Vietnam’s Finance Minister Calls for Accountability Over Delayed Tax Refunds
At a November 12 National Assembly hearing, Finance Minister Ngô Văn Tuấn said officials should be held responsible when tax refunds are delayed despite businesses submitting complete, compliant applications. Financial compensation should also be considered if taxpayers suffer losses.
Vietnamese Finance Minister Ngô Văn Tuấn said at a National Assembly question-and-answer session on the morning of November 12 that if a business submits a complete tax refund application in accordance with regulations but the tax authority or receiving official fails to process it on time, those at fault should be held responsible. Financial compensation should also be considered if the taxpayer suffers losses. The Finance Ministry will continue studying a mechanism for assigning responsibility for overdue refunds.
National Assembly deputy Trần Anh Tuấn of Ho Chi Minh City noted that businesses must pay a late payment charge of 0.03% per day on overdue taxes. He asked whether the state pays interest at a similar rate when tax authorities delay refunds. Vietnam’s 2019 Tax Administration Law previously required tax authorities to pay interest of 0.03% per day if their own fault delayed a refund decision. That provision was repealed on January 1, 2025; the 2025 Tax Administration Law, which takes effect on July 1, 2026, did not restore it.
Finance Minister Ngô Văn Tuấn answers questions at the National Assembly on November 12.（VietVance）
National Assembly deputy Dương Khắc Mai of Lâm Đồng province said delays in value-added tax refunds tie up businesses’ capital, particularly for exporters. Ngô Văn Tuấn acknowledged that the pace of refunds has yet to meet requirements while businesses face difficulties obtaining financing. Faster refunds would help ease the pressure on their capital.
The tax authorities classify applications by businesses’ compliance records and risk levels. About 80% enter a “green channel” under which refunds are issued before checks; 88% of those applications are resolved within seven days. The remaining roughly 20% require checks before refunds, and their average processing time has fallen from about 50 days to 40 days. The tax authorities currently aim to process green-channel applications within seven days.
As of November 12, the tax authorities had refunded about 79 trillion Vietnamese dong this year, equivalent to 99% of the relevant 2026 budget and more than 40% higher than a year earlier. All refund applications have been submitted online, but checking invoices still takes time, especially for applications involving high-risk businesses. The Finance Ministry said it would continue classifying applications and using technology to shorten processing times.
Source: VietVance
