Vietnam – New Circular 68 Guiding The Implementation Of E-Invoicing.

The Ministry of Finance has recently issued Circular No. 68/2019/TT-BTC ("Circular 68"), which provides detailed guidance on e-invoices, concerning the implementation of Decree No. 119/2018/ND-CP ("Decree 119").

Circular 68 sets forth a detailed framework for the correct use of e-invoices including required contents, timing for e-invoice issuance, forms and format of einvoices, management and usage of e-invoice, and e-invoice supplier, among other areas. The framework does not deviate from the current paper invoice framework.

Circular 68 became effective from 14 November 2019, however, during the transitional period (valid until 31 October 2020), current regulations on invoice and e-invoice are still applicable. Particularly, the period from 1 November 2018 to 31 October 2020 serves as a transitional period for infrastructure preparation in aspects of registration, use, access and data transfer for e-invoice issuance in accordance with Decree 119. During this period, any entities that have not yet received a request for e-invoice conversion from tax authorities may continue to use invoices as regulated under Decree No. 51/2010/ND-CP, Decree No. 04/2014/ND-CP and related guidance.

For business entities that have apply e-invoicing and detect erroneous invoices issued under the preceding invoice framework, such entities will follow the procedure set forth under Decree No. 119 for settlement and will issue new einvoices as a replacement for those erroneous invoices.

From 1 November 2020, business entities will fully apply e-invoicing under the guidance of Circular 68.