Can invoices in Vietnam be written in abbreviation? What are unnecessary contents of e-invoices in the form of stamps, tickets or cards in Vietnam?

Can invoices in Vietnam be written in abbreviation?

Pursuant to Clause 5 Article 10 of the Decree 123/2020/ND-CP stipulating contents of invoices:

Contents of invoices

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5. The buyer’s name, address and TIN

a) If the buyer is a business establishment that has a TIN, the buyer’s name, address and TIN shall be written on the invoice shall be same as those written on the certificate of enterprise registration, certificate of branch registration, certificate of household business registration, taxpayer registration certificate, TIN notification, investment registration certificate, or certificate of cooperative registration.

If the buyer’s name or address is too long, the seller may shorten some common nouns (such as P instead of “Phường” (ward), Q instead of “Quận” (district), TP instead of “Thành Phố” (city), TNHH instead of “Trách nhiệm Hữu hạn" (limited liability), KCN instead of “khu công nghiệp” (industrial park), SX instead of “sản xuất” (manufacturing/ production), CN instead of “Chi nhánh” (branch), etc.) as long as the house number, names of the street, ward, district, city, name of the company are written and conformable with business registration or tax registration of the company.

b) If the buyer does not have a TIN, the invoice will not have the buyer's TIN. In case of sale of special goods/services to an individual mentioned in Clause 14 of this Article, the buyer’s name and address are not mandatory on the invoice. In case of sale of goods/services to a foreigner in Vietnam, the buyer’s information and address may be replaced with information in his/her passport or travel document and his/her nationality.

As regulations above, if the buyer’s name or address is too long, the seller may shorten some common nouns:

- P instead of “Phường” (ward)

- Q instead of “Quận” (district)

- TP instead of “Thành Phố” (city)

- TNHH instead of “Trách nhiệm Hữu hạn" (limited liability)

- KCN instead of “khu công nghiệp” (industrial park)

- SX instead of “sản xuất” (manufacturing/ production)

- CN instead of “Chi nhánh” (branch)

Note: The abbreviation of the house number, names of the street, ward, district, city, name of the company are written and conformable with business registration or tax registration of the company.

Additionally, in Official Dispatch 9208/CT-TTHT in 2017, the criterion "payment method" is specified as optional content on the invoice. In accordance with this provision, if the company includes the abbreviation "TM/CK" when issuing invoices to customers, it is acceptable.

Can invoices in Vietnam be written in abbreviation? What are unnecessary contents of e-invoices in the form of stamps, tickets or cards in Vietnam? - image from internet

What are cases of suspension of use of e-invoices of enterprises in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 16 of the Decree 123/2020/ND-CP stipulating cases of suspension of use of e-invoices of enterprises in Vietnam:

- An enterprise, business entity, other organization, household business or individual business has its TIN invalidated;

- An enterprise, business entity, other organization, household business or individual business does not operate at the registered location as verified and announced by the tax authority;

- An enterprise, business entity, other organization, household business or individual business has sent a notification of business suspension to a competent authority;

- An enterprise, business entity, other organization, household business or individual business is banned from using e-invoices by the tax authority for the purpose of enforcement of payment of tax debts;

- E-invoices are used to sell smuggled goods, banned goods, counterfeits, goods violating intellectual property rights as detected and informed by competent authorities;

- E-invoices are used for short selling of goods or services for fraudulent purposes as detected and informed by competent authorities;

- A business registration authority or competent authority requests an enterprise to suspend operation in a conditional business line after finding that this enterprise does not fully satisfy the business conditions prescribed by law.

What are unnecessary contents of e-invoices in the form of stamps, tickets or cards in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clause 14 Article 10 of the Decree 123/2020/ND-CP stipulating e-invoices in the form of stamps, tickets or cards:

Contents of invoices

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14. Exceptions:

a) An electronic invoice does not necessarily have the buyer’s electronic signature, even if goods/services are sold overseas. In case the buyer is a business establishment and both the buyer and the seller agrees to use digital or electronic signatures on the e-invoice issued by the seller, the invoice shall bear the buyer’s and the seller’s digital or electronic signatures as agreed.

b) E-invoices separately issued by tax authorities do not necessarily bear the buyer’s and the seller’s digital signatures.

c) The e-invoice issued by a supermarket or shopping mall to a non-business buyer does not necessarily bear the buyer’s name, address and TIN.

E-invoices for sale of oil and gas to non-business individuals do not necessarily bear the name, form number, reference number, and number of the invoice; the buyer’s name, address, TIN, electronic signature; the seller’s digital or electronic signature; VAT rate.

d) E-invoices in the form of stamps, tickets or cards do not necessarily contain the seller’s digital signature (except for those authenticated by tax authorities), the buyer’s information (name, address and TIN), VAT rate and VAT amount. Pre-priced electronic stamps, tickets and cards do not necessarily contain the unit, quantity and unit price.

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As regulations above, e-invoices in the form of stamps, tickets or cards do not necessarily contain following contents:

- The seller’s digital signature (except for those authenticated by tax authorities);

- The buyer’s information (name, address and TIN);

- VAT rate and VAT amount.

Best regards!