HCM City wants tax and customs agencies to strengthen the fight against tax evasion, smuggling and trade fraud.

Speaking at a meeting on Monday on the city’s revenues in January, Tran Vinh Tuyen, deputy chairman of the People’s Committee, also called on the two agencies and the financial sector to provide more support to household businesses and create favourable conditions for them to turn into companies.

Tran Ngoc Tam, head of the city taxation department, said as of February 6 taxes and fees of VND34.26 trillion (US$1.5 billion) had been collected, an increase of 13.3 per cent year-on-year and 9.8 per cent of the full year’s target.

Revenues from domestic sources – as opposed to tariffs on foreign trade -- topped VND25.8 trillion ($1.14 billion), a year-on-year increase of 13.29 per cent. Corporate income tax contributed VND8 trillion, an increase of VND1 trillion.

Tuyen said domestic revenues are important and represent the health of businesses and the economy since it is the result of production and trading activities.

Relevant authorities must therefore focus on supporting businesses and making life easier for them, enabling them to contribute to the city’s coffers, he said.

Tax agencies need to co-operate with the city Department of Planning and Investment to help large household businesses make tax declarations, register labour and others to enable them to grow into companies, he said.

He ordered tax authorities not to carry out inspections of enterprises during the peak year-end season.

Nguyen Huu Nghiep, deputy head of the city customs department, said VND7.46 trillion worth of import and export tariffs had been collected by February 6, an increase of nearly 3 per cent.

This year customs would focus on supporting importers and cracking down on trade fraud and smuggling.

“Customs will this year co-operate with enterprises to exchange information about trade fraud while striving to create the best conditions for businesses.”

With the city getting tough on price-related fraud and stepping up inspections, many businesses have begun to import goods through ports in neighbouring provinces, he said.

Therefore, all localities should join hands in fighting trade-related frauds, he said.

The city People’s Council has passed a resolution on a fiscal plan for this year.

The city targets tax and fee collections of VND347.88 trillion this year, up 15.8 per cent from last year.

Of them, domestic revenues will account for nearly VND226.48 trillion, import-export tariffs for VND109 trillion and crude oil sales for VND12.4 trillion. — VNS