TAX AND CUSTOMS MONITORING EXPANDED TO 13 PROVINCES AND CITIES IN 2016

Mr Nguyen Thien Nhan, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, said that tax and customs sectors have made progress in administrative reform, but stronger reforms are needed to overcome shortcomings in 2016. In 2016, 13 provinces and cities will assess business satisfaction to draw experience for financial and customs services, thus laying a stepping stone to draw an overview and reward well performing units - a step to bring Vietnam to the group of fours in ASEAN in administrative procedure reform, particularly in the tax and customs fields.
 
The monitoring programme has promoted active roles of VFF members, empowered companies, and created useful channels to bridge State agencies and businesses. In 2015, VCCI collaborated with its members to conduct a sociological survey into business associations and cooperative allies in order to collect opinions of the business community and cooperatives on the implementation of Resolution 19/NQ-CP, and received feedback from 153 associations, 27 cooperative associations and 59 out of 63 provinces and cities.
 
Besides, it organised a practical monitoring programme in six provinces and cities, including Hanoi, Lao Cai, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Ho Chi Minh City and An Giang to work with six tax and customs departments, conducted surveys with 14 companies, and organised three online dialogues with over 100 representatives from associations, cooperatives and businesses. From monitoring results, the VFF Standing Committee and VCCI coordinated with their members to make reports on monitoring results and offer recommendations for the business community.
 
In 2016, the monitoring programme will focus on reflecting administrative reforms in tax and customs by collecting reviews of businesses, cooperatives, business associations and cooperative alliances; and collect recommendations and difficulties that businesses and cooperatives have in complying with State regulations in tax and customs. Accordingly, these agencies continue to supervise administrative reform relating to simplification and facilitation of administrative procedures in order to reduce compliance time and cost for businesses; review and assess legal provisions and administrative procedures concerning tax and customs, like the implementation of electronic tax and customs declaration procedures.
 
Deputy Finance Minister Vu Thi Mai said that the coordinated monitoring programme in tax and customs fields is an important content for the Ministry of Finance. Monitoring results will be the most accurate and important measure and assessment on reforms that the Ministry of Finance has achieved in recent years, reflecting shortcomings and limitations to be addressed in the near future.
 
Accordingly, in 2016, the monitoring programme will be deployed in 13 provinces and cities from July to October 2016, including Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Vinh Phuc, Quang Ngai, Quang Ninh, Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Can Tho and Bac Ninh. Central authorities will implement the process in Hanoi, Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City, while local authorities will conduct it in 10 other provinces and cities.

Source: VCCI