{"id":3038,"date":"2026-03-02T00:03:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T07:03:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/?p=3038"},"modified":"2026-03-02T00:03:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T07:03:49","slug":"giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/","title":{"rendered":"Tax Risks in Related-Party Transactions for Importing Fixed Assets"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Real-world scenario: An export processing enterprise (Enterprise A) owes its parent company in Singapore (Enterprise B) $1.6 million USD, with the debt being offset gradually each month. When Enterprise A needs to replace its fixed assets from China, Enterprise B signs the contract and pays the supplier directly. The question is: how can Enterprise A record the increase in assets, make legitimate depreciation calculations, and handle this debt without violating strict regulations on related-party transactions, fixed asset imports, and interest expense?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Foreign-invested enterprises (FDI), especially export processing enterprises (EPEs), frequently encounter the aforementioned scenario. Managing outstanding debt, interest expenses, and asset ownership for depreciation purposes is a challenging task for chief accountants. This article will analyze the risks and solutions in detail, based on the latest legal framework in 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Index<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Nhan_dien_quan_he_lien_ket_va_giao_dich_lien_ket_nhap_khau_TSCD\" >Identifying related party relationships and related-party transactions in the import of fixed assets.<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Dieu_kien_xac_dinh_quan_he_lien_ket\" >Conditions for determining the relationship<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Ban_chat_giao_dich_lien_ket_trong_truong_hop_nay\" >The nature of related-party transactions in this case<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Cac_phuong_an_xu_ly_TSCD\" >Options for handling fixed assets\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Tai_sao_phuong_an_von_vay_la_rui_ro\" >Why is borrowing money a risky option?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Rui_ro_khong_che_lai_vay_30_EBITDA\" >Interest expense control risk (30% EBITDA)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Canh_bao_ve_quan_ly_ngoai_hoi_va_Ngan_hang_Nha_nuoc\" >Warning regarding foreign exchange management and the State Bank.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Quy_trinh_%E2%80%9CThanh_toan_ho%E2%80%9D_va_hach_toan_ke_toan\" >The &quot;Payment on behalf of&quot; process and accounting entries.<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Bo_Ho_so_phap_ly_can_chuan_bi\" >The legal documents that need to be prepared.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Hach_toan_ke_toan_chi_tiet_tai_doanh_nghiep_A\" >Detailed accounting at company A<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Giai_doan_1_%E2%80%93_Khi_may_moc_ve_den_kho_va_thong_quan\" >Phase 1 \u2013 When the machinery arrives at the warehouse and clears customs.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Giai_doan_2_%E2%80%93_Trich_khau_hao_hang_thang\" >Phase 2 \u2013 Monthly Depreciation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Giai_doan_3_%E2%80%93_Bu_tru_cong_no_khi_xuat_khau_hang_cho_B\" >Phase 3 \u2013 Offsetting debts when exporting goods to B<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Cac_rui_ro_trong_truong_hop_nay_neu_khong_chon_phuong_an_xu_ly_dung\" >The risks involved in this situation if the wrong solution is chosen.<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Rui_ro_ve_quyen_so_huu_va_khau_hao\" >Ownership and depreciation risks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Rui_ro_mong_von_Thin_Capitalization\" >Thin Capitalization Risk<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Rui_ro_an_dinh_gia_va_dieu_chinh_tang_thu_nhap_chiu_thue\" >Risks of price fixing and upward adjustment of taxable income.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Rui_ro_quan_ly_ngoai_hoi\" >Foreign exchange management risks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Rui_ro_hai_quan_doi_voi_doanh_nghiep_che_xuat\" >Customs risks for export processing enterprises<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Ket_luan_va_khuyen_nghi\" >Conclusion and recommendations<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-tscd\/#Thong_tin_lien_he_MAN_%E2%80%93_Master_Accountant_Network\" >Contact information MAN \u2013 Master Accountant Network<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Nhan_dien_quan_he_lien_ket_va_giao_dich_lien_ket_nhap_khau_TSCD\"><\/span><b>Identifying related party relationships and related-party transactions in the import of fixed assets.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To assess the validity of incurred expenses, businesses first need to clearly define their position in relation to the parties involved in the transaction, as stipulated by current law.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dieu_kien_xac_dinh_quan_he_lien_ket\"><\/span><b>Conditions for determining the relationship<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Based on Decree 132\/2020\/ND-CP and Decree 20\/2025\/ND-CP supplementing and amending Decree 132 regarding the conditions for determining related-party relationships, businesses should refer to the detailed conditions for formation. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/moi-quan-he-lien-ket\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">affiliated relationship<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this case, the export processing enterprise (A) and the parent company in Singapore (B) are affiliated with each other.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ban_chat_giao_dich_lien_ket_trong_truong_hop_nay\"><\/span><b>The nature of related-party transactions in this case<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fact that the parent company in Singapore paid for machinery purchased by enterprise A from a third party (China) is considered a related-party transaction. All related costs must comply with the &quot;Free Market Cost&quot; principle. If enterprise A independently creates a loan agreement to generate interest expenses, the tax authorities may consider this a transfer pricing practice aimed at reducing taxable income in Vietnam.