Decree No 43 provided that business registration could be completed online using the National Enterprises Registration Information Gate. However, Circular No 14 limits online registration only to companies that have registered an electronic signature – in practice, a procedure with which it is difficult to comply and applicable to only a limited number of companies. Without this registered electronic signature, application dossiers must still be submitted in paper form.

The new circular also contains provisions on enterprise names and registered addresses, now requiring firms to complete tax procedures with tax authorities prior to registering a change of address with the provincial business registrar.

The circular also introduces a new form of enterprise registration certificate, combining the old business and tax registration certificates. The new form will be issued whenever a firm changes the content of its business registration.

Pham & Associates