Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Personal Income Tax, Law on Value Added Tax, Law on Corporate Income Tax and Law on Special Consumption Tax
This is a significant draft Law simultaneously amending four major tax laws in Vietnam: Personal Income Tax (PIT), Value Added Tax (VAT), Corporate Income Tax (CIT), and Special Consumption Tax (SCT). The draft is led by the Ministry of Finance and reviewed by the Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs. The draft is scheduled to be submitted and adopted at the 1st Session of the XVI National Assembly. The simultaneous amendment of multiple tax laws indicates a comprehensive tax reform aimed at perfecting the tax legal system, meeting socio-economic development requirements, and enhancing international integration. For small and medium enterprises (SMEs), this is critical information to monitor closely, as changes to these tax laws may directly impact tax obligations, business costs, and tax filing procedures. Businesses should prepare to update their practices once the draft is adopted and takes effect.
Consolidated Document No. 22/VBHN-BCT: Training, Testing and Certification of Multi-Level Marketing Legal Knowledge
Consolidated Document No. 22/VBHN-BCT, verified by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on March 30, 2026, merges Circular No. 10/2018/TT-BCT dated May 24, 2018 with its subsequent amendments under Circular No. 12/2023/TT-BCT, Circular No. 38/2025/TT-BCT and Circular No. 15/2026/TT-BCT. It provides detailed rules under Decree No. 40/2018/ND-CP on multi-level marketing (MLM) business management, specifically the training curriculum framework and the process for testing, certifying and revoking certification of legal knowledge about MLM. The training program must run at least 8 hours and cover MLM law, professional ethics, consumer-protection rules, and advertising requirements. Tests may be essay or multiple-choice format, scored on a 100-point scale, with different passing thresholds for general MLM legal-knowledge tests versus tests for local-area contact persons. Provincial People's Committees organize the exams and issue or revoke certifications. The rules apply to training institutions, MLM businesses, and individuals seeking certification in this field. This document does not affect general tax, accounting, e-invoicing, or labor obligations for businesses at large - it governs a specialized licensing procedure limited to the direct-selling/MLM industry.
Consolidated Circular No. 24/VBHN-BCT: Detailed Foreign Trade Management Rules for Import and Export of Goods
Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has issued Consolidated Circular No. 24/VBHN-BCT (dated March 30, 2026), merging Circular 12/2018/TT-BCT with four subsequent rounds of amendments (2019, 2023, 2025, and 2026) into a single, up-to-date reference. It implements the Law on Foreign Trade Management and Decree 69/2018/ND-CP, sparing import-export businesses from having to cross-check multiple separate circulars. The consolidated text covers four areas: (1) the list of banned used consumer goods, medical devices, and vehicles by HS code; (2) the list of goods temporarily suspended from temporary-import-for-re-export and transshipment trading; (3) application forms, reporting templates, and the licensing agency (MOIT's Import-Export Department) for Certificates of Free Sale (CFS), temporary import-re-export licenses, temporary-import-re-export business codes, and transit permits; and (4) the import tariff-rate quota mechanism covering four goods: refined and raw sugar, salt, raw tobacco material, and poultry eggs. For businesses importing the four tariff-rate-quota goods, the circular sets out the licensing process (dossiers submitted to the Import-Export Department at 54 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hanoi, with a 10-working-day processing window from the date quotas are allocated) and a mandatory quarterly reporting obligation due before the 10th of the first month of the following quarter. The most recent change took effect April 10, 2026 (under Circular 15/2026/TT-BCT), which revised administrative decentralization procedures and replaced several forms. Licenses and certificates issued before each amendment's effective date remain valid through their original expiry.
Circular No. 05/2026/TT-BVHTTDL: Funding Norms for Drafting and Appraising Circulars at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Circular No. 05/2026/TT-BVHTTDL, issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on March 31, 2026 and effective the same day, provides implementation guidance for Decree No. 289/2025/ND-CP on special mechanisms and policies for lawmaking breakthroughs, adopted under National Assembly Resolution No. 197/2025/QH15. The Circular mainly sets lump sum funding norms for the ministry's own internal work of drafting, appraising, signing off, and issuing circulars and joint circulars, for example a maximum of VND 350 million per circular, split by percentage across drafting (80 percent), appraisal (12 percent), and other tasks (8 percent). It also assigns approval authority for budget estimates and outlines the settlement process for state budget funds used in lawmaking activities. This is an internal administrative and budgeting document governing how the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism funds its own legal drafting process. It does not impose tax, accounting, invoicing, labor, customs, or investment obligations on businesses, household businesses, or individuals, so it has no direct impact on companies or accounting professionals.
