Decree 68/2026/ND-CP: Tax Policy and Tax Administration for Household Businesses and Individual Business Operators
The Government has issued Decree 68/2026/ND-CP dated March 5, 2026, effective immediately from its signing date, which overhauls value-added tax (VAT) and personal income tax (PIT) policy for household businesses and individual business operators. The most significant change is the end of the traditional lump-sum tax (thue khoan) regime: household businesses and individual operators with annual revenue of VND 500 million or below only need to report their revenue and are exempt from both VAT and PIT. Above that threshold, taxpayers must self-declare and calculate their own tax. For annual revenue between VND 500 million and VND 3 billion, PIT is calculated using the tax rate times revenue method (with an option to switch to the income-minus-expenses method if more favorable). Above VND 3 billion, the income-minus-deductible-expenses method becomes mandatory, and once a method is chosen it must remain stable for two consecutive years. The decree also details which expenses are deductible and non-deductible, sets quarterly or monthly filing deadlines depending on whether revenue is above or below VND 50 billion, and requires mandatory e-invoices (tax-authority-coded or cash-register-linked) once annual VAT-taxable revenue reaches VND 1 billion. Notably, e-commerce platforms with online ordering and payment functions must withhold, declare, and pay tax on behalf of household businesses and individuals selling through them. A key transitional provision protects businesses that paid lump-sum tax before 2026: they will not face retroactive tax reassessment or penalties when switching to self-declaration, unless authorities find evidence of concealed revenue. Businesses moving to the income-minus-expenses method must file an inventory and fixed-asset listing as of December 31, 2025, alongside their Q1 2026 tax return. Filing deadlines for January-March 2026 have been extended to April 20, 2026. This is a far-reaching policy shift affecting millions of household businesses and sole proprietors nationwide; owners should immediately review their applicable revenue threshold, choose the right tax calculation method, and prepare their e-invoicing infrastructure.
VAT Rate Applied to Processing Auto Parts from Steel Box Materials
The Ministry of Finance confirms that 10% VAT is correct for PT Precision Mechanical Company's service of processing auto parts from steel box materials. Under Article 1 of Decree No. 174/2025/ND-CP, product codes 241006 and 241008 (level-6 codes) are listed in Appendix I as goods excluded from VAT reduction - therefore the 8% reduced rate does not apply. The company's invoicing at 10% was correct. The customer's argument that the product falls under industry code group 25 and qualifies for the 8% rate has no basis under current regulations. For businesses using the credit method, the 8% VAT rate applies only to goods and services specified in Article 1 Clause 1 of Decree 174 - which does not include codes 241006 and 241008.
Consolidated Document No. 11/VBHN-BCT: Auction of Used Vehicle Import Tariff-Rate Quotas under CPTPP
The Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Consolidated Document No. 11/VBHN-BCT on 2 March 2026, integrating Circular 04/2020/TT-BCT and amending Circular 08/2026/TT-BCT (effective 25 February 2026). The document governs the full auction procedure for tariff-rate quotas (TRQ) on the importation of used vehicles from CPTPP member countries. TRQs are allocated through a competitive auction mechanism held annually in Q1 (no later than 15 April). Successful bidders are notified within 14 days and must present the Ministry's allocation notice to customs authorities when importing. Vehicles must satisfy CPTPP rules of origin with valid certificates, and must meet Vietnam's technical, safety, and environmental standards. The annual quota increases progressively from 66 vehicles (2020) to 150 vehicles (2034), then remains fixed from 2035 onward. Annex I was updated to replace the term "engine capacity (công suất)" with the correct term "engine displacement (dung tích)" pursuant to Circular 08/2026.
