7 Tasks to Complete Immediately After Establishing an Enterprise in Vietnam

Short answer: Immediately after receiving the Enterprise Registration Certificate, the company needs to complete 07 tasks: (1) make the seal; (2) open a bank account; (3) register a digital signature; (4) register to use e-invoices; (5) make initial tax declarations; (6) display the signboard at the head office; (7) fully contribute the charter capital within 90 days. Important note: the business license fee has been abolished from 01/01/2026 — no more fee declaration or payment. Missing these tasks may result in administrative penalties. Guidance follows the Law on Enterprises 2020 (as amended by Law No. 76/2025/QH15) and current tax laws.

Legal basis

• The Law on Enterprises 2020, as amended and supplemented by Law No. 76/2025/QH15;
• The Law on Tax Administration 2025 (108/2025/QH15);
• Decree No. 168/2025/ND-CP on enterprise registration;
• Regulations on the abolition of the business license fee from 01/01/2026.

The 7 tasks to complete immediately after establishment

Task 1. Make the company seal

The enterprise self-determines the form, quantity, and content of the seal; no seal specimen registration with the police is required. Have it made at a legitimate seal-making facility.

Task 2. Open a bank account

Open a payment account in the company’s name; notify the account to the tax authority as prescribed; all company transactions are made through the company account.

Task 3. Register a digital signature

Purchase a digital signature from a licensed certification service provider — used for electronic tax declarations, filing reports, and electronic transactions with state authorities.

Task 4. Register to use e-invoices

Register to use e-invoices with the tax authority; choose an e-invoice service provider.

Task 5. Make initial tax declarations

Work with the directly managing tax authority: register the VAT calculation method, accounting regime, and labor registration; file initial declarations. Even without revenue, declarations must be filed on time.

Task 6. Display the signboard at the head office

Display the signboard at the head office (and branches, business locations if any) with complete: company name, address, phone number. Failure to display a signboard may be penalized and lead to a determination of “abandoning the business address”.

Task 7. Fully contribute the charter capital within 90 days

Members and shareholders must fully contribute the committed capital within 90 days from the issuance date of the certificate; if not fully contributed by the deadline, register an adjustment of the charter capital.

The task NO LONGER required: business license fee

From 01/01/2026, the business license fee has been abolished. Enterprises established from this point no longer need to file a license fee declaration or pay the license fee. Many old articles and checklists online still instruct “file the license fee declaration within 30 days” — that information is outdated.

Further tasks (as they arise)

• Labor recruitment: sign labor contracts, register for social, health, and unemployment insurance within the statutory time limits;
• Conditional business lines: complete sectoral licenses before operating;
• Set up accounting books: organize accounting work and archive documents from day one.

Frequently asked questions

Is failure to do the above penalized?

Yes. No signboard, no tax declarations, failure to fully contribute capital on time… may all be administratively penalized by sector.

Does a company with no revenue have to declare tax?

Yes — file “no activity” returns on time. Failure to file is penalized as late filing.

How to handle missed capital contribution within 90 days?

Register a reduction of the charter capital to the actually contributed amount; the member who has not fully contributed remains liable for financial obligations arising with respect to the committed capital portion.

Notes on applying current regulations

The post-establishment checklist changes over time (license fee abolition, no more seal specimen registration, new administrative units). Enterprises should check the current procedures or have a lawyer review them. Contact ANT Legal at 0966.475.966 for a full post-establishment support package.

Common risks to note

• Following old checklists: filing license fee declarations, registering seal specimens;
• Not declaring tax because of “no revenue”;
• Not displaying a signboard at the head office;
• Missing the 90-day capital contribution deadline.

How ANT Legal can help

ANT Legal provides a full post-establishment support package: seals, digital signatures, e-invoices, initial tax declarations, labor–insurance registration; reminders of capital contribution deadlines and periodic compliance. For prompt advice, please contact a lawyer at 0966.475.966.

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