Vietnamese tax rules change frequently and their application can differ between tax offices. ASTC provides practical tax advice on a consistent compliance framework, so you can be confident the same approach is applied throughout.
What we help you overcome
| Challenge | Corresponding service |
|---|---|
| Lack of people and expertise to identify and reduce Vietnamese and international tax risk | Tax review and tax risk management |
| No method for setting up a tax-effective structure | Tax-effective structure advice |
| No time to resolve disagreements with the tax authorities | Representation and explanation before the tax authorities |
| Excessive cost and low efficiency in tax accounting and reporting | Tax accounting and reporting advice |
Our service lines
1. Tax-effective structure advice
We advise on the corporate structure that best suits your needs — for newly established entities, restructurings or post-M&A situations — while minimising tax exposure across all relevant jurisdictions. This covers the global effective tax rate, the tax impact of the business structure, and preparation for new and proposed regulations.
2. Advice on tax issues as they arise
You raise questions and tax matters directly by phone, email or meeting; we respond within our committed turnaround.
3. Tax review (pre-inspection risk review)
For companies that want to check and complete their tax records before an inspection. The process has three steps:
- In-depth review of tax books and existing documents to identify gaps and tax risks
- Recommended solutions to eliminate or reduce those risks to an acceptable level
- Estimates of possible tax cost, so you are prepared before the inspection team arrives
4. Tax planning
Tax planning means optimising tax payable within the framework of the law — not “minimisation” at any cost. Optimisation means reducing the tax burden while preserving the value of the firm.
The SAVANT framework we apply:
| Element | What it means |
|---|---|
| S – Strategy | Look at the big picture; do not deviate from the business strategy just to minimise tax |
| A – Anticipation | Anticipate the tax position and choose the timing of transactions |
| V – Value-Adding | Weigh expected net cash flows, administrative cost and risk to maximise present after-tax value |
| A – Negotiating | Work with the other parties to shift benefits and burdens, and engage with the authorities |
| T – Transforming | Convert income and expenses into categories with more favourable tax treatment under the rules |
5. Tax-effective salary structuring
Design remuneration packages for expatriate and local personnel that use every lawful exemption, deduction and incentive.
6. Information update service
We keep you informed of changes to Vietnamese tax regulations as they occur, with detailed analysis of how each change affects your business.
Our advisory principle: for every tax matter we present at least two options — the most conservative and the most optimised — together with the legal basis, the risks and the likelihood of challenge by the tax authorities. The decision remains with the company. Rates, thresholds and deadlines cited in our advice are always referenced to the legislation in force at the date of issue.
