Can a company start operating immediately after registration? The answer is no. Many businesses, after receiving their business license, face administrative penalties, business disruptions or are unable to issue invoices due to missing important legal checklist after company formation. In fact, over 70% of new businesses fail to fully complete their initial legal obligations, leading to tax and operational risks. In this article, Viet An Law Firm will provide a comprehensive checklist of things to do after company incorporation in Vietnam, helping clients operate legally, avoid risks, and save costs.
Company registration compliance Vietnam involves the legal and administrative obligations that a business must fulfill after receiving its Enterprise Registration Certificate (ERC). Legal procedures after company registration ensure the business is eligible to operate legally and especially prevent the suspension of its tax identification number.
Completing all post-company incorporation procedures helps businesses avoid administrative penalties and ensures that accounting, tax and invoicing practices comply with regulations.
Legal checklist after company formation in Vietnam
Steps after setting up a company in Vietnam, businesses need to have a company seal engraving to facilitate contract signing, transactions and administrative procedures. Business compliance checklist Vietnam invole:
Businesses need to display a company sign at their head office in accordance with regulations to avoid penalties during tax inspections.
The bank account serves the following purposes:
Businesses need to purchase a digital signature for:
After company formation compliance Vietnam, the company needs to register for the issuance of electronic invoices before issuing invoices to clients.
Businesses must declare and pay business license fees within the prescribed deadline to avoid late payment penalties.
According to the Enterprise Law, members/shareholders must contribute the full amount of capital within 90 days from the date of issuance of the business registration certificate.
Initial tax procedures including:
Newly established businesses should carefully choose an accounting system that suits their size and fully complies with current legal regulations on tax declaration and payment.
After being granted an Enterprise Registration Certificate, for conditional business lines, enterprises need to implement them before they can start operating and doing business. For example: International travel business license, Food safety and hygiene certificate, Wine distribution license,….
After company registration compliance Vietnam, businesses may incur costs such as:
However, when using services at Viet An Law, clients will be supported with all mandatory costs, including:
For example, Company A was established on January 1, 2026, and was granted an Enterprise Registration Certificate on January 3, 2026. However, on February 3, 2026, during an on-site inspection by the tax authorities, it was discovered that the company had not displayed its company sign as required.
Due to this violation of obligations after company formation, the company may be subject to administrative penalties ranging from VND 30.000.000 to VND 50.000.000 for failing to display a sign at its head office. Furthermore, the company will be required to add a sign that complies with regulations to continue operating legally.
| Content | Company in Vietnam | FDI Company |
| Capital Contribution | Within 90 days | Must contribute capital strictly according to the investment schedule |
| Bank Account | Standard corporate payment account | Must open a Direct Investment Capital Account (DICA) and a payment account |
| Foreign Exchange Compliance | Not required | Subject to foreign exchange management regulations |
| Investment Reporting | Not applicable | Periodic investment reporting is required |
| Legal Procedures | Simpler | Stricter control |
Therefore, foreign companies establishing foreign direct investment companies need to pay special attention to investment and foreign exchange obligations after company formation.
This is a very common mistake made by newly established businesses. Many business owners think that since they haven’t generated revenue yet, they don’t need to declare taxes. However, post-registration requirements Vietnam must still submit tax returns and business license fees on time to avoid administrative penalties.
After opening a company, many businesses register a high charter capital but fail to contribute the full amount within 90 days as required. This can lead to administrative penalties and require adjustments to the charter capital.
Some businesses use addresses that do not meet the requirements for a registered office or do not display a company sign, leading to the risk of having their tax identification number blocked during on-site inspections by the tax authorities.
This is a very common mistake for businesses with foreign capital. After establishing a foreign-invested enterprise, post-company incorporation procedures must open a direct investment capital account to contribute capital and conduct foreign exchange transactions in accordance with regulations.
Yes, businesses that don’t generate revenue must still file tax returns (VAT, personal income tax, financial statements, etc.) fully and on time to avoid administrative penalties, except in cases where they have notified the tax authorities of temporary business suspension. Tax returns when there is no revenue are often called “blank returns” (filled with zero).
Not immediately. Businesses need to register for electronic invoices, purchase digital signatures, and complete initial tax procedures before issuing invoices to customers.
For new businesses, especially FDI companies, using a company establishment service will save time, minimize legal errors, and ensure the business operates in accordance with regulations from the start.
After establishing a business, many companies face difficulties in handling tax procedures, invoices, and initial legal obligations. With experience supporting thousands of domestic and FDI businesses, Viet An Law Firm provides comprehensive company establishment and post-establishment services, helping businesses save time and minimize legal risks. Over 20,000 businesses have trusted and been satisfied with Viet An Law Firm’s services.
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Contact Viet An Law Firm now for free legal consultation, a detailed quote in 5 minutes and comprehensive company formation support – fast, legal, and with no hidden costs!
