Stable, transparent and predictable tax policy is fast becoming a deciding factor for foreign-invested enterprises already operating in Vietnam as they weigh whether to maintain or expand production and trade and commit to long-term investment.

Businesses in Vietnam are calling for predictable tax policies, clearer implementation timelines and better coordination between laws, warning that inconsistent interpretations and retrospective tax assessments could create uncertainty.

Vietnam is considering a 0.2% annual tax on unused land, potentially costing owners of a $3.85 million plot around $7,700 a year. An economist argues the rate should rise the longer land remains idle.

Key taxes on petroleum products will remain at zero in Vietnam until the end of December as the government seeks to support energy security and stabilize the domestic fuel market. 

Vietnam is turning to tax policy to help local companies seize investment, order and market opportunities unlocked by shifting global supply chains.

Nearly all household businesses in Vietnam will qualify for a 30% tax reduction after the National Assembly approved new relief measures for 2026 and 2027.

Vietnam will continue tax cuts, tax payment extensions and fee reductions to support people and businesses amid inflationary pressures while helping maintain macroeconomic stability, Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has proposed imposing a high level of taxes on vacant land and short-term property transactions as part of efforts to curb speculation, improve land-use efficiency and stabilise the real estate market.

The Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (VINASME) has proposed that the Government study a fixed-tax policy for household and individual businesses with annual revenues ranging from VND1 to 3 billion.

"I'd love to have invoices, but where am I supposed to get them?" the owner of a draft-beer restaurant in Hanoi asked when discussing input invoices.

The Government has issued a decree to specify new expenses eligible for deductions from pre-tax salary under the amended Law on Personal Income Tax, which took effect on July 1.

The Government has issued Decree 252, detailing a number of provisions and implementation measures for the Law on Tax Administration, including specific cases in which individuals may be temporarily prohibited from leaving Vietnam due to tax debts.

Vietnam may continue fuel tax incentives through September under a new proposal aimed at avoiding sudden price shocks and supporting businesses.

The Government has issued a decree amending export tax rates for several mineral products under the Export Tariff Schedule.

Battery electric vehicles in Vietnam will continue to enjoy a 0% first-time registration fee through 2030 under newly issued regulations.

Dang Ngoc Minh, deputy director of the Tax Department, said tax authorities no longer manage businesses by “counting business households on the streets or entering stores to estimate revenue”.

Vietnam’s Finance Ministry has reported to the Prime Minister on a case involving a travel suspension linked to a VND15,000 (US$0.58) tax debt, while pledging faster processing through system upgrades.

A controversial proposal on sharing taxpayer banking data with tax authorities has been removed from Vietnam’s latest draft tax management decree.

The Ministry of Finance is seeking public feedback on a proposal to abolish 23 circulars and three decisions in the tax sector as part of efforts to align and harmonise regulations with the current legal framework.