The decision on tax arrears collection had been endorsed by the State Audit of Viet Nam. — Photo seatimes.com

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — The Ministry of Finance will not change its decision to collect tax arrears amounting to VND400 billion (US$19 million) from eight petroleum importers.

Minister Dinh Tien Dung said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had approved the decision.

Dung added that the decision had also been endorsed by the State Audit of Viet Nam, which said that the enterprises had to make customs declarations and pay tax when they changed from working with imports and re-exports to servicing domestic consumption temporarily.

Last year, the General Department of Customs sent tax arrears collection notices to the Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) amounting to VND170 billion; PetroVietnam Oil (PV Oil) of VND66 billion; Dong Thap Petroleum Trading Company (Petimex) of VND56.5 billion; Nam Viet Oil Refinery and Petrochemicals JSC (Nam Viet Oil) of VND26 billion; the Military Petroleum Corporation (MIPECO) of VND19.7 billion; and the Hai Ha Road Transport Company of VND650 million.

However, all these firms did not agree with the claims.

Phan The Rue, chairman of the Viet Nam Petroleum Association (Vinpa), had told the Tien Phong newspaper that the arrears collection had not followed the law and damaged the economic status and prestige of the traders.

Rue said the association had sent documents to the Government Office, the Finance Ministry and the relevant agencies several times. However, the ministry insisted that the move to collect arrears was in accordance with the law and regulations. — VNS