From January 1, 2026, a series of new regulations on land and real estate are officially implemented according to the 2024 Land Law and resolutions of the National Assembly. These changes directly affect people, businesses and the market, in which the application of the new land price list, adjusting land use fees when changing land use purposes and continuing to exempt agricultural land tax are prominent.
New land price list officially applied from January 1, 2026
According to new regulations, the land price list issued under the 2013 Land Law officially expires from January 1, 2026. Instead, the land price list will be built according to the 2024 Land Law by the Provincial People's Committee and submitted to the People's Council of the same level for approval for annual application.
Unlike before, the land price list is no longer stable according to a 5-year cycle but is updated regularly, ensuring close monitoring of market fluctuations. Land prices are determined in detail to each plot, each location, based on land data, actual transaction prices, auction results, planning, infrastructure and land use purposes.
The new land price list is the basis for calculating land use fees, land rent, related taxes and fees, the starting price of land use right auctions as well as the compensation level when the State recovers land. This adjustment is expected to overcome the large difference between the State price and the market price, which has caused many obstacles in compensation and site clearance work in the past.
Sharply reduce land use fees when converting land use purposes to residential land
A content that people are particularly interested in is the new policy on land use fees when changing land use purposes from agricultural land to residential land.
According to regulations effective from January 1, 2026, land users only have to pay 30% of the difference between residential land prices and agricultural land prices for the area within the limit. For areas exceeding the limit but not exceeding one limit, the collection level is 50% of the difference. The part exceeding this limit continues to apply a collection level of 100%.
This policy applies to cases of garden and pond land in the same land plot with houses; land originating from gardens and ponds attached to residential land but has been separated; or land plots formed before July 1, 2014.
A sharp reduction in land use fees is assessed to help reduce the financial burden on people, especially in rural and suburban areas – where the need to change land use purposes is common.
Continue to exempt agricultural land use tax for another 5 years
Along with adjusting land price policies, the State continues to implement the policy of exemption from agricultural land use tax for another 5 years, from January 1, 2026 to the end of 2030.
Subjects eligible for tax exemption include households, individuals and organizations directly using land for agricultural production. In case land is allocated but not directly produced but leased back, they must still fully fulfill their tax obligations according to regulations.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the extension of the tax exemption period aims to encourage land accumulation and concentration, create conditions for the development of large-scale agricultural production and promote restructuring of the agricultural sector towards modernity and sustainability.
People can adjust the money they have paid
Another noteworthy point is the transitional regulation for cases that have been allowed to change land use purposes before the new policy takes effect.
According to the National Assembly's resolution, if people have been allowed to change land use purposes but have not paid land use fees, the tax authority will re-determine financial obligations according to new regulations. In case money has been paid, functional agencies will review; if the amount paid is higher than the amount to be paid, the difference will be offset or refunded according to regulations.
This regulation aims to ensure the legitimate rights of land users, and at the same time create unity in the policy implementation process.
The simultaneous application of new policies from January 1, 2026 is expected to help the land market operate more transparently, limit speculation, reduce complaints and improve the efficiency of state management.
However, for policies to be effective, localities need to soon complete land price lists, publicize implementation procedures and strengthen guidance so that people and businesses can understand and implement regulations correctly.
