Reader N.T. H reflected: "My company was granted a certificate of business registration of a one-member limited liability company by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Planning and Investment (old), first registered on February 1, 2024, providing real estate consulting services.
To date, my company only has 1 employee, which is me. 2024 has not generated revenue.
Revenue in 2025 is as follows: In the first quarter, about 500 million VND in the second quarter, about 4.5 billion VND in the third quarter and 2 billion VND in the fourth quarter.
I learned about Decree No. 20/2026/ND-CP of the Government, dated January 15, 2026, detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of Resolution No. 198/2025/QH15 dated May 17, 2025 of the National Assembly on a number of special mechanisms and policies for private economic development. Regulations on exemption and reduction of corporate income tax for first-time business registration.
Accordingly, I understand that my company is exempt from corporate income tax from May 17, 2025 to January 31, 2027 because my business is small and medium-sized, registered for the first time, and is still subject to corporate income tax exemption according to this Decree".
Regarding the above issue, the Ministry of Finance replied as follows: On January 15, 2026, the Government issued Decree No. 20/2026/ND-CP detailing and guiding the implementation of a number of articles of Resolution No. 198/2025/QH15 dated May 17, 2025 of the National Assembly on a number of special mechanisms and policies for private economic development, in which Clause 3, Article 7 stipulates:
Small and medium-sized enterprises registering for the first time: They are exempt from corporate income tax for 03 years from the date of being granted the first business registration certificate. The tax exemption period is calculated continuously from the first year of being granted the first business registration certificate.
In case the business registration certificate is issued before Resolution No. 198/2025/QH15 takes effect and there is still a time to apply incentives, the enterprise is entitled to incentives according to the provisions of this clause for the remaining time.
Therefore, readers are requested to compare the regulations for implementation. In case of difficulties, please contact the directly managing tax authority for guidance according to regulations, based on dossiers and the actual implementation situation of the unit.
