Can Tho Customs officers inspect imported and exported goods. Photo: D.N

Coordination in performance in Mekong Delta region

As a member of the Special Working Group to remove difficulties for businesses and people hit by the Covid-19 pandemic in ​​Can Tho city, Can Tho Customs Department has actively coordinated with Customs Departments of Kien Giang, An Giang and Ca Mau provinces to approve some contents to support businesses in the Mekong Delta region such as proposing leaders of Can Tho city create favorable conditions for travel between provinces; establishing a communication channel as a contact point between departments to solve difficulties for enterprises engaging in import-export activities; exchanging information in the fight against smuggling and trade fraud.

In addition to actively coordinating with other Customs Departments, Can Tho Customs Department has also strengthened information exchange between Customs and other relevant state agencies in handling administrative procedures on the National Single Window; sent, received and returned the results of administrative procedures and answered questions of businesses, organizations and individuals carrying out administrative procedures and specialized inspections on the National Single Window Portal; promoted coordination with the State Treasury, Tax authorities and commercial banks in the province and encouraged taxpayers to participate in electronic tax payment and customs clearance 24/7 to promote administrative reform, contributing to shortening the time of customs clearance and release of goods.

So far, Can Tho Customs Department has paid more than VND2,980 billion to the state budget, reaching nearly 90% of the assigned estimate.

Proactively solving problems for businesses

According to Can Tho Customs Department, the unit will continue to offer solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles for organizations and individuals during customs procedures transparently and objectively in accordance with the law. The customs formalities and submission method will be simplified.

Currently, the pandemic has shown signs of worsening again in some provinces, businesses in isolation and locked down areas will face many difficulties in submitting paper documents. To assist businesses in solving this issue, when the declarant applies for extending submission of paper documents, the customs branches will continue to guide the declarant on the criteria and time limit for submission of paper copies to the customs agency.

In addition, the working groups to support and solve problems on customs procedures for import and export goods under Can Tho Customs Department and affiliated Customs branches have been operating 24 hours a day to receive and promptly remove difficulties and problems for businesses.

The branches have created Zalo groups to guide and support customs declarants and taxpayers to remove difficulties and problems and publish new regulations on customs procedures and tax policies before and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

From early in the year, Can Tho Customs Department has also arranged over 730 officers to work on Saturdays, handling nearly 10,000 declarations with import-export turnover of over US$500 million for more than 1,600 businesses.

In particular, many enterprises have committed violations on customs declaration, submission of specialized inspection results. Following the direction of the General Department of Customs and the pandemic situation, to support businesses, Can Tho Customs Department has issued many decisions on not sanctioning administrative violations in many cases, contributing to sharing difficulties with businesses.