Decree 69/2026/ND-CP: Amendments to Administrative Penalties for Fire Prevention, Firefighting and Rescue
Decree 69/2026/ND-CP, issued on March 6, 2026 and effective from April 20, 2026, amends Decree 106/2025/ND-CP on administrative penalties for fire prevention, firefighting and rescue (PCCC) violations. It clarifies which parties can be penalized (including organizations assigned to manage a facility, and tenants or borrowers of housing), adds a rule that repeated violations of the same act at one facility are treated as a single violation with an aggravating factor rather than multiple separate fines, and sets out how violations are handled when processed electronically. For businesses, the decree adjusts several specific fine brackets: 6 to 8 million VND for staff performing fire safety duties without a training certificate; 20 to 25 million VND for failing to maintain required fire-safety distances between buildings; and 30 to 40 million VND for failing to install fire-resistant materials, doors, or partitions as required. It also adds a new remedial measure requiring businesses to purchase mandatory fire and explosion insurance if their coverage is insufficient, and sets suspension periods of 1 to 12 months depending on the severity of the violation. The decree also overhauls penalty authority across police, border guards, forest rangers, fisheries inspectors, coast guard, and inspectorates, and adds enforcement powers for specialized state management agencies (Departments of Construction, Industry and Trade, Agriculture and Environment, the Insurance Supervisory Authority, and the Vietnam Register). Businesses operating fire-risk premises (factories, warehouses, offices, apartment buildings, commercial establishments) should review their fire-safety documentation, mandatory fire insurance coverage, and firefighting equipment ahead of the April 20, 2026 effective date to avoid fines or forced suspension of operations.
PIT Treatment of Employer-Paid Flight Tickets and Housing Allowances for Domestically Reassigned Employees
The Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department answered a company's query on how to determine taxable income for PIT purposes when the employer pays flight tickets and housing costs for Vietnamese employees reassigned to work in other provinces or cities within Vietnam. The tax authority's guidance: employer-paid flight tickets settled directly with agents on actual invoices for domestic reassignment assignments are not counted as the employee's taxable income, as they are actual business-travel costs rather than income. Employer-paid housing (where the employee pays and is reimbursed on actual invoices) is included in taxable income, but the amount included is capped at 15% of total taxable income (excluding the housing, utilities and related costs themselves). Applied to the example: salary income VND 65 million + housing VND 10 million (flight tickets VND 16.5 million are excluded). Whether the VND 10 million housing amount exceeds 15% of total taxable income must be calculated to determine the portion included in the taxable base.
Guidance on the VND 500 Million PIT Exemption Threshold for Individual Businesses and PIT Calculation with Multiple Income Sources
The Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department answered a query from an individual who earns salary income from company 52HZ Technology and Communication Co., Ltd. and expects rental income from a residential property in District 12, Ho Chi Minh City. The person asked: (1) the effective date of the VND 500 million annual exemption threshold; and (2) the PIT calculation method when multiple income sources exist. The tax authority's guidance: the VND 500 million/year revenue threshold exempting individual businesses from PIT and VAT is effective from the 2026 tax year, per the amended PIT Law passed by the National Assembly and detailed in Circular 109/2025/QH15 dated 10 December 2025. Where two income sources exist (salary and property rental): they are treated as separate income categories and taxed **independently**, not combined — salary is taxed under the progressive rate schedule; rental income is taxed at a flat percentage of revenue (presumptive method) or on actual profit.
VAT Treatment for Roasted and Seasoned Pine Nuts and Pistachio Nuts: Not Classified as Minimal Processing
The Hai Phong City Tax Department determined that roasted and seasoned pine nuts and pistachio nuts do not qualify as products that have undergone only "minimal processing" under Decree 181/2025/ND-CP and Decree 359/2025/ND-CP. Therefore, a trading company selling these products to other enterprises is not entitled to the VAT exemption from declaration and payment that applies to minimally-processed agricultural products sold between enterprises. Minimal processing is defined as operations such as cleaning, sun-drying, drying, husking, milling, cutting, polishing, salting, and cold storage. Roasting and seasoning constitute processing beyond minimal preparation and transform the agricultural product into a different product. When a trading company using the tax credit method sells roasted/seasoned nuts to individual business households or other non-enterprise entities, it must apply a 5% VAT rate.
Resolution 31/NQ-CP: Declaring That Government Decrees Implementing the Price Law Remain in Force from 1 January 2026
The Government issued Resolution 31/NQ-CP dated 3 March 2026 to confirm that three decrees implementing the Price Law No. 16/2023/QH15 remain in force from 1 January 2026 until superseded, amended, or repealed. The three decrees confirmed as continuing in force are: Decree 78/2024/ND-CP on asset valuation; Decree 85/2024/ND-CP detailing certain provisions of the Price Law; and Decree 87/2024/ND-CP on administrative penalties for price management violations. The resolution takes effect on the date of signing (3 March 2026). When conflicting provisions exist across regulatory texts, the provision with higher legal authority prevails.
