Introduction

2026 marks a significant turning point in Vietnam's tax management history as Decree 123/2020/ND-CP and its 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 impacting hundreds of thousands of sellers operating on e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop.

With a monthly revenue of only around VND 80 million, almost all sellers with stable business activities fall under this mandatory regulation. However, a recent survey shows that over 80% of Vietnamese e-commerce sellers are not yet prepared or do not fully understand the electronic invoice requirement, leading to concerns about potential legal violations and heavy penalties once the regulation is officially enforced.

So, what exactly are electronic invoices? Who must use them? How can compliance be achieved effectively without disrupting business operations? This article will answer all these important questions.

Who Must Use Electronic Invoices? — Detailed Analysis for Each Category

To clearly understand whether you are subject to the mandatory use of electronic invoices, you first need to grasp the current legal regulations.

Businesses Have Long Been Obligated

All limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, and other forms of businesses have been obligated to use electronic invoices since 2022. By now, the majority of Vietnamese businesses have complied with this regulation and are using electronic invoice solutions through providers approved by the General Department of Taxation.

Business Households with Annual Revenue Over VND 1 Billion

This is the group most affected by the new regulation. If you operate as an individual business household and have a total annual revenue of VND 1 billion or more, you are required to register and use electronic invoices from 2026. With this revenue level, you only need to sell an average of about VND 80 million per month to be subject to the obligation.

Sellers on E-commerce Platforms

This is the point that causes the most confusion. Many sellers believe that because they sell through Shopee, Lazada, or TikTok Shop, they do not need to issue separate invoices. However, this is a dangerous misunderstanding. E-commerce platforms only issue invoices for the service fees they collect from sellers, not on behalf of sellers for sales transactions with end customers. Therefore, sellers must still issue electronic invoices themselves for each sales transaction if they meet the revenue conditions.

Business Households with Annual Revenue Under VND 1 Billion

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

What Should Online Sellers Do?

Step 1: Register for Electronic Invoices with Tax Authorities

  • Register for the use of electronic invoices at the managing Tax Department.
  • Choose an electronic invoice service provider (or use integrated software like GTG CRM).
  • Receive invoice templates and start issuing invoices.

Step 2: Choose Suitable Software

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

Direction 1: Standalone Invoice Software (MISA, SInvoice)

  • ✅ Specialized in invoices
  • ❌ No connection with e-commerce orders
  • ❌ Requires manual entry of each invoice's information
  • ❌ Needs separate inventory management and CRM software

Direction 2: Integrated Software (GTG CRM)

  • ✅ Invoices integrated with orders — completed order → automatic invoice generation
  • ✅ Connects with Shopee/Lazada/TikTok — order data flows directly into invoices
  • ✅ Inventory management + CRM + marketing within the same system
  • ✅ Saves data entry time

Step 3: Set Up Automated Processes

With GTG CRM, you can set up automation:

```

Shopee order completed

→ Automatically create electronic invoice

→ Send invoice via email to customer

→ Record revenue in reports

```

No manual entry, no fear of errors, no wasted time.

Compliance Costs

Category Standalone MISA GTG CRM
Invoice software 1-3 million VND/year Included in package
Order management software 0-500K VND/month (other tool) Included
Inventory management software 0-500K VND/month (Excel/tool) Included
Total Cost 2-8 million VND/year From 199K VND/month (all-in-one)

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

Conclusion — Comply Early to Avoid Risks and Seize Opportunities

Electronic invoices are no longer an option but have become a mandatory requirement for most Vietnamese e-commerce sellers. Proactively preparing and implementing early will not only help you comply with the law and avoid heavy penalties but also bring many practical benefits to your business operations.

First, electronic invoices create professionalism and credibility with customers. In a fiercely 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.

Second, integrating electronic invoices into the sales process helps automate many steps, reducing manual data entry time and errors. When using an integrated solution like GTG CRM, each completed order will automatically generate an electronic invoice and be sent to the customer without any manual intervention.

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

GTG CRM offers a fully integrated electronic invoice solution, helping you fully comply with legal regulations without the need for additional investment in separate invoice software. With 36,888 free credits upon registration, you can issue over 3,000 electronic invoices to experience and evaluate its effectiveness before committing to a long-term plan.

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

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