IRS Form 8288-B — Withholding Certificate → Hong Kong 🇭🇰
Land Registry + IRD HK · BSD + NRBSD + SSD removed in Apr 2024 (Cooling Measures Removal) — max 4.25% stamp duty
Land Registry + IRD HK accepts the IRS Form 8288-B — Withholding Certificate only with source-of-funds documentation and certified English / Traditional Chinese translation.
Lawyer/notary/escrow network in 13 countries — FIRPTA specialists, Canadian conveyancers, UK solicitors, AU FIRB consultants, German Notar, French Notaire, Japanese 司法書士.
Hong Kong foreign-buyer regime: BSD + NRBSD + SSD removed in Apr 2024 (Cooling Measures Removal) — max 4.25% stamp duty — Apostille accepted directly · law firm mandatory · conveyancing via Sale & Purchase Agreement.
Treaty: HK-Thailand DTA 2005 · Document language: English / Traditional Chinese.
End-to-end: prepare IRS Form 8288-B — Withholding Certificate (70-100 days) → MFA Apostille → English / Traditional Chinese translation → Land Registry + IRD HK.
First-pass acceptance: 96-99%.
Coverage
How it works
- 1
Pre-closing planning under destination rules
Plan against BSD + NRBSD + SSD removed in Apr 2024 (Cooling Measures Removal) — max 4.25% stamp duty.
- 2
Prepare IRS Form 8288-B — Withholding Certificate
70-100 working days at 35,000-95,000 บาท.
- 3
English / Traditional Chinese translation
Registrar-listed translator with real-estate/tax glossary.
- 4
MFA legalisation
Chaeng Wattana — 2-3 working days.
- 5
Apostille
MFA Apostille route.
- 6
File with Land Registry + IRD HK
e-Filing portal or via destination counsel network.
Frequently asked questions
What foreign-buyer rules does Hong Kong apply?
BSD + NRBSD + SSD removed in Apr 2024 (Cooling Measures Removal) — max 4.25% stamp duty
Does Hong Kong accept Thai Apostille?
Yes — MFA Apostille suffices (Thailand Apostille effective Jan 2025).
Which treaty applies?
HK-Thailand DTA 2005
Translation language?
English / Traditional Chinese, by a translator accepted by the destination authority or the Thai MFA.
Can a foreigner buy residential in Hong Kong?
Yes — subject to foreign-buyer tax/approval per state.
Estimated total cost?
35,000-95,000 บาท + translation THB 1,500-3,000/page + MFA THB 400 + free Apostille + Land Registry + IRD HK fees.
Timeline?
Document prep 7-21 days + destination approval/closing 14-60 days.