Before the D‑day to abolish flat‑rate tax: Fear of technology and costs leave small traders struggling to adapt

DNHN - From 1 January 2026 the flat‑rate tax regime will be abolished. Small business households will be required to declare tax based on actual revenue. MISA supports the transition with technology to help micro‑merchants adapt smoothly and transparently.

However, ahead of the D‑day to end the flat‑rate tax, fear of technology and cost is causing many small business households to struggle with the transformation.

Business & Integration Magazine spoke with Mr Lê Hồng Quang, CEO of MISA Group, who is leading the campaign “60 Days & Nights – No One Left Behind”. From his vantage as a specialist, having worked closely with small business households since the campaign’s inception, Mr Quang shares the deep‑seated concerns of these business owners and how MISA addresses their fears with a human‑centred digital‑transformation approach ahead of the transition moment.

Reporter: Mr Quang, what is the biggest “pain point” for small business households at this moment of transition?

CEO Lê Hồng Quang: I have travelled many places from Đồng Xuân Market, Bến Thành to the small alleys in Da Năng, Hải Phòng… and heard again and again the same thing: “I’m afraid I won’t do it correctly, I’m afraid I’ll make a mistake and get fined.” That fear is not just of tax, but of being outdated, of penalties, of technology, of cost. Many have thought that tax declaration is something “only accountants can do”. But I believe that if you have the right tool and the right guidance, anyone can declare just as they know how to sell their goods. The most important thing is to ensure that technology speaks the language of small traders, rather than forcing them to understand the language of technology or complex accounting.

Reporter: “Fear of technology” is perhaps the largest barrier. How does MISA get them to dare to engage with software?

CEO Lê Hồng Quang: Many small business households have told us they fear technology, fear pressing the wrong button and making a mistake. Therefore, the first thing MISA does is not to teach them software; it’s to bring the technology as close to them as possible. Our principle is simple: “Sell what you sell – record what you record.”

When the seller uses it just like their usual work, the software handles the rest: when they sell goods, the system automatically records revenue. When goods are received, they merely take a photo of the invoice, the software reads and records the amount and tax rate. When it is time to declare, the app sends a notice three days ahead, together with a one‑minute video tutorial so the user can easily perform the steps.

More importantly, we go to the market. MISA’s dynamic young teams travel across all 34 provinces and stand right at the stalls to provide hands‑on guidance. I still remember a woman vendor at Nghĩa Tân Market saying with a bright smile: “I thought it would be complicated, but who knew – I pressed three buttons and the tax amount came out.” That is the moment in which technology becomes friendly, and people feel empowered, the fear seems to vanish.

Before the D‑day to abolish flat‑rate tax: Fear of technology and costs leave small traders struggling to adapt

Reporter: You once said MISA is not just about technology, but a “human‑centred digital transformation”. Could you explain further?

CEO Lê Hồng Quang: “Human‑centred” means that technology must truly serve people, not the other way around. Many say digital transformation is a game for large enterprises, but I believe it is an equal‑opportunity chance for everyone. A micro‑trader who has books, has data, has transparency – that is the foundation for them to access credit, partner with enterprises, and be respected in the value chain. When we introduce AI into the software, our goal is not “automation for modernity” but to help someone who doesn’t know accounting still declare correctly under the law. Digital transformation is only truly successful when people feel reassured and empowered, when someone who knows nothing is still guided easily through the change with technology. Then they see digital transformation is no longer something to fear, the change serves their work more easily, more effectively.

Reporter: If you could send a message to the millions of small business households who still feel hesitant and are struggling, what would you say?

CEO Lê Hồng Quang: I just want to say: Don’t be afraid to start.

No one is born knowing how to declare tax, but anyone can learn, provided someone shows them correctly. MISA and our teams are everywhere, from big cities to small alleys, to help each small business household confidently move through this phase. We not only provide software but provide peace of mind. “Free but transparent – simple but lawful, accompanying you all the way.” That is MISA’s commitment in the journey “60 Days & Nights – No One Left Behind.”

Reported by: Dr. Nguyễn Thúy Lan

Vietnamese version: https://doanhnghiephoinhap.vn/truoc-gio-g-bo-thue-khoan-noi-so-cong-nghe-va-chi-phi-khien-ho-kinh-doanh-loay-hoay-chuyen-doi-120298.html