•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
About 2.3 million small businesses have registered for the eTax Mobile app, a figure highlighted at a seminar on April 17 in Ho Chi Minh City focused on transparent cash flow and expanding business opportunities.
The event, titled “Small businesses: Transparent cash flow, expanding business opportunities,” was organized by the Tax Department (Ministry of Finance) in collaboration with Tuoi Tre newspaper.
Mr. Mai Son, Deputy Director of the Tax Department, said Vietnam currently has about 5.5 million small businesses, of which more than 3 million are operating stably. He described this group as an important economic force and a central target for modernizing tax administration.
To implement the declaration method, small businesses must meet at least four conditions, including registration and use of an electronic tax account such as eTax Mobile. Among more than 3 million operating businesses, about 2.3 million have registered for eTax Mobile.
The tax authority coordinated with technology solution providers to implement support programs throughout 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. These programs help small businesses access tools for sales management software, accounting, electronic invoicing, and interoperable payments.
In parallel, efforts were made to open bank accounts and survey demand for accounting services.
As a result, most small businesses have been able to meet the conditions required to carry out their first tax declaration cycle. To date, even though the declaration deadline has not passed, the tax authority has received about 1.5 million filings from nearly 1.2 million small businesses.
Regarding emerging issues, the Tax Department said it has compiled a set of questions and answers and prepared a handbook for small-business groups in simple, easy-to-understand language.
It added that taxpayers can request assistance from tax officers if they encounter difficulties, to ensure the process runs smoothly without violations.
Mr. Mai Son said transparency of cash flow is the core content of the transformation. He noted that it is both a management requirement and brings direct benefits, including clearer revenue and cost management, enhanced credibility with partners and lenders, easier access to capital, and progressive professionalization of operations.
He also said transparent data will help the tax authority cooperate with banks, payment organizations, and technology firms to form a comprehensive ecosystem supporting small businesses.
Tax leaders emphasized that the aim is not to collect more taxes, but to collect correctly and fully. They also pledged to help people minimize mistakes to avoid penalties.
On reports that some places require stopping the use of invoices or show signs of penalties, the tax authority said it has issued guidance to rectify immediately to ensure the correct use of invoices. The sector also said it will continue listening and promptly addressing difficulties during implementation.
From consultation and on-site observations, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Son, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Advisory and Agency Association, said implementation faces obstacles ranging from policy to operations.
He noted that while transparency is the correct and necessary direction, in the early stage many small businesses—especially traditional traders—still face difficulties related to technology, accounting, and access to policy information.
For the small-business group with revenue under 3 billion VND, representatives suggested households seek help from relatives for accounting to reduce costs, or keep manual records if they are not yet able to adopt technology. They also stressed that detailed tracking of imported and exported goods and inventory is crucial for management and explanation.
For larger entities, using a tax agency service or professional firm was described as essential to ensure full compliance, standardize operations, and reduce legal risk.
Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…