Decree 133/2026/ND-CP: Administrative Penalties for Violations in the Electricity Sector
Decree No. 133/2026/ND-CP, issued on April 6, 2026, sets out detailed administrative penalties for violations in Vietnam's electricity sector, replacing earlier rules to align with the 2024 Electricity Law (Law No. 61/2024/QH15). It applies to all Vietnamese and foreign organizations and individuals operating in the electricity sector, including power generation, transmission, distribution, wholesale and retail electricity units, as well as electricity end users. The maximum fine is VND 100 million for individuals and VND 200 million for organizations per violation. The decree sets specific fine brackets for each category of violation: electricity operating license violations (up to VND 200 million for unlicensed operation by organizations), violations in developing self-produced, self-consumed rooftop solar and wind power connected to the grid, violations in power generation, transmission and distribution (substandard metering equipment, failure to report operational data), violations in wholesale and retail electricity trading (selling at incorrect prices, failing to sign contracts on time, unauthorized electricity import or export), and violations by electricity users (electricity theft, unauthorized tampering with connections, obstructing inspections). Beyond fines, the decree also allows confiscation of violating equipment and remedial measures such as forfeiture of illegal gains, forced dismantling of unauthorized wind or solar power plants, and restoration of the original condition. For businesses operating in the power sector (generation, transmission, distribution, wholesale, retail), this is an important legal framework to review to avoid heavy fines and license revocation risk. For ordinary electricity-using businesses, the relevant content is mainly about using electricity for its intended purpose, not tampering with metering equipment, and cooperating with inspections. The decree does not touch on tax, accounting, e-invoicing, labor, or customs matters, so it falls outside the platform's core coverage focus.
Newly-Established Household Businesses: E-Invoice Registration Rules and Allowable Expense Treatment for Buyers Before Invoice Availability
The Ministry of Finance clarified for a household business established on 3 March 2026 two key questions: (1) when it may register and use e-invoices; and (2) whether payments made by a corporate buyer to the household business before e-invoices are available can be treated as allowable expenses for Corporate Income Tax (CIT) purposes. Under Articles 8 and 9 of Decree 68/2026/ND-CP: A newly-established household business must register for e-invoices within 30 days of the last day of the tax period in which cumulative VAT-taxable revenue reaches VND 1 billion. The household may only begin using e-invoices after completing registration with the tax authority. For the buyer's deductible expenses: Under Article 13 of Circular 20/2026/TT-BTC, corporate buyers purchasing from household businesses with sub-threshold VAT revenue may use Form 02/TNDN (a purchase declaration list, substituting for an invoice) to support deductible expense treatment, provided non-cash payment evidence exists for transactions of VND 5 million or more.
Individual Traders Retailing Pork After Basic Processing: Determining VAT and PIT Rates
The Ministry of Finance provided a general-principle response to an individual who buys live pigs, separates them into cuts (meat, bones, offal) and sells them retail. The activity falls under the category of distribution and supply of goods, so the VAT flat rate is 1% of revenue, per Article 12(2) of the VAT Law and Appendix I of Circular 69/2025/TT-BTC. For personal income tax (PIT), the applicable rate is 0.5% of revenue for distribution and supply of goods, per Article 10 of the PIT Law No. 04/2007/QH12 (as amended by Clause 4, Article 2 of Law No. 71/2014/QH13) and Appendix I of Circular 40/2021/TT-BTC. The Ministry noted that, as no specific dossier was provided, this guidance is based on general principles only; the questioner should verify against actual circumstances and consult the directly managing tax authority for specific guidance.
Property Rental Household Businesses: Is Bank Account Notification to the Tax Authority Required?
The Ministry of Finance responded to a question about whether an individual whose only activity is property rental (using tax declaration form 01/BDS) must notify the tax authority of their bank account number (form 01/BK-STK), pursuant to Article 13(4) of Decree 68/2026/ND-CP and Article 4(1)(d) of Circular 18/2026/TT-BTC. Based on the Ministry of Finance's written response shown in the official image: The MoF cited Article 13(4) of Decree 68/2026/ND-CP and Article 4 of Circular 18/2026/TT-BTC to indicate that the bank account notification requirement applies to household businesses and individual traders using form 01/CNKD. Individuals whose only activity is property rental and who use form 01/BDS fall under a different category; they should refer specifically to the guidance in Circular 18/2026/TT-BTC and contact the local Tax Department for specific guidance.
