Vietnam’s tax authorities have audited 76,428 individuals engaged in e-commerce, with 30,000 of them fined and subjected to tax arrears totaling 1.223 trillion VND ($50.7 million).

The announcement was made by Mai Son, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Taxation, during a press conference on January 7.

Tax compliance for e-commerce activities

According to current regulations, all businesses, organizations, and individuals generating taxable income are required to declare, pay, and take full responsibility for their tax obligations to the state budget.

Mai Son emphasized that tax authorities have a duty to educate and support taxpayers in fulfilling their obligations while ensuring fairness and transparency through inspections, audits, and penalties for violations.

Online sellers, including influencers, key opinion leaders (KOLs), and livestreamers, are among the groups receiving closer scrutiny, particularly in major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Data-driven tax enforcement

Nguyen Duc Chi, Deputy Minister of Finance, underscored the equal application of tax laws to all entities, regardless of their public profile.

He noted that the tax authorities have developed and enriched a comprehensive database on the business activities of individuals and organizations operating on e-commerce platforms and social networks.

Chi warned that violators face stringent penalties and urged taxpayers to proactively comply with their obligations to avoid unintentional breaches.

“We have a robust data system and will conduct audits to identify and penalize violators. Taxpayers must recognize their responsibilities to avoid heavy fines due to negligence,” he said.

Binh Minh