HK eTAX glitch: 33,019 fail to file, 5,200 penalized, 2 prosecuted

Hong Kong's ombudsman found that unclear wording in the eTAX system led to over 33,000 taxpayers failing to submit returns, with nearly 5,200 receiving penalty notices and two prosecuted. A former Hospital Authority executive was among those affected, prompting calls for government reform. The incident highlights systemic usability failures in digital tax infrastructure, with legal consequences for affected citizens.