Job description tax accountant: The profession, the standards process

This is a mandatory assignment but not simple, by businesses to ensure declare the right kind of tax filing deadlines as well as reflect exactly on bookkeeping. Especially with small and medium enterprises when have to handle right time recorded, the account and the total of the taxes like the VAT, CIT, PIT. Flaws not only leads to the risk of sanctions, but also distort the financial data service.

Understand the rules in order to properly perform the service tax not only help businesses comply with the law but also enhance the transparency, control, cost effective, to create a solid base for financial planning strategies. The article below Lac Viet will provide detailed instructions to understand the business and apply the correct service tax.

1. Overview of tax accounting

1.1. What is the tax accounting? The role of taxes in business

Tax accounting is the part of accounting system corporate responsibility record, control and report taxes incurred during business operations. Not only is this the “record window”: the operation tax corporate guarantee to declare the right, properly pay taxes removal deadlines, comply with tax law.

In a business, tax plays a very important role:

• Source details for state: When businesses pay taxes, they contribute to the national budget to help the government invested in infrastructure, health, education...
• Cash flow management: Tax is the significant cost in operating costs. The calculation, properly pay taxes that will help business plan cash flow more accurately, avoid deficiency.
• Manage legal risks: If wrong or delayed payment of tax, businesses can be fined, arrears. A tax tightly helps to reduce this risk.
• Credibility with partners – shareholders report: tax transparency, compliance contribute to increased credibility when businesses work with banks, investors or strategic partners.

1.2. Business benefits received when performing tax accounting standard precision

The implementation of tax correctly and compliance can bring back a lot of real value for the business, not just “make the rules” which also supports the administration of optimal cost:

• Reduce the risk of sanctions: When the tax division work correctly and businesses reduce the risk of inspection, arrears or penalty.
• Optimize cash flow & financial planning: When can tax figures accurate easy business forecast tax expense in the period to come, from which weigh strategic re-investment, expenditure or capital reserves. This is especially beneficial for businesses that are growing or big investment.
• Financial transparency, increase credibility: tax reporting is done clearly and properly defined build the image corporate responsibility and transparency. This is very important if businesses need to raise capital, cooperation with the partner or preparing for IPO — partners & investors will look at the level of tax compliance as a part of evaluation of risk management.
• Internal management better: When the taxes done accurately and finance department leadership have reliable information to make decisions. For example, they know the cost of actual tax is how much, from which weigh cost strategy, investments or savings. Business systems good tax also allows the internal control more closely, reducing errors.
• Leveraging technology to improve efficiency: In the context of transformation of many businesses use accounting software as well as tax management system to automate business – from collecting evidence from accounting to set up the declaration. According to a study from Deloitte, technology, tax (tax technology) to help the department of taxation to operate more efficiently, reduce calculation errors and provide data in real time to monitor compliance risk. Investing in such a system, not only is the cost – it is investment for the safe, effective, scalable scale.
• Increase the ability to control over – react when tax law changes: When a business has tax management system closely, it will be easier to adapt than when the tax laws change. For example, if there is a new policy or regulations regulator, the department of taxation will quickly adjust to the process, ensure business compliance without being embarrassing.

2. Job description of accountant tax according to the stage

2.1. Work beginning of year

• Review and synthesis of data years ago: Beginning of the year, who made the check tax to check the entire voucher, invoice, tax paid of years ago to ensure there are no serious flaws, or delay payment. This helps to avoid arrears or penalty when the tax authorities check later.
• Declaration – filed tax: Under current regulations, businesses need to file declarations and tax money to the beginning of the year. This is a mandatory obligations as soon as the company starts operation or every year.
• Profile preparation, tax planning for new year: tax accounting also plan the work of tax in the new year — expected revenue, specify the type of tax (VAT per month/quarter), the estimated provisional subject to CIT, PIT,... planning this helps businesses manage cash flow, contingency costs reasonable tax.
• Updated tax rules new tax Laws, circulars, or decree are subject to change; the year is a good time to review the latest updates, ensuring professional guidance tax code of the department of accounting consistent and compliant.

