After receiving the Business Registration Certificate, filing taxes for a newly established company is one of the first mandatory procedures for the business to operate in accordance with the law. Delays or errors in this initial stage can lead to administrative penalties, tax code suspension, or difficulties in issuing invoices and conducting transactions with partners.
Understanding the types of taxes that need to be declared, the deadlines for filing, and the penalties for violations will help corporate accountants be more proactive in financial management and minimize legal risks.
Things to do immediately after receiving a business license.
Before proceeding with in-depth tax procedures, businesses need to complete the fundamental legal steps and electronic transaction systems. This is a prerequisite for a smooth tax filing process.
Register for a digital signature (USB Token)
Digital signatures are a tool for authenticating electronic documents, replacing the seal and physical signature of a business. This is a mandatory requirement if a company wants to:
- Submit your tax return online.
- Electronic tax payment
- Register to issue electronic invoices
- Submitting Social Insurance documents electronically
- Conduct transactions with the tax authorities through an online system.
Currently, most tax authorities process documents digitally, so corporate accountants should prioritize this step immediately after establishment.
Open a business bank account and register for electronic tax filing.
Businesses need to open a bank account in the company's legal name at a commercial bank. Then, they must register and link it to the General Department of Taxation's electronic tax system for the following purposes:
- Pay business license fees.
- Pay VAT
- Pay corporate income tax
- Payment of tax arrears or penalties
Registering for electronic tax filing early helps businesses avoid disruptions in fulfilling their regular tax obligations.
Hang up a sign at the company headquarters.
The company sign must be displayed at the address registered on the business license. This serves as proof for regulatory authorities to verify that the business is actually operating.
Without a sign, tax authorities may determine that the business is not operating at its registered address, leading to:
- Tax code lock
- Electronic invoices are not allowed.
- Placed under high-risk screening.
Register your tax calculation method and accounting system.
Businesses need to determine the method of VAT declaration right from the start:
- Deduction method
- Direct method
Choosing the right method directly affects the type of invoices used, tax costs, and the ability to claim input tax deductions later.
In addition, the company also needs to choose an accounting system that suits its scale of operations to facilitate the preparation of accounting records and year-end financial reports.
What types of taxes are included in the tax declaration for a newly established company?
When starting a business, accountants need to pay special attention to the following recurring taxes.
Business license fee
This is an annual fee based on the registered capital or investment capital stated in the business registration certificate.
Updated policy effective from 2026.
Newly established businesses are exempt from paying business license fees in their first year. However, they must still file an initial declaration so that the tax authorities can update their management data. Neglecting this procedure is a very common mistake among new businesses.
Value Added Tax
Value Added Tax (VAT) is an indirect tax that arises from the sale of goods and provision of services. Typically:
- Newly established businesses file quarterly returns.
- Submit the tax return on the last day of the first month of the following quarter.
For example: The deadline for filing for Q1/2026 is April 30th (due to a holiday, the deadline will be moved to the next working day). Businesses need to clearly define their tax calculation method to avoid errors when filing.
Corporate accountants need to pay attention to deadlines to ensure accuracy and avoid unnecessary risks.
Personal income tax
If the company pays salaries to its employees, the accountant must take note of the following:
- Deduct personal income tax before payment.
- File tax returns periodically, either quarterly or annually.
- Year-end tax settlement
Even if employees haven't reached the tax threshold, corporate accountants may still be required to file tax returns.
Corporate income tax
Corporate income tax is calculated on the remaining profit after deducting reasonable and legitimate expenses.
These are two things accountants need to keep in mind to do things correctly:
- Quarterly provisional tax payments
- Tax settlement at the end of the fiscal year.
The determination of deductible expenses and taxable revenue needs to be tightly controlled to avoid retroactive tax collection after an audit.
In addition to completing initial tax declaration procedures, a new company also needs to establish a sound accounting system to control tax risks right from its first year of operation. (Reference) hire chief accountant This helps businesses ensure their accounting and tax records are properly controlled, especially for those without a complete in-house accounting department.
Summary of periodic tax obligations
To help the accounting department easily track and proactively fulfill tax obligations on time, below is a summary table of important taxes that need to be declared during the initial operating phase. This table helps businesses clearly identify the deadlines for filing tax returns, the applicable entities, and the tax incentives currently in effect for newly established businesses in 2026.
| Type of tax | Deadline for submitting the declaration | Applicable objects | Policy 2026 |
| Business license fee | Before January 30th of the following year | All businesses | First year's payment waived. |
| Value Added Tax | Last day of the first month of the following quarter | Business Unit | Quarterly declaration |
| Personal income tax | By quarter or year | The company pays salaries. | Declare when salary payments are made. |
| Corporate income tax | Quarterly provisional payments, annual final settlement. | Profitable business | Based on actual profit |
Important Note: All declared data must be cross-referenced with supporting documents, invoices, and accounting records to ensure transparency during tax audits.
Documents required when filing taxes for a newly established company.
Furthermore, at the end of the accounting period, preparing accurate and timely financial statements is also crucial to avoid audit risks and tax arrears. New companies should consider choosing this solution. hire an accountant to prepare financial statements. The aim is to optimize personnel costs while ensuring compliance and transparency in financial management.
