Vietnam Issues New Guidelines on E-Invoices and Tax Documentation

On May 31, 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance issued Circular No. 32/2025/TT-BTC, which will take effect on June 1, 2025. This new regulation replaces Circular No. 78/2021/TT-BTC and serves as an implementation guide for electronic invoices and related documents, following the amendments introduced by Decree No. 70/2025/ND-CP to Decree No. 123/2020/ND-CP.

Key Regulatory Updates

• Third-Party Authorization for E-Invoice Issuance: The Circular specifies the required contents of contracts authorizing a third party to issue invoices on behalf of a business, including procedures for notifying the tax authority and mandatory invoice disclosures.
• Standardization of Invoice Codes and Formats: It introduces standardized formats for invoice numbers and reference codes for e-invoices and pre-printed invoices, such as VAT invoices, sales invoices, and newer formats like e-commerce invoices and combined VAT- and sales-invoices with tax, fee, and charge receipts. Invoice codes will now include tax authority identifiers, the year of issuance, and the invoice type.
• Specialized Invoicing Guidance: Clarifies procedures for issuing invoices in regular, large-volume transactions and for financial leasing. Additionally, it specifies the content requirements for VAT invoices that also serve as tax refund declarations.
• Transition to Electronic Invoicing: Outlines new procedures for taxpayers shifting to the electronic invoice system using tax authority codes.
• Identification of High-Risk Taxpayers: Sets criteria for identifying high-risk taxpayers when registering for e-invoicing. These include a history of violations or unclear business activities.
• Requirements for E-Invoice Service Providers: Establishes technical and operational criteria that e-invoice service providers must meet.
• Personal Income Tax Certificates: Organizations that deduct personal income tax must stop using the previous version of electronic deduction certificates and switch to the new format as outlined in Decree No. 70/2025/ND-CP.
• Lucky Invoice Program: Encourages consumers to request invoices by linking them to a prize-draw program administered by the Tax Department.

There’s more you should know about e-invoicing in Vietnam – learn more about the new and upcoming regulations.