Practical articles on Hong Kong personal finance, taxes, MPF, property, FIRE and retirement planning. All content is for reference only and aims to help you make better use of the calculators on this site.
Age-65 withdrawal, early retirement from 60 and permanent departure have different requirements. Understand declarations, eMPF procedures, instalments and the one-time departure rule.
Five years of service does not automatically qualify an employee for long service payment. Check termination reasons, caps and the post-2025 MPF offset rules.
Check Green Form GSH eligibility first, then estimate the deposit, mortgage term and post-completion cash reserves.
Hong Kong still has no single statutory retirement age in 2026. Separate private-sector contracts, MPF early-retirement conditions and withdrawal at 65.
Understand the 2026 Old Age Living Allowance income and asset limits, including owner-occupied homes, MPF, annuities, insurance and couples.
A lower mortgage rate or cashback does not prove refinancing is worthwhile. Compare the outstanding balance, penalties, legal fees, valuation, break-even period and total interest.
Before a partial mortgage prepayment, check the penalty, notice period and cash buffer. The penalty period ending is not a free prepayment.
A lower balance-transfer instalment does not guarantee a lower cost. Compare APR, term, fees, early-settlement terms and payoff date.
Rent versus buy is more than rent against mortgage payments. Include the deposit's opportunity cost, transaction costs, holding costs and flexibility.
MPF is only one part of retirement assets. Build a plan around spending, inflation, contribution gaps, TVC and withdrawal timing.
A tax cap is not automatic eligibility. Organise allowances, qualifying deductions, documents and provisional tax by year of assessment.
Why does credit-card debt barely move even when you pay Min Pay on time? Understand Hong Kong minimum-payment rules, APR, payoff time and balance-transfer costs.
Hong Kong salaries tax rates, allowances and deductions for 2026/27, including the HK$145,000 basic allowance, MPF/TVC, home-loan interest and residential rent.
The self-employed MPF cap is HK$1,500 a month. The current minimum relevant income is HK$7,100, not HK$7,500.
Hong Kong's mortgage stress test is suspended, but the 50% DSR, 70% LTV, bank valuation and internal affordability checks still matter in 2026.
The FIRE movement emphasises saving and passive income. Explore the key numbers for achieving FIRE in Hong Kong's high-cost environment.