VAT Treatment for Household Businesses Providing Tutoring Services
The Ministry of Finance clarifies VAT policy for individual household businesses operating in education and vocational training. Under VAT Law No. 48/2024/QH15 and Decree No. 181/2025/ND-CP, teaching and vocational training activities conducted in accordance with education and vocational training law are VAT-exempt. Additionally, under Law No. 149/2025/QH15 amending the VAT Law, goods and services provided by household businesses with annual revenue of VND 500 million or less are also VAT-exempt. The Ministry advises the inquirer to review applicable regulations against their actual activities to determine the correct treatment.
0% VAT Rate for Household Businesses Exporting Goods via Foreign E-Commerce Platforms
The Ministry of Finance provides guidance on VAT applicable to household businesses selling goods on foreign e-commerce platforms, where goods are shipped from Vietnam to overseas consumers. The official image response shows the Hanoi Tax Department forwarding the inquiry (reference 060326-22) from Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh regarding VAT on goods exported via foreign e-commerce platforms. The Hanoi Tax Department acknowledges receipt and directs the inquirer to contact the tax office directly (phone 0983001726 or 024 33640589) for specific guidance on the 0% VAT rate applicable to exported goods not consumed in Vietnam.
Decree 64/2026/ND-CP: Rules for Enforcing Court Bankruptcy Declarations Against Enterprises and Cooperatives
On February 28, 2026, the Government issued Decree No. 64/2026/ND-CP, effective March 1, 2026, providing detailed rules for enforcing court bankruptcy declarations against enterprises and cooperatives under the new Law on Recovery and Bankruptcy No. 142/2025/QH15. The decree spells out how civil judgment enforcement agencies and enforcement officers work together with insolvency practitioners and asset management-liquidation firms to carry out a bankruptcy ruling: issuing the enforcement decision, verifying what assets and debtors exist, depositing recovered funds into a designated account, and valuing and selling assets through auction or, for certain asset types, direct sale. For businesses and cooperatives going through bankruptcy, this decree matters because it sets firm deadlines for every step - for example 9 days to verify enforcement conditions, 10 days to value assets, and 30 days to hand over assets to a buyer before coercive measures can be applied. It also assigns coordination duties to the State Treasury, banks, tax authorities, the business registration authority, and social insurance agencies, all of whom must supply information and act on requests from the enforcement agency. Creditors, buyers of auctioned assets, owners who had leased or lent property to a now-bankrupt company, and insolvency practitioners should know these timelines to protect their interests during liquidation. Bankruptcy enforcement cases already underway before March 1, 2026 continue under the prior framework - the 2014 Bankruptcy Law and its implementing rules - until they are completed.
Is War Veteran Allowance Counted as Income When Registering a Tax Dependent for PIT Family Deduction?
The Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department answered a citizen's query on whether a monthly war-veteran (thuong binh) allowance counts as income when assessing whether a parent qualifies as a tax dependent for the Personal Income Tax (PIT) family deduction. Under Article 2 of the PIT Law and implementing guidance, war-veteran allowances are PIT-exempt income and are not counted when evaluating dependent eligibility. Under Article 9, clause 1, point d.2 of Circular 111/2013/TT-BTC (as amended), persons outside the working-age bracket (men 60+ or women 55+) qualify as dependents if they have no income, or if their average monthly income from all sources does not exceed VND 1,000,000. Because the war-veteran allowance is not taxable income, the Tax Department advises that a mother who is a Grade 3/4 war veteran aged over 70 and receives only this allowance — with no other income — meets the conditions to be registered as a tax dependent. The taxpayer should register the dependent formally with supporting documents (veteran certificate, proof of age).
