HÀ NỘI — Payments of import-export taxes and fees to customs authorities must all be conducted via cashless payment methods or through credit institutions from the beginning of April, according to a requirement recently issued by the General Department of Việt Nam Customs.

The move is an effort by the customs authorities to promote cashless payment to aid in Việt Nam’s shift towards e-Government and a non-cash economy.

Under the new rule, all taxes and fees must be paid via bank transfer to the customs authorities’ account at the State Treasury.

The General Department of Customs asked provincial and municipal customs departments to co-operate with branches of commercial banks and the State Treasury to ensure convenience for firms paying customs taxes and fees.

Co-operation between banks and public agencies has improved the quality of public services, and experts have said citizens are those who benefit the most from the change.

According to Bùi Sỹ Lợi, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs, paying public service charges via banks makes management easier and ensures transparency. Cashless payments will also save time and money for the State budget.

Lợi said running the payments through banks would increase cash flow and support the economy by shortening the timeframe for capital rotation.

Cashless payments are increasing being used for public services in a number of sectors, such as utility bills, healthcare and social insurance, according to Phạm Tiến Dũng, Director of the State Bank of Việt Nam’s Payment Department.

Statistics showed that as of the end of 2018, around 50 banks were co-operating with tax and customs authorities to collect taxes online in all 63 provinces and cities. Twenty-seven were allowing online payment of electricity bills in 63 provinces, while 26 were providing the service for water bills in more than 20 provinces and cities, 11 were allowing collection of tuition, six were covering payment of healthcare services fees at six major hospitals and five were providing pensions and social welfare.

Cashless payment is a rapidly increasing trend in Việt Nam, Dũng said.

Dũng said the State Bank of Việt Nam would co-operate with the Ministry of Finance to detail the list of transactions that must be conducted via banks to improve transparency, management and the development of the non-cash economy.

The application of QR codes and mobile payments will also be sped up.

In late February, the governor of the central bank issued a decision to establish a steering committee for building e-Government for the banking sector. In early 2018, the Government approved a project on transitioning payment for public services away from cash and towards banking services.

The project targeted having 80 per cent of tax payments in cities conducted through banks and State Treasury branches. By 2020, the project plans to ensure all provinces and cities have cashless payment systems. — VNS