Documents required when filing taxes for a newly established company.
To avoid having their application rejected multiple times, businesses should prepare thoroughly:
- Copy of the Business Registration Certificate
- Citizen ID/National ID card of the legal representative
- Company bank account information
- Lease agreement for the office premises or proof of business address.
- Decision to appoint the director, chief accountant, or person in charge of accounting.
- Application form for using electronic invoices
- The digital signature is still valid.
Electronic tax filing process for new businesses
Business accountants can follow these steps:
- Step 1 – Access the e-Tax system: Log in to the e-Tax portal using your business account and digital signature.
- Step 2 – Register for the appropriate declaration type: Choose declaration forms according to your actual situation, such as VAT, corporate income tax, personal income tax, business license fee, and electronic invoices.
- Step 3 – Prepare the declaration: You can declare using the HTKK software or directly on the online system.
- Step 4 – Signing and Submitting the Document: Businesses electronically sign using a Token and submit the document to the system.
- Step 5 – Follow up: Check your email or electronic tax account for notification of application acceptance from the tax authority.
Register to use electronic invoices
Businesses need to submit registration form 01DK-HDDT to the electronic system. Only after receiving approval notification from the tax authority is the company allowed to issue invoices.
Issuing invoices before the approval date will be considered a violation of tax and invoicing laws.
Does a new company that hasn't generated any revenue need to file for tax purposes?
Newly established companies that have not yet generated revenue are still required to file tax returns. This is a very common mistake that leads to many new companies being penalized in their first year. Accountants should be very careful to note that even without generating revenue, issuing invoices, or engaging in sales activities, businesses must still submit VAT tax returns, reports on invoice usage, and other related declaration obligations according to the regular schedule.
Failure to pay on time will still result in penalties, just like businesses that are operating normally.
Details of penalties for late tax filing for newly established companies.
According to Decree 125/2020/ND-CPThe penalties for late submission of tax returns are as follows:
| Late submission period | Penalty level |
| Late submission of 1-5 days with mitigating circumstances. | Warning |
| Late submission of 1-30 days (not subject to a warning) | Fines range from 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 VND. |
| Late submission of 31-60 days | Fines range from 5,000,000 to 8,000,000 VND. |
| Late submission of 61-90 days | Fines range from 8,000,000 to 15,000,000 VND. |
| Over 90 days | Fines range from 15,000,000 to 25,000,000 VND. |
Note: Even if no tax liability arises, late filing of tax returns is still subject to penalties.
In addition to administrative penalties, businesses must also pay a late payment penalty of 0.03%/day on the overdue amount. This amount is calculated continuously until the business fulfills its tax obligations.
Online tax filing process
To do this, accountants need to follow these standardized steps:
- Register an account on the portal. thuedientu.gdt.gov.vn.
- Register the list of declarations to be submitted (VAT, personal income tax, business license tax, etc.).
- Use the HTKK software to export XML files or file online.
- Digitally sign and submit the application. Always remember to check your email for confirmation to ensure your application has been accepted.
Conclude
Filing tax returns for newly established companies is not only a mandatory procedure but also a crucial foundation for ensuring stable and transparent business operations and avoiding legal risks right from the first year.
Doing it right from the start will help the company save significantly on penalty costs, while also creating a solid foundation for future financial accounting operations.
To optimize capital and focus on business, business owners should consider using these methods. full accounting service Professional solutions or those from expert networks like MAN – Master Accountant Network – ensure absolute legal security.
Contact information MAN – Master Accountant Network
- Address: No. 19A, Street 43, Tan Thuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
- Mobile/Zalo: 0903 963 163 – 0903 428 622
- E-mail: man@man.net.vn
Content production by: Mr. Le Hoang Tuyen – Founder & CEO MAN – Master Accountant Network, Vietnamese CPA Auditor with over 30 years of experience in Accounting, Auditing and Financial Consulting.
Frequently Asked Questions about Filing Tax Returns for Newly Established Companies
Yes. Even without generating revenue, the company is still required to declare VAT, business license fees, report on invoice usage, and fulfill other periodic reporting obligations as stipulated. Failure to pay on time will still result in administrative penalties according to Decree 125/2020/ND-CP.
Typically, companies need to complete initial tax filing procedures within approximately 30 days of receiving their Business Registration Certificate. Delays in registering digital signatures, electronic tax accounts, or initial tax filings can result in penalties and negatively impact business operations.
Yes. According to current policy, newly established companies are exempt from business license fees for the first year from the date of issuance of the business license. However, the business must still make initial declarations so that the tax authorities can record and manage tax obligations in accordance with regulations.
Yes. If a company does not display a sign at its registered address, the tax authorities may determine that it is not operating at the registered address. This could lead to the suspension of its tax identification number, inability to use electronic invoices, and increased risk of tax audits.
The choice between the deduction method and the direct method depends on the industry, size, and operational direction of the business. The deduction method is generally suitable for businesses with large input costs and the need to issue VAT invoices, while the direct method is more suitable for smaller models. Do newly established businesses that have not yet generated revenue need to file tax returns?
How long does it take for a newly established company to file its tax return after receiving its business license?
Are newly established companies exempt from business license fees?
Will I be fined for not displaying a company sign?
Which VAT declaration method should a newly established company choose?
