Vietnam tax authorities launch campaign to clean up tax codes

Vietnam's tax authorities have implemented a large-scale campaign titled “Tax Code Cleaning - Removing Business Bottlenecks” to improve data accuracy and transparency. In the first eight months of 2026, the tax sector terminated the validity of 94,991 tax codes.

While this figure might suggest a mass exit of businesses, officials clarify that only 23,017 cases were new requests for termination in 2026. The remaining 71,974 cases were backlogged files from previous years being processed as part of the cleanup. This initiative aims to resolve accumulated administrative issues and ensure that the national database reflects the true status of taxpayers.

The campaign also addresses critical issues such as the unauthorized use of personal information to register “ghost” businesses and households that are registered but have no actual production or business activities. Experts warn that businesses often mistakenly believe they have ceased operations simply by stopping trade, whereas they must legally follow formal suspension or dissolution procedures to avoid late payment penalties and administrative fines.