Vietnam tax sector pushes digital reforms toward global standards

On May 21, the Tax Department held a workshop titled “Tax Reform in the Digital Era: Global Trends and Orientations for Vietnam” to assess current conditions, identify challenges and explore opportunities to modernize tax governance. Against the backdrop of profound changes in global business models, the tax sector said it must adapt to governance trends driven by data, technology and real-time digital integration.

Speaking at the workshop, Mai Xuan Thanh, Director General of the Tax Department, said that although the rollout of electronic invoices and the eTax Mobile application had marked significant progress, the sector still faces the risk of falling behind if it fails to keep pace with international developments.

Citing research findings, tax authorities said that by 2025, around 86% of countries are expected to shift toward the “Tax Administration 3.0” model, under which tax obligations are calculated and monitored almost instantly using digitized data. More than 82% of major global corporations are also restructuring to meet growing data transparency requirements.

In Vietnam, despite managing a massive volume of electronic invoice data, tax authorities still face challenges including raw data overload and a lack of in-depth analytical expertise. The Director General of the Tax Department acknowledged that a management approach relying on manual post-audits is no longer suitable, calling for decisive changes in both implementation methods and risk management practices.

Hai Phong News