Many prominent economic policies take effect from October 2025

From October 2025, many laws, decrees and circulars will take effect, directly affecting businesses and the market, ranging from taxes, science and technology, gold management, etc.

Adjusting corporate income tax rates by size and sector

The National Assembly has just issued Law No. 67/2025/QH15 on Corporate Income Tax Law 2025, which will take effect from October 1.

According to the new regulations, the general corporate income tax rate is 20%, except for preferential or special cases. Enterprises with total annual revenue of no more than VND3 billion are subject to the rate of 15%, while revenue from VND3 billion to VND50 billion is subject to the rate of 17%. The revenue used as the basis for calculation is determined according to the previous corporate income tax period. For oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities, the tax rate ranges from 25% to 50% depending on the conditions of each mine, as decided by the Prime Minister .

Mining activities of rare resources such as platinum, gold, silver, tin, tungsten, precious stones, and rare earths are subject to a tax rate of 50%, reduced to 40% if the mine has more than 70% of its area in a particularly difficult area. This regulation aims at fairness in tax policy and at the same time encourages sustainable production and business.

Support businesses to invest in equipment to apply artificial intelligence

The National Assembly has just issued Law No. 93/2025/QH15 on Science , Technology and Innovation, effective from October 1, 2025.

Accordingly, the Law encourages the application of artificial intelligence in research and development, but requires activities directly related to humans such as medicine, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence to strictly comply with the law and be under human supervision.

In particular, the State supports enterprises in investing in equipment, allowing costs for research and innovation to be included in valid expenses when determining taxable income, in order to encourage enterprises to invest more in science and technology.

Officially abolish the State monopoly on gold

Illustration photo: Minh Quyet/VNA

The Government has just issued Decree No. 232/2025/ND-CP of the Government: Amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 24/2012/ND-CP dated April 3, 2012 of the Government on management of gold trading activities. The Decree takes effect from October 10, 2025.

Accordingly, the Decree officially abolishes the State monopoly mechanism on the production of gold bars, the export and import of raw gold for the production of gold bars. The Decree expands the scope of regulation, adds the definition of gold bars and stipulates that only commercial banks and qualified enterprises are allowed to produce them.

The Decree also states that gold bar production is a conditional business and must be licensed by the State Bank. In addition, the Decree requires gold purchases and sales of VND20 million per day or more to be paid through accounts; at the same time, it adds the responsibility to publish standards, product warranties, and store and connect data with the State Bank.

Apply additional corporate income tax

The Government has just issued Decree No. 236/2025/ND-CP detailing a number of articles of Resolution No. 107/2023/QH15 dated November 29, 2023 of the National Assembly on the application of additional corporate income tax under the provisions on preventing global tax base erosion. The Decree takes effect from October 15, 2025.

Accordingly, the taxpayer is a constituent unit of a multinational corporation with annual revenue in the consolidated financial statements of the ultimate parent company of at least 2 years in the 4 consecutive years preceding the fiscal year determining tax liability equivalent to 750 million euros or more, except for cases excluded according to regulations. For newly established corporations, if during the period of operation of less than 4 years, there have been at least 2 years reaching the revenue threshold of 750 million euros, the constituent units are also subject to tax.

State Bank reduces required reserve ratio by 50% for some credit institutions

On August 12, the State Bank issued Circular 23/2025/TT-NHNN, amending Circular 30/2019 on regulations on compulsory reserves. The Circular takes effect from October 1, 2025.

Notably, credit institutions that support or receive compulsory transfers of specially controlled commercial banks will have their required reserve ratios reduced by 50% according to the approved recovery and transfer plan.

The Circular also adds regulations for policy banks and changes the name of “State Bank branches in provinces and cities” to “State Bank branches in regions”. In addition, the document clearly states the responsibilities of the Department of Credit Institution Management and Supervision and the State Bank Inspectorate in handling violations related to compulsory reserves.

The Ministry of Finance issued new regulations on the management of payment accounts of the State Treasury.

The Ministry of Finance has just issued Circular 81/2025/TT-BTC regulating the management and use of payment accounts of the State Treasury opened at the State Bank of Vietnam and commercial banks. The Circular takes effect from October 1, 2025.

Accordingly, the State Treasury (Central and Regional) is allowed to open accounts in VND and foreign currencies to carry out transactions of revenue and expenditure, balance management, use of temporarily idle resources and handle shortages. Commercial banks must meet the requirements of electronic bilateral payments, ensuring timely and accurate data transmission to the Treasury, tax and customs authorities. The end-of-day account balance is transferred to the Treasury's account at the State Bank, except in cases of force majeure.

Cases of exemption from fees and charges for goods and means of transport in transit

The Ministry of Finance has just issued Circular 86/2025/TT-BTC regulating the collection rates, collection, payment, management and use of customs fees, charges for goods and transit vehicles, effective from October 12, 2025.

According to Article 3, exempted subjects include: humanitarian aid, non-refundable aid; gifts for agencies, organizations, and individuals within the tax-free limit; diplomatic items; carry-on luggage; goods exchanged by border residents; border residents' vehicles managed by a tracking book; goods and vehicles exempted under international treaties or commitments of the Vietnamese Government...

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/chinh-sach-va-cuoc-song/nhieu-chinh-sach-noi-bat-lien-quan-den-kinh-te-co-hieu-luc-tu-thang-102025-20250927171219895.htm