Library

Tax Obligations for Foreign Entity Doing Business in Vietnam

The applicable taxes including value added tax (VAT), corporate income tax (CIT) and personal income tax (PIT).

On August 6th 2014, the Ministry of Finance issued Circular No. 103/2014/TT-BTC guiding the implementation of tax obligations that are applicable to foreign organizations and individuals doing business in Vietnam or having incomes generated in Vietnam.

Taxpayers: foreign contractors, foreign subcontractors; organizations established and operated under the law of Vietnam, organizations register to operate under the law of Vietnam, other organizations, individuals producing and trading.

The applicable taxes including value added tax (VAT), corporate income tax (CIT) and personal income tax (PIT).

Taxable income of foreign contractors and foreign subcontractors is income derived from the provision and distribution of goods; provision of service, service in association with goods in Vietnam on the basis of the contractor contract and subcontractor contract.

CIT Payable = Revenue subject to CIT x CIT rate calculated on taxable turnover

Subjects liable for VAT: services or services associated with goods provided by foreign contractors, foreign subcontractors on the basis of the contractor contract, subcontractor contract to use for manufacturing, trading and consumption in Vietnam.

Incomes arising in Vietnam of foreign contractors and foreign subcontractors are earnings received in any forms on the basis of the contractor contract, subcontractor contract (except for cases specified in Article 2, Chapter I of this Circular), regardless of the place conducting business operations of foreign contractors and foreign subcontractors.

Circular specifically instruct the following cases:

1. Pay VAT by deduction method; pay CIT on the basis of cost and revenue declaration to determine taxable income.

2. Pay VAT and CIT by percentage on turnover.

3. Pay VAT by deduction method; pay VAT by percentage on turnover.

Issued together with Circular 103 is the tax declaration form for foreign contractor.

This Circular takes effect from October 1st 2014, replaces Circular No. 60/2012/TT-BTC dated April 12th 2012 of Ministry of Finance guiding the implementation of tax obligation applicable to the foreign organizations and individuals doing business in Vietnam or having income in Vietnam.

Tuan Nguyen

Recent Posts

Australia Anti-Dumping Investigation on Vietnamese Galvanized Steel: 7 Business Signals for Exporters

Quick Reference The Australia anti-dumping investigation on Vietnamese galvanized steel was formally initiated on April…

1 day ago

Does Decree 96/2026 Impact Existing FDI Projects in Vietnam? When To Review Your IRC or ERC

When Vietnam issues a new decree on investment, the most common question managers ask is…

2 weeks ago

Arbitration in Vietnam: 7 Realities Foreign Companies Must Get Right

Foreign companies doing business in Vietnam increasingly use arbitration to resolve commercial disputes outside the…

3 weeks ago

4 Legal Problems with Digital Products in an MLM Model in Vietnam

Many businesses today do sell only products. They may also include digital content, app access,…

1 month ago

7 Risk Signs in an MLM Model in Vietnam That Businesses Should Review

For a long time, many businesses have thought that the main legal challenge in multi…

1 month ago

What Decree 137/2026 on Multi Level Marketing Regulation in Vietnam Means for MLM Businesses

Vietnam has issued Decree 137/2026 on multi level marketing, effective from July 1, 2026. This…

1 month ago

This website uses cookies.