What does it cost to keep an FDI company running in Vietnam each year? Unlike one-time establishment costs, compliance costs are recurring annual obligations — and 2026 brings important changes: the business license tax has been abolished and periodic foreign-labor reports have been scrapped. This article lists both groups in full: state obligations and the service costs needed to meet them.
Group A — State obligations (recurring annually)
1. Investment project implementation reports
Under point a, clause 2, Article 47 of Investment Law 143/2025/QH15 and Article 94 of Decree 96/2026/ND-CP, investors must file periodic reports with the investment registration authority and the local statistics agency, online via the National Investment Information System:
- Quarterly report: before the 10th day of the first month of the following quarter;
- Annual report: before 31 March of the following year.
This obligation is separate from tax filings or financial statements — many companies overlook it and face penalties.
2. Mandatory annual audit of financial statements
Every foreign-invested enterprise must have its financial statements audited annually, regardless of size (clause 1, Article 37, Law on Independent Audit 67/2011/QH12; Article 15, Decree 17/2012/ND-CP, amended by Decree 90/2025/ND-CP).
Sanction: failure to undergo mandatory audit is fined VND 40–50 million (clause 3, Article 27, Decree 228/2025/ND-CP). Note that the audit-sanction chapter of Decree 41/2018 has been repealed by Decree 228/2025 — the current fine is VND 40–50 million.
3. Tax declaration, payment, and finalization
FDI companies must fully declare, pay, and finalize taxes under the Law on Tax Administration 108/2025/QH15 (effective 01/7/2026). Key points:
- Progressive corporate income tax (CIT Law 67/2025/QH15): 15% for revenue up to VND 3 billion; 17% for revenue above VND 3 billion up to VND 50 billion; 20% standard rate;
- Personal income tax and VAT declared on statutory cycles.
4. Social, health, and unemployment insurance
Companies pay social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance monthly at statutory rates (Social Insurance Law 71/2024/QH15; Decree 158/2025/ND-CP). Notably, foreign employees holding work permits of at least 12 months are subject to compulsory social insurance (Article 44, Decree 158/2025/ND-CP). Exact contribution rates should be checked against the current original texts before application.
5. Trade union dues
Companies set aside trade union dues under Trade Union Law 50/2024/QH15 and Decree 105/2026/ND-CP. The exact rate should be checked against the original texts currently in force.
6. Labor usage reports
Under clause 2, Article 4 of Decree 145/2020/ND-CP (amended by clause 1, Article 73, Decree 35/2022/ND-CP):
- Semi-annual report: before 5 June;
- Annual report: before 5 December;
- Filed with the Department of Home Affairs (after the 2025 merger of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs) via the National Public Service Portal, with notice to the district-level social insurance agency.
Key change: periodic foreign-labor reports abolished
From 7 August 2025, periodic reports on foreign workers (form 07/PLI) have been abolished: the foreign-labor provisions of Decree 152/2020/ND-CP (and Decree 70/2023/ND-CP) expired, and Decree 219/2025/ND-CP imposes no equivalent obligation on employers (clause 2, Article 35, Decree 219/2025/ND-CP).
Companies should update their compliance calendars to stop filing under the old rules, and check the latest guidance from the local Department of Home Affairs, as some secondary sources have not yet updated.
Group B — Service costs to meet the obligations
To fulfil the obligations above, companies typically pay for services (market prices, not state fees):
- Financial statement audit fees;
- Accounting and tax advisory services;
- E-invoices (new framework: Decree 254/2026/ND-CP, effective 01/7/2026);
- Digital signatures;
- Transfer pricing documentation — the law exempts preparation in some cases under revenue thresholds (Decree 255/2026/ND-CP, effective 01/7/2026); check the original text for exact thresholds.
Summary table
| Item | Nature | Main basis | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business license tax | Abolished — VND 0 from 2026 | Resolution 198/2025/QH15; Decree 362/2025/ND-CP | — |
| Investment project reports | Reporting obligation | Art. 47, Inv. Law 143/2025; Art. 94, Dec. 96/2026 | Before 10th of first month of next quarter; before 31/3 |
| Financial statement audit | Mandatory (all sizes) | Audit Law 67/2011; Decree 17/2012 | Annually |
| Taxes (CIT/PIT/VAT) | Tax obligation | Tax Admin Law 108/2025; CIT Law 67/2025 | Statutory cycles |
| Social/health/unemployment insurance | Insurance obligation | SI Law 71/2024; Decree 158/2025 | Monthly |
| Trade union dues | Obligation | Union Law 50/2024; Decree 105/2026 | Contribution cycles |
| Labor usage reports | Reporting obligation | Decree 145/2020 (clause 2, Art. 4) | Before 5/6 and 5/12 |
Frequently asked questions
Is the business license tax still payable in 2026?
No. The license tax was abolished from 01/01/2026. Arrears for 2025 and earlier remain payable.
Are small FDI companies exempt from audit?
No. Auditing financial statements is mandatory for every foreign-invested enterprise, regardless of size.
Are there penalties for missing investment project reports?
Yes. This is a standalone reporting obligation under the Investment Law — build it into a fixed quarterly and annual compliance calendar.
Legal references
- Investment Law 143/2025/QH15 (point a, clause 2, Art. 47); Decree 96/2026/ND-CP (Art. 94) — investment reporting regime.
- Law on Independent Audit 67/2011/QH12 (clause 1, Art. 37); Decree 17/2012/ND-CP (Art. 15; amended by Dec. 90/2025); Decree 228/2025/ND-CP (clause 3, Art. 27: VND 40–50 million fine).
- Law on Tax Administration 108/2025/QH15 (effective 01/7/2026); CIT Law 67/2025/QH15 (progressive 15/17/20%).
- Social Insurance Law 71/2024/QH15; Decree 158/2025/ND-CP (Art. 44: foreign workers with work permits of at least 12 months subject to compulsory SI).
- Trade Union Law 50/2024/QH15; Decree 105/2026/ND-CP.
- Decree 145/2020/ND-CP (clause 2, Art. 4; amended by clause 1, Art. 73, Dec. 35/2022) — labor usage reports.
- Decree 219/2025/ND-CP (clause 2, Art. 35, effective 07/8/2025) — abolition of periodic foreign-labor reports.
- Resolution 198/2025/QH15 (clause 7, Art. 10); Decree 362/2025/ND-CP (clause 4, Art. 6) — license tax abolition.
- Decree 254/2026/ND-CP (e-invoices); Decree 255/2026/ND-CP (transfer pricing).
Need an annual compliance calendar review? The FLAT Law Firm team advises FDI companies on investment, tax, and labor compliance — from periodic reports and audits to insurance obligations. Contact us at contact us.
The information in this article is general reference based on laws in force at the time of writing (14/10/2026) and is not legal advice for any specific case.
Transparency note: This article was drafted by the AI content production system of FLAT Law Firm and is undergoing internal review (AI Legal Council QA and owner approval before publication). It has not been reviewed by a licensed human lawyer.