Topic > Income Tax in Vietnam: Moving towards Compliance

IndexThe Importance of Filing a Tax ReturnHow is Income Tax Filed in Vietnam?Personal and Corporate Income Tax Filing in VietnamTaxable IncomeTax Incentives in VietnamConclusionReferences How vital component of In any modern society, taxation plays a crucial role in the economic development and stability of a nation. In Vietnam, the income tax filing process has become increasingly important as the country experiences rapid economic growth and strives to strengthen its financial infrastructure. Understanding and complying with income tax regulations is essential for both individuals and businesses operating within Vietnam's borders. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Vietnam's tax landscape has evolved significantly in recent years, reflecting the country's transition to a market-oriented economy. With its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2007 and the implementation of various tax reforms, Vietnam has aimed to create a favorable business environment, attract foreign investment and ensure sustainable economic growth. This transformation required a clear understanding of tax regulations and a commitment to fulfilling tax obligations. The importance of filing a tax return A tax return is a form filed with the tax authority of a particular country or territory. Filing a tax return allows the taxpayer to provide the tax authorities with information about his or her income, expenses and other related and relevant tax details. Filing tax returns also helps taxpayers calculate their tax liability because it allows them to plan their tax payments and request refunds for tax overpayments they may have made. Most tax returns can be divided into three sections. One of these is the income section where all the taxpayer's sources of income are listed. Sources of income to list in this section include dividends, wages, income accumulated through self-employment, and income from capital gains. Another section of the tax return concerns deductions. Deductions result in a decrease in tax liabilities. The value of the deductions will depend on the tax jurisdiction in which the taxes are imposed. Many personal income tax deductions relate to pension contributions, loans and interest. Businesses and corporations can also claim deductions resulting from business operations. The last section of a typical tax return is generally used for tax credits. Tax credits also serve to offset a taxpayer's tax liabilities. Tax deductions and credits are subtracted from the usual amount of income tax payable to arrive at the exact amount a taxpayer must pay. How is income tax filed in Vietnam? All tax returns in Vietnam, including corporate and personal tax returns, are due every 90th day of the following year. In July 2020, however, a change to the tax administration laws in Vietnam will come into force. In Vietnam there are two ways to declare taxes. You can do this by paying your fees in cash or by bank transfer. A taxpayer can choose to pay the money directly to the treasury office. Those who willthey will receive a tax voucher showing that they have filed and paid their taxes before the deadline. You could also decide to pay your taxes via bank transfer which would allow a transfer of money to the Treasury's bank account. Can foreigners paying taxes in Vietnam benefit from the effects of double taxation treaties? A foreigner can benefit from the effects of double tax treaties if he follows the legal procedure to do so. Those who wish to benefit from the effects of double taxation treaties must present the certificate of conformity upon entry into the country. After doing so, it will be possible for foreigner to claim tax benefits if his home country has signed a double taxation treaty with Vietnam and if he is able to submit the certificate of compliance. Foreigners who pay taxes in Vietnam may benefit from tax relief resulting from tax treaties their countries may have signed with Vietnam. However, before doing so, they must first file a tax return in their home country, and then submit a certificate of compliance or tax return. Are there many tax exemptions available in Vietnam? There are not many tax exemptions in Vietnam, however not all earnings are necessarily subject to tax due to the effects of tax exemptions. One of the tax exemptions in Vietnam is that on income generated from the sale of real estate by a relative. Such transfers are never taxed. Foreigners are also generally exempt from taxation relating to relocation allowances. Therefore, all foreigners who have recently moved to Vietnam will find that their company's relocation allowances are not subject to any taxation. Another tax exemption that foreigners in Vietnam can benefit from is taxes for their own or their children's education in Vietnam. Training expenses also do not need to be taxed as long as the training provided is relevant to the job the taxpayer was hired to do. Company food allowances and overtime pay are also not subject to tax. These exemptions can be claimed by both local and foreign workers. Filing Personal and Corporate Income Tax in Vietnam All individual taxpayers in Vietnam are required to file personal income tax returns. Current laws relating to the filing of personal income tax in Vietnam allow for the correction of returns that may have been filed in error for a period of up to 10 years. Upcoming changes to Vietnam's personal income tax laws will delay the due date for personal tax returns to the 120th day of the following year. All individual taxpayers in Vietnam are expected to have a tax number and identity card so that they can file their annual tax return. All companies in Vietnam are required to pay different types of taxes. These include value added tax, corporate income tax and business license tax. The general corporate income tax rate in Vietnam is 20%. However, companies involved in trading valuable natural resources or exploiting minerals will be taxed at a rate of between 32% and 50% depending on the project undertaken. Another form of corporate taxation in Vietnam is the business license tax. This tax is imposed on the capital spent when creating a business. The deadline for paying the license taxcommercial is at the end of the first month of commercial activity. Value added tax is also paid in Vietnam. The general tax rate for value added tax is 10%; however, some goods and services are taxed at a reduced rate of 5%. It is crucial to note that all monthly declarations and payment of any outstanding value added tax must be made on or before the 20th of the following month. Taxable income tax must be imposed on all profits made. The taxable income of a company in Vietnam includes income obtained from the sale of products, rental of property, sale of assets or transfer of shares. However, the dividends that a company pays to its shareholders are not subject to tax. Capital gains are taxed at a standard rate of 25%. The value of a transfer is based on the actual price as defined by the transfer contract. However, if there is no contract that defines the value of the transfer, a price deemed fair market will be used to determine the value of the transfer. Losses may be carried forward to a future filing date. If a company suffers a loss, the filing process can be brought forward by up to five years. If a company's financial year differs from the tax year of Vietnam, the company is expected to report such differences to the tax authorities. Tax Incentives in Vietnam Preferential tax rates of 10% and 20% for periods of 15 and 10 years respectively apply to any taxpayer engaged in approved investment projects as well as those residing in economically-challenged countries. There are also special taxes designated as special sales taxes imposed on goods considered luxury. The basis of such taxation is the quantity of taxable goods sold. Such products and services include cigars and cigarettes (taxed at 75%); spirits, wines and beer (65%), cars with less than 24 seats (10-150%); motorcycles, planes and boats (30%); and casinos and entertainment with gambling stands (30-35%). Taxation in Vietnam is collected by the General Department of Vietnam Tax, while the General Department of Vietnam Customs is responsible for ensuring that nothing is smuggled into the country untaxed. The issuing of licenses by the licensing authorities of Vietnam also serves to ensure that the taxation process is followed and that all businesses and companies in Vietnam work in accordance with tax requirements and according to the laws of Vietnam. All authorities involved in taxation in Vietnam work together to ensure that Vietnam's tax system works fairly and appropriately for all taxpayers in the country. What are the most common tax crimes in Vietnam? The most common tax crime in Vietnam is tax avoidance. As elsewhere in the world, tax evasion is a serious crime in Vietnam. Those found guilty will face harsh punishment from Vietnam's tax authorities. Common violations of Vietnamese income tax laws include failure to file tax returns, late filing of taxes, and fraudulent filing of taxes. It is also a violation of Vietnam's tax laws for anyone who intends to leave the country permanently without paying all unpaid taxes. Anyone who commits any of these crimes will suffer severe punishments which will be enforced by the tax authorities of Vietnam. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion The process of filing taxes in Vietnam is not complicated. Any taxpayer, 8(4), 571-582.