The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee wrapped up its 32nd session in Hanoi on March 13 under the chair of NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. 

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan speaks at the session

Speaking at the closing session, Chairwoman Ngan asked the Government, permanent members of the NA Ethnic Council and committees, the State Audit Office of Vietnam, and other relevant agencies to collect feedback to refine five draft laws and one draft resolution for submission to the NA Standing Committee at its session in April 2019, as well as to complete four draft resolutions for signing. 

She said the upcoming session from April 10-19 will discuss a number of contents and as such the collection of feedback on several draft laws is very urgent. 

In the afternoon of the same day, the NA Standing Committee gave opinions on the draft resolution on the settlement of tax arrears and fine payments. 

In accordance with the Law on Tax Management and documents on amendments and supplements to it, the Ministry of Finance set up units in charge of tax arrears management and coercion from the central to local levels. 

The collection of tax arrears has increased over the years, reaching 81 percent of the total from 2011-2017. The ratio of debt to domestic state revenue fell from 12.2 percent in 2014 to 7.6 percent in 2017, and down to 7 percent in 2018. 

As of December 31, 2017, total tax arrears topped 78.47 trillion VND (3.4 billion USD), down 2.8 percent from the previous year. 

Lawmakers shared the view that the removal of tax and fine debts need to be taken in a cautious and serious manner in line with the law. 

They agreed that after the amended Law on Tax Management was adopted by the NA’s seventh session, the Government should collect opinions during the 32nd session to refine the draft resolution to submit to the legislature at its eighth session. 

The NA Standing Committee also adopted a resolution regulating the military ranks of lieutenant general and major general, which have yet to be set specifically in the 2018 Law on People’s Public Security Forces.–VNA