2.2. Daily work/regular

• Collect – check stock from arising: The gathering invoice input (cost of purchase, raw materials) as well as the output (sales), receipt, payment receipt – collecting coupons import / export warehouse... Then check the legality and validity of these documents.
• Accounting services tax: When there are bills incurred, this function book (accounting) the account related to the accounting of the business — for example, cost, revenue, public debt, tax, VAT allocation, etc.
• Pay taxes when they arise: If during the day there arose tax obligations (for example, after the establishment of the declaration or had revenue), who made tax responsible for calculating the amount of tax payable and perform filing due date to avoid penalties for late filing.
• Store, organize, stock from: The retention certificate from the tax – bills, receipts, declarations – is the continuous work should be organized logic, science to when the inspection or audit, the tax division easy lookup.
• Track new rules: everyday, department of taxation need to update notifications, new guidance from the tax authorities (circular, decree) to keep up adjust and reports of business.

2.3. Monthly tasks

• Set the VAT declaration: If the business of the declaration of monthly VAT implementation of the declaration, VAT, monthly and pay as prescribed.
• Establishment declaration of personal income tax (if any): If company a tax deduction on personal income, establishment declaration PIT monthly.
• Reported use invoice (if required): A number of businesses (especially new established) are obliged to report on the use of monthly bills.
• Allocation of depreciation, cost of tools: Participants allocated expenses, depreciation of fixed assets or instruments, tools of the tax expense to INCOME tax or reasonable cost.
• For reference books: Check data accounting, invoice, bank statement to ensure there are no deviations big help prepare well for the states to declare next.

2.4. Work quarterly

• Establishment of the declaration of VAT quarter: If the business quarterly VAT declaration (usually revenue, medium or small), tax accounting will draw up the declarations, VAT quarterly.
• Establishment temporarily subject to CIT: Made interim corporate income tax (CIT) for each quarter (if specified), then payment of the temporary tax calculator.
• Establishment declaration PIT if quarterly: is declared declaration PIT on a quarterly basis if the business chooses to do this declaration.
• Report the situation to use invoice you: This is the first work to report the number of bills have been taking bills remaining,.. if the business is subject to reporting. 
• Analysis – risk assessment tax: the End of each quarter to review the data and assess potential risks (for example errors of the declaration, incurring large tax) and propose corrective measures.

2.5. Work late and when the check

• Settlement tax: synthesis of the whole revenue, cost, depreciation, accruals,... to calculate the corporate INCOME tax finalization.
• PIT finalization: If the company withhold personal income tax from employee wages, year-end tax accounting to reporting PIT finalization according to the regulations.
• Reporting on the use of bills last year: If specified, the accounting will aggregate report this to the tax authorities.
• Preparation of documents for inspection: The department of taxation to organize, store all documents – invoices, receipts, declarations – a scientific way to when the tax or audit inspection requirements, can deliver immediately. Here is the guide to business tax crucial in order to avoid being sanctioned or arrears as vouchers or arrangement is not reasonable.
• Revaluation tax strategy: Based on the results of the finalization of the policy changes tax during the year, the tax division participated suggestions or adjusted tax planning for next year — for example adjust the estimated provisional tax, proposed use tax benefits (if any), or invest in technology tax to optimize the process.
• Inventory – collating evidence from – books: End of the year is often the time of inventory, fixed assets, liabilities, funds should be coordinated with general accounting to collate data, ensuring high accuracy for reporting and settlement.

3. The business tax accounting in business

3.1. In VAT

Value added tax (VAT) is a tax levied on the added value of goods and services. Accounting related tax, VAT included:

For example, the Business purchased raw materials worth $ 100 million, VAT 10 million. When set up ledger: Debit TK 152 (raw materials) 100 million, Debt TK 1331 (tax VAT is deducted) 10 million, Have TK 111/112 (cash/bank) 110 million.

3.2. Business of CIT

Corporate income tax (CIT) is a tax on the profits of the business. Professional accounting tax-related INCOME includes:

Illustrative examples: profitable Business accounting 500 million, the cost of 50 million, advance corporate INCOME tax 20% → pay 90 million for the tax each quarter in advance.

3.3. Professional on personal income tax and other taxes

Illustrative example: The company pays wages to employees 20 million vnd/month, PIT under the deductible 10% → accounting, tax deducted by 2 million, to submit to the tax authority before the 20th day of every month.

