Tax authority guidance on handling Q1/2026 tax returns already filed by household businesses following the increase in the taxable revenue threshold to VND 1 billion
The tax authority (An Giang Province Tax Sub-department 9) confirmed that household businesses (HKDs) that already filed Q1/2026 quarterly tax returns under the old threshold but now have annual revenue under VND 1 billion (qualifying as non-filing businesses under the new rules) do **not need to continue filing quarterly tax returns**. No procedure to cancel the filed return or amend it to show zero revenue is required — the tax authority does not demand this. Instead, HKDs need only submit a **Revenue Notification using Form 01/TKN-CNKD** by no later than 31 January 2027. This is important practical guidance for small household businesses following the government's increase of the tax-exempt revenue threshold to VND 1 billion per year, reducing administrative tax burdens for millions of household businesses.
VAT invoicing and declaration guidance for self-manufactured tools transferred for internal use in construction companies
The Ministry of Finance (through Can Tho City Tax Department) confirmed that self-manufactured tools such as scaffolding frames, diagonal braces, and similar equipment produced by a construction company and transferred to project sites for construction use qualify as internal goods in circulation to continue the production process. Under Clause 1, Article 6 of Decree 181/2025/ND-CP, such goods are excluded from VAT liability. The tax authority confirmed that the company is not required to issue an invoice and is not required to declare or pay VAT on the internal transfer of these self-manufactured tools. Earlier audit positions requiring invoice issuance (even without VAT) were found inconsistent with the applicable regulations.
Circular 11/2026/TT-BXD specifying the list, specifications and technical standards for exportable construction material minerals
The Ministry of Construction issued Circular 11/2026/TT-BXD (dated 31 March 2026, effective 1 June 2026) specifying the list, technical specifications, and quality standards for Group II and Group III construction material minerals permitted for export, pursuant to Clause 38, Article 1 of Decree 21/2026/ND-CP. Exported minerals must have legal provenance evidenced by a valid mining licence or mineral recovery registration certificate. Exporting enterprises are responsible for retaining documentation and submitting annual reports to provincial People's Committees by 15 January each year. The circular replaces Circular 04/2021/TT-BXD dated 30 June 2021. The permitted export list covers silica sand, natural ornamental stone (granite, marble, slate), ordinary construction stone, kaolin, feldspar, and other construction material minerals, each with specific technical quality thresholds.
CIT deductible expense guidance for cash interest payments by People's Credit Funds under the VND 5 million non-cash payment threshold rule
The Ministry of Finance confirmed that the non-cash payment requirement for expenses of VND 5 million or more per transaction — under Point c, Clause 1, Article 9 of Decree 320/2025/ND-CP — applies to all enterprise expenditures including interest payments by People's Credit Funds. Non-cash payment documentation follows VAT law requirements. The rule applies from 15 December 2025 when Decree 320/2025/ND-CP took effect. For the specific situation of People's Credit Funds (specialized operations, depositors mainly elderly and rural residents without bank accounts), the tax authority advised contacting the directly managing tax office for case-specific guidance based on actual records and circumstances.
Ministry of Finance guidance on the scope of reduced land use fees for conversion of garden/pond land to residential land under Resolution 254/2025/QH15
The Ministry of Finance clarified that the preferential land use fee provisions under Point c, Clause 2, Article 10 of Resolution 254/2025/QH15 apply to three specific cases: (i) garden, pond, or agricultural land within the same parcel as residential land recognized when the land use right was granted, converted to residential use; (ii) land originally constituting garden/pond attached to residential land that users have separated to transfer use rights; (iii) garden/pond land attached to residential land that a surveying unit had self-measured and separated into distinct parcels before 01 July 2014. The Ministry clarified that the phrase 'before 01 July 2014' modifies only case (iii) regarding the surveying separation, not case (ii) concerning user-initiated separation for rights transfer. For specific circumstances, individuals should consult local competent authorities.
Ministry of Finance guidance on the legal instrument form for delegating local budget expenditure norms to provincial People's Committees
The Ministry of Finance confirmed that when a provincial People's Council (HDND) delegates to the provincial People's Committee (UBND) authority to determine specific local budget expenditure standards and norms under Point h, Clause 9, Article 31 of the State Budget Law No. 89/2025/QH15, the HDND **must issue a normative legal document** (a normative Resolution) — an administrative document is insufficient because decentralization must be established in a normative legal document per Clause 2, Article 13 of the Law on Local Government Organization. Where a sector-specific decree directly grants authority to the provincial UBND, the HDND must still issue a normative legal document delegating this task to the UBND if the matter falls under Point h, Clause 9, Article 31 of the State Budget Law. UBND self-determination without an HDND normative legal document does not comply with regulations.
Accounting revenue recognition guidance for industrial zone infrastructure enterprises that sublease state-leased land with lump-sum payment
The Department of Accounting and Auditing Management and Supervision (Ministry of Finance) confirmed that industrial zone infrastructure enterprises subleasing state-leased land (where the state lease uses a lump-sum payment model) must determine the nature of their sublease contract — as asset rental (VAS 06) or service provision (VAS 14) — based on the contract terms, land law provisions, and actual circumstances. Revenue must be **allocated over the lease period** for operating leases rather than recognized in full upon receipt of payment. This is important revenue accounting guidance for industrial zone enterprises, affecting financial statement presentation and CIT declarations based on revenue actually earned each period.
