Form NAC4 Hong Kong: Notice of Change to Your Company's Accounting Reference Date

Form NAC4 Hong Kong: Notice of Alteration of Accounting Reference Date

Form NAC4 is the specified form for notifying the Companies Registry that a company has changed its accounting reference date. The accounting reference date is the date on which a company’s financial year ends. Altering it shifts the company’s annual return cycle and the deadlines for filing its annual return (Form NAR1) and its profits tax return (BIR51).

What Is the Accounting Reference Date?

Every Hong Kong company incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) has an accounting reference date. It determines the end of the company’s financial year. For a newly incorporated company, the accounting reference date is the last day of the month in which the anniversary of its incorporation falls. The company may change this date by filing Form NAC4 with the Companies Registry.

The accounting reference date also sets the return date for the annual return. The annual return must be filed within 42 days after the return date. If the accounting reference date changes, the return date moves accordingly. File the NAC4 before the annual return for the new period becomes due.

NAC4 Accounting Reference Date Hong Kong: Required Information

The form NAC4 accounting reference date Hong Kong filing requires the following particulars:

• The company’s name and its Companies Registry number (CR number)
• The current accounting reference date (the date that is being changed)
• The new accounting reference date (the date the company wants to adopt)
• The reason for the alteration (for example, to align with a group parent company’s financial year)
• The signature of a director or the company secretary of the company

Complete the form in English or Chinese. If the company is a registered non-Hong Kong company, an authorised representative must sign.

Hong Kong Change Financial Year End Form: Filing Fee and Deadline

File the Hong Kong change financial year end form with the Companies Registry before the annual return for the new accounting reference period is due. There is no statutory deadline for filing the NAC4 itself, but the alteration takes effect only when the Companies Registry registers the notice. If the company files the NAC4 after the annual return for the new period has become due, the Registry may reject the notice.

The registration fee for filing Form NAC4 is HK$105. Pay it at the time of submission. The fee is the same whether the form is filed electronically through the e-Services portal or on paper.

NAC4 Filing Requirements: Restrictions on Alteration

A company cannot extend its accounting reference period to more than 18 months without special justification. The Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) allows an accounting reference period of up to 18 months only in the first accounting period after incorporation. For subsequent alterations, the period must not exceed 18 months unless the company can demonstrate a valid reason, such as a change in the group’s financial reporting cycle.

A company also cannot alter its accounting reference date if the alteration would cause the company to have two accounting reference dates in the same financial year. The new date must fall within the same financial year as the old date, or the company must file a separate notice for each alteration.

Alter Accounting Reference Date Hong Kong: Rejection Reasons

The Companies Registry may reject a Form NAC4. Common rejection reasons:

• Incomplete particulars: the form must include the company name, CR number, old and new dates, and the reason for the alteration. Missing any of these items will cause rejection.
• Invalid date range: the new accounting reference date must not extend the period to more than 18 months without special justification. If the period exceeds 18 months and no justification is provided, the Registry will reject the form.
• Missing signature: the form must be signed by a director or the company secretary. If the signature is missing or the signatory is not an authorised officer, the Registry will reject the form.
• Duplicate filing: if the company has already filed a NAC4 for the same alteration, the Registry may reject the duplicate.

If the Registry rejects the form, correct the error and resubmit. The registration fee is not refunded on rejection.

Relationship to Form NAR1 and the Annual Return

The accounting reference date determines the return date for the annual return. The annual return (Form NAR1) must be filed within 42 days after the return date. If the company alters its accounting reference date, the return date changes accordingly. File the NAC4 before the annual return for the new period is due. If the company files the NAC4 after the annual return has become due, the Registry may reject the NAC4 and the company may face late filing penalties for the NAR1.

Relationship to Form NAC3 and Statement of Revision

Form NAC3 is used to file a statement of revision of financial statements. If a company alters its accounting reference date and subsequently revises its financial statements, it may need to file Form NAC3. The NAC4 and NAC3 are separate forms with different purposes. The NAC4 changes the accounting reference date; the NAC3 revises previously filed financial statements.

Filing Channels

The Companies Registry accepts Form NAC4 through two channels:

• Electronic filing through the e-Services portal at https://www.eregistry.gov.hk/
• Paper filing by post or in person at the Companies Registry counter

Electronic filing is faster and allows the company to receive confirmation of registration sooner. The registration fee is the same for both channels.

Where to Find the Form

The official Form NAC4 is available on the Companies Registry’s specified forms index at https://www.cr.gov.hk/en/forms/specified.htm. The Registry revises forms periodically. Download the current version from the official site rather than using a copy from another source. A stale form may be rejected.