Workers care for hydroponic vegetable crops at Green Farm Co., Ltd. in Nguyệt Hóa Ward, Vĩnh Long Province. The Ministry of Finance has proposed extending deadlines for 2026 tax payments to support businesses. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Hòa

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Finance has proposed extending deadlines for value-added tax (VAT), corporate income tax (CIT), personal income tax (PIT) and land rent fees in 2026 in an effort to ease cash-flow pressures on businesses and support economic growth amid persistent domestic and external challenges.

The proposal, outlined in a draft government decree released for public comments, follows similar tax deferral measures implemented over the past three years that the ministry said have helped firms maintain operations and access short-term working capital without reducing state budget revenues.

Statistics from the ministry showed that the total amount of taxes and land rents deferred reached VNĐ95.2 trillion (US$3.6 billion) in 2023, VNĐ83 trillion in 2024 and VNĐ114.8 trillion in 2025.

The recovery rates for deferred obligations were also high, the ministry reported.

As of January 6, 2025, all deferred special consumption tax liabilities from 2022 and 2023 had been fully paid to the state budget.

Recovery rates for deferred land rents reached 99.2 per cent for 2022 and 98.2 per cent for 2023, while recovery rates for VAT, CIT and PIT reached 99.4 per cent in 2022 and 97.9 per cent in 2023.

For deferred payments in 2024, recovery rates stood at nearly 100 per cent for special consumption tax, 87.6 per cent for CIT, 41.1 per cent for VAT, 40.2 per cent for land rents and 62.1 per cent for VAT and PIT paid by household businesses.

Despite stable macroeconomic conditions and controlled inflation during the first five months of 2026, the Government said the economy continues to face significant challenges, including weaker-than-expected growth in industry, construction and services and demand for goods and services.

There are also risks from extreme weather, droughts, floods, landslides, climate change and environmental problems in major cities, including air and water pollution, urban flooding and traffic congestion.

In addition, living conditions remain difficult for some groups, particularly in remote, border and island areas.

The ministry warned that global and regional uncertainties could continue to weigh on growth prospects, while domestic challenges and climate-related risks could put additional pressure on macroeconomic stability, inflation, exchange rates and energy supply.

The proposed deferrals are expected to support production and business, create momentum for economic growth while minimising impacts on the state budget balance, the ministry said.

Under the draft decree, eligible beneficiaries would include enterprises, organisations, households and individual businesses operating in specific sectors.

Specifically, for monthly VAT declarations, tax liabilities for May 2026 would be payable by November 20, while liabilities for June through September would be payable by December 21. VAT liabilities for the second quarter would be due by November 2 and those for the third quarter by December 31.

The same schedule would apply to personal income tax payments owed by households and individual businesses.

Corporate income tax payments for the second quarter of 2026 would be deferred until November 2, while third-quarter liabilities would be due by December 31.

The proposal also allows a deferral until November 2, 2026, for 50 per cent of annual land-rent obligations due in the first payment period of 2026 for taxpayers leasing land directly from the State and paying rent annually. VNS