Late tax payment and late filing penalties in Vietnam
Paying tax late and filing a return late are two different things in Vietnam. Late payment attracts daily interest; late filing is an administrative violation with a fixed fine band.
1. Late payment interest (0.03% per day)
Late payment interest = Overdue tax × 0.03% × Number of late days
Under Article 59 of the Law on Tax Administration, late days are counted continuously from the day after the payment deadline up to the day before the tax reaches the state budget.
2. Fines for filing a tax return late (Decree 125/2020/ND-CP, Article 13, as amended by Decree 310/2025/ND-CP)
| Days late | Fine for organisations |
|---|---|
| 1–5 days | Warning, if there are mitigating circumstances |
| 1–30 days | 2,000,000 – 5,000,000 ₫ |
| 31–60 days | 5,000,000 – 8,000,000 ₫ |
| 61–90 days (or over 90 days with no tax payable) | 8,000,000 – 15,000,000 ₫ |
| Over 90 days with tax payable | 15,000,000 – 25,000,000 ₫ |
Individuals are fined half of these amounts.
3. Example
A company owes 10,000,000 ₫ of VAT due on 20 January and pays on 31 January. Late days run from 21 to 30 January = 10 days. Interest = 10,000,000 × 0.03% × 10 = 30,000 ₫.
Frequently asked questions
What is the late payment interest rate for tax in Vietnam?
Under the Law on Tax Administration (38/2019/QH14, and Law 108/2025/QH15 from 1 July 2026), late payment interest is 0.03% per day on the unpaid tax amount, which is about 10.95% per year.
Do weekends and public holidays count?
Yes. Late days are counted continuously on the calendar, including Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from the day after the deadline to the day before you pay.
Is there a fine for filing a return late if no tax is due?
Yes. Filing a tax return late is a separate administrative violation under Decree 125/2020/ND-CP, even when no additional tax is payable. Returns filed more than 90 days late with no tax payable are fined 8 to 15 million ₫ for organisations.
Do individuals pay the same fines as companies?
No. The fine levels in Decree 125/2020 apply to organisations. Individuals committing the same violation are fined half of those amounts. Late payment interest of 0.03% per day applies to both.