VietNamNet Bridge – Preferential tax policies will help enterprises restore production rates, Bui Van Nam, the department's director general, tells Hai Quan Cuoi Tuan (Customs Weekend).

What has the General Department of Taxation done to help enterprises to implement the 2014 Tax Law?

Our department has stated that new amendments to the tax law cover a wide range of things. There have been many changes and amendments to corporate income taxes, personal income taxes and value added taxes.

Right from early December, the General Department of Taxation adopted a plan to implement the tax amendments to all tax departments in 63 cities and provinces. A steering committee was created to oversee the implementation of the amendments at the Head Office of the General Department of Taxation. In addition, we also set up hotlines to provide information or answer questions from people or enterprises about the new tax law. Information on the tax law is also posted on our websites for people/enterprises to view, implement and monitor the implementation.

By now, the General Department of Taxation has completed several draft circulars, including a Circular on the new PIT and on the value added tax. At the same time, we have upgraded our software to respond to new changes in the law.

Hopefully, the new tax law will serve as an effective instrument for stabilising the macro economy, promoting the implementation of strategic breakthroughs in the course of economic restructuring, and achieving a high and stable economic growth rate.

What will the General Department of Taxation do to ensure high national budget collection while creating preferential tax policies and other support for enterprises?

This is a very demanding requirement for my department. As you know, a very important task the government has assigned us is to ensure optimum revenue collection from taxes and others. To achieve this objective, our department has undertaken a comprehensive reform in the tax system, including structural reform and management method.

In addition, we will continue to review existing tax documents and if it is necessary, we will make changes. For example, in 2015 we will introduce a simplified tax system and modernise the tax management system, including making tax payments electronic nationwide.

In the coming days, the General Department of Taxation will submit a circular on new approaches to tax risk management to the Ministry of Finance.

Vietnamese enterprises are still facing many difficulties. Do you think the goal of collecting 8 to 10 per cent more national revenue than the original 2015 target is feasible for your department?

The present international situation is very complicated these days, with some projecting a slow recovery for the world economy, with potential risks. This is all happening while the price of crude oil continues to plunge. Meanwhile, our economy is integrating more and more into the region and the world. There is a lot of pressure to mobilise more capital to meet requirements for national socio-economic development, as well as for national defence and security. The Government is speeding down the road to implementing tax reform, particularly tax reduction for enterprises looking restore their production. Despite all the above difficulties and challenges, the taxation sector vows to do its best to fulfill their assigned collection duties.

VNS