Vietnam's e-commerce tax revenue soars between Jan and May
Vietnam's tax administration has made notable strides in its management of e-commerce and the digital economy.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Ministry of Finance reported that tax revenue from e-commerce and the digital economy soared 55% to VND74.4 trillion (US$2.8 billion) in the first five months of 2025.
This growth reflects enhanced tax management efforts, improved legal frameworks, and greater adoption of digital platforms for tax collection.
Hanoi identifies e-invoices as a key step in the digitalization process. Photo: Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper
From January to May, 158 overseas providers paid a total of VND5.7 trillion ($219.7 million) in taxes through the electronic portal operated by Vietnam’s tax authorities, up 41% year-on-year.
Meanwhile, around 100,000 business households and individuals used the online portal to pay nearly VND1.1 trillion ($42.4 million) in taxes during the same period.
Nearly 93,000 organizations and individuals engaged in e-commerce activities contributed VND67.6 trillion ($2.6 billion) to the state budget, making up the largest portion of tax revenue from the digital economy.
Besides collecting taxes, authorities intensified enforcement through audits and inspections. They reviewed over 164,000 taxpayers and collected VND416 billion ($16 million) from enterprises and VND331 billion ($12.7 million) from 25,000 individual and household businesses.
The Ministry of Finance plans to expand the use of big data and strengthen its integration with e-commerce platforms, banks, and digital payment systems for better oversight, guidance, and enforcement in the rapidly evolving online business environment.
In line with Politburo Resolution 68 on private economic development, the longstanding lump-sum tax regime for household businesses must be phased out by 2026 at the latest. The resolution also requires expanding the tax base, particularly through electronic invoicing from point-of-sale systems.
The Department of Taxation under the Ministry of Finance said that eliminating the lump-sum tax system is pivotal for tax reform and driving growth in Vietnam’s private sector.
As part of the transition, starting June 1, household businesses with annual revenues exceeding VND1 billion ($38,540) under Decree No. 70/2025 must use cash registers connected directly to tax offices to generate e-invoices.
This requirement applies to household businesses operating in direct retail, services, and entertainment, including shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants, passenger transportation, arts, and recreational services. Sales of automobiles, motorcycles, and other motorized vehicles are exempt.
Vietnam is currently home to more than 5.2 million household businesses, which generate between 8 and 9 million jobs.
