Are Airbnb support staff stupid or cheating?

[Carol9664]

I am one of the hosts in Hong Kong. 

Airbnb's support staff replied as below when we requested the Business Registration Certificate of Airbnb in Hong Kong:

Airbnb Support下午11:56

I'm unable to share Airbnb's Business Registration Certificate in Hong Kong as this is confidential information. 

According to Section 12 of Chapter 310 of the Business Registration Ordinance.  A valid business registration certificate shall be displayed at the place of business to which such certificate relates.

I don't think Airbnb support staff are stupid but they said Airbnb's Business Registration Certificate in Hong Kong as this is confidential information. 

They are cheating!!!

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Carol9664 I would say they are neither. What they are however are poor trained minimum wage employees that don't really have a chance to help on anything but the simplest of tasks. 

On a different subject does Airbnb have a place of business in Hong Kong?

[Carol9664]

I know Airbnb is just on its online platform with a domain name with' .hk'. 

As the staff asked me to '  reach out to your local authorities for further information on your request.,  so I reported to the Hong Kong government for operating without licensing. 

[Helen3]

Rather than accusing Airbnb staff of being stupid and cheating think through what you are actually asking them to do . 

You are the one who has misunderstood  frôm what you say ....it's not their certificate of business you need it's yours 😀😀 why not ask other Hong Kong hosts how they do theirs? 

[Carol9664]

Do you know Airbnb is a business organisation? Then why don't they registered in Hong Kong for taxation?

We are renting our properties for a long-term stay. It isn't requested to registered as a business in Hong Kong. Do you know that?

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Carol9664 I have no idea about HK taxation but suspect you don't either. It is entirely possible that Airbnb doesn't need a business licence in HK as each individual host should be paying tax in the required way as they are the ones with the taxable presence in HK.

Taxation of internet companies is a huge worldwide issue and most countries haven't tied it down yet - I suspect HK is no different.

[Carol9664]

Thanks for your information. I don't mind Airbnb paid tax in Hong Kong or not. But I don't think there is any organization that could run over the local laws, either Internet or physical company. 

I will bring this issue to the Hong Kong government and courts. Let's see.