Consolidated Document No. 23/VBHN-BCT: Form Templates for Representative Offices and Branches of Foreign Traders in Vietnam
The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has issued Consolidated Document No. 23/VBHN-BCT (certified March 30, 2026), merging Circular No. 11/2016/TT-BCT with three rounds of amendments (Circular 03/2024/TT-BCT, 38/2025/TT-BCT, and 15/2026/TT-BCT) that set out the form templates used for licensing procedures for Representative Offices and Branches of foreign traders in Vietnam. The document does not introduce new substantive licensing conditions; it consolidates the 14 currently valid forms (applications, licenses, activity reports, and termination notices). The most significant practical change is a shift in licensing authority. Since July 1, 2025, the power to receive and process applications for issuing, re-issuing, adjusting, and extending Branch establishment licenses, as well as handling Branch termination, has been decentralized from MOIT down to the provincial People's Committee where the Branch is headquartered (previously handled directly by MOIT). Branch license applications (Forms MD-5, MD-6, MD-7) must now be submitted to the provincial People's Committee rather than to MOIT. Provincial People's Committees must also report annually to MOIT before February 28 using the newly added Form BC-4. Foreign traders that already operate, or plan to establish, a Representative Office or Branch in Vietnam should use this consolidated form set for any new filing, submit Branch-related applications to the provincial People's Committee rather than MOIT, and ensure that license information is updated on the MOIT web portal (www.moit.gov.vn) within 15 days of any issuance, re-issuance, adjustment, extension, or revocation.
Decree 127/2026/ND-CP: Quality Management and Development Policy for Halal Products and Services
Decree 127/2026/ND-CP, effective from June 1, 2026, establishes Vietnam's first comprehensive legal framework for quality management and development of Halal products and services. It applies to organizations and individuals that manufacture, import, export, or trade Halal products and services (food, tourism, transport, storage, etc.), as well as Halal testing and certification bodies. Businesses must declare the applicable Halal standard before placing products on the market, ensure raw materials are free of Haram or Najis elements, control cross-contamination during production, packaging, and transport, and clearly mark «HALAL» on labels (unless the product already carries a Halal certification mark). Halal certification is in principle voluntary, becoming mandatory only when a specialized regulation requires it for specific products. Domestic Halal certification bodies must obtain an operating registration certificate from the Ministry of Science and Technology and must employ at least two Muslim lead assessors holding a university degree and relevant professional certificates. Certification results from foreign bodies are recognized in Vietnam if covered by a mutual recognition arrangement (MRA) or unilaterally accepted by the Ministry. The decree also sets out inspection and administrative penalty procedures, and support policies for small and medium enterprises: one-time subsidies for testing and certification costs for key export producers, trade promotion support at international Halal fairs, and a national Halal database. Businesses producing or exporting food, cosmetics, or tourism services aimed at Muslim markets (the Middle East, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.) should review their production processes and prepare standard-declaration dossiers ahead of the June 1, 2026 effective date.
Consolidated Circular No. 34/VBHN-NHNN: Foreign Exchange Rules for Outward Loans and Guarantee-Debt Recovery Involving Non-Residents
The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has issued Consolidated Circular No. 34/VBHN-NHNN dated January 22, 2026, merging the original Circular No. 37/2013/TT-NHNN with the amendments, additions and repeals introduced by Circular No. 78/2025/TT-NHNN (effective January 25, 2026). The consolidated text governs the opening and use of accounts, and the foreign-exchange registration procedures, for outward loans made by Vietnamese economic organizations and for recovering debt that arises when those organizations perform guarantee obligations on behalf of non-residents. It applies only to organizations specifically authorized by the Prime Minister to lend to, or guarantee, non-resident counterparties, not to businesses generally. Compared with the prior rules, the 2025-2026 amendment significantly streamlines administrative procedures in this area: several clauses on required dossier components and mandatory registration cases were repealed; a new Article 7a sets out three channels for submitting dossiers (in person at SBV's one-stop unit, by post, or online via the National Public Service Portal) and allows digital signatures for electronic filings. The responsible SBV unit was renamed from the 'Department of Foreign Exchange Management' to the 'Foreign Exchange Management Department', and several provisions specific to credit institutions and foreign bank branches were removed from this circular's direct scope. Vietnamese enterprises that have, or expect to obtain, Prime Ministerial approval to lend abroad or guarantee obligations for non-residents should note the practical requirements: open a dedicated account at a licensed account-service credit institution before any related fund transfer; register (or register changes to) the loan or the guarantee-debt-recovery amount with SBV within 30 days of signing the relevant agreement (or within 60 days of the fund transfer for guarantee-debt recovery); and comply with monthly (by the 10th of the following month) and annual (by January 31 of the following year) reporting to SBV's Foreign Exchange Management Department. Dossiers filed complete and valid before January 25, 2026 continue to be processed under the rules in force at the time of filing.
