Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Director of the Department of Propagation and Taxpayer Service Department, General Department of Taxation, said in the context of complex development of Covid-19 pandemic, the tax sector would focus on implementing all measures to create favourable conditions for businesses to enjoy supportive policies as well as convenience in carrying out tax administrative procedures.

Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Director of the Department of Propagation and
Taxpayer Service Department, General Department of Taxation

The finance sector in general and the tax agency in particular have supported businesses to overcome difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. How have those efforts affected the production and business situation of enterprises?

The Covid-19 pandemic has seriously affected production and business activities of enterprises. However, with the support of the Government by issuing tax support policies like Decree 52/2021/ND-CP on extension of tax payment and land rent, as well as other tax support policies, fees in 2020 and 2021, it removed difficulties for the business community and taxpayers.

Many people thought the extension and tax reduction for businesses was like a "painkiller" to help businesses stay strong in the context of this fourth outbreak. Thanks to tax support, the business community had made great efforts to overcome difficulties and stabilise production and business. As long as the pandemic was controlled, the business community immediately started production, even both production and pandemic production (such as Bac Giang and Bac Ninh in the past).

With the participation of the Government and the business community, revenue collection of tax sector in the first seven months of 2021 was quite positive. This was the clearest proof of the efforts of the business community and taxpayers in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic over the past year.

Along with supporting solutions, the General Department of Taxation has reformed administrative procedures and modernised tax administration to reduce the time and cost of tax compliance for taxpayers. Can you give more specific information about tax reforms?

With the motto "Always accompanies with taxpayers", "taxpayers are the centre for reform", the tax sector is gradually reforming and modernising tax administration to