Tax news this week: excise tax on petrol cut to 0%, Ministry of Finance sets a 2026–2030 tax reform roadmap, used digital equipment import ban from 2027

The first week of November 2026 brought one tax change that applies immediately, a long-term tax reform roadmap and a new import rule that takes effect at the start of 2027. Here are the four main stories and what businesses should do about them.

Story 1: Special consumption tax on petrol cut to 0% from 1 November 2026

On 31 October 2026, the Government issued Resolution 45/2026/NQ-CP, setting the special consumption tax (SCT) rate on all types of petrol at 0%. The rate applies from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027 (VietnamPlus).

From 00:00 on 1 November 2026, maximum retail petrol prices fell accordingly (VietnamPlus):

Petrol	New price (VND/litre)	Reduction (VND/litre)
E5RON92	24,223	1,804
E10RON95-III	24,159	1,575

Under Decision 2893/QĐ-BCT of the same day, the Ministry of Industry and Trade did not set aside or draw on the Price Stabilisation Fund for this adjustment (VietnamPlus).

What it means for businesses: transport, logistics and distribution companies, and any business running a vehicle fleet, will see lower fuel costs for the next five months. The resolution covers SCT on petrol only. The reports we used do not mention any change to diesel, environmental protection tax or VAT. When budgeting for Q1 2027, keep in mind that the 0% rate ends on 31 March 2027.

Story 2: Ministry of Finance issues the 2026–2030 Tax System Reform Plan

The Ministry of Finance has issued the Tax System Reform Plan for 2026–2030 under Decision 3151/QĐ-BTC (Bnews/VNA, 3 November 2026). Targets for 2030:

• State budget revenue of at least 18% of GDP, aiming for 20%.
• Tax and fee revenue of about 14–15% of GDP.
• Domestic revenue at about 87–88% of total budget revenue.

The plan has three stages (Bnews/VNA):

1. 2026–2027: complete the legal, data and technology foundations. Connect the tax database with national databases on population, business registration, land, banking and e-commerce. Expand e-invoices generated from cash registers.
2. 2028–2029: expand automation. Use AI and big data for risk analysis, inspections, debt management and automatic refunds. Roll out virtual assistants, pre-filled tax returns and early alerts on tax obligations.
3. 2030: manage electronic transactions in near real time and build tax obligations into digital transactions.

On policy, the plan calls for a review of the VAT, corporate income tax, personal income tax, SCT, environmental protection tax, natural resources tax and import–export duty laws. Tax incentives will be narrowed and focused on science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and the green economy. The tax base will extend to the digital economy, e-commerce, cross-border transactions and digital assets (Bnews/VNA).

What it means for businesses: this is a direction, not a new obligation yet. But the direction is clear: invoice, bank and business registration data will be cross-checked more and more automatically. Businesses that currently enjoy tax incentives should follow the upcoming law amendments.

Story 3: Tax Department builds a system that connects to companies' accounting systems, due in 2028

According to Mai Xuân Thành, Director General of the Tax Department, the tax sector is building a new IT system expected to be completed in 2028. It will connect companies' accounting systems with the tax authority's systems, reduce the reports companies have to prepare themselves and make filings more accurate (Bnews/VNA, 4 November 2026).

The Tax Department is also moving to risk-based inspections. AI will analyse financial statements to pick high-risk cases. Low-risk companies will be inspected less often and will receive reminders and guidance first (Bnews/VNA).

KPMG Vietnam's experts advise companies to run regular "tax health checks", ask the tax authority early about unclear points and monitor their own data for anomalies. Companies that are slow to digitalise may be at a disadvantage in invoice management, filing and VAT refunds (Bnews/VNA).

What it means for businesses: once accounting data is connected to the tax authority, gaps between the books, invoices and returns will show up quickly. Books updated every month and reconciled regularly are the best preparation.

Story 4: New list of used digital products banned from import from 1 January 2027

On 27 October 2026, the Ministry of Science and Technology issued Circular 63/2026/TT-BKHCN, which publishes the list of used digital technology products banned from import, with HS codes. The circular takes effect on 1 January 2027 and replaces Circular 11/2018/TT-BTTTT (Tạp chí Kinh tế – Tài chính, 29 October 2026).

The list covers groups such as printers, copiers and fax machines; computers and data processing machines; telephones and transmission equipment; microphones, speakers and headphones; broadcasting equipment, cameras, displays and projectors; printed circuits and integrated circuits; and electric wires, cables and optical fibre cables (Tạp chí Kinh tế – Tài chính).

Key points (Tạp chí Kinh tế – Tài chính; LuatVietnam, 2 November 2026):

• An HS code listed at 4-digit or 6-digit level covers all 8-digit codes under it.
• Used parts and components of listed products are also banned, as are refurbished products.
• Exception: used production lines, machinery and equipment that meet the criteria under digital technology industry law and directly serve a project for producing, packaging or testing semiconductor chips, or for training and R&D of digital technology products.
• Goods already approved for import before the circular takes effect may still be imported within the scope and validity of that approval.

What it means for businesses: if you plan to import used office machines, IT equipment or used components, check the HS codes against the new list and complete any licensed shipments before 1 January 2027.

Also this week: AI platform for public administration passes 539,000 accounts

At its October 2026 press briefing, the Ministry of Science and Technology said its AI platform supporting public administration is being piloted in 24 of 24 ministries and ministry-level agencies and 34 of 34 provinces and cities, with more than 539,000 accounts. The ministry has restructured 56 of 56 ministry-level administrative procedures to cut paperwork by using digital data (VTV, 4 November 2026).

What it means for businesses: government agencies are using AI and digital data to process files. Clean electronic files, with data that matches across systems, will be processed faster.

What should businesses do now?

1. Update fuel cost budgets for November 2026 to March 2027 using the new petrol prices. Note 31 March 2027, when the 0% rate ends.
2. Reconcile invoices, books and tax returns every month. Do this before the tax authority's system connects directly to accounting systems.
3. Review the tax incentives you currently use and follow the tax law amendments under the 2026–2030 reform plan.
4. If you import used IT equipment: check HS codes against Circular 63/2026 and complete licensed shipments before 1 January 2027.

How 3M can help

For clients on our full-service accounting and tax package, 3M reconciles invoices, books and returns every month, so your data is ready when the tax authority connects to it. If you want a tax health check before year end, start with our financial statement review.

Book a free consultation to review your books and year-end deadlines.

Talk to us:

• Hotline / Zalo: +84 33 827 0386 · Message on Zalo
• Email: [email protected]

This article is for general information only and is compiled from official press reports up to 5 November 2026. Please contact 3M for advice on your specific situation.

Sources:

1. VietnamPlus (31 Oct 2026): Special consumption tax cut to 0%, petrol prices fall by up to VND 1,804 per litre (Vietnamese)
2. Bnews/VNA (3 Nov 2026): Tax sector aims for real-time management of electronic transactions by 2030 (Vietnamese)
3. Bnews/VNA (4 Nov 2026): Tax sector aims to cut filing procedures for businesses through data connection (Vietnamese)
4. Tạp chí Kinh tế – Tài chính (29 Oct 2026): New list of used digital technology goods banned from import applies from 1 January 2027 (Vietnamese)
5. LuatVietnam (2 Nov 2026): Accounting bulletin for the week of 26 October – 1 November 2026 (Vietnamese)
6. VTV (4 Nov 2026): Vietnam has more than 539,000 pilot accounts on the AI platform supporting public administration (Vietnamese)