Consolidated Document No. 33/VBHN-NHNN: Registration Procedures for Government-Guaranteed Foreign Loans and International Bond Issuances
The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has issued Consolidated Document No. 33/VBHN-NHNN, merging Circular No. 22/2013/TT-NHNN (effective from October 1, 2013) with the amendments introduced by Circular No. 78/2025/TT-NHNN (effective from January 25, 2026). The document sets out the procedures for registering, and registering changes to, foreign loans and international bond issuances that carry a Government guarantee, applying to borrowers and bond issuers under the rules on Government guarantee issuance and management. The key update from Circular 78/2025/TT-NHNN is the addition of an online filing channel through the National Public Service Portal, alongside in-person and postal submission. It also sets a clear 3-working-day deadline for SBV to check dossier completeness, and renames the responsible unit from «Vụ Quản lý Ngoại hối» (Foreign Exchange Management Department) to «Cục Quản lý ngoại hối» (Foreign Exchange Management Authority), reflecting an administrative upgrade of that unit within SBV. The confirmation timeline remains 7 working days for a new loan or bond registration and 5 working days for a change registration, both counted from receipt of a complete, valid dossier. If a dossier is incomplete, the borrower has up to 60 days to supplement it before the file is closed. While this is a technical administrative procedure, large enterprises, state-owned enterprises, and foreign-invested companies raising foreign loans or issuing international bonds under a Government guarantee should note the updated filing process, especially the 30-day window from signing the guarantee letter or amendment agreement to submit the registration dossier to SBV before disbursement or implementing any change.
Decree No. 123/2026/ND-CP: Details on Inland Waterway Vessel Construction/Repair Facilities and Oversized/Overweight Cargo Transport
Decree No. 123/2026/ND-CP dated 4 April 2026 details provisions of the Inland Waterway Traffic Law, taking effect 1 July 2026 and replacing Decrees 24/2015/ND-CP, 08/2021/ND-CP, and 06/2024/ND-CP. The Decree covers two main areas: (1) fire safety, occupational safety, and environmental protection requirements for facilities constructing, converting, or repairing waterway vessels; and (2) the procedure for submitting and approving transport plans for oversized cargo (length over 40 m, width over 10 m, or height over 4.5 m) and overweight cargo (total weight over 100 tonnes). The Vietnam Maritime and Inland Waterways Administration approves inter-provincial and seaport departure plans; provincial Departments of Construction approve intra-provincial plans. The approval deadline is 2 working days from receipt of a complete dossier.
Decree 116/2026/ND-CP: Amendments to Administrative Procedures for Printing, Broadcasting, Copyright, and Internet Services under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Decree 116/2026/ND-CP, effective April 8, 2026, amends a broad set of administrative procedures under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It affects businesses operating in printing, pay television/radio broadcasting, copyright and related-rights registration, internet services and domain name registration, video game publishing, cinema, and karaoke/dance hall services. Key changes include shortened processing timelines for many licensing procedures (for example, approval of pay-TV channel registration certificates drops from 24 to 20 working days, and several internet and mobile-content procedures are also shortened), simplified documentation when authorities can retrieve applicant information directly from the National Population Database or the National Business Registration Database (removing the need to submit identity or business registration copies separately), and replacement or repeal of numerous forms and provisions across Decrees 60/2014, 06/2016, 144/2020, 17/2023, 76/2023, 147/2024, 131/2022, and 54/2019. Businesses in these specific sectors should review the updated filing procedures, forms, and processing deadlines to avoid delays. Applications submitted before the effective date continue to be processed under the prior rules.