Many households and individual businesses believe that if they have paid tax or are deducted tax, their tax obligations are considered fulfilled. However, according to new regulations in Decree No. 68/2026/ND-CP and Circular No. 18/2026/TT-BTC, in some specific cases, taxpayers can still be compensated or refunded the tax paid.
On March 5, 2026, the Government issued Decree No. 68/2026/ND-CP stipulating tax policies and tax management for business households and individuals, effective from the date of signing. On the same day, the Ministry of Finance issued Circular No. 18/2026/TT-BTC guiding tax management dossiers and procedures, which also took effect immediately. These regulations are considered an important step in completion, especially in the context of increasingly popular digital platform business.
Revenue under 500 million VND can still be tax refunded
One of the notable points is the regulation for households and individuals doing business with actual revenue in the year from 500 million VND or less. Accordingly, if it has been deducted and paid on behalf of value-added tax or personal income tax by another organization or individual, the taxpayer can still be considered for refund.
In fact, currently, many individuals doing business through e-commerce platforms, digital platforms or cooperating with intermediaries are often deducted tax at source. However, if total revenue for the whole year does not exceed the tax threshold, then this deducted tax is no longer consistent with the actual obligation and can be refunded.
This regulation contributes to handling inadequacies arising in practice, avoiding the situation where small-scale businesses are still "taxed first" even though they are not subject to tax.
Exceeded tax payment is offset or refunded
In addition, the law also clearly stipulates cases where the amount of tax, late payment money or fine paid (or deducted, paid on behalf of) is greater than the amount to be paid.
In this situation, the surplus submission will be handled in two directions:
- Compensation for tax obligations for subsequent periods
- Return to taxpayers as prescribed
Cases of overpayment often stem from temporary payment higher than reality, errors in declaration or deductions from many different sources. If not proactively reviewed, taxpayers may be "suspended money" without being handled.
Avoid misunderstandings to avoid losing benefits
Reality shows that many business households still do not clearly understand the regulations on tax refunds and offsettings, leading to the missed legitimate rights.
- Some common misconceptions include:
- Once deducted, it cannot be refunded
- Once taxes are paid, they cannot be adjusted.
Meanwhile, according to current regulations, taxpayers have the full right to review their tax obligations and propose handling the excess payment if there is a basis.
Proactively declare and compare to protect rights
According to the guidance in Circular 18/2026/TT-BTC, to be compensated or refunded tax, business households and individuals need to declare, notify the directly managing tax authority and provide documents according to regulations.
Monitoring actual revenue, comparing the amount of tax paid or deducted, and proactively carrying out procedures are key factors to help taxpayers protect their rights.
The clear regulation of cases of tax compensation and refund in Decree 68/2026/ND-CP and Circular 18/2026/TT-BTC shows that tax policies are being improved in a more transparent and practical direction.
In the context of rapidly developing the digital economy, the source deduction mechanism is necessary for effective tax management. However, along with that, there needs to be a reasonable refund mechanism to ensure fairness and avoid causing damage to taxpayers.
The new regulations not only help limit overpayment of taxes but also contribute to enhancing trust, encouraging voluntary compliance and creating a transparent and stable business environment in the coming time.