Guidance on Use of Retained Fee Revenue by Public Service Units under Decree 362/2025/ND-CP
The Ministry of Finance clarifies that public service units (Group 2 autonomy) retaining admission fee revenue may use the retained amount to cover operational costs for service delivery and fee collection, based on an approved budget plan, covering both recurring and non-recurring expenditure categories as listed in Article 5.2 of Decree 362/2025/ND-CP. Unspent retained fee amounts may be carried forward to subsequent years. If an amount remains unspent after five consecutive years, the unit must remit it to the state budget. Decree 362/2025/ND-CP does not specifically govern allocation to internal funds such as the development fund, income supplement fund, welfare fund, or bonus fund. Budgeting, execution, and settlement of revenues and expenditures must comply with state budget law and the unit's applicable financial autonomy mechanism under Decrees 60/2021/ND-CP and 111/2025/ND-CP.
Resolution 18/2026/NQ-CP: Cutting, Decentralizing and Simplifying Administrative Procedures under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
On 29 April 2026 the Government issued Resolution 18/2026/NQ-CP on cutting, decentralizing and simplifying administrative procedures and business investment conditions under the management of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The Resolution moves a number of procedures from the Ministry down to provincial culture authorities or provincial People's Committees, such as issuing copyright and related-rights assessment organization certificates, approving international performing-arts events, amending and extending social network service and online game licenses, confirming printing activity registration, and re-issuing publication import licenses. At the same time, the Resolution abolishes a series of procedures that are no longer needed, including re-issuance of broadcasting channel licenses, the requirement for foreign advertising or cross-border information providers to notify their contact details in Vietnam, and the requirement for press agencies to notify their social media accounts, while also simplifying business conditions for performing-arts organizers. The Resolution is effective from 29 April 2026 through 1 March 2027, with the decentralization content in Appendix I effective from 1 June 2026. This is an administrative-reform document covering the culture, sports, tourism and media sectors. It contains no provisions on VAT, CIT, e-invoicing, accounting standards, labor, or customs. As a result it falls outside RegHub's core scope and has been flagged as not suitable for publication on the platform.
Accounting Guidance for Reducing Fixed Asset Cost upon Dismantling Components during Upgrades
The Ministry of Finance guidance states that when a company dismantles components of a tangible fixed asset (TFA) and replaces them with new equipment that increases capacity or extends useful life, the carrying cost of the removed component must be **deducted from the TFA's original cost**, while the cost of the new component is **added to the original cost** and depreciated going forward. This applies even when the removed parts do not individually qualify as stand-alone fixed assets. The deduction is recorded at the time the component is physically removed. The deduction value is estimated using TFA records or market data and must be disclosed in the financial statements. Companies bear sole responsibility for determining whether the activity constitutes routine maintenance (expensed) or a capital upgrade increasing economic benefit (capitalized), as only upgrades justify adjusting the TFA's original cost.
Tax Declaration Guidance for Affiliate Marketing Income on TikTok
The Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department (through the Son La Tax Sub-department) confirms that affiliate marketing income earned through TikTok constitutes business income subject to tax declaration and payment. Even if TikTok withholds tax at source, individuals with multiple income streams must include all income in their annual personal income tax (PIT) settlement if total income exceeds the statutory threshold. A taxpayer who operates both a spa business and earns TikTok affiliate commissions must aggregate all income in the annual PIT settlement. Withholding at source by the platform reduces tax payable but does not eliminate the annual settlement obligation. The tax authority advises taxpayers to study applicable regulations and to file tax returns electronically in accordance with current law.
Clarification of "Accounting Unit" Definition for Non-Budget Organizations and Service Units under the 2015 Accounting Law
The Ministry of Finance (Department of Accounting and Auditing Supervision) clarifies that the phrase "organizations and service units not using the state budget" in Article 2.3 of the 2015 Accounting Law refers broadly to any organization that does not fall into the other four categories: state budget agencies, state agencies and budget-funded service units, enterprises, and cooperatives. This is the first interpretation - "organization" stands independently from "service unit." Examples include extra-budgetary state financial funds, social funds, and charitable funds. All such entities are required to organize an accounting apparatus and prepare financial statements. In addition to accounting law, the specific accounting obligations of each organization type depend on its governance structure, operational model, and financial mechanism as defined in relevant specialized regulations.
ChatGPT and AI application services purchased from foreign providers are subject to 10% VAT
Hanoi Tax Department (Sub-department 6) determined that ChatGPT packages from OpenAI and AI application services purchased from foreign providers are **not** software services under Article 3(10) of Decree 71/2007/ND-CP. As a result, these services are **not VAT-exempt** and are subject to the standard **10% VAT rate**. Based on Article 4 of Decree 181/2025/ND-CP (effective 01/07/2025) on non-taxable objects and Article 19 of the same decree on the 5% rate, the tax authority concluded that ChatGPT/AI packages qualify as goods and services supplied by foreign providers to organisations and individuals in Vietnam via digital commerce platforms, which attract 10% VAT. When reselling ChatGPT and AI application packages to domestic customers, the company must issue VAT invoices applying the **10% VAT rate** - not the VAT-exempt rate.
Resolution 25/2026/NQ-CP: Extension of Preferential 0% Import Duty on Petroleum Products and Refinery Feedstocks to 30 June 2026
The Government issued Resolution 25/2026/NQ-CP on 30 April 2026, effective 1 May 2026 to 30 June 2026, extending the application of Decree 72/2026/ND-CP (9 March 2026), which reduced preferential import duty rates on petroleum products and certain petroleum feedstocks. Specifically, the preferential (MFN) import duty rate on the following HS codes is maintained at **0%** until 30 June 2026: stripped crude distillates (HS 2710.19.20), other medium oils and preparations (HS 2710.19.89), and other liquefied petroleum gas (HS 2711.19.00). From 1 July 2026 onward, the standard rates under the preferential tariff schedule attached to Decree 26/2023/ND-CP will resume.