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cac_phuong_an_xu_ly_TSCD\"><\/span><b>Options for handling fixed assets\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To help businesses with related-party transactions gain a clear understanding and accurately assess the safety of each handling option, the following is a detailed comparison table of the handling options for this case regarding the import of fixed assets by related parties. This table focuses on analyzing asset ownership, depreciation potential, transfer pricing risk, and foreign exchange management obligations \u2013 factors that tax authorities pay particular attention to during tax settlement.<\/span><\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-color: #000000;\" border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"12\">\n<caption><b>Board: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Comparing tax risks in related-party transactions involving the import of fixed assets across different treatment options.<\/span><\/caption>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Criteria<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Option 1: Loan Agreement<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Option 2: B is named on the purchase and sale contract.<\/b><\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\"><b>Option 3: Payment Agreement<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ownership<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belongs to A\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belongs to B<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belongs to A<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depreciation of fixed assets<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depreciable<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No depreciation is allowed.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depreciation is permitted (if records are complete).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interest expense<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Controlled 30% EBITDA\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No issues arose.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No issues arose.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tax Risk<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Very high (Involves transfer pricing, thin capitalization)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High (May be excluded from management or operating costs)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low (True commercial nature)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Bank Procedures<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Registration is required if borrowing for one year.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not have\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not have<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the comparison table above, it can be seen that, in the context of increased tax control under Decree 132\/2020\/ND-CP, the option of &quot;payment on behalf of the buyer in accordance with the commercial nature&quot; is the choice with the lowest risk level when handling related-party transactions involving the import of fixed assets.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conversely, converting commercial debt into interest-bearing loan contracts not only creates restrictions on EBITDA under Article 30% but also generates additional risks related to transfer pricing and foreign exchange management. This is especially true for export processing enterprises with large outstanding debts to their parent companies.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tai_sao_phuong_an_von_vay_la_rui_ro\"><\/span><b>Why is borrowing money a risky option?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3041\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3041\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3041\" src=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Ly-do-von-vay-rui-ro-trong-giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-TSCD.jpg\" alt=\"L\u00fd do v\u1ed1n vay r\u1ee7i ro trong giao d\u1ecbch li\u00ean k\u1ebft nh\u1eadp kh\u1ea9u TSC\u0110\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Ly-do-von-vay-rui-ro-trong-giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-TSCD.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Ly-do-von-vay-rui-ro-trong-giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-TSCD-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Ly-do-von-vay-rui-ro-trong-giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-TSCD-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Ly-do-von-vay-rui-ro-trong-giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-TSCD-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Ly-do-von-vay-rui-ro-trong-giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-TSCD-18x10.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3041\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Reasons for the risk of borrowing in related-party transactions for importing fixed assets.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The conversion from a regular commercial debt to an interest-bearing loan relationship between related parties is not simply an accounting operation, but also a key subject of scrutiny by tax authorities due to the potential risks of transfer pricing and violations of the following foreign exchange management regulations.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rui_ro_khong_che_lai_vay_30_EBITDA\"><\/span><b>Interest expense control risk (30% EBITDA)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If Option 1 (Loan Agreement) is chosen, Enterprise A will face obstacles from Article 16 of Decree 132\/2020\/ND-CP:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interest expense ceiling: The total interest expense (after deducting interest on deposits and loans) incurred during the period by the taxpayer that is deductible when determining taxable corporate income shall not exceed the total net profit from business operations plus interest expense and depreciation expense (EBITDA).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low EBITDA: For businesses in the initial stages of investing and gradually replacing machinery, EBITDA is often not large enough to cover interest expenses. Any profit exceeding the limit will be disallowed when calculating corporate income tax.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legitimate loan: The tax authorities may question: \u201cWhy is company A, which owes company B $1.6 million USD interest-free (trade debt), converting it into an interest-bearing loan?\u201d This is considered a misuse of capital and the transfer of profits back to Singapore through interest payments.