The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden, managed by the Saigon Zoo Company, faces a tax debt exceeding VND 800 billion ($33 million) and risks closure due to impending tax enforcement measures.
Foreign visitors explore the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden. (Photo by Nguyen Hue)
The District 1 Tax Department, under the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department, has announced that as of October 31, the company owes over VND 846 billion in taxes. This includes over VND 787 billion in overdue taxes subject to enforcement.
According to Ms. Vu Thi Huong Giang, Director of the Saigon Zoo Company, the organization operates on a non-profit basis. Its primary mission is to manage and care for a diverse collection of over 4,000 animals and plants, many of which are rare and endangered species.
The tax debt stems from a 2014 decision by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, which granted the company a 50-year lease on 158,117 square meters of land at an annual rental rate of VND 163.3 billion.
However, the company only actively uses approximately 5,600 square meters of the leased land, while the remaining area is designated for conservation purposes.
A scenic corner of the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden. (Photo by Nguyen Hue)
Ms. Giang emphasized that enforcing the tax debt would significantly impact funding for animal care and conservation activities, potentially leading to the zoo's closure.
A representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department confirmed that discussions have taken place among city officials and relevant parties to address the tax dispute.
"Clarification of the land lease terms will require reviewing the lease agreement. The District 1 Tax Department is responsible for overseeing the company's tax obligations," the official stated.
Vietnamnet.vn
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