HKICPA Trust Fund

Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA) has established a trust fund for the relief of poverty by providing assistance to people experiencing severe financial hardship and who are members of HKICPA or dependants of people who were members of HKICPA when they died.

The trustees seek to support members to continue working as CPAs, aiming to help them during a period of severe financial hardship to re-establish their financial independence

Bereavement, old age, unemployment through ill-health, accident are examples of causes of poverty which may be considered in applications to the HKICPA Trust Fund. The trustees may also consider applications where members have been unemployed for at least six months and are experiencing severe financial hardship. 

Where a member is unemployed and in severe financial hardship, the trustees may consider funding the annual membership fee for up to three consecutive years.

Grants and loans

 
A grant may be given on a one-off basis or in the form of monthly allowance for a designated period. A loan will be interest-free with a pre-determined repayment schedule. The amount of a grant or a loan and the period designated for monthly grants or loan repayments will be determined by the trustees according to individual circumstances. The period designated for monthly grants or loan repayments schedules will not exceed two years. Loans will only be considered by the trustees where there is a reasonable likelihood of repayment. Loans will be evidenced in written form.

To help members return to work, the trustees will consider applications from members who have been unemployed for at least 6 months for grants for items such as replacement laptops, mobile phones and service plans, internet service plan, clothes to present a professional image, and transport subsidy. Applicants may request other items depending on their needs. The trustees consider applications on a case by case basis depending on the circumstances of the applicant.

Applications

Completed application forms for financial assistance towards payment of the Institute's annual subscription fees must be returned to the administrator of the trust fund prior to the payment due date of the subscription year. The trustees' decision to approve or reject an application for assistance shall be final. Trustees consider each application on its merit and they have the absolute discretion to approve or reject an application. Applicants will only be informed of the decision of the Trustees.

Application Forms

(i) Application for financial assistance towards payment of the Institute's annual membership fees where the applicant is unemployed up to three years. 

(ii) Application for financial assistance towards payment of the Institute's annual membership fees where the applicant is unemployed as a result of ill-health. 

(iii) Application for grants or loans

The HKICPA Trust Fund, being a charitable trust, is exempt from tax under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Administration of the trust fund is vested with four trustees who are the incumbent president, the incumbent immediate past president, one vice president and a former council member of the Institute.
 
For further information about the trust fund, please contact administrator of the trust fund, on 2287-7216.

CPD matters

The Institute may grant exemption from CPD to members in certain circumstances. For information about the exemption criteria, please refer to paragraphs A28 - A29 and Appendix of Statement 1.500 (Revised March 2021). Generally, no exemption will be granted to members holding practising certificates or specialist designations or directorships of any companies.

The Institute offers free attendance of selected CPD events for unemployed members. Click here for information about this support programme.  

For further information about CPD exemption, please contact our CPD Compliance Hotline on 2287-7228 or email to cpdcompliance@hkicpa.org.hk.