HK Stamp Duty on Shares Calculator 2026
Calculate HK stamp duty on share transactions per the Stamp Duty Ordinance (Cap. 117). Rate: 0.1% buyer + 0.1% seller of consideration or market value, whichever higher. Effective 17 Nov 2023 (cut from 0.13%). Plus $5 contract-note flat fee on both sides. Stock-borrowing exemption (intermediary), HK Connect rates differ.
The HK stamp duty on shares calculator is a free, browser-based tool that works out the Hong Kong stamp duty payable on a listed-share trade from your consideration amount and trade side. It applies the statutory 0.1% per-side rate plus the HK$5 contract-note fee, and returns buyer, seller and round-trip totals in under one second.
Stamp Duty Rate 2026
Effective 17 Nov 2023 (Bill 2023): 0.1% on each side (buyer + seller). Prior rate (2021-2023) was 0.13% per side. Per the GovHK stamp duty rates table, the charge is 0.1% of the consideration on every bought note and every sold note, and where the duty calculated includes a fraction of HK$1 it is rounded up to the nearest HK$1. A HK$5 flat contract-note fee applies per side. The Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department (IRD) enforces collection.
Exemptions
Intra-group transfers (90%+ associated body), corporate reorganisation under §45 Stamp Duty Ordinance, market-maker / specialist trades, share-borrowing/lending arrangements, and stock options upon exercise (already paid on grant) are exempt or rebated. Verify with IRD Practice Note 1 for stamp-duty relief.
Stock Connect — Northbound vs Southbound
Northbound (HK to A-shares) — no HK stamp duty, but CSRC stamp 0.05% buyer + 0.1% seller. Southbound (mainland to HK) — HK stamp duty applies normally to HK-listed shares purchased. Connect investors should plan for the asymmetric treatment when modeling trade costs.
Comparison to Other Markets
HK stamp duty (0.2% total) is one of the world's higher equity transaction taxes. Compare: UK stamp duty 0.5% buyer only on UK shares. France 0.3% on shares of large French companies. Singapore 0.2% only on private-company shares (listed exempt). US no stamp duty. HK pre-2021 was 0.20% (0.10% each side); 2021 hike to 0.26% reversed in 2023 back to 0.20%.
How to Calculate HK Stamp Duty on Shares: Worked Example
Take a HK$500,000 purchase of a Hong Kong-listed stock. Stamp duty is 0.1% of the consideration on the bought note: HK$500,000 × 0.001 = HK$500. Add the HK$5 contract-note fee and the buyer pays HK$505 in stamp duty and note fee. The seller pays the same 0.1% on the sold note, so a completed round trip on that HK$500,000 position costs HK$1,010 across both sides — 0.202% of the trade value. Because the duty is charged per side rather than once per transaction, a strategy that turns the position over ten times a year pays roughly 2% of capital in stamp duty alone. Enter your own consideration in the calculator above to see buyer, seller and round-trip totals side by side.
Other HK Share Trading Costs Beyond Stamp Duty
Stamp duty is the largest single levy on a Hong Kong share trade, but it is not the only one. A completed trade also attracts an SFC transaction levy, an AFRC (Accounting and Financial Reporting Council) transaction levy, an HKEX trading fee, and a CCASS settlement fee, on top of whatever commission your broker charges. Each is a small fraction of a percent, but together they meaningfully change the break-even on short-holding-period trades. Current percentages for each component are published in the HKEX securities trading mechanism and fee schedule, and brokers must disclose them on the contract note. The calculator above isolates the stamp duty and contract-note fee so you can see the statutory tax separately from broker-set charges.
Sources: GovHK stamp duty rates, IRD Stamp Duty, HK Stamp Duty Ordinance (Cap. 117), IRD Practice Note 1, HKEX Trading & Clearing Fee Schedule. Last updated: 2026-08-28. Not tax advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current HK stamp duty rate on shares?
0.1% per side (buyer + seller) of consideration, plus HK$5 contract-note fee per side. Effective 17 Nov 2023. Prior rate was 0.13% per side (2021-2023).
Does HK stamp duty apply to Stock Connect trades?
Northbound (HK to A-shares): no HK stamp duty, but mainland CSRC stamp 0.05% buyer / 0.1% seller. Southbound (mainland to HK): full HK stamp duty applies to HK-listed shares.
Are intra-group transfers exempt?
Yes — under §45 Stamp Duty Ordinance, transfers between associated bodies (90%+ common ownership) are exempt. Also exempt: market-maker trades, stock borrowing/lending, share options exercise. File for relief with IRD Practice Note 1.
How is stamp duty collected?
Broker stamps the contract note and remits to IRD. Stamp duty is built into your trade cost. HKEX provides centralized collection for exchange trades. Off-exchange transfers require manual IRD submission of stamped instrument within 30 days of execution.
Does HK stamp duty apply to ETF trades?
Yes — generally, but exemptions for certain ETFs that hold mostly non-HK assets. HKEX-listed ETF stamp-duty waivers must be verified per ETF — refer to the prospectus or IRD waiver list. Iron-clad rule: HK-listed equity ETFs traded normally have stamp duty.
How much is HK stamp duty on a HK$500,000 share trade?
HK$500 per side. Stamp duty is 0.1% of the consideration on each note, so HK$500,000 × 0.001 = HK$500, plus the HK$5 contract-note fee — HK$505 for the buyer. The seller pays the same on the sold note, making a completed round trip HK$1,010, or 0.202% of the trade value. Source: GovHK stamp duty rates table.
Do I pay HK stamp duty when I buy and when I sell?
Yes. Hong Kong charges stamp duty on both sides of a share transaction — 0.1% on the bought note and 0.1% on the sold note. That differs from the UK, where stamp duty reserve tax of 0.5% is charged to the buyer only. It means the full round-trip cost of a Hong Kong share position is 0.2% in stamp duty before broker commission and exchange levies.