Conditions for Abbreviated Direct Appointment After Contract Finalization under Decree 214/2025/ND-CP
The Ministry of Finance answered a query about the conditions under which a contractor may be proposed for abbreviated direct appointment (chi dinh thau rut gon) after contract finalization, given that Decree 214/2025/ND-CP does not spell out such conditions explicitly as it does for ordinary direct appointment (Article 79, clause 3(c)). The response directs practitioners to Article 80 of Decree 214/2025/ND-CP for the abbreviated direct-appointment procedure, and to Article 78 of the same Decree for the eligible circumstances. The abbreviated procedure must be matched to one of the qualifying circumstances in Article 78 — there is no separate, standalone set of eligibility conditions for the abbreviated track beyond those two provisions.
Can Insurance Guarantee Certificates Replace Bank Guarantee Letters for Advance Payment and Warranty Bonds in Public Procurement?
The Ministry of Finance answered a query on whether insurance guarantee certificates (giay chung nhan bao hiem bao lanh) can substitute for bank guarantee letters in advance-payment bonds (bao lanh tam ung) and warranty bonds (bao lanh bao hanh) in public investment projects. For advance-payment bonds: under Article 118, clause 2 of Decree 214/2025/ND-CP and Section 13.1 of Chapters VI and VII of the E-Bidding Document template for online goods procurement (Circular 79/2025/TT-BTC), advance-payment guarantees must be issued by a credit institution or a foreign bank branch established under Vietnamese law. Insurance guarantee certificates from insurance companies therefore cannot be used for advance-payment bonds. However, a contractor may use an alternative template if the project owner approves. For warranty bonds: procurement law does not prescribe a specific warranty guarantee template, so no binding rule restricts or permits the use of insurance guarantee certificates in that context.
Bid Clarification Process and Handling of Non-Compliant First-Ranked Bidders under Decree 214/2025/ND-CP
The Ministry of Finance clarified the bid-clarification procedure for electronic construction bid documents (E-HSDT) under the one-stage, single-envelope format: whether clarification may occur simultaneously across all evaluation stages or must follow a two-phase sequence. Under Article 30, clause 1 of Decree 214/2025/ND-CP, after bid opening contractors must clarify their bids upon the project owner's request. For key personnel and major construction equipment, clarification and supplementation apply only to the first-ranked bidder after financial evaluation. Under Article 29, clause 2, evaluation of personnel and equipment is initially based solely on commitments stated in the bid form (not attached documents), with detailed document-level evaluation occurring only after ranking. If the first-ranked bidder fails to satisfy personnel or equipment requirements after being asked to clarify and supplement or replace (up to 2 rounds per item), that bidder is disqualified, has its reputation assessed under Article 20, and has its account suspended for 3 months on the National E-Procurement System.
Guidance on Issuing Invoices for Medical Equipment Using Common Names Different from Import Names
The Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department advised a medical equipment importer that invoices may use the customer's common trade name for goods, supplemented by the registered name in parentheses, as long as the true nature, model, and type of goods can be identified. Under Decree 123/2020/ND-CP and Circular 78/2021/TT-BTC, invoice goods names must accurately reflect the goods but need not exactly match the name on import documents. Companies may use the common name or the name in tender documents with the Ministry of Health-registered name in brackets. When adding a foreign language name on the invoice, it must appear below the Vietnamese text and in a smaller font size. If the goods bear a legally registered trademark, that trademark name must also appear on the invoice.
Business Registration and Tax Declaration for Insurance Agency Commission Income
The Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department advised that an individual acting as an insurance sales agent receiving commission income does not need to register a household business, as this activity is treated as an individual in business under an agency contract. Under Decree 68/2026/ND-CP, if annual revenue (commissions) does not exceed VND 500 million, no VAT or personal income tax (PIT) is owed. If the threshold is exceeded, the individual must declare and pay tax starting from the quarter in which revenue exceeds VND 500 million. The VND 500 million threshold applies to total commission income received during the year. If the actual amount exceeds the threshold after initially being projected below it, tax filing starts from the quarter of exceedance only.
