9 cases of receiving money transfers without having to pay tax

Recently, with the increased tax management of personal accounts, many people have expressed concern that any money transferred into a bank account could be considered income and subject to tax. The concern has increased as cases of "wrongful collection" have emerged due to misunderstanding of regulations.

However, according to legal and financial experts, the current law has very clear regulations, not all money transfers require paying taxes. Specifically, there are at least 9 common cases where people are completely exempt from tax when receiving money. If understood correctly and the transaction is transparent, people need to clearly understand the information to avoid falling into a state of confusion and anxiety.

There are 9 cases where the account receives money but does not incur tax liability.

1. Borrowing from relatives and friends - not taxable income

Personal money received from relatives and friends for the purpose of borrowing, supporting and helping is defined by law as a civil relationship, does not generate income and is therefore not subject to tax. However, to avoid misunderstandings, the person transferring the money should clearly state the content such as: "borrowing money", "temporary help", "transferring money to borrow".

2. Receive money to pay off bank loan

People who borrow from banks at maturity often ask relatives to transfer money on their behalf to pay off the loan before borrowing again. The money transferred into the account for this technical purpose does not create personal income and is therefore not taxed.

3. Remittances – money sent from relatives abroad

Money sent by relatives from abroad, also known as remittances, is exempted from tax by Vietnamese law to encourage foreign currency sources. This amount is not considered personal taxable income if sent through official channels such as banks or legal money transfer companies.

4. Collection and payment activities

Individuals who work as shippers, cash on delivery (COD), or receive money and then pay it back under authorization (for example, gas station employees collecting money for companies) do not have to declare personal income. The reason is that these amounts are not real income but only intermediary transactions.

5. Receive and transfer money without charging fees

When you transfer money for someone else and don't charge any fees, the money that goes into your account is tax-free. However, if you charge a fee, the service fee may be subject to service tax (~5%–7%).

6. Receive money from selling house and land - tax obligations have been fulfilled

If an individual sells real estate and has fulfilled all previous tax obligations (personal income tax, registration fees, etc.), the amount of money transferred for payment later will not be taxed again. However, if it is discovered that the price is declared low to evade tax, the tax authority has the right to collect the difference.

7. Tax deducted salary – transfer to relatives

After-tax wages that an individual transfers to his or her spouse or other relatives are not considered new income. Therefore, the recipient will not be taxed again. It is important to prove that the source of the money is wages that have been deducted according to regulations.

8. Salary from abroad – local tax paid

Vietnamese workers working abroad who have paid taxes in the host country, when transferring money back home will be exempt from personal income tax. The condition is that they must have documents proving that taxes have been paid, transferred through an official bank.

9. Interest on small personal loans – not taxed

When an individual lends money to another person in a civil form (family, association, friends, relatives...) without interest or with small, irregular interest, it is not considered a business and therefore does not have to pay tax. However, if the loan is given to a business or organization and the interest is received periodically, the lender may have to pay 5% tax on the interest.

Receiving money transfers is no longer a purely private activity, but can become the basis for tax authorities to review individuals' financial obligations. However, not all money in an account is taxed. Understanding the 9 tax-free cases will help people, self-employed people and overseas workers be more proactive in financial transactions.

It is important to be transparent: clearly document the transfer details, keep relevant documents (if any), and seek further advice from an accountant or lawyer for large or recurring transactions. Don’t let “clean money” accidentally become a problem due to ignorance or negligence in recording and managing cash flow.

According to VOV

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/9-truong-hop-nhan-tien-chuyen-khoan-khong-phai-nop-thue-253051.htm