Tax Investigations Heighten Challenges for Journalists in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Journalists Association reveals that several news outlets and their personnel are facing tax investigations, intensifying fears among journalists amidst ongoing pressures on press freedom in the region.

Journalists in Hong Kong, already under pressure since the national security crackdown initiated five years ago, are now confronting tax inspections that heighten their fears of self-censorship and arrest. The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) reported on Wednesday that its own organization, six independent news outlets, and their founders are among those targeted by tax inquiries, stressing that this places further strain on an already beleaguered press environment in the territory.

The investigations reportedly extend beyond the journalists themselves to include the personal finances of their spouses and parents. Many affected individuals have received additional tax demands and some have been asked for extensive financial records covering the past seven years. Selina Cheng, the chair of the HKJA, emphasized that the authorities have often lacked adequate justification for these investigations and have sometimes inflated income figures without considering necessary business expenditures.

“Journalists in Hong Kong generally do not earn high salaries. Besides dealing with tax claims, they must allocate time, energy, and resources to demonstrate their innocence,” Ms. Cheng remarked. While the total number of tax investigations in Hong Kong remains relatively low, with the Inland Revenue Department stating it conducted around 1,800 audits between 2023 and 2024, the department maintains that these reviews follow standard procedures and are not influenced by the taxpayer’s industry or background.