How to check a Vietnamese e-invoice
Since 1 July 2022 all businesses in Vietnam must issue electronic invoices under Decree 123/2020/ND-CP and Circular 78/2021/TT-BTC. If you receive invoices from Vietnamese suppliers, checking them protects your input VAT deduction and corporate tax expenses.
1. What makes an e-invoice valid
- Original XML file: the XML is the legal invoice; the PDF is only a human-readable copy.
- Seller's digital signature: signed with a valid certificate from a licensed provider, unexpired at the signing time.
- Tax authority code: invoices "with a code" must carry the code issued by the tax system.
- Correct details: seller and buyer tax codes, goods, amounts, VAT rate and totals.
2. Official lookup
- Go to hoadondientu.gdt.gov.vn.
- Enter the seller tax code, invoice symbol, invoice number, tax amount, total and the captcha.
- The portal confirms whether a matching invoice exists in the tax system.
3. Reading the invoice symbol
A symbol such as 1C26TAA means: 1 = VAT invoice; C = with a tax authority code (K = without); 26 = issued in 2026; T = registered business invoice; AA = the seller's own series letters.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PDF e-invoice valid for tax purposes in Vietnam?
No. The PDF is only a readable copy. The legal e-invoice is the original XML file carrying the seller's digital signature, and that is what businesses must store and use for tax declarations.
Does this tool verify the digital signature?
It checks whether the XML contains a digital signature, but it does not validate the certificate cryptographically. To verify the signature, open the XML in the invoice viewer from the e-invoice provider, and confirm the invoice on hoadondientu.gdt.gov.vn.
How do I know an e-invoice is genuine?
Look it up on the General Department of Taxation portal hoadondientu.gdt.gov.vn with the seller tax code, invoice symbol, invoice number and amounts. If the portal finds a matching invoice, it was issued through the tax system.
Is my invoice uploaded anywhere?
No. The XML file is read by JavaScript inside your browser and is never sent to our server.