Staffs at the HCM City's Tax Department give consultancy to tax payers. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoang Hai

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — Tax authorities in HCM City clarified many issues related to taxation like policies and procedures for refunds and dissolution at a meeting they held with the business community on Thursday.

Gunze Viet Nam Limited company wanted to know if a VND200,000 (US$9.3) per month allowance paid to women workers for putting children aged three to six months in kindergartens was tax-deductible.

The tax authorities assured that it was tax-deductible as long as the total payment in a year did not exceed one month's salary.

Others asked about value-added tax refunds.

Hai Dang Telecommunications and Electronics Limited Company said it had exported some products that were returned due to technical issues and wanted to know the procedure for getting back the invoice since value-added tax was involved.

Some firms questioned the need for obtaining the buyer's signature in the receipt, with Cao Tran and Phu Ngan companies saying since they delivered goods through transport companies or the postal system it was difficult for them to get the buyer's signature on all three copies of the bill.

Tran Thi Le Nga, deputy head of the city tax department, said, "Customers only need to sign one copy."

Nga admitted that some companies had wound up their operations several years ago, but her agency was yet to complete the procedures required for them to officially close.

She apologised for the delay saying it was caused by the shortage of human resources.

The city Taxation Department would work with all sub-departments to review all cases and resolve them as quickly as possible, she promised.

This year certain fisheries products have been provided tax breaks, and businesses must understand them properly, she said.

If any of them had already made out value-added tax invoices, they should make a report to get refunds, she added. — VNS