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Canh_bao_ve_quan_ly_ngoai_hoi_va_Ngan_hang_Nha_nuoc\"><\/span><b>Warning regarding foreign exchange management and the State Bank.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Circular 12\/2022\/TT-NHNN:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loan registration: All medium- and long-term (over 1 year) foreign loans must be registered with the State Bank of Vietnam.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consequences: If business A fails to register, it will be subject to an administrative fine of 200-300 million VND, and all interest expenses will be permanently disallowed as deductible expenses.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Quy_trinh_%E2%80%9CThanh_toan_ho%E2%80%9D_va_hach_toan_ke_toan\"><\/span><b>The &quot;Payment on behalf of&quot; process and accounting entries.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This solution allows company A to acquire assets and depreciate them without incurring interest expense.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bo_Ho_so_phap_ly_can_chuan_bi\"><\/span><b>The legal documents that need to be prepared.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To prove ownership of the assets for Company A, the dossier must include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sales contract: Signed between company A and the Chinese supplier (company B acts as the payment agent).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Payment agreement: Company A authorizes Company B to pay for machinery from a Chinese supplier.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Import documents: Customs declaration (Importer is A), Invoice, Packing List.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Payment documents from B: A wire transfer (Swift) from B to the Chinese supplier, along with a confirmation notice that payment has been made on behalf of A.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hach_toan_ke_toan_chi_tiet_tai_doanh_nghiep_A\"><\/span><b>Detailed accounting at company A<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accountants perform the following journal entries to ensure transparency:<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Giai_doan_1_%E2%80%93_Khi_may_moc_ve_den_kho_va_thong_quan\"><\/span><b>Phase 1 \u2013 When the machinery arrives at the warehouse and clears customs.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increase the original cost of fixed assets:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Debit Account 211 (Original cost of machinery)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Account 331 (Payable to company B \u2013 payment made on behalf of the company)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Record import duties (if any):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Debit Account 133\/211<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is account 333.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Giai_doan_2_%E2%80%93_Trich_khau_hao_hang_thang\"><\/span><b>Phase 2 \u2013 Monthly Depreciation<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this stage, perform the following accounting entries to ensure transparency:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Debit accounts 627, 642 (Depreciation expense)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is account 214 (Accumulated depreciation).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Giai_doan_3_%E2%80%93_Bu_tru_cong_no_khi_xuat_khau_hang_cho_B\"><\/span><b>Phase 3 \u2013 Offsetting debts when exporting goods to B<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Record export revenue for B:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Debit Account 131 (Accounts Receivable from B)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is account 511.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perform the offsetting entry (Based on the Debt Offsetting Report):<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Debit Account 331 (Machinery and outstanding debt: USD 1.6 million)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is account 131 (Accounts receivable from exported goods).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cac_rui_ro_trong_truong_hop_nay_neu_khong_chon_phuong_an_xu_ly_dung\"><\/span><b>The risks involved in this situation if the wrong solution is chosen.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3040\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3040\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3040\" src=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cac-rui-ro-giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-TSCD-neu-khong-chon-phuong-an-xu-ly-dung.jpg\" alt=\"C\u00e1c r\u1ee7i ro giao d\u1ecbch li\u00ean k\u1ebft nh\u1eadp kh\u1ea9u TSC\u0110 n\u1ebfu kh\u00f4ng ch\u1ecdn ph\u01b0\u01a1ng \u00e1n x\u1eed l\u00fd \u0111\u00fang\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cac-rui-ro-giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-TSCD-neu-khong-chon-phuong-an-xu-ly-dung.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cac-rui-ro-giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-TSCD-neu-khong-chon-phuong-an-xu-ly-dung-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cac-rui-ro-giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-TSCD-neu-khong-chon-phuong-an-xu-ly-dung-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cac-rui-ro-giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-TSCD-neu-khong-chon-phuong-an-xu-ly-dung-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Cac-rui-ro-giao-dich-lien-ket-nhap-khau-TSCD-neu-khong-chon-phuong-an-xu-ly-dung-18x10.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3040\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Risks associated with importing fixed assets if the wrong handling method is chosen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In practice, during tax audits, tax authorities not only consider whether a business has had related-party transactions involving the import of fixed assets, but also evaluate the entire chain of documents: contracts, ownership, cash flow, nature of payment, and the economic objectives of the transaction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just one illogical link (for example, the parent company is named on the contract but the subsidiary depreciates it; or converting trade debt into interest-bearing loans) can expose a business to a host of risks:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depreciation expense of fixed assets is disallowed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interest expense was disallowed due to exceeding the 30% EBITDA ceiling.