The problem: teachers want outside tutoring for extra income — how far does the law allow? Quick answer: allowed, with three red lines: no paid tutoring of one’s own curricular students (Circular 29/2024/TT-BGDDT) — business registration for off-campus tutoring — no harm to main teaching duties plus income-tax declaration.
Red line 1 — Not one’s own students
Under Circular 29/2024/TT-BGDDT, curricular teachers may not organize paid off-campus tutoring for students they currently teach. Rationale: blocking conflicts of interest — teachers might “go easy” in class to drive tutoring demand or pressure enrollment. Violations bring disciplinary and administrative penalties.
Red line 2 — Business registration
Teachers tutoring off-campus (at home, at centers) must register businesses — as household businesses or through registered centers. Unregistered “underground” tutoring faces unlicensed-business penalties; in parent fee disputes, teachers stand disadvantaged without legal standing.
Red line 3 — Duties to school and tax
- Main duties unaffected: tutoring must not degrade curricular teaching quality nor use school time/facilities for personal tutoring without permission.
- Personal income tax: tutoring income declared and taxed as prescribed — “undeclared cash” breaches tax law.
- Professional ethics: no soliciting or coercing students; no leaking exam papers or “hinting” test content to tutoring classes — ethics and exam-rule violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can teachers tutor outside school?
Yes, but: no paid tutoring of one’s own curricular students (Circular 29/2024); business registration required; main duties unaffected; PIT declared.
2. Tutoring other schools’ students?
Allowed with business registration and compliance — the ban covers only one’s own curricular students.
3. Does home tutoring need registration?
Yes. Off-campus tutoring needs business registration; unregistered tutoring faces administrative penalties.
4. Is tutoring income taxable?
Yes. Tutoring income must be declared for personal income tax as prescribed.
5. Using exam papers for tutoring?
A violation. Leaking exams or hinting test content breaches professional ethics and exam rules, drawing discipline.
This article has been quality-reviewed by the FLAW AI Legal Council.