Mandatory requirement
According to data from the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM), in 2024, the B2C (Business to Consumer) e-commerce market reached approximately VND 650 trillion (equivalent to USD 30 billion), accounting for nearly 10% of domestic retail sales and contributing almost 20% to GDP. Experts predict that if the growth rate of 18-25% per year is maintained, the size of Vietnam's e-commerce market will reach USD 63 billion by 2030, ranking second in Southeast Asia. Currently, Vietnamese consumers spend nearly USD 1 billion per month through e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, TikTok Shop, etc.
However, alongside the boom in e-commerce come a host of risks for both consumers and government agencies. Issues such as commercial fraud, tax evasion, counterfeit goods, intellectual property infringement, and complex and difficult-to-verify complaint procedures persist. One of the prominent challenges is the phenomenon of "anonymous sellers"—individuals or organizations conducting online business without publicly disclosing basic information such as name, address, phone number, or tax identification number. This makes it difficult to trace and determine responsibility in the event of disputes or legal violations.
Given this reality, identifying online sellers is no longer an option, but a prerequisite for creating a transparent, fair, and sustainable market. Identification is not just a technological "touchpoint," but a mechanism that links legal responsibility to each online business transaction, thereby contributing to combating counterfeit goods, commercial fraud, and tax evasion. With a clear identification code, sellers are legally responsible if they violate regulations on product quality, origin, or tax obligations. This is especially important in the context where many individuals are exploiting e-commerce platforms to trade prohibited goods, counterfeit goods, or "circumvent the law" in tax declarations.
Furthermore, identifying online sellers will contribute to increased budget revenue and promote tax management in the digital age. According to data from the General Department of Taxation, in the first five months of 2025, revenue from the e-commerce sector reached VND 74,400 billion, a 55% increase compared to the same period in 2024 – a figure that shows the enormous potential of this type of business but also highlights the urgent need for an effective management mechanism. When sellers are identified, tax authorities can automatically collect, deduct, or monitor tax obligations through digital platforms, instead of relying on self-declared reports. This is a fundamental step to expand the revenue base, reduce revenue losses, and create fairness between traditional businesses and e-commerce.
In particular, identifying online sellers is crucial for vulnerable groups such as freelancers, women entrepreneurs, and people in rural and mountainous areas – those who are gradually participating in e-commerce but still face difficulties in accessing official distribution channels. Identifying sellers will open opportunities for them to access support programs, preferential credit sources, and gradually participate in the legitimate and formal business ecosystem.
An essential foundation for a sustainable e-commerce ecosystem.
Identifying online sellers is no longer just a technical or administrative requirement, but has become a crucial legal and institutional foundation for state management in the e-commerce sector.
Legally, Decree 117/2024 stipulates that e-commerce platforms must deduct and pay taxes on behalf of sellers, starting from July 1, 2025. In addition, the draft Law on E-commerce (expected to be submitted to the National Assembly in October 2025) will mandate that individuals conducting online businesses register for a tax identification number and implement identity verification. Technically, VNeID is used to verify the identity of online sellers. E-commerce platforms (Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, etc.) integrate API systems to automatically transfer tax data to tax authorities. The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Public Security are researching mechanisms for sharing data between the VNeID system, the tax database, and the national population database. This will create a foundation for seamless identity verification, leading to more effective management, supervision, and inspection.
Therefore, seller identification is not just an administrative measure, but is becoming an essential foundation for a transparent, trustworthy, and sustainable e-commerce ecosystem. With the implementation of personal tax identification numbers, VNeID identification accounts, and e-commerce platform authentication mechanisms, this policy is creating positive impacts in three distinct areas.
Firstly, this policy has significantly contributed to increased budget revenue thanks to the transparency of money flows. In just the first five months of 2025, tax revenue from e-commerce increased by 55% compared to the same period in 2024 – a record increase. It is projected that for the whole year, the tax authorities could collect between 180,000 and 200,000 billion VND from online sellers, mostly from verified accounts. When the seller's identity is clearly verified, tax obligations are fulfilled fully and transparently, thus reflecting the clear effectiveness of the policy.
Secondly, it strengthens market trust – a vital element of e-commerce. Fraud, incorrect product delivery, or loss of contact with sellers are major reasons for consumer distrust. E-commerce platforms also report higher complaint rates at unverified stores. Conversely, users increasingly prefer shopping at clearly identified stores with authentication symbols. Transparent identity thus becomes a new competitive advantage in the e-commerce environment.
Ultimately, identification helps formalize and modernize the e-commerce ecosystem. This facilitates the connection of small-scale sellers to the formal financial system, enabling them to automatically declare and pay taxes, build credit profiles based on transaction data, and access loans and startup support programs. Thanks to digital technology , the government can effectively trace transactions, reduce the burden of management, and promote a transparent, fair, and orderly business environment.
However, several significant challenges remain in synchronizing the quality of digital identity verification across e-commerce platforms. Small-scale online sellers are still unfamiliar with registering for tax identification numbers and have concerns about potential privacy violations when using VNeID data. Furthermore, the legal framework related to data sharing, information security, and dispute resolution concerning digital identity verification is still incomplete. Therefore, a pilot program for digital identity verification should be implemented with high-revenue sellers before gradually expanding to smaller groups. Simultaneously, regulations protecting personal data in electronic transactions need to be added. Relevant authorities should also intensify training and guidance on online identity verification and tax filing for small sellers, especially in remote areas.
Simultaneously, the establishment of a mechanism for sharing identification data between the Ministry of Industry and Trade , the General Department of Taxation, and the Ministry of Public Security needs to be carried out in a secure and efficient manner. E-commerce platforms should be encouraged to integrate the VNeID authentication system and tax identification numbers when sellers open stores, while also publicly disclosing violation and complaint rates to increase transparency and strengthen market confidence.
For Hanoi – one of the leading localities in the country in digital transformation and e-commerce development – promoting seller identification should be identified as a strategic priority in smart urban commerce policy planning. The city government can proactively coordinate with central agencies to implement pilot models such as transparent e-commerce platforms, automated tax management, or post-transaction verification using smart technology. These initiatives will contribute to the formation of a modern, transparent, fair, and sustainable digital business environment.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/dinh-danh-nguoi-ban-hang-online-ieu-kien-tien-quyet-cho-mot-thi-truong-minh-bach-709952.html
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