Hong Kong media outlet cleared of tax evasion faces ‘unfair’ HK$40,000 costs

A local online media outlet has been cleared of tax evasion after a year-long review, but the process still cost HK$40,000 (US$5,106) in accounting fees, the Hong Kong Journalists Association said on Monday.Describing the case as an “unfair punishment” on media with “zero fault”, the association said it had been required to prepay HK$730,000 in taxes this year, after also coming under review by the Inland Revenue Department since November 2023.Of the eight media outlets and at least 20 journalists reviewed by the department for salaries tax, profits tax or rates, at least two organisations have had their cases closed, the association’s chairwoman, Selina Cheng Kar-yue, said.