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Experts said raising the household tax-exemption threshold to 1 billion VND would address only part of the problem. The more important issue, they added, is that the policy should be paired with reduced administrative red tape and simplified compliance procedures for household businesses.
On April 24, the National Assembly approved removing the 500-million-VND tax threshold for household businesses and tasked the government with setting the new level. The threshold is expected to be raised to 1 billion VND.
Ms. Chau, who runs a small food business in Tan Son Nhat Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, said her annual revenue previously often exceeded 500 million VND. She noted that weak consumer demand reduced her revenue by as much as 60% in the first quarter this year.
Even so, she said the main concern for household business owners is the procedures and how the policy will be implemented. To issue electronic invoices, she had to invest 15 to 20 million VND to buy a POS terminal and a printer, plus about 6 million VND per year for software and maintaining the digital signature. When business declines, these costs become fixed burdens.
Small household businesses, she said, still have to carry out multiple procedures, including registration, maintaining electronic invoicing, recording transaction data, and periodic declarations.
She also pointed out that guidance from authorities differs by locality, which can confuse shopkeepers and lead to additional compliance costs.
Mr. Le Hong Duc, an accountant at a service company in Tan Son Hoa Ward, said households with revenue below the threshold still must submit periodic declarations twice a year (January and July). Daily bookkeeping is also required.
He added that many elderly traders or long-established businesses struggle with electronic tax filing due to limited familiarity with technology.
Experts said raising the tax-exemption threshold to 1 billion VND would not fully solve the issue. They argued the core policy should focus on cutting costs and simplifying procedures to reduce the compliance burden on small businesses.
Mr. Nguyen Hoang Son, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Tax Consulting and Agency Association in Ho Chi Minh City and CEO of Viet Tin, said that regardless of the threshold level, the biggest obstacle for household businesses is access to technology for tax filing.
He noted that many household business owners are older and not accustomed to devices or digital applications, and they may not fully understand new tax rules. In addition, most small household businesses do not have dedicated accounting staff; owners typically run the business themselves, keep books, and handle tax procedures. As a result, the workload falls on one person who may not be used to operating the relevant application, increasing the risk of mistakes and penalties.
Son said tax authorities should continue providing hands-on support so household businesses can overcome reluctance and adapt actively to the new policy.
According to data from the Ministry of Finance, in 2022-2025 Vietnam had 3-4 million household businesses. Of these, more than 2 million filed taxes reliably, contributing about 2% of total state revenue.
Ms. Le Thi Duyen Hai, Vice Chairwoman and General Secretary of the Vietnam Tax Advisory Association, said household businesses are not opposed to paying taxes. What they need, she said, is a simple and transparent process, especially regarding penalties, along with support to run their businesses properly and manage them to grow.
Economist Pham Chi Lan added that with AI and automation threatening human labor, household businesses are a suitable model to promote the development of a “silver economy,” including retirees starting businesses. She argued that policy should ensure easy compliance so business owners can operate with confidence, transparently, and fulfill tax obligations properly.
To help individuals and households, experts recommended that regulatory authorities or the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry publish a detailed, easy-to-understand guide on procedures. The guide should clearly explain required documents and tax obligations to help new entrepreneurs grasp what is needed and avoid violations.
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