4. Tax accounting procedures in business

Step 1: solve the accounting profession arises

Tax accounting start by handling all the business economic incurred related to the taxation of business in a timely manner and exactly, this is the foundation for determining tax obligations. Specifically, the accountant should record the full invoice value input (such as purchase of raw materials, goods and services, production operations, business) as well as invoice output (from sales activities, providing service). At the same time, the need to identify and account the reasonable expenses be allowed except when calculating corporate income tax, conduct calculations – recorded depreciation of fixed assets in accordance with the regulations, as well as follow – handling the cash advance related to the operation of the company. Thorough preparation ensures the data input for the step-tax settlement declaration following is transparent and legal.

Realistic goals: ensure business right – enough taxes payable, avoid deficiency cause penalty or arrears.

For example, When the business purchased raw materials worth $ 50 million with 10% VAT, service tax has to record a full 60 million on the books, at the same time calculate the amount of VAT deductible.

Step 2: – check the evidence from accounting

After the service has been recorded, tax accounting move on to stage set – check the validity of all the accounting documents such as invoices, value-added receipts detail, voucher, economic contract and other relevant documents. This check must be done meticulously to verify the legitimacy (with the right regulations, tax law does not), validity (full signature, seal, economic content) as well as full information of the stock from, because this is the only grounds for tax authorities to accept the cost/tax deductible.

The benefit of this step is incredibly important, help businesses minimize the risk of tax authorities denied the charges, from which avoided the account of administrative penalties should not be. To improve efficiency, professional solution is currently used accounting software dedicated to automatically check, collate data and, especially, information verification electronic invoice with the basis of official data of tax authorities guarantee the authenticity absolute before proceeding to the declaration.

Step 3: take Notes bookkeeping

Establishment report internal After all transactions have been processed and vouchers was to check the validity of this transaction will be recorded in detail on the system of accounting of business in accordance with the accounting standards current. Specifically, the transaction will be updated in the book, general journal in chronological order, which is then aggregated into ledger of the accounts involved, and especially the window details separate track for each type of tax (such as VAT, CIT, PIT).

The core objective of this work is to ensure consistency and absolute transparency of financial data do solid base for the tax reporting period and the settlement later.

For example: revenue recognition sales, at the same time separates the VAT payable separately in TK 3331, to easily synthesized and filing monthly taxes.

Step 4: perform work last states/ pen late payment – the transfer window

At the time of the end of the period (month, quarter, or especially the end of the financial year), tax accountants to conduct the synthetic work important to close the window and prepare reports. This work includes cross-check and collate the data carefully between the ledger details, ledgers and internal reports to ensure consistency and accuracy of data. Next, the accountant must make the adjustments necessary directly related to tax obligations, for example to allocate prepaid expenses (for tools), accruals, cost (interest on the loan, the warranty), calculate and record depreciation of fixed assets according to the regulations, as well as the establishment reserves the account related to the tax (if any). Finally, to make the pen payment transfer revenue, cost, and determine the results of trading to close the window, preparing data synthesis for the preparation of financial statements.

The benefit of this step is to help businesses get the data correct and complete to prepare financial reports and tax declarations on time, thereby avoiding deficiency and erroneous data, and the penalties involved.

Step 5: Set up the balance sheet book – declaration-cost – data arising

General accounting figures from the details window, the balance sheet accounting, general revenues, expenses as well as taxes incurred.

After completing the transfer, the end states, tax accounting proceed to sum up the whole data. This step requires the general accounting data in a systematic way from the details window and ledger to the Balance Sheet accounting and the financial statements other internal. At the same time, the accountant should sum up the whole of revenues, expenses incurred in the period and especially the total of the incurred tax related to the operation of the business.

Key goal of this synthesis is to create data base accurate to cater to the declaration of the key taxes such as VAT, tax, customs, personal income tax, and the tax code in other periodically.

For example: accountant, will sum all of the revenue and expenses of the quarter to determine the income taxable from that calculate the amount of corporate INCOME tax and temporarily pay for that quarter, at the same time to determine the exact total number of input tax eligible to be deducted, guarantee obligations tax done right, law, and optimization.

Step 6: financial reporting – perform tax settlement

After completing the synthesis and balance data, accounting, tax move on to the highest stage is the financial reporting period-end or year-end. The this report must be fully specified, including the balance Sheet (subject to current situation, assets and sources of capital), report the results of business activity (reflecting the revenue and costs, profit) and statements of cash flows (cash flow analysis). In parallel, this is an important time to make tax settlement (usually the settlement of corporate INCOME tax and personal income tax every year) and report VAT in accordance with the provisions of the tax authority.

