Every person carrying on a business in Hong Kong must register it with the Business Registration Office of the Inland Revenue Department within one month of starting, under the Business Registration Ordinance (Cap. 310). A company incorporated under the Companies Ordinance is registered at the same time through the one-stop service, so a new company receives its Certificate of Incorporation and its Business Registration Certificate together.
The certificate shows the business name, the business address, the nature of business, the date of commencement, the certificate's period of validity (one or three years) and the business registration number. Before a new company starts trading the nature of business reads "CORP". A branch has its own branch registration certificate. The certificate must be displayed at the business address and renewed before it expires.
The number
The business registration number is the company's identifier for tax, and since 27 December 2023 it is also the unique business identifier used by the Companies Registry, so a company particulars search runs on the same number. The Inland Revenue Department offers a free number enquiry by business name and, since 4 September 2023 online only, an extract of the current particulars on the business register for HK$27.
Why it matters
The certificate proves registration and gives the address and nature of business the operator declared, which is why most Hong Kong onboarding checklists ask for it. It does not show directors or shareholders; that is the Companies Registry's record.
How Fill Easy relates to it
A Business Registration search returns the certificate and the registered particulars, by email or through the API, and is often ordered with company particulars and the latest annual return in one request to CorpVerify.