Customs office at the Hữu Nghị border gate in Lạng Sơn Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Enterprises propose the Ministry of Finance consider extending the duration of application of the preferential tax, fee and charge policies until the end of 2024.

Phạm Tấn Công, chairman of the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), expressed this opinion at a conference on tax and customs policies and administrative procedures in 2023 held by the Ministry of Finance and VCCI in Hà Nội on Wednesday.

Besides that, the enterprises also had a number of other proposals on reviewing and ensuring fairness in the application of tax policies for businesses of all economic sectors, and regular inspections in different forms causing difficulties for businesses.

They also asked the Government to consider supportive measures in solving new tax refund procedures and connection mechanisms between the tax - customs sector and other administrative agencies, and to strengthen non-tariff measures.

Also at the conference, Công highly appreciated the determination and reform efforts of the Ministry of Finance as well as the taxation and customs sectors in accompanying and supporting enterprises to maintain and restore production and business activities during the difficult economic situation.

They have promoted the simplification of administrative procedures and effective control of processes, helping enterprises reduce costs and fulfil their tax obligations, he said.

However, according to the VCCI leader, regarding tax, many enterprises have still reported many problems with value-added tax refund procedures, electronic invoices, and local tax payment regulations.

For the customs field, many enterprises have mentioned problems about the time it takes to process electronic procedures, the issuance of import licences for precursor chemicals, the refund of import and export taxes, and the value-added tax refund mechanism for processing and export enterprises. They also have proposals to shorten the import tax refund time, Công said.

Nguyễn Thị Cúc, chairwoman of the Việt Nam Tax Consultants Association, said that the implementation of electronic invoices and declaration via a portal are the two most prominent points of tax and customs reform.

But these two changes still have many problems. They include problems of determining the responsibility of enterprises when buying input invoices and issuing invoices by retail firms.

Deputy Minister of Finance Cao Anh Tuấn said that in the coming time, besides positive and favourable factors, it is forecasted that there will still be many difficulties and challenges from the world economy, affecting the recovery and development of the domestic economy.

Therefore, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) will continue to closely monitor the actual situation, and then it will propose appropriate solutions to reduce fees and charges, and consider reducing environmental protection taxes on gasoline.

Along with that, under the Tax System Reform Strategy until 2030, the ministry continues to study and advise on the assessment, review, amendment and supplementation for the Law on Tax to complete the tax policy system in accordance with international practice.

Đặng Ngọc Minh, deputy head of MoF's General Department of Taxation, said his department will continue to implement many measures to speed up and reform tax refund procedures, creating convenience for people and businesses.

Hoàng Việt Cường, deputy head of MoF's General Department of Customs, said to facilitate the commercial activities of enterprises, from the beginning of 2023, his department has submitted proposals to the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies to promulgate regulations to perfect customs institutions.

In addition, customs authorities continue to effectively deploy the automatic customs management system at ports, warehouses and yards. That contributes to simplifying procedures, reducing contact between customs authorities and enterprises, cutting travel time, and overcoming congestion at port gates, warehouses and yards.

According to MoF Deputy Minister Tuấn, in the context of unfavourable developments in the world market affecting all fields in Việt Nam, the ministry has proposed solutions on extension, exemption, and reduction of taxes, fees, charges, and land rent, worth about VNĐ196 trillion in 2023, to support businesses and people.

In addition, the finance ministry, including the tax and customs sectors, has continued the implementation of many solutions on reforming administrative procedures and modernising the tax and customs sectors to create favourable conditions for businesses.

Therefore, Tuấn said, as of December 12, total State budget revenue reached about VNĐ1.6 trillion, equal to 97.65 per cent of the budget estimate. — VNS