Introduce

The year 2026 marks a significant turning point in the history of tax administration in Vietnam when Decree 123/2020/ND-CP and related guiding circulars officially come into full effect, requiring all business households with annual revenue of VND 1 billion or more to use electronic invoices. This is a major change directly affecting hundreds of thousands of sellers doing business on e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

With monthly revenue of only around 80 million VND, almost all sellers with stable business operations are required to comply with this regulation. However, according to a recent survey, over 80% of Vietnamese e-commerce sellers are still unprepared for or do not fully understand the electronic invoice requirement, leading to concerns about potential legal violations and heavy penalties when the regulation is officially implemented.

So what exactly are electronic invoices? Who needs to use them? How can you comply effectively without disrupting business operations? This article will answer all those important questions.

Who Should Use Electronic Invoices? — A Detailed Analysis of Each Group

To understand whether you are required to use electronic invoices, you first need to be familiar with the current legal regulations.

Businesses have long been required to comply.

All limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, and other business entities have been required to use electronic invoices since 2022. To date, the majority of Vietnamese businesses have complied with this regulation and are using electronic invoicing solutions through providers approved by the General Department of Taxation.

Household businesses with annual revenue exceeding 1 billion VND.

This is the group most affected by the new regulations. If you are running a sole proprietorship and have total revenue of 1 billion VND or more in a fiscal year, you are required to register and use electronic invoices from 2026. With this revenue level, you only need to sell an average of about 80 million VND worth of goods per month to be eligible.

Seller on e-commerce platform

This is the most confusing point. Many sellers believe that because they sell through Shopee, Lazada, or TikTok Shop, they don't need to issue separate invoices. However, this is a dangerous misconception. E-commerce platforms only issue invoices for the service fees they collect from sellers, not invoices for sales transactions with end customers. Therefore, sellers must still issue their own electronic invoices for each sales transaction if they meet the revenue requirements.

Household businesses with annual revenue under 1 billion VND.

If your total annual revenue does not exceed 1 billion VND, you are not yet required to use electronic invoices according to current regulations. However, proactively using electronic invoices from the start can bring many benefits: building credibility with customers, preparing for expansion, and avoiding the need for rushed implementation when revenue suddenly increases beyond the threshold.

What should online sellers do?

Step 1: Register for Electronic Invoices with the Tax Authority

• Register to use electronic invoices at the managing Tax Office.
• Choose an electronic invoicing service provider (or use built-in software like GTG CRM).
• Get invoice templates and start issuing invoices.

Step 2: Choose the Right Software

This is the most important decision. There are two options:

Option 1: Dedicated invoicing software (MISA, SInvoice)

• ✅ Specializing in invoices
• ❌ Not connected to e-commerce order
• ❌ You have to manually enter the information for each invoice.
• ❌ Need additional inventory management software, separate CRM

Option 2: Integrated Software (GTG CRM)

• ✅ Invoices integrated with orders — completed orders → automatic invoice generation
• ✅ Connect with Shopee/Lazada/TikTok — order data flows directly into invoices.
• ✅ Inventory management + CRM + marketing all in one system
• ✅ Saves time on data entry

Step 3: Set Up an Automated Process

With GTG CRM, you can set up automation:

```

Shopee order completed

→ Automatically generate electronic invoices

→ Send the contract to the customer via email.

→ Record revenue in the report.

```

No manual input required, no risk of errors, and no wasted time.

Compliance Costs

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I sell on Shopee, has Shopee issued me an invoice yet?

A: No. Shopee only issues invoices for Shopee's service fees. You (the seller) must issue invoices to customers yourself.

Conclusion — Early Action to Avoid Risks and Seize Opportunities

Electronic invoices are no longer an option but a mandatory requirement for most e-commerce sellers in Vietnam. Proactively preparing and implementing them early not only helps you comply with the law and avoid heavy penalties, but also brings many practical benefits to your business operations.

Firstly, electronic invoices create a professional image and build credibility with customers. In a highly competitive environment, customers tend to trust and prioritize purchasing from sellers who can provide complete VAT invoices, especially business customers who need invoices for tax declaration purposes.

Secondly, integrating electronic invoices into the sales process automates many steps, minimizing manual data entry time and errors. When using an integrated solution like GTG CRM, each completed order automatically generates an electronic invoice and sends it to the customer without any manual intervention.

Thirdly, data from electronic invoices provides a more accurate view of your business's financial situation. Monthly and quarterly tax filing becomes much simpler when all invoices are systematically managed and stored electronically.

GTG CRM offers a fully integrated electronic invoicing solution, helping you fully comply with legal regulations without investing in separate invoicing software. With 66,888 free credits upon registration, you can issue over 3,000 electronic invoices to experience and evaluate effectiveness before committing to a long-term relationship.

Don't let the lack of preparation for electronic invoices become a legal risk for your business. Start today to be ready before the regulations officially take full effect in 2026.

Register for GTG CRM and start using electronic invoices today at gtgcrm.com