When will the transition from paper invoices to electronic invoices begin?
Electronic invoices (e-invoices) will begin to be applied from November 1, 2018, for the sale of goods and provision of services, as stipulated in Decree 119/2018/ND-CP dated September 12, 2018, on the application of electronic invoices. However, to facilitate the transition from paper invoices to electronic invoices, the management agency has set a 24-month deadline (from November 1, 2018, to November 1, 2020) for businesses to prepare the necessary infrastructure and personnel.
Therefore, Government Decrees 51/2010/ND-CP and 04/2014/ND-CP remain in effect until October 2020.
For businesses and economic organizations that have notified the issuance of electronic invoices without tax authority codes or have registered to use electronic invoices with tax authority codes before November 1, 2018; and businesses, economic organizations, households, and individuals that have notified the issuance of printed invoices, self-printed invoices, or purchased invoices up to October 31, 2020, they must still carry out invoice procedures as stipulated in Government Decrees: Decree 51/2010/ND-CP and Decree 04/2014/ND-CP.
In cases where the tax authority notifies businesses to switch to using electronic invoices with codes from November 1, 2018 to October 31, 2020, if businesses or household businesses have not yet met the conditions regarding information technology infrastructure and continue to use paper invoices such as pre-printed or self-printed invoices, the business must submit invoice data and value-added tax returns to the tax authority.
For public service organizations (educational and healthcare institutions such as schools and hospitals) that have been using payment receipts, they can continue to use them and gradually transition to electronic invoices (or electronic payment receipts) as regulated by the Ministry of Finance.
Creating, managing, and using electronic invoices: principles to keep in mind.
Decree 119/2018/ND-CP specifies the subjects and principles for creating, managing, and using electronic invoices. Accordingly, the subjects eligible to replace paper invoices with electronic invoices include: organizations, businesses, and individuals engaged in the trade of goods and services; organizations and individuals purchasing goods and services; organizations providing electronic invoice services; tax authorities at all levels; and other organizations and individuals involved in the management and use of invoices.
Electronic invoices, with or without tax authority codes, issued when selling goods or providing services must conform to the standard data format prescribed by the tax authority and must contain all the information as stipulated in Decree 119/2018/ND-CP, regardless of the value of each sale of goods or provision of services.
In cases where the seller or supplier uses a cash register, they must register to use electronic invoices generated from the cash register with an electronic data transfer connection to the tax authority. The registration, management, use, and replacement of paper invoices with electronic invoices in buying and selling activities involving goods and services must comply with the regulations of the law on electronic transactions, accounting, taxation, and the regulations in this Decree.
Electronic invoice data used in the sale of goods and provision of services is for tax management purposes and provides accurate information to relevant organizations. Businesses and individuals are responsible for the accuracy of the information they provide on the invoice, as the tax authorities will issue the code on the electronic invoice based on that information.
An electronic invoice with a tax authority code is an electronic invoice that the tax authority issues a code for before the organization or individual selling goods or providing services sends it to the buyer. An electronic invoice without a tax authority code is an electronic invoice sent by the organization selling goods or providing services to the buyer without a tax authority code. Both electronic invoices with and without tax authority codes include invoices generated from cash registers with electronic data transfer connections to the tax authority.
Content and format of electronic invoices
When replacing paper invoices with electronic invoices, the content on the electronic invoice is essentially the same as on the paper invoice, including the following information:
- Contract name, contract symbol, contract form number symbol, contract number
- Name, address, and tax identification number of the seller
- Name, address, and tax identification number of the buyer (if the buyer has a tax identification number)
- Name, unit of measurement, quantity, unit price of goods and services; total amount excluding value-added tax according to each tax rate, total value-added tax, total payment including value-added tax in the case of a value-added tax invoice.
- Total amount payable
- Fees and charges belonging to the state budget and other related matters (if any).
The difference when replacing paper invoices with e-invoices is that the signature on the e-invoice is a digital signature, an electronic signature, and the e-invoice includes a tax authority code. The e-invoice format will be implemented according to the tax authority's instructions…www.expertis.vn
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