Rejecting to transfer money, business households may be charged and fined
As reported by Lao Dong Newspaper, immediately after Decree 70 and Circular 32 took effect from June 1, 2025, there were situations where some small businesses, especially in the food and beverage sector, refused to pay transfers or asked customers not to record transaction content. Many stores hang signs "only accept cash", causing many confusion for consumers and raising questions about tax compliance in the context of tightening electronic revenue management.
Regarding this phenomenon, on June 4, 2025, the Tax Department of Region I (Hanoi - Hoa Binh) issued an open letter to households and individuals doing business in the area, warning about avoiding transparent transactions by refusing to transfer money or deliberately using vague payment content such as "borrowing", "shipment", "cafety" ... even collecting additional fees when customers choose to pay through banks.
According to the tax authority, this behavior not only affects the rights of consumers but also shows signs of violating legal regulations. Value-added tax revenue is the entire amount of money that a business household is entitled to - regardless of whether it has been collected or not, regardless of cash payment or bank transfer.
Therefore, deliberately concealing revenue through non-transparent payments will not reduce tax obligations but also put businesses at risk of being subject to tax sealing, collection, administrative sanctions or even criminal prosecution if there are signs of tax evasion.
Do not rush to summarize in a negative way
From an expert's perspective, Mr. Nguyen Quanq Huy - CEO of the Faculty of Finance - Banking, Nguyen Trai University - said that it is not surprising that some small business households avoid bank transfer payments, do not issue invoices or limit revenue transparency in the early stages of implementing the new regulation. This is an intersection between psychological reactions and manifestations of tax evasion, but should not rush to combine them in a negative way.
"In terms of psychology, many business households, especially traditional traders, have not yet adapted to the digital mindset in financial management. They are concerned about complicated software, high operating costs, and especially the fear of "exposure of revenue" leading to increased tax obligations," Mr. Huy analyzed.
However, it is also necessary to look directly at reality: a significant number of business households are used to operating in the "grey" revenue area - where not fully recording transactions is considered normal. In the context of tightening management, the defensive mentality can easily lead to the act of avoiding technology and transparent cash flow, which unintentionally becomes a manifestation of tax evasion.
According to Mr. Huy, this is a typical challenge in the transition from the informal economy to the digital economy. Therefore, the handling needs to have a roadmap, humanitarian approach and timely support, instead of only applying administrative sanctions.
If not properly controlled, the phenomenon of avoidance can disrupt the digital transformation process in the tax industry and reduce trust in the financial legal system. This situation could lead to an underlying wave of uncooperation in the individual household economic sector which accounts for a huge proportion of informal GDP in Vietnam.
It is necessary to recognize electronic invoices as a tool to protect sellers
According to Mr. Huy, to solve the problem of avoiding invoices and transparent payments, it is impossible to rely only on inspections or administrative sanctions, the tax industry needs to implement a long-term strategy, while placing small businesses at the center of the transformation process. Mr. Huy proposed three solutions:
First, the electronic invoice system must be friendly, simple, low cost, associated with on-site support and clear communication - not to "catch the error", but a tool to protect sellers.
Second, it is necessary to closely connect data between banks, e-wallets, digital platforms and tax authorities, apply artificial intelligence and big data analysis to detect abnormalities without widespread inspection.
Third, instead of just sanctions, the State needs to create motivation: any household that declares honestly, connects invoices can receive tax incentives, capital support and digital transformation in the first 1-2 years.
"Requiring electronic invoices to connect to cash registers is not simply a technical solution. This is the foundation for building a modern, transparent, civilized financial - tax system and catching up with the global digital economy. But to be successful, it is necessary to approach it humanely, taking the business household as the center - not the subject of supervision, but as a partner that needs to be accompanied" - Mr. Huy emphasized