The actual value of this step is extremely large, not only to help businesses understand their tax obligations payable or tax refund, but also ensure strict adherence to tax laws, avoid the legal risks. Moreover, the financial statements have been tax settlement will provide financial information is reliable for stakeholders such as shareholders, partners and banks.

The data illustrate the importance: according to the synthesis report of the General department of Taxation in the year 2023, the business made settlement tax due proportion of violations of tax lower than 18% compared to the business non-compliance. Made settlement CIT, PIT, VAT reporting according to regulations.

Step 7: store bookkeeping

After you have completed the declaration and payment of taxes, the final step and is also extremely important step is to store the books, vouchers, and the tax report in a scientific and systematic. All the accounting documents, from original invoice, proof of payment, diaries, ledgers, to the declarations and financial statements were filed, should be arranged in time sequence, type of service, or type of tax to ensure the ability to lookup easily and quickly when required from the round of inspections, tax or audit independence.

Benefits crux of the storage benchmark is significantly minimize the risk of the tax arrears of tax or administrative fine due to not able to provide timely the original documents valid, while also creating a solid for the deployment process, internal control effectiveness. In the age of technology, solution practices is recommended is to use the system to digitize documents and the software manager tax professional use, the storage, preservation and retrieval becomes automatic, fast, save considerable time as well as operating costs for the business.

5. Trách nhiệm và quyền hạn của kế toán thuế

5.1. Responsibility

Tax accounting is the parts center in the management of tax obligations of the business. The main responsibilities include:

• Collect, check the validity of the bill, evidence from input – output: Each voucher must be examined legally, the right tax rules to ensure the account the cost/revenue is recorded accurately. This step is important to reduce the risk of arrears or penalty due declaration wrong.
• Ensure that all economic transactions are recorded in full: include buying and selling goods and services, personnel costs, depreciation of fixed assets. This helps books business always transparent, data, service management and effective decision-making.
• Declaration – payment of tax due: taxes, VAT, CIT, PIT, other taxes have to be declared and paid in time limits prescribed by law.
• Financial reporting – tax settlement last year: this includes general books, reports business results, financial balance, at the same time settlement payment of taxes has been paid for the year.
• Track, update the changes to tax policy: regularly updates new tax laws, decrees and circulars related to adjustment, service reporting timely, avoid errors and violation of the law.
• Storage – organize documents and science: The target is able to provide proof quickly when the tax inspector or inspection, at the same time support internal audit.
• Giải trình với cơ quan thuế khi cần thiết: Khi cơ quan thuế thanh tra, kế toán giải trình đầy đủ các khoản chi phí – doanh thu – thuế đã kê khai, giúp doanh nghiệp giảm rủi ro bị truy thu hoặc xử phạt.

5.2. Powers

Tax accounting is empowered to perform the work efficiently, including:

• Requires the department to provide vouchers, bills related: this ensure that there is sufficient data to make the declaration the right term.
• Đề xuất xử lý hóa đơn cần thanh hủy hoặc điều chỉnh: Kế toán có quyền đề xuất các biện pháp xử lý theo quy định pháp luật, đảm bảo chứng từ hợp lệ – tuân thủ.
• Guide accounting department facility or other departments: Provide professional guidance tax to the department associated with the implementation of the declaration, establishment reported in accordance with regulations.
• Participate in policy formulation – the process of tax administration: Help setting business processes, internal control effectiveness, in accordance with the peculiarities of trading.
• Information security: tax figures are provided only upon approval of the chief accountant or the board of directors, ensuring the safety of sensitive information.

6. Important note about tax policy and risks

6.1. Risk warning for violations of the tax: stick figures, check out recent

• Strengthen the inspection tax: According to KPMG's tax authority continues to promote the operation, inspection and businesses are high risk — in particular, consider the behavior of the declaration is not correct, tax fraud, tax evasion or shipping price.
• Risks from business electronic commerce (e-COMMERCE): business operations, e-COMMERCE continues to be “hot spots”. In the first 6 months of year 2024, General department of Taxation was reviewing and handling of violations, with more than 4.560 taxpayers (including business – personal business online), arrears – tax penalties up to 297 billion.
• Risk procedure declaration/invoicing: business is reflected to declare tax two times because of errors in procedure or system that the big capital. 
• Extension of tax, but still need to be careful: despite the Decree extension of tax (VAT, CIT, PIT, land rent) to the end of 31/12/2025, these things can create risks if the business is subjective in the management of data, or non-standard device profile exposition when the tax authority request.

