I owe less than 1 US cent in taxes, will I be banned from leaving Vietnam?

Worried after reading news that a CEO was banned from leaving Vietnam for owing less than VND1 million (US$39) in taxes, I decided to check my tax account through the General Department of Taxation’s mobile app and discovered that I owe VND12 in taxes.

Currently, the law broadly states that individuals who have not fulfilled their tax obligations may be prohibited from leaving the country. Therefore, my VND12 tax liability could potentially lead to complications.

I think the authorities should clearly specify a threshold amount for tax debt that would result in a travel ban. This would help prevent situations where individuals, like myself, who unintentionally owe a small amount in taxes, are barred from leaving the country.

Additionally, tax authorities should consider waiving small tax debts to avoid overburdening the management system. This would save time and resources spent on drafting and submitting documents for minor tax-related decisions.

For instance, to pay the VND12 I owe, I would need to link my tax account with a bank, check the debt, and then file for tax payments, which is quite a complicated procedure.

What are your thoughts on this issue?

Reader Pham Van Sinh

(A lawyer in HCMC)

*This opinion was translated into English by AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.