Tax & Legal Newsletter | February 2026
Updates on Customs Procedures, Tax Administration and Agricultural Land Use Tax Exemption
JPA Vietnam summarizes key regulatory developments under Circular 121/2025/TT-BTC, Decree 373/2025/ND-CP and Decree 292/2025/ND-CP, helping businesses review customs, tax filing and compliance procedures in 2026.
This February 2026 Tax Newsletter focuses on three main updates: digitalized customs documentation and import-export tax administration; amendments to tax filing periods, tax administration forms and land-related financial obligations; and the extension of agricultural land use tax exemption.
01
Circular 121/2025/TT-BTC
Circular 121/2025/TT-BTC amends and supplements regulations on customs procedures, customs inspection and supervision, export duty, import duty and tax administration for imported and exported goods. The Circular takes effect from 1 February 2026.
Key focus: The Circular promotes digital transformation of customs documentation, introduces an online customs valuation consultation mechanism and strengthens the supervision process for the destruction of goods used for processing and export production.
| Criteria | Circular 38/2015/TT-BTC | Circular 121/2025/TT-BTC |
|---|---|---|
| Customs documentation | Uses a combination of electronic documents and certain paper documents when verification is required. | Prioritizes data from the National Single Window Portal, reducing paper document submissions to the maximum extent possible. |
| System registration | User accounts are registered through the standard VNACCS/VCIS system. | Allows the use of VNeID accounts to register and connect with the Customs Electronic Data Processing System. |
| Declaration cancellation | Cancellation rules and timelines are relatively strict. | Introduces and clarifies additional cases for cancelling customs declarations, such as on-the-spot import/export declarations that remain uncleared for more than 15 days. |
| Advance HS code determination | The process is slow and notification forms are not fully standardized. | Introduces a standardized notification template and process to shorten processing time for businesses. |
Notable changes
Reform of customs documentation
For exported goods, the required document list is adjusted to reflect electronic transactions. Documents already available on the National Single Window Portal or online public services do not need to be resubmitted as scans or paper copies.
Preferential procedures for EPEs
Additional cases allow export processing enterprises to opt not to open customs declarations for certain specific transactions, reducing procedural burdens and clarifying declaration locations for imported goods used in processing and export production.
Import-export tax administration
The Circular revises rules on submitting, verifying and using electronic tax dossiers, helping businesses track tax liabilities and refund status on the system while reducing data inconsistency risks.
Overdue declaration handling
Export customs declarations for goods traded between domestic enterprises and export processing enterprises must be cancelled if customs clearance is not completed within 15 days from registration.
02
Decree 373/2025/ND-CP
Decree 373/2025/ND-CP amends and supplements several articles of Decree 126/2020/ND-CP detailing the Law on Tax Administration. The Decree comes into effect on 14 February 2026.
Monthly and quarterly tax filing
- Taxpayers may choose quarterly PIT filing if they satisfy the conditions for quarterly VAT filing, without submitting a written request.
- If a taxpayer later fails to meet the conditions for quarterly filing, the taxpayer switches to monthly filing from the following quarter.
- Substitute monthly returns for prior months within the quarter are considered valid.
- No administrative penalties are imposed for late filing where taxpayers must refile due to changes in the tax period; however, late payment interest still applies to any tax difference.
Land-related financial obligations
| Content | Decree 126/2020/ND-CP | Decree 373/2025/ND-CP |
|---|---|---|
| State allocation of land or change of land use purpose | The date on which the competent state authority issues the allocation or conversion decision. | Implemented consistently under Clause 3, Article 155 of the 2024 Land Law. |
| Recognition of land use rights | The time when the Land Registration Office sends cadastral information to the tax authority. | Applies the process and timing for determining obligations under the 2024 Land Law. |
| Delayed document circulation or delayed obligation determination | Not fully synchronized in practice. | Determined as the time when the Land Registration Office receives a complete and valid dossier from the taxpayer. |
Forms and appendices framework
- A new Appendix I is issued with simplified and digitalized declaration forms.
- A new Appendix II is issued, especially for notifications of tax arrears and land-related financial obligations.
- APA dossiers are consolidated and replaced by a single form: Form No. 01/APA-DN.
- The tax payment extension form is replaced by a new Form 01/GHAN with unnecessary criteria removed.
- Duplicate forms under Decree 126 and Circular 80 are removed to standardize the use of forms under Decree 373.
PIT finalization location
The responsible tax authority is clearly identified as the authority managing the unit that generates the highest income, reducing confusion over filing location.
Alignment of VAT and PIT filing periods
Taxpayers eligible for quarterly VAT filing may also choose quarterly PIT filing to streamline administrative procedures.
No filing penalty when changing tax periods
No administrative penalty applies for late submission when taxpayers must refile due to changes in the filing period based on actual revenue.
Land financial obligations
Procedures and timelines for document circulation between tax authorities and natural resources and environment authorities are updated to accelerate notification of financial obligations.
03
Decree 292/2025/ND-CP
Effective from 1 January 2026, Decree 292/2025/ND-CP extends the agricultural land use tax exemption period until 31 December 2026 and standardizes the categories of eligible beneficiaries.
Tax-exempt entities
- Agricultural land used for research, experimental production, annual crop cultivation under land laws, and salt production is exempt for the entire area.
- Agricultural land allocated or recognized by the State for poor households is exempt for the entire area.
- Households and individuals allocated or recognized by the State with land use rights for agricultural production, or receiving agricultural land use rights through transfer, inheritance or gift, are exempt for the entire area.
- Households, individuals and communities receiving stable land allocations from cooperatives, cooperative unions, state farms, forestry enterprises, agricultural companies or forestry companies for agricultural production are covered.
- Agricultural land allocated by the State to economic organizations, political organizations, socio-political organizations, professional social organizations, public service units and other entities directly using the land for agricultural production is exempt.
Land classification: The land tax classification previously determined and approved under Decision No. 326/TTg dated 18 May 1996 continues to apply.
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This newsletter is for general information only and should not be considered professional advice for any specific case.
