Tax Policies and Incentives for Investing in Vietn am: Key Opportunities and Conditions

1. Các loại thuế áp dụng cho doanh nghiệp

Việt Nam đang nổi lên như một điểm đến hấp dẫn đối với các nhà đầu tư nước ngoài nhờ chính sách thuế linh hoạt và các ưu đãi đầu tư đa dạng. Hệ thống thuế của Việt Nam bao gồm nhiều loại thuế áp dụng cho doanh nghiệp, như Thuế thu nhập doanh nghiệp (CIT), Thuế giá trị gia tăng (VAT), Thuế xuất nhập khẩu và Thuế giấy phép kinh doanh.

Thuế thu nhập doanh nghiệp (CIT)

Thu nhập doanh nghiệp từ các dự án đầu tư mới tại các khu vực có điều kiện kinh tế – xã hội khó khăn được hưởng mức thuế ưu đãi 20% trong 10 năm (Điểm a, Khoản 4, Điều 19 Thông tư 78/2014/TT-BTC).

Các doanh nghiệp thực hiện dự án mới trong các lĩnh vực được khuyến khích có thể áp dụng mức thuế suất 17%. Hơn nữa, được miễn thuế 2 năm và giảm 50% thuế trong 4 năm tiếp theo đối với thu nhập từ các dự án đầu tư mới nêu trên và các dự án đặt tại Khu công nghiệp (trừ các khu vực có điều kiện kinh tế – xã hội thuận lợi) (Dựa trên Điều 6, Thông tư 151/2014/TT-BTC).

Thuế xuất nhập khẩu

According to Clause 2, Article 2 of Decree 134/2016/ND-CP, Export Processing Enterprises (EPEs) located in non-tariff zones are exempt from import-export duties in certain cases. However, goods exported from non-tariff zones to domestic enterprises and vice versa are subject to applicable duties.

Value Added Tax (VAT)

Based on Article 2, Circular 219/2013/TT-BTC, EPEs engaged solely in foreign import-export activities are not required to file VAT returns. However, they must pay VAT when conducting business or trading with domestic enterprises.

Business License Tax

According to Article 2, Decree 139/2016/ND-CP, EPEs are exempt from Business License Tax during their first year of establishment.

Land Use Fee Exemptions and Reductions

Exemption from land rent is applicable to land used for building shared infrastructure in industrial parks, industrial clusters, and export processing zones (Clause 2, Article 149 of the Land Law). Land rent is also exempted during the basic construction period as approved by authorities, up to a maximum of 3 years from the date of the land lease decision. An additional 3 years of exemption is granted for projects in the list of encouraged investment sectors, and an additional 7 years for projects in areas with difficult socio-economic conditions.

Encouraged Investment Sectors

Clause 1, Article 16 of the Investment Law 2020 specifies encouraged sectors, including:

• High-tech activities, supporting industry products, R&D, and manufacturing products from scientific and technological results.
• Production of new materials, clean energy, and renewable energy.
• Manufacturing of electronic products, key mechanical products, agricultural machinery, automobiles, and auto parts; shipbuilding.
• IT products, software, and digital content.
• Agriculture, forestry, and fishery processing; forest protection; salt production; fishery logistics services; plant and animal breeding, and biotechnology.
• Waste collection, treatment, recycling, or reuse.
• Infrastructure development and operation; public passenger transport in urban areas.
• Education (preschool to university), vocational training, and healthcare.
• Manufacturing of medicine, medical equipment, and scientific research on pharmaceutical technology.
• Athletic facilities for people with disabilities or professional athletes.
• Geriatric, psychiatric, and social centers for vulnerable groups.
• Microfinance institutions and value-chain-linked clusters.

2. Local Advantage: Vinh Phuc – An Open and Comprehensive Investment Environment

Vinh Phuc is considered one of the most attractive destinations due to its proactive support policies and streamlined administrative reforms. The province applies a “one-stop-shop” mechanism, allowing businesses to work directly with the Vinh Phuc Investment Promotion and Support Agency (IPA Vinh Phuc). Processing times have been significantly reduced to only 10–15 working days.

Notably, Vinh Phuc offers direct financial support for licensing documents and product promotion, up to 200 million VND for supporting industry projects. Businesses also receive priority in labor supply and vocational training support at 400,000 VND/person.

With competitive raw land rents (approx. 3,185 to 11,000 VND/sqm/year) and direct provincial government involvement, Vinh Phuc demonstrates a strong commitment to long-term investors.

3. Key Considerations for Tax Procedures

Despite clear regulations, many foreign investors miss out on incentives due to errors in documentation.

Common mistakes leading to loss of tax incentives:

Failure to register CIT incentives from the start: Incentives must be clearly stated in the Investment Registration Certificate (IRC) application. Retroactive additions are rarely accepted.

Documentation errors: Missing evidence for priority sectors, incorrect industry codes (VSIC), or lack of consistency between licensing authorities.

Preparation and compliance:

To minimize risks, businesses should meticulously review industry information, check industrial park zoning, and consult local tax policies before submission. It is also vital to monitor non-agricultural land taxes, infrastructure fees, and reporting obligations.

Comprehensive Legal & Support Services at CNCTech Industrial (CIS)

Partnering with an experienced legal and investment expert like CNCTech Industrial (CIS) saves time and mitigates legal risks. Beyond providing ready-built factories and warehouses in strategic locations like Vinh Phuc and Bac Giang, CIS offers end-to-end consultancy:

• Investment registration and Business Registration Certificate (ERC) application.
• Tax incentive registration.
• Firefighting (PCCC) and construction permits.

See more: Investment Procedures in Vietnam: Standardized Warehouse Rental Process and Comprehensive Support at CNCTech Industrial (CIS)

Conclusion

As Vietnam ramps up investment attraction, tax incentives are key to optimizing costs. However, successfully applying these requires legal expertise and thorough preparation. Choosing transparent environments like Vinh Phuc or Bac Giang, alongside an infrastructure developer like CNCTech Industrial (CIS), ensures faster implementation and sustainable growth.

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🌐 Website: https://cisgroup.vn/

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