The middle class might find it more difficult to settle tax bills this year as the credit crunch forces banks and financial companies to raise interest rates for tax loans or to delay the schemes.
Securing a loan is also likely to be tougher.
Wing Hang Credit launched its loans last week - delayed because of the financial crisis, it said.
General manager Hilda Ng Kwok-yan said: 'We have to be very cautious. The interbank rate has been soaring during the financial tsunami. It's very likely the scheme will make a loss instead of a profit if the rate continues to go up.
'The rate for tax loans is very likely to be higher than last year, which is largely decided by the interbank rate at the time.'
The company has set a reference monthly rate of 0.25 per cent, roughly double the 0.129 per cent last year.
Approval conditions for loans are likely to be tightened this year. Ms Ng forecast a much lower approval rate.