Export Exchange Rate: Customs Department Sets Out the Customs Tax Rate but Gives No Guidance on Handling Invoices
A company asked how to handle export invoices issued since 1 July 2026 using the customs exchange rate (Clause 4, Article 14 of Decree 252/2026/ND-CP), after Tax Department Official Letter 6810/CT-QLNT of 14 September 2026 said the invoice rate is the actual transaction rate under accounting law. The Customs Department cited Clause 9, Article 1 of Decree 167/2025/ND-CP: the rate for determining taxable value is the transfer buying rate of the head office of the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam at the end of the Thursday of the preceding week (or the prior working day if Thursday is a day off), applied to declarations registered that week. Currencies not quoted by that bank use cross rates published by the State Bank of Vietnam. On the rate shown on invoices and exchange differences, the answer gives no specific conclusion on handling invoices already issued; Customs asks the company to study the rules or contact the domestic tax authority.
RegHub explainer by New MarketerLast updated:
Based on:Nghị định 252/2026/NĐ-CP; Nghị định 167/2025/NĐ-CP; Công văn 6810/CT-QLNT - Ministry of FinanceEffective:
This explanation was generated by AI and checked by an automated AI review, not by a human expert. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice and may contain errors. Check the official document before you rely on it.
Question
Under Clause 4, Article 14 of Decree 252/2026/ND-CP, for exported and imported goods the tax exchange rate follows customs law. From 1 July 2026 the company used the customs exchange rate on export invoices. On 14 September 2026, the Tax Department issued Official Letter 6810/CT-QLNT stating that the rate on invoices is the actual transaction rate under accounting law. The company asks how to handle invoices issued at the customs rate since 1 July 2026.
Customs Department Response
Per Clause 9, Article 1 of Decree 167/2025/ND-CP (amending Decree 08/2015/ND-CP), the rate used to determine taxable value is:
- The transfer buying rate of the head office of the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam at the end of the Thursday of the immediately preceding week.
- If Thursday is a public holiday or day off, the end-of-day rate of the preceding working day.
- This rate is used to determine the tax rate for customs declarations registered during the week.
- Currencies not quoted by that bank: cross rates published by the State Bank of Vietnam.
- Currencies without a published cross rate: determined and published by the State Bank on the Ministry of Finance's proposal.
Application Guidance
- Declarants declare and determine customs value at the rate applicable when the declaration is registered, to compute export/import duties.
- On the rate shown on invoices and any exchange-rate differences, the answer gives no specific way to handle invoices already issued. Customs asks the reader to study the rules above or contact the domestic tax authority for guidance within its competence.
Notes for Businesses
- The source reaches no conclusion on adjusting or replacing invoices issued since 1 July 2026.
- Companies need to contact the domestic tax authority for guidance.