Vietnam has 2.5 million tax identification numbers still to review
Finance Minister Ngô Văn Tuấn told the National Assembly on November 12 that about 2.5 million tax identification numbers linked to businesses and household businesses that have ceased operating or left their registered addresses still need review. The Finance Ministry plans to settle outstanding financial obligations before closing inactive numbers, ahead of an international assessment expected in the second quarter of 2028.
Vietnamese Finance Minister Ngô Văn Tuấn told the National Assembly on November 12 that reviewing the tax identification numbers of businesses that have ceased operating or no longer operate at their registered addresses is necessary to prevent inactive numbers from being used for tax evasion or illegal business gains. Tuyên Quang delegate Hoàng Ngọc Định cited a Tax Department report showing that more than 2.5 million tax identification numbers require review and data standardization. Some businesses have not operated at their registered addresses for decades.
Tuyên Quang delegate Hoàng Ngọc Định questions officials at the National Assembly on the morning of November 12.（VietVance）
Tax Department data show that about 777,000 tax identification numbers have been reviewed this year, but about 2.5 million remain linked to businesses and household businesses that have ceased operating or no longer operate at their registered addresses. Ngô Văn Tuấn said the review involves a substantial amount of work and needs to be completed before an OECD assessment expected in the second quarter of 2028.
Finance Minister Ngô Văn Tuấn answers questions about the review of tax identification number data on the morning of November 12.（VietVance）
Ngô Văn Tuấn said Vietnam had been placed on a tax cooperation watchlist by the Global Forum and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development because its tax identification number data review remains incomplete. The assessment could determine whether Vietnam is removed from the watchlist and could affect its investment environment and economic development. The Finance Ministry has proposed settling outstanding business license taxes, fines and late payment charges owed by businesses and household businesses that have long since ceased operating. Once those obligations are settled, the authorities will close tax identification numbers that are no longer in use.
Tây Ninh delegate Hoàng Thị Thanh Thúy also said updates to tax, business registration and national databases do not always match. This can cause some individuals’ and businesses’ tax identification numbers to be automatically suspended or locked, disrupting tax filing, tax payments and electronic transactions. Ngô Văn Tuấn acknowledged that some incorrect notices were issued during the system transition and said tax authorities had checked the relevant information. He said they would continue integrating data from multiple sources, including VNeID, to improve the accuracy of tax procedures.
Source: VietVance
