Vietnam's automated tax‑refund system leaves many taxpayers awaiting payments

Vietnam's General Department of Taxation rolled out an automated personal‑income‑tax refund system in April 2025. By 30 April, more than 1.31 million electronic tax‑settlement filings were received, with roughly 1.03 million (about 95 %) qualifying for automatic processing. The system is designed to resolve refunds within six working days and has already issued over 763 000 payment orders covering roughly VND 3.566 trillion out of a total VND 4.882 trillion slated for refund.

In practice, taxpayers report mixed experiences. Some receive refunds within days, while others wait weeks despite receiving an acceptance notice. Reports from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City cite issues such as mismatched personal identification data, errors in dependent information, and unresolved prior tax obligations that can delay payment. The tax authority advises citizens to verify their personal details in the national population database, use the “suggested filing” feature on the eTaxMobile app or the tax portal, and ensure their bank accounts are correctly registered.

The disparity between the system’s promised six‑day timeline and actual payout times has sparked widespread discussion on tax forums, prompting many to contact tax offices for status updates.