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Re-fixed related-party transaction prices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Penalized for violations of foreign exchange management regulations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Subject to back taxes and late payment penalties for many years.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rui_ro_ve_quyen_so_huu_va_khau_hao\"><\/span><b>Ownership and depreciation risks<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the parent company is listed as the buyer or importer, the tax authorities may conclude that the asset does not belong to the business in Vietnam, in which case all depreciation expenses will be disallowed and corporate income tax will be collected retrospectively for several years.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rui_ro_mong_von_Thin_Capitalization\"><\/span><b>Thin Capitalization Risk<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When converting commercial debt into interest-bearing loans, businesses may be criticized for unnecessarily increasing financial leverage in order to transfer profits abroad through interest expenses.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rui_ro_an_dinh_gia_va_dieu_chinh_tang_thu_nhap_chiu_thue\"><\/span><b>Risks of price fixing and upward adjustment of taxable income.<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it cannot be proven that the price of the machinery is the market price, the tax authorities may reassess the transaction price and adjust the taxable income upwards.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rui_ro_quan_ly_ngoai_hoi\"><\/span><b>Foreign exchange management risks<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Circular 12\/2022\/TT-NHNN, medium and long-term foreign loans must be registered with the State Bank of Vietnam. Failure to register in accordance with regulations may result in heavy administrative penalties and disallowance of interest expenses.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rui_ro_hai_quan_doi_voi_doanh_nghiep_che_xuat\"><\/span><b>Customs risks for export processing enterprises<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If import documents are inconsistent between the contract, the customs declaration, and the payment, the business may be required to re-explain the customs value and the intended use of the asset.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ket_luan_va_khuyen_nghi\"><\/span><b>Conclusion and recommendations<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the context of tax audits increasingly focusing on related-party transactions involving the import of fixed assets, FDI enterprises not only need to handle accounting procedures correctly but also ensure that the economic nature of the transaction complies with the regulations in Decree 132\/2020\/ND-CP and other regulations on foreign exchange management.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Converting commercial debt into interest-bearing loan agreements can create risks such as EBITDA constraints, suspected transfer pricing, and foreign loan registration obligations. Meanwhile, a payment arrangement that is genuinely commercial, with complete documentation and transparent cash flow, will benefit businesses in the following ways:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Protecting depreciation costs of fixed assets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avoid the risk of interest expense.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limit the risk of price fixing in related-party transactions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minimize tax arrears and late payment penalties.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For businesses with significant outstanding debt to their parent company or those that frequently import assets from related parties, reviewing the transaction structure from the outset is a crucial precautionary measure ahead of the 2026 tax year.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your company needs to review its Transfer Pricing Documentation, please refer to the following. <\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/dich-vu-chuyen-gia\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">transfer pricing services<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> MAN&#039;s deep dive.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-button-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/lien-he\/\" class=\"su-button su-button-style-flat\" style=\"color:#FFFFFF;background-color:#d9534f;border-color:#ae4340;border-radius:5px\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"color:#FFFFFF;padding:0px 22px;font-size:17px;line-height:34px;border-color:#e58784;border-radius:5px;text-shadow:none\">  Contact Us for Consultation <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Thong_tin_lien_he_MAN_%E2%80%93_Master_Accountant_Network\"><\/span><b>Contact information MAN \u2013 Master Accountant Network<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Address: No. 19A, Street 43, Tan Thuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mobile\/Zalo: 0903 963 163 \u2013 0903 428 622<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Email: man@man.net.vn<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Content production by: Mr. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/man.net.vn\/le-hoang-tuyen\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Le Hoang Tuyen<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2013 Founder &amp; CEO MAN \u2013 Master Accountant Network, Vietnamese CPA Auditor with over 30 years of experience in Accounting, Auditing and Financial Consulting.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>T\u00ecnh hu\u1ed1ng th\u1ef1c t\u1ebf: M\u1ed9t doanh nghi\u1ec7p ch\u1ebf xu\u1ea5t (DN A) \u0111ang n\u1ee3 c\u00f4ng ty m\u1eb9 t\u1ea1i Singapore (DN B) s\u1ed1 ti\u1ec1n 1,6 tri\u1ec7u USD v\u00e0 th\u1ef1c hi\u1ec7n c\u1ea5n tr\u1eeb c\u00f4ng n\u1ee3 d\u1ea7n h\u00e0ng th\u00e1ng. Khi DN A c\u1ea7n thay th\u1ebf h\u1ec7 th\u1ed1ng t\u00e0i s\u1ea3n c\u1ed1 \u0111\u1ecbnh (TSC\u0110) t\u1eeb Trung Qu\u1ed1c, C\u00f4ng ty B \u0111\u00e3 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3039,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3038","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3038"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3038\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3043,"href":"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3038\/revisions\/3043"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3039"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/giaodichlienket.man.net.vn\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}