Household Business Buying Cardboard Scrap from Individuals: Procurement Lists Without Invoices
The tax authority advised that a household business purchasing cardboard scrap from individual collectors without invoices may use a procurement list (bang ke) as supporting documentation for deductible business expenses when computing tax, under Decree 68/2026/ND-CP and Circular 78/2021/TT-BTC. The procurement list must include seller information (name, address, national ID number), goods description (type, quantity, weight), unit price, total amount, purchase date, and payment vouchers. For transactions of VND 5 million or more, non-cash payment is mandatory. Other business expenses with proper invoices — electricity, water, telephone, transport, asset rental — are also deductible for personal income tax purposes.
Can Salary Paid Twice Monthly in Cash Be Deducted as an Expense for Corporate Income Tax Purposes?
The Hanoi Tax Department confirmed that a 10-employee company paying salary twice monthly in cash (first payment on the 15th, second at month-end, each via a separate cash voucher) may deduct both salary payments as expenses for corporate income tax (CIT) purposes, provided proper supporting documents exist. Under Law on CIT No. 67/2025/QH15 and Decree 320/2025/ND-CP, salary expenses are deductible when supported by a payroll sheet, attendance record, and individual cash payment vouchers. The key conditions are that the expense must actually be incurred, relate to business operations, and be backed by adequate documentation. The tax authority advised the company to verify its situation against applicable tax laws and, if further queries arise, to consult http://hanoi.gdt.gov.vn or contact its direct tax management office.
Circular 04/2026/TT-BKHCN: Amendments to Measurement Standards for Gold Trading, LED Products, Children Toys, and Group-2 Measuring Instruments
Circular 04/2026/TT-BKHCN, issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology on February 27, 2026 and effective from April 15, 2026, amends a series of technical regulations on measurement and product quality. It covers four main groups of changes. First, it resets the requirements for scales used in gold trading: scales must have accuracy suited to the gold weight being measured (per a verification scale interval table) and must carry a valid verification certificate. It also sets a table of maximum allowable measurement error by gold weight bracket, plus a formula for weights not listed. This matters directly for gold shops and jewelry/gold-ware trading businesses. Second and third, the Circular amends two national technical regulations, one for LED lighting products (QCVN 19:2019/BKHCN) and one for children toy safety (QCVN 03:2019/BKHCN), requiring conformity-certification testing to be performed only by a designated or recognized testing organization. The LED provision itself expires on June 1, 2026. Fourth, the Circular reissues the full list of Group-2 measuring instruments (roughly 69 categories, from taximeters and various scales to fuel dispensers, water meters, electricity meters, and EV charging meters) along with control measures and specific verification cycles per instrument type (6 to 72 months). It also repeals one provision in the regulation on household electrical installation equipment. Gold traders, LED and toy manufacturers/importers, and businesses that operate listed measuring instruments (gas stations, water and power utilities, taxi operators, etc.) should review their calibration and verification schedules against the new cycles before the effective date.
Consolidated Document No. 19/VBHN-NHNN: Chart of Accounts for Credit Institutions
The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has issued Consolidated Document No. 19/VBHN-NHNN, merging the original Decision No. 479/2004/QD-NHNN (which established the Chart of Accounts for Credit Institutions) with six rounds of amendments issued over more than two decades, the most recent being Circular No. 70/2025/TT-NHNN, effective from January 1, 2026. This is a technical document that sets out the mandatory account-coding system that credit institutions and foreign bank branches must use for their bookkeeping. The chart of accounts is organized into 9 categories: 8 categories of on-balance-sheet accounts (now called the 'Statement of Financial Position,' renamed from 'Balance Sheet' in 2022) and 1 category of off-balance-sheet accounts (category 9, covering commitments, guarantees, and written-off debts still under monitoring). Each account is coded at Level I (2 digits), Level II (3 digits), and Level III (4 digits); institutions with sufficient IT capability may apply to the SBV to open additional Level IV/V sub-accounts. The document also sets rules for accounting in foreign currency and gold (gold is treated as a foreign currency, measured in 'chi' units of 99.99%-purity gold), along with the exchange rates to use when converting balances into Vietnamese dong. The newest change, from Circular 70/2025/TT-NHNN, adds a fallback principle: for economic transactions not specifically addressed by this Decision or SBV guidance, credit institutions must apply the Accounting Law, Vietnamese Accounting Standards, and general enterprise accounting rules. Because this is an internal accounting standard specific to banks and credit institutions, typical SMEs are not directly affected, but the finance and accounting departments of credit institutions and foreign bank branches should review and update their bookkeeping systems to reflect this consolidated text.
