Cash only - beware of being prosecuted for tax evasion

From June 1, Decree No. 70 of the Government on the implementation of electronic invoices generated from cash registers connected to data with tax authorities for business households with revenue of 1 billion VND/year or more will take effect. However, in the face of new requirements on tax management, some business households refuse to pay via bank accounts. Instead, they only accept cash to avoid generating invoices and avoiding tax collection based on transaction data.

People pay for purchases by scanning QR codes at a business establishment in Dong Ha City - Photo: HT

Ms. Hoang Thi Yen Linh, owner of a grocery store in Ward 5, Dong Ha City, shared that since the beginning of June, many suppliers and distributors of goods for the store have announced that they no longer accept payment by bank transfer but only accept cash payments. According to the explanation of the suppliers, the reason for stopping accepting payment by bank transfer is due to changes in tax regulations, personal accounts with money transferred in and out of over 1 billion VND will be charged 1.5%.

“I think that accepting only cash will narrow the customer base. While consumers increasingly prefer cashless payments because of their speed, convenience and safety, forcing them to pay in cash is a barrier. Many people will choose to shop elsewhere because they feel inconvenienced,” said Linh.

For online business activities, many people also change the way they receive money, such as: changing accounts, not accepting COD orders... Some businesses accept money transfers but notify additional tax fees or keep the price the same if customers pay in cash. It is known that currently, most business households register for taxes according to the lump-sum method.

Individuals and business households with annual revenue of VND 100 million or more (from 2026, it will be over VND 200 million/year) are required to pay taxes and fees, including: Business license fee, value added tax and personal income tax. With strict management of invoices and electronic documents, business households are worried that they will have to pay high taxes. At the same time, they are also confused about how to declare revenue, issue invoices and report taxes, so they suddenly stop accepting transfers to avoid being fined.

According to research, currently, in Quang Tri , the number of business households "avoiding taxes" is only a few isolated cases, not a widespread phenomenon because the majority of business households in the province still comply well with tax regulations and laws.

Mr. Ho Thanh D., owner of an electronic equipment retail store on Hung Vuong Street, Dong Ha City, shared: “My store still accepts bank transfer payments as usual. Because when I import goods, I have a clear input invoice, and any purchase or sale of goods by customers is entered into the accounting software on my computer. Therefore, customers paying by bank transfer or cash does not affect my tax declaration.”

According to current tax laws, revenue subject to value added tax for business households and business individuals is revenue including tax (in cases subject to tax) of all sales and service provision that business households and business individuals receive, regardless of whether the money has been collected or not.

Therefore, accepting payment only in cash or recording ambiguous transfer details to make it difficult for authorities to determine revenue does not reduce tax obligations, but on the contrary, can become a sign of suspicion for concealing revenue.

On the other hand, intentionally concealing revenue through non-transparent payment methods will not reduce tax obligations but will put businesses at risk of being subject to tax assessment, collection, administrative penalties, and even criminal prosecution if there are signs of tax evasion.

According to statistics, from 2023 to present, in the province, 451 households and business individuals have successfully registered and used electronic invoices generated from cash registers. Particularly, from the beginning of 2025 to present, inter-district tax teams have completed the review and identification of households and business individuals paying taxes under the lump-sum tax method that are required to implement electronic invoices generated from cash registers from June 1, 2025 to proceed with installation and instructions for use. As of May 31, 2025, inter-district tax teams have completed supporting 100% of the subjects applying according to the provisions of Decree No. 70/2025/ND-CP.

Head of the Dong Ha - Cam Lo Inter-District Tax Team Nguyen Van Thao said: “Business households and individuals need to understand the policies correctly and implement the regulations accurately, honestly, completely and submit tax records on time; be responsible before the law for the accuracy, honesty and completeness of tax records according to regulations. Thereby, contributing to creating a healthy and sustainable competitive market that protects both sellers and buyers in a fair and civilized manner, leaving no room for commercial fraud.”

According to Mr. Thao, in the coming time, officials and civil servants of tax teams will continue to review subjects, update and fully classify households and business individuals subject to Decree No. 70. At the same time, diversify forms of propaganda, establish mobile working groups to support business households in registering accounts, installing the TaxMobile electronic tax payment application...

Closely connect with banks, People's Committees of communes and wards to synchronously deploy, monitor and urge the implementation progress at the grassroots level, especially closely monitor the progress, provide timely support, and make appropriate adjustments to ensure that 100% of business households and individuals are eligible to register and effectively implement.

Autumn Summer

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/chi-nhan-thanh-toan-tien-mat-coi-chung-bi-xu-ly-vi-tron-thue-194425.htm