Hong Kong Seeks Feedback on CARF and Tax Reporting Standards

According to Odaily, Hong Kong announced on Tuesday that it is seeking public feedback on the implementation of the Common Reporting Standard for Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information (CARF) and modifications to tax reporting standards. This initiative is part of the local government's efforts to combat cross-border tax evasion. Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, stated that adopting CARF would demonstrate the government's commitment to promoting international tax cooperation and fighting cross-border tax evasion. In addition to CARF, Hong Kong is also soliciting opinions on the adoption of the Common Reporting Standard (CRS). Both CARF and CRS are initiatives by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) aimed at standardizing various aspects of international tax reporting. CARF has already been widely adopted globally. The latest list maintained by the OECD shows that 48 countries have committed to adopting CARF by 2027, 27 countries by 2028, and the United States by 2029.