Tax official: monopoly risk in electronic invoicing services unlikely

Answering questions from VnEconomy reporters at the Ministry of Finance’s Q1 2026 regular press briefing on the afternoon of 9 April regarding concerns about market-structure risks and potential monopoly costs if e-invoice service providers set their own fees, Le Long, Deputy Head of the Tax Department, said the current mechanism is designed to ensure competition and give users choice.

E-invoicing policy in place since 2022

Le Long said electronic invoicing is not a new policy. It has been implemented since 2022 and applies to businesses and organizations of appropriate scale. He described e-invoicing as an important tool supporting production and business activities, while strengthening data connectivity between enterprises and the tax authority to enable more transparent and efficient management.

Why the State allows intermediaries to provide services

Explaining why the State does not directly provide the service but instead allows intermediaries to participate, the Tax Department representative said the policy’s “socialization” approach was defined from the early stage of policy development. The decision was made based on international experience, while also considering Vietnam’s market size and implementation capacity.

Le Long noted that the system generates a very large volume of e-invoices—covering nearly all business activities. If only the State handled service delivery, it would face resource limitations and struggle to meet flexible market needs.

“Therefore, there is a need for the involvement of service-providing organizations to meet practical demand and to deliver better services to taxpayers,” he stressed.

Competition and user choice in the e-invoicing ecosystem

Le Long said Vietnam’s e-invoicing ecosystem has formed with the participation of many companies. He emphasized that the current mechanism allows capable enterprises to participate in providing services, creating a competitive environment. At the same time, taxpayers can choose the provider that best fits their needs.

Scale of providers and daily invoice volume

According to data from the Tax Department, there are around 30 organizations providing e-invoice data transmission and receipt services, and 126 entities providing e-invoice solutions. Le Long also said some providers offered free services in the initial period to help companies acclimate to the new system, alongside dozens of businesses assisting with declaration and electronic tax payment.

He highlighted that the system records about 40–50 million e-invoices issued every day, reflecting large scale and growing demand among the business community. In that context, the participation of many suppliers is intended to help ensure stable and smooth system operation.

Response to monopoly and information-asymmetry concerns

Addressing concerns that reliance on a single provider could create monopoly risks or information asymmetry, Le Long said this risk is unlikely under the current mechanism. He reiterated that capable enterprises can participate in providing services, which creates competition that helps control costs and improve service quality.

He added that taxpayers have the right to choose the most suitable provider rather than being dependent on a single unit—an element considered important for limiting monopoly risk.

Role of the State in oversight and regulation

Le Long said the State does not stand aside in this model. Instead, it plays a central role in building the legal framework, issuing technical standards, and supervising to ensure providers comply with regulations. This is intended to protect taxpayers’ interests and ensure the system operates safely and transparently.

“Any entity with better capabilities and more effective services will be chosen by taxpayers. This is a level playing field, not a privilege for any single company,” Le Long emphasized.