The business understand the risks this helps the accounting department tax constructed response measures — such as advanced process control, standardized, service tax, proactive, prepared record when you check — from which minimize risk costs (fines, arrears) and protect cash flow.

6.2. Three Major Changes From the Tax & Accounting Latest (Apply 2025)

Here are three important changes in tax policies – tax accounting which business to note:

• The VAT law new Law 48/2024/QH15 with effect from 01/07/2025
• Subject to VAT conditions, to deduct the VAT to be edited. 
• A number of decrees detailed instructions were issued (for example the Decree 181/2025/ND‑CP) to guide deduct VAT under the new rules. 
• Giá trị với doanh nghiệp: Bộ phận kế toán cần cập nhật ngày nghiệp vụ xử lý hóa đơn, kiểm soát chi phí để đảm bảo tuân thủ luật mới và tránh mất quyền khấu trừ.
• The new CIT law — Law CIT 67/2025/QH15 (with effect from 1/10/2025)
• Change the rules about deductible expenses, how to determine taxable income and profit/loss are compensated.
• The new tax rate: small-scale business has revenue of less than 3 billion/year is applied 15% tax, the revenue from 3-50 rate was 17% under the new Law.
• Regulation INCOME tax preferential elongation: new investment projects can be applied preferential tax rate for longer (maximum 15 years) if you meet the conditions under the new law.
• Value to businesses: If you understand the new law, businesses can take advantage of tax incentives, better, optimal investment strategies and adjustment tax plan accordingly to reduce the tax expense in a legal way.
• Strengthen tax administration, electron – transparent certificate from the tax
• Tax Administration act is amended and supplemented to encourage the declaration, tax management through digital platforms — reduced risk crafts, flaws papers. 
• Storage requirements electronic vouchers and tax reporting will be higher — businesses need to prepare digitizing system to respond quickly when the tax authority request check or inspection.
• Value to businesses: Apply digitized in professional tax help save operating costs (reduce paperwork, manual), increased accuracy and more ready when the tax check — minimize the risk of sanctions for the stock from incomplete or invalid.

7. Giải pháp tối ưu quy trình nghiệp vụ kế toán với LV-DX Accounting

Digitize business tax brings many practical benefits for business: reduce errors, fraud by manipulating the craft, optimized operation, saving time as well as personnel costs. At the same time support to manage cash flow, track obligations tax, VAT, CIT, PIT, and other taxes, along the collated data immediately. The tax report is to provide accurate, timely to comply with standard Vietnam, help leadership decisions quickly and more accurately.

With LV-DX Accounting, the accounting profession tax is fully automated:

• Recorded – handle stock from auto: Invoice, voucher, coupon, import – export warehouses are data entry and classified according to the type of tax, reduce errors manually.
• Check valid invoice: software for projector invoice input/output, ensure stock from legal before the declaration.
• Reminder to submit tax – reporting: auto reminder of the declaration, tax payment, as well as aggregate data to prepare reports monthly, quarterly, and settlement years, helping businesses avoid penalties for late payment.
• Transparent – internal control: Every pen payments, vouchers, and reports are stored electronically, easy lookup when the tax check, or when the internal projector.

Dùng thử miễn phí phần mềm LV-DX Accounting để tối ưu toàn bộ nghiệp vụ kế toán ngay hôm nay: https://lacviet.vn/lv-dx-accounting/

Tax accounting is the mainstay in management, corporate finance, plays an important role in ensuring legal compliance, risk control, as well as the optimal cost. Make accurate and effective, the professional tax help business financial transparency, enhance credibility with partner – shareholder – management agency. At the same time, the tax administration science create a solid base for strategic decisions, forecast cash flow accurately in order to optimize the cost of operation. This is also the key element that helps business flexibility to adapt to changing legal, enhance competitiveness and sustainable development in the long term.