Guidance on Purchasing Computers and Printers for Hamlets: Which Standards Apply
The Ministry of Finance provides guidance on the procurement of computers and printers for hamlets (thon/buon) to support administrative reform. The official response confirms that hamlets are not administrative units and do not fall under the equipment usage standards in Prime Minister Decision No. 15/2025/QD-TTg dated 14 June 2025. Regarding the state budget, State Budget Law No. 89/2025/QH15 provides that provincial People's Councils may determine the allocation of spending tasks between local budget levels, which may include supporting equipment procurement for hamlets if deemed appropriate. The Ministry recommends the inquirer consult the competent local authority for specific guidance.
Consolidated Document No. 9624/VBHN-BNG: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Circular on Consular Implementation
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued Consolidated Document No. 9624/VBHN-BNG, authenticated on 31/12/2025 and published in Official Gazette No. 149 dated 16/03/2026. However, the PDF text does not contain substantive legal content (only headers, authentication signature, and blank page markers), making it impossible to determine specific content. The document was authenticated by Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van. This is a consolidated document in the diplomatic/consular domain of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not directly relevant to taxation or business finance.
Consolidated Document No. 10/VBHN-BKHCN: Circular Guiding ICT Implementation Under the National Target Program for New Rural Development 2021-2025
Consolidated Document No. 10/VBHN-BKHCN (dated December 31, 2025, certified by the Ministry of Science and Technology) merges Circular No. 05/2022/TT-BTTTT with its amending Circular No. 02/2025/TT-BTTTT, both originally issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications. It provides detailed guidance for implementing the information and communications technology (ICT) component (Content 09 of Sub-Component 02 and Content 02 of Sub-Component 08) of the National Target Program for New Rural Development 2021-2025. The main content covers establishing and upgrading commune-level loudspeaker broadcasting stations and digitizing production equipment for district-level radio-television facilities; developing broadband telecom infrastructure and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity for agriculture and rural areas; expanding online public administrative services and inter-agency data sharing; training commune officials in digital skills and information security; popularizing digital literacy among rural residents; and assigning digital address codes to homes and government offices. This is a public-investment program and internal implementation guideline for ministries and provincial People's Committees carrying out the rural development program. It does not impose tax, accounting, invoicing, labor, or customs compliance obligations on businesses, so it has little direct relevance to SME owners, accountants, or foreign investors, although it does touch indirectly on developing digital platforms for e-commerce and electronic payments in rural areas.
Consolidated Document No. 18/VBHN-NHNN: Banking Accounting Voucher Regime
Consolidated Document No. 18/VBHN-NHNN merges Decision No. 1789/2005/QD-NHNN (the Banking Accounting Voucher Regime) with the amendments in Circular No. 70/2025/TT-NHNN, effective from January 1, 2026. It sets detailed rules for preparing, signing, controlling, circulating, printing, safekeeping and archiving banking accounting vouchers (both paper and electronic), applying to the State Bank of Vietnam, credit institutions, foreign bank branches and any organization or individual dealing with a bank. For business owners and accountants, the key points are the mandatory voucher content (name, serial number, date, party details, amounts written in both figures and words, signatures) and the valid-signature requirements. Businesses required by law to have a chief accountant must have the account holder's signature, the chief accountant's (or authorized person's) signature, and the company seal on paper vouchers; electronic signatures must match the specimen registered with the bank. A voucher that has been erased, altered, or that uses a form not registered with the State Bank has no value for payment or bookkeeping and may be rejected by the bank. Circular No. 70/2025/TT-NHNN mainly updates the legal basis for the regime (aligning it with the current Law on the State Bank of Vietnam, Law on Credit Institutions, Accounting Law and Law on Electronic Transactions) and adds rules on electronic signatures and other electronic confirmation methods for signing vouchers. This is a technical, banking-industry operational document - it does not change any tax obligation, but it directly affects the voucher preparation and signing process every time a business deposits, withdraws, transfers funds, or issues a check through a bank.