A representative of HCM City’s Tax Department signs a cooperation agreement with VNPay. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — HCM City’s Tax Department has announced an ambitious plan to build a fully digital, AI-driven tax ecosystem as part of a sweeping modernisation effort aimed at improving transparency, efficiency and taxpayer services.

At a ceremony on Tuesday, the department signed cooperation agreements with technology giant FPT and digital payments provider VNPay to accelerate comprehensive digital transformation in tax administration.

Speaking at the event, Đoàn Minh Dũng, head of the HCM City Tax Department, said the initiative marks a major milestone in the city’s strategy to modernise tax governance and shift toward a professional, transparent and service-oriented administration.

Under the partnership, FPT and VNPay will support the development of AI-powered tools for risk analysis, revenue forecasting and automation of internal workflows.

The collaboration will also promote non-cash tax payments and provide AI training for tax officials across all levels.

“With the technological capabilities and digital ecosystems of FPT and VNPay, we believe this cooperation will deliver long-term, practical value and help build an intelligent digital tax model aligned with HCM City’s development vision,” he said.

As the digital economy expands and the tax management scope grows, comprehensive digital transformation has become an urgent requirement, especially as the tax sector undergoes organisational streamlining, he added.

Since the city’s tax agencies were merged on July 1, 2025, the department has prioritised digitalisation to strengthen tax management, improve taxpayer services and prevent revenue loss.

The city has already achieved a historic milestone this year by completing its annual revenue target within just 10 months.

During a panel discussion held alongside the signing ceremony, tax officials and technology experts exchanged views on the use of AI in revenue forecasting, taxpayer support, automated processes, risk profiling and building digital-first user experiences.

Officials said the discussions will help shape a clear roadmap for implementation and create models that can be replicated across the national tax system.

HCM City currently manages more than 436,000 businesses and over 365,000 household businesses.

As of the end of October, the city had collected VNĐ510.2 trillion (US$20.1 billion), equivalent to 101.7 per cent of the Government’s annual target and nearly 20 per cent higher year-on-year.

After the tax agency merger, budget revenue has jumped 39 per cent from a year earlier, including a 30 per cent rise from the business sector. — VNS