Over 2.5 Million Tax Identification Numbers in Vietnam Await Review, Potentially Affecting Investment Climate
At a National Assembly questioning session on November 12, Vietnam’s finance minister, Ngô Văn Tuấn, said tax authorities have processed about 777,000 tax identification numbers this year, but about 2.5 million still need review and standardization. The Finance Ministry is considering changes to procedures for clearing numbers associated with businesses and household businesses that have ceased operations.
On the morning of November 12, 2026, Vietnam’s finance minister, Ngô Văn Tuấn, told a National Assembly questioning session that tax authorities had processed about 777,000 tax identification numbers since the start of the year, but about 2.5 million still needed review and standardization. Some businesses and household businesses ceased operations long ago or no longer operate at their registered addresses, yet have not completed procedures to deactivate their tax identification numbers. A Tax Department report cited by a National Assembly delegate also put the number requiring attention at more than 2.5 million.
Finance Minister Ngô Văn Tuấn answers questions at a National Assembly session on the morning of November 12.（VietVance）
Tuấn said cleaning up tax identification number data is linked to Vietnam’s compliance with international standards for tax transparency and cooperation. He said the incomplete cleanup was one reason the Global Forum and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) placed Vietnam on a watchlist for tax cooperation. An OECD assessment is expected in the second quarter of 2028; whether Vietnam leaves the watchlist will depend partly on progress in this work.
The Finance Ministry has reported to the government on proposals to adjust procedures for handling outstanding tax identification numbers. The focus is on resolving financial obligations left by businesses and household businesses that have ceased operations, including business licence tax, fines and late-payment charges. Once those obligations are settled, tax authorities will deactivate the tax identification numbers of entities that are no longer operating. Tuấn said this would also help reduce the risk of unused numbers being used for tax evasion or illegal business activities.
Tuấn noted that businesses leaving the market must settle taxes, social insurance contributions and debts owed to suppliers, lenders and others, making the process more complex than establishing a business. The Finance Ministry is working to resolve the related obstacles, with the aim of reducing the time needed to complete closure procedures to one day once a business meets all the requirements.
Source: VietVance
