Support business households to apply advanced machinery to improve production efficiency. Photo: VNA
Flexible application
Tens of thousands of small businesses have started applying electronic invoices (E-invoices) under Decree 70/2025/CP. However, after more than 1 month of implementation (from June 1), many businesses are still struggling with new regulations, cost pressures, and technological barriers.
Having been in the auto parts business for nearly 20 years, Ms. Nguyen Thi Khanh Ly, owner of Pham Gia Trading Company ( Hanoi ), said that in the past, most trading companies paid lump-sum taxes in the form of a fixed monthly tax rate, without having to keep records or declare detailed revenue. However, according to Decree 70, all transactions must issue invoices, all revenues must be declared transparently, while the management capacity and technology infrastructure of small trading companies cannot meet the requirements immediately. The reform is in the right direction, but it needs a roadmap that is suitable for reality.
The latest survey results of nearly 1,400 business households by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) show that the implementation of electronic invoices from cash registers under Decree 70 creates a lot of pressure for small business households. According to Mr. Dau Anh Tuan, Deputy General Secretary, Head of the Legal Department of VCCI, up to 94% of business households have grasped the content of Decree 70, but only 11% of business households really understand their obligations, 51% of business households have never contacted the Tax authority.
The survey results also reflect the main difficulties that HKD is facing when implementing e-invoices. Of these, the lack of knowledge and skills in technology accounts for the highest percentage at 73%; 53% are concerned about complicated procedures; 49% face barriers in changing business habits; 37% lack time to learn and do not have enough capital to invest in equipment. In addition, a number of HKD also expressed concerns about data security when switching to a digital environment.
Regarding this issue, Ms. Bui Thi Trang, Director of Accounting Services and Business Households, MISA Joint Stock Company, shared that the business household model is diverse, from small traders who have been trading at the market for more than 40 years, to the Gen Z generation doing business online. However, in reality, business households still collect cash and record in notebooks, making it difficult to distinguish between business cash flow and personal cash flow. Meanwhile, to issue output invoices in accordance with regulations, input invoices are needed. This is the "weakness" of many business households today.
According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Cu, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Tax Consultants Association (VTCA), the anxiety of business households is understandable. The abolition of lump-sum tax, the application of electronic invoices, and the fight against fraud are all reforms in the right direction to create a transparent business environment and increase tax obligations. If implemented rigidly and without a suitable roadmap, it will cause the opposite effect, especially for small traders in remote areas, where investment in equipment, software, and internet connections is a major barrier. Paper invoices printed from machines are recognized as valid when registered with the Tax authority at present, and there also needs to be clear instructions so that businesses can confidently implement them.
Simplify the tax filing process
To help businesses overcome difficulties when applying e-invoices, Mr. Tran Quoc Khanh, Standing Member of the Prime Minister 's Policy Advisory Council, recommended that the legitimate interests of businesses should be the focus in policy implementation, especially simplifying the tax payment process as much as possible. When businesses have connected the e-POS machine to the Tax Department, all transactions have been recorded. The Tax Department can automatically summarize revenue and send a tax notice to businesses at the end of the month, similar to the way of settling personal income tax, businesses only need to check and click the payment button.
In addition, practical financial support is needed, because a cash register capable of connecting directly to the Tax Authority costs about 10 - 11 million VND, which is a large investment for small businesses. The State should consider supporting part or all of this cost, because the additional revenue in the future can offset it. Regarding the cost of issuing invoices, machine suppliers are charging about 210 VND for each electronic invoice. This figure is large for low-value items. The Prime Minister has directed and needs to be strictly managed so that suppliers are not allowed to collect this fee, in order to reduce the burden on businesses.
In addition, the Tax Authority needs a flexible transition period. A transition period of 6 months or 1 year is too short. A buffer period of 2-3 years is needed for HKD to adapt. During this time, it is necessary to implement 2 principles: Do not collect past taxes and do not fine small errors, instead, provide guidance and reminders to help HKD feel secure in the transition; at the same time, reconsider the reasonable taxable revenue threshold, this is the core point because the current tax-free revenue of 200 million VND/year is too low and unfair compared to salaried employees.
“The shortcomings are the motivation for HKD to hide their revenue. Therefore, it is necessary to study raising the taxable revenue threshold for HKD, possibly up to 2 billion VND/year to match the family deduction level of salaried employees,” Mr. Tran Quoc Khanh emphasized.
According to News and People Newspaper
Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/kinh-te/linh-hoat-quy-trinh-nop-thue-ho-tro-cac-ho-kinh-doanh/20250717083648963
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