Import Tax on Office Chairs in Vietnam

The tax situation for importing office chairs into Vietnam is relatively complex, involving customs duties and value-added tax (VAT), with specific tax rates depending on the product type, country of origin, and whether certain conditions are met.

Customs Duties Section

• Ordinary, Preferential, and Special Preferential Rates: Vietnam's import customs duty rates are divided into ordinary rates, preferential rates, and special preferential rates. Most Chinese goods entering Vietnam are eligible for preferential or special preferential rates. However, to obtain special preferential rates, imported goods must be accompanied by appropriate certificates of origin, among other requirements.
• Anti-Dumping Duties: Starting from October 15, 2022, Vietnam has imposed temporary anti-dumping duties on certain furniture products (including tables and chairs) originating from China. Specifically, chairs are subject to a 21.4% customs duty for a period of four months. The relevant HS codes include 9401.30, 9401.40.00, 9401.61.00, 9401.69.90, 9401.71.00, 9401.79.90, 9401.80.00, 9401.90.40, 9401.90.92, and 9401.90.99. However, chair products that meet specific conditions are exempt from these temporary anti-dumping duties. These conditions include being made entirely of plastic materials, having all or at least one major part made of rattan, wicker, bamboo, or similar materials, or having a seat height from the ground to the top of the seat that is less than or equal to 420mm and greater than or equal to 600mm.

VAT Section

In addition to customs duties, goods imported into Vietnam are generally subject to import VAT, with rates typically at 5% or 10%. The basis for calculating VAT is the dutiable value of the goods, which includes the customs duties. This means that when calculating the total tax burden for importing office chairs, in addition to considering customs duties, VAT must also be included in the calculation.

Summary: When importing office chairs into Vietnam, importers need to carefully understand and comply with Vietnam's tax policies, including specific regulations on customs duties and VAT. At the same time, importers should also pay attention to dynamic changes in Vietnam's tax policies to adjust their import strategies in a timely manner and reduce tax costs.