This September 2026 Vietnam tax update summarises recent guidance on VAT refunds for investment projects, deductible vehicle rental expenses, PIT withholding after employment termination, invoice issuance timing and exchange rates on export invoices. Each section highlights the relevant conditions and practical considerations to help businesses review their tax procedures and supporting documents.
1. INVOICE
Guidance on invoice issuance timing for services supplied to individual consumers and transactions arising at night.
Pursuant to Official Letter No. 6325/CT-QLNT dated August 26, 2026 of the Tax Department, guiding Article 9 of Decree No. 254/2026/NĐ-CP (effective July 1, 2026).
Services supplied to individual consumers
For enterprises providing services to individual consumers, including banking; payment intermediary services; credit information services; securities business; crypto-asset transactions; support services for transactions on carbon exchanges; insurance business; money transfers via e-wallets; suspension and resumption of electricity supply; e-commerce; postal and transportation services supporting e-commerce; public passenger transport by metro and bus; passenger transport by taxi, contract vehicle, and two-wheeled motorcycle; parking services; cinema services; and other services, where such enterprises satisfy the conditions of having a software system capable of managing each transaction in detail and maintaining payment collection data in the system on a transaction-by-transaction basis:
– The seller shall prepare a Summary of E-Invoice Data for Sales of Goods and Provision of Services and a Detailed Statement of Transactions Arising During the Month or Quarter (covering the period from the first day to the last day of the relevant month or quarter), using the forms prescribed by the Minister of Finance, and submit them to the tax authority no later than the statutory deadline for submission of the Value Added Tax (“VAT”) return in accordance with the laws on tax administration.
– Where a large volume of invoices is generated, the Summary of E-Invoice Data and the Detailed Statement of Transactions shall be divided into separate data files in accordance with the standard data format prescribed by the tax authority to ensure compliance with the technical requirements for data transmission and receipt.
The seller is responsible for the accuracy of transaction information, must retain full detailed data for each transaction, and must ensure the data can be retrieved, reconciled and provided, together with related documents, on request of the tax authority or competent state agency.
Transactions arising during night working hours
Where the seller has no automatic invoicing software and sells goods or supplies services during night working hours as defined by the Labor Code, the invoice must be issued no later than the next working day.ogether with the Appendix on VAT Refund Claim Information (Form No. 01-8/GTGT) as the basis for the tax authority to review and process the refund request.
Guidance on Exchange Rates Stated on Invoices for Export Activities
Pursuant to Official Letter No. 6810/CT-QLNT dated 14 September 2026
In cases where economic or financial transactions are denominated in foreign currencies in accordance with foreign exchange regulations, the seller shall indicate on the invoice the exchange rate between the foreign currency and the Vietnamese Dong as prescribed in Point c.1, Clause 8 of the Appendix attached to Decree No. 254/2026/NĐ-CP.
Pursuant to Clauses 1 and 5, Article 26 of the Law on Tax Administration No. 108/2025/QH15 and the accounting regulations, the exchange rate shown on the invoice shall be the actual transaction exchange rate determined in accordance with accounting laws and regulations.
2. PERSONAL INCOME TAX
Guidance on 10% PIT withholding on income paid to employees whose labour contracts have been terminated.
Pursuant to Official Letter No. 10049/NBI-QLDN1 dated August 3, 2026 of the Ninh Binh Provincial Tax Office, guiding Clauses 1 and 3, Article 26 and Clause 2, Article 50 of Decree No. 253/2026/NĐ-CP dated June 30, 2026
– Where an employee is a resident individual whose labor contract was terminated on 30 June 2026, and the Company pays the employee’s salary for June 2026 on 10 July 2026, such payment shall be treated as a salary payment made to an individual whose labor contract has already been terminated. If the payment to each individual on each occasion is VND 5 million or more, the Company shall withhold personal income tax (“PIT”) at the rate of 10% before making the payment. If the payment is less than VND 5 million per payment, the Company shall withhold PIT at the rate of 10% only at the individual’s request.
– The Company shall withhold PIT at the rate of 10% on taxable income from salaries and wages before making payment to the individual. Tax-exempt income prescribed by law, including remuneration for night work and overtime work, and salaries and wages paid for unused annual leave within the conditions, duration and limits prescribed by labor laws, shall not be included in the income subject to withholding. Any amount exceeding the statutory limits shall be included in taxable income.
Compulsory insurance contributions, personal and dependent deductions, and other allowable deductions are taken into account in determining taxable income when applying the partially progressive tax tariff or upon annual PIT finalization, and shall not be deducted when applying the provisional 10% withholding rate prescribed in Clause 2, Article 50 of Decree No. 253/2026/ND-CP.
3. VALUE ADDED TAX
Guidance on VAT Refund Conditions for Investment Projects
Pursuant to Official Letter No. 7019/CT-QLNT dated 22 September 2026 issued by the Tax Department:
Where, at the time of submitting the VAT refund application, a business establishment falls within the scope of cases eligible for a VAT refund in respect of an investment project, has input VAT that fully satisfies the conditions for VAT credit and refund in accordance with the VAT regulations, and has submitted a VAT refund application dossier in compliance with the tax administration regulations, the business establishment shall be considered for a VAT refund in respect of the investment project.
Pursuant to Clause 4, Article 3 of Law on Investment No. 61/2020/QH14, Clause 2, Article 15 of Law on Value Added Tax No. 48/2024/QH15, and Article 30 of Decree No. 181/2025/ND-CP, there is no provision stipulating that the date of issuance of the Investment Registration Certificate (“IRC”) shall serve as the basis for determining the input VAT attributable to an investment project
Where the Company has VAT invoices for purchased goods and services arising prior to the issuance of the IRC, if the Company is able to provide sufficient supporting documents and evidence demonstrating that such goods and services were actually purchased for the preparation and implementation of the investment project in accordance with the laws on investment, and the related input VAT satisfies the conditions for VAT credit and refund under the VAT regulations, such input VAT may be considered for credit and refund in respect of the investment project in accordance with the applicable regulations.
4. CORPORATE INCOME TAX
Guidance on the Conditions for Treating Vehicle Rental Expenses Paid to Individuals as Deductible Expenses for Corporate Income Tax Purposes
Pursuant to Official Letter No. 15944/DON-QLDN3 dated 18 August 2026 issued by the Dong Nai Tax Authority:
- Where an enterprise rents assets from an individual, the supporting documents required to substantiate the deductible expense include the asset lease agreement and documents evidencing payment of the rental fee.
- Where an enterprise rents assets from an individual and the lease agreement stipulates that the rental fee is exclusive of taxes (including value added tax and personal income tax), and the enterprise is required to declare and pay such taxes on behalf of the individual in accordance with the laws on tax administration, the taxes paid on behalf of the individual may also be treated as deductible expenses for corporate income tax purposes, provided that valid tax payment documents are available.
5. Review Your Business’s Tax Compliance
Vina TPT provides integrated accounting, tax, HR and payroll, legal and business advisory services for domestic and foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam. From company establishment and post-licensing procedures to bookkeeping, financial reporting and ongoing compliance, we help businesses manage their obligations at each stage of their operations.
Our tax services include tax filing and annual finalization, VAT refund assistance, tax health checks, transfer pricing and global minimum tax compliance. We also review supporting records, identify potential compliance gaps, and assist with documentation and explanations requested by tax authorities during tax reviews and inspections.
If these updates affect your business, our team can help assess the implications, review your current procedures and recommend practical actions suited to your operations.
Contact Vina TPT to Review Your Tax Compliance
