Vietnam issues Decree 254 setting eight exemptions from mandatory e‑invoicing

The Vietnamese government issued Decree 254/2026/NĐ‑CP, which takes effect on 1 July 2026. The decree details the cases in which businesses are not required to issue electronic invoices. Eight specific exemptions are listed, including small‑scale traders, income from real‑estate rentals, lottery and insurance agents, re‑insurance fees and related financial activities, capital contributions, asset transfers within corporate groups, borrowed machinery and equipment, and intra‑company goods or services used for production.

The decree also specifies the entities that must use electronic invoices with tax‑authority codes. These include all economic organisations, high‑risk taxpayers, and enterprises operating in sectors such as electricity, oil and gas, postal and telecommunications, water supply, banking and securities, digital assets, insurance, health care, e‑commerce, supermarkets, retail, hospitality, passenger transport and related services. Firms in these categories must generate e‑invoices either directly from point‑of‑sale systems linked to tax authorities or through authorised electronic invoicing platforms.