submitting a recent tax bill and providing proof of financial circumstances.

What’s the difference between tax loan and personal loan?

Here is a comparison of the tax loan, personal loan and credit card prepayment:

Loan Type Purpose Interest Rate Repayment Period Maximum Loan Size Application Requirements
Tax Loan Paying off tax bills 1.12-5%* 6 – 24 months 10-12 times of monthly salary Recent tax bill, proof of financial circumstances
Personal Loan Any purpose 1.12%-8.23%* Up to 84 months 11-13 times of monthly salary Fewer requirements than tax loans, no need to submit tax bill
Credit Card Prepayment Any purpose Approximately 36%, plus handling fee and administrative fee No specific repayment period Credit card maximum credit limit Holding of a credit card

*The interest rate varies depending on an individual’s financial situation.

When deciding between a tax loan and a personal loan, it’s important to consider your specific financial situation and needs, as well as the terms and conditions of each loan option.

Low-interest rate for tax payment

Tax loan interest rates range between 1% – 5% in general, which are lower than the personal loan and credit card interest rates.

Sometimes banks will even promote “no interest” or “particularly low-interest rates for first few months” to ensure that the loan offering is attractive. Be careful to note that tax loan rates are usually applicable only when you borrow over a certain amount, often times as much as over HK$500,000. (In other words, your monthly income should be at least HK$38,000!)

Shorter repayment period

A typical tax loan can have a repayment period that ranges anywhere from 6 – 24 months, which is shorter than most personal loan repayment periods. For personal loans, people are typically allowed to repay within 84 months. This is something very important to take note of as it will obviously affect how you manage your finances in the short term.

Lower maximum loan limit

Similar to the above point, because tax loans are specially offered and promoted during the end of the year, they tend to come with limitations such as having lower maximum loan limits than typical personal loans. Take for example the latest promotion plans of the most popular banks – the maximum loan limit is usually 10 – 12 times the taxpayer’s monthly income, while normally the personal loan max limit is  11 – 13 times an individual’s monthly income and your assets and liabilities level.

Additional application requirements

Tax loans are offered only during the tax season. You need to submit your latest tax bill in order to get your final loan amount approved. You will also be required to provide proof of financial circumstances. Note that if you fail to provide the latest tax bill to banks, they may approve the application as a personal loan.

Should you apply for a tax loan?

We have talked so much about tax loan: what are they and how good they are; but the key question you really need to ask yourself is: do you really need to apply for a tax loan? Here are a few considerations:

Getting a tax loan because of the low interest rate?

Some might think it’s a no-brainer to borrow money for tax payment, but it’s not always that simple.

Sure, if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, you may have no choice. But for others, it’s important to consider whether the low-interest rate of tax loans is worth it. Keep in mind that these rates often only apply if you’re borrowing a certain amount, which may be more than you need. Normally, applicants have to borrow at least HK$500,000 to enjoy lower rates that are advertised by banks.

So before jumping into a tax loan, you had better think twice if you want to take on a tax loan simply because of the low-interest rate.

Do you really need a tax loan?

In principle, you should never rely on a tax loan for tax payment. Only apply for a tax loan when you really cannot afford the taxes.

How can we do it better? From now on, you should develop a habit of saving money for tax payment by adding a “tax column” into your budget. Smart ones will ask again, “It is too troublesome to set up a fixed monthly savings amount. Are there any simpler ways?”

You may consider buying the Electronic Tax Reserve Certificates (TRCs) promoted by the government at a minimum of HK$300 and in multiples of HK$50. TRCs purchased will be deposited into your TRC account. You can enjoy the auto tax payment service when taxes are due. Save up for a rainy day by purchasing some TRCs and solve the tax payment problems in the upcoming years.

Do you know your liabilities level?

For some, tax loans are more than just a means to pay off their taxes – they’re an opportunity to invest and make some quick cash. But beware, investing always involves risks and no investment is completely free of loss. High returns often come with high-risk investment products, so it’s important to carefully estimate your risk tolerance ability before borrowing a tax loan for investment. If you can’t recoup the interest, you may end up with a deficit and the loss may outweigh the gain. So think twice before making investment decisions with borrowed money.

Can you repay the debt?

When it comes to getting a loan, remember this rule of thumb: only apply if you can repay. Otherwise, you’re just paying interest without reaping any benefits. Be sure to calculate the APR, potential handling fees, and administrative fees before deciding to borrow.

The purpose of tax loans – can tax loans only be used for paying taxes? Can they be used for investing?

While tax loans were originally introduced to help applicants pay their taxes, there is actually no restriction on how applicants can use the loan. This has expanded the scope of tax loan usage, allowing it to be used for investments or other purposes, such as home renovations, investing.

How to choose a tax loan plan in Hong Kong?

If you have decided to move on with a tax payment, here is the next thing you might see:

It’s that time of year again in Hong Kong – tax season. And as expected, the banks are in the midst of a heated annual propaganda war to promote their tax loans. They’re using catchy phrases like “no interest,” “low-interest rate for the first few months,” and “cash rebate” as gimmicks to entice potential customers. It almost sounds like a free ride, but is it too good to be true?

The devil is in the details. The interest rate is not the only standard to distinguish whether a tax loan plan is good enough or not. As we will explore below, you had better consider a few things before selecting the best plan.

Using the APR to make comparison

Banks have different ways to package their tax loans, like the cash rebates, free handling fee, etc. To actually compare the total cost you need to pay, you’d have to spend time and effort.

To avoid the hassle, you can simply compare the actual expenses of loans by their annual percentage rate (APR).

What is APR? APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. It’s the yearly rate charged for borrowing money or earned through an investment. This rate is expressed as a single percentage number and represents the actual yearly cost of funds over the term of a loan or the yield earned on an investment.

In other words, APR calculates all related interests, administration fees and service charge. One thing to note though – the APR excludes overdue repayment and the service charge of early repayment. But if you remember to pay on-time, you can save thousands of money.

And some loans offer a lower APR to customers who are civil servants or professionals like accountants, lawyers, doctors, and actuaries. Remember to find out those offers before making the decision.

Be aware of terms and conditions

Some tax loan plans seem to be very attractive because of an extremely low interest rate. But there is no such thing as a free lunch. These promotions usually attach credit conditions. For example, applicants must be privileged customers of the bank, which means you have to set up an account and deposit a certain amount of money, or else they specify a minimum loan limit like $500,000 in order to enjoy a lower rate discount. The banks now mostly take 10 – 12 times of individual’s monthly income as the maximum credit limit. If you cannot meet the minimum income requirement, you can never enjoy the related discount.

Tax Loan promotional offers for first-time/online application

Most banks offer special promotions on online application or first-time applicants. Check out promotions from different banks to find the best tax loan plan for your needs. Many banks offer cash rebates to their customers, which is a way to reduce your interest expenses.

If you look after the pennies, the pounds will look after themselves.  Remember to count them in as well when selecting your tax loan plan!

Shorter repayment period

The tax loan repayment period offered by banks is typically 6 – 24 months, which is shorter than that of most personal loan companies. Extending the loan repayment helps to ease the stress. The longer the period, however, the higher the actual interest expense is. Generally speaking, plans that require more than 12-month repayment period are not recommended.

Are you eligible for the lowest interest rate?

Many tax loan advertisements claim to offer the “lowest interest rate”, but these offers often come with conditions. If you fail to meet certain criteria, such as not reaching the approved amount or not opening the required type of account, your bank may end up offering a higher interest rate than you expected.

Best tax loan plans in Hong KongWhich tax loan plan should you choose?

Banks are offering all sorts of gimmicks to promote their tax loan plans. But how can you tell which one is the best? Worry not, because we’ve got you covered with a comparison of tax loan plans from UA and Citibank.

Bank Max. Loan Amount Lowest Interest Rate APR Repayment Period
UA Seasonal Tax Loan 3x monthly salary 1.38% Up to 36 months
Citi Speedy Cash Loan 12x monthly salary 1.78% Up to 60 months

Tax loan provider review 2023

Get ready to compare the latest and greatest loan promotions from banks and financial institutions! Stay tuned for more updates!

Out of all the banks, UA Seasonal Tax Loan offers the lowest Annual Percentage Rate (APR) but that comes with a price. But note that the loan amount of UA Seasonal Tax Loan is relatively low and its repayment period is up to 3 months only. If you’re looking for a big loan or a longer repayment period, you’ll need to consider other tax loan plans like Citi Speedy Cash Loan.

As for other banks, you can enjoy the lowest APR once your loan amount reaches HK$1,000,000 to HK$1,500,000 with a repayment period of 6 to 12 months.

UA Seasonal Tax Loan

UA Finance logo

Monthly Payment

HK$12,680

Monthly Payment
Loan amount up to 300% of tax payable
APR*
1.38%
Total Amount Payable
HK$304,320
Total Interest Payable
HK$4,320
Monthly Payment
HK$12,680

Citi Speedy Loan

HK$100,000 12-month tax loan plan comparison

Let’s do some math to find out the best deals. Say for example that you’re going to get an HK$100,000 12-month tax loan.

As illustrated in the chart below, UA Seasonal Tax Loan offers the lowest APR. By going with that loan, you need to repay HK$8,439/month. Citi Speedy Loan a the higher APR, which means that you need to repay HK$8,482/month.

Wondering why Citibank, CITIC and HSBC aren’t in the below chart? This is because for HK$100,000 tax loans, the larger banks typically do not announce their offers unless you call them to find out.

Bank Loan Amount Repayment Period Lowest Interest Rate APR Amount Repayable Per Month
UA Seasonal Tax Loan HK$100,000 12 months 1.38% HK$8449
Citi Speedy Cash Loan HK$100,000 12 months 1.78% HK$8482

Final Words: Tax loans is more than just tax payments

Back in the days, some banks would pay your tax bill directly on behalf of you. But now? Tax loans are just another personal loan product, which can be used however you want. You can use the tax loan to pay for your renovations, weddings, further studies or simply to improve your cash flow.

Frequently asked questions: Hong Kong tax loans

Can I apply for a tax loan if I am self-employed or a freelancer?

Yes, you can apply for a tax loan if you are self-employed or a freelancer. However, the maximum loan amount you can borrow may differ, and you may need to provide additional documentation to prove your income. Check with your preferred bank for their specific requirements and loan terms for self-employed individuals and freelancers.

What is the difference between tax loans and personal loans?

Tax loans are offered during tax season from October to April each year, while personal loans are available year-round. Tax loans typically have lower interest rates, smaller loan amounts, and shorter repayment periods.

What are the typical maximum loan amounts and repayment periods for tax loans?

The repayment period for tax loans is typically 12-24 months, although some banks offer a tenor of just six months. Applicants can borrow up to 10-12 times their monthly salary.

What should I consider when applying for a tax loan?

The personal loan and tax loan application processes are similar, but for a tax loan, you need to submit your salaries tax assessment demand notes. Check if the bank will charge handling and early repayment fees, or offer cash rebates and handling fee waivers. Compare APR, interest rates, total repayment amounts, and tenors. 

Related articles

Wanna know more how does the salary tax work in Hong Kong? Check out the blog post about the basics of Hong Kong salary tax.

If you are paying domestic rents in Hong Kong, you may be eligible for tax deduction. To learn more about this tax deduction, please refer to the blog post.

 

Wanna stay ahead of the herd? Check out the MoneySmart blog for more financial tips!

MoneySmart—Your One-Stop Financial Products Platform

Homepage: www.moneysmart.hk/en/