Tax and customs revamp urged to reduce red tape

The VCCI found that more than 70 per cent of the 1,500 enterprises surveyed in 2013 complained that customs clearance was too slow, said Hoang Quang Phong, head of the VCCI's Membership and Training Division.— Photo baohaiquan

HA NOI (Biz Hub)— Enterprises had asked customs and taxation departments to simplify procedures, according to an official from the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

He was speaking at a meeting with enterprises on administrative procedures and tax and customs policies held in Ha Noi on Wednesday.

Phong said 69 per cent of those enterprises had to wait for over 30 minutes for feedback on declarations, and needed help to complete simple customs procedures. The customs department has been targeted with a time of less than 30 minutes.

The enterprises said one of reasons for the slow customs clearance was that there were often errors on the e-customs system.

They also complained that there were often overlapping regulations that cost them time and money.

Phong said most enterprises agreed that customs and taxation offices had simplified some administrative procedures, but a deadline was needed to speed them up with a clear legal framework to facilitate global economic integration.

The State should set preferential tax policies for enterprises with an annual revenue of under VND20 billion (US$943,300) to help small enterprises.

The customs office should apply IT to clear goods and save time and money.

The enterprises said the two offices should offer support for small and medium sized enterprises, and train them on customs and tax policies and regulations.

They asked the Ministry of Finance to set uniform standards across the board for customs and tax procedures. They also asked the finance ministry to increase the efficiency of the customs and tax hotline.

Deputy Finance Minister Do Hoang Anh Tuan agreed with the survey, and said that the customs and taxation sectors had created favourable conditions for enterprises to solve administrative procedures.

The two sectors would continue to review procedures and make adjustments where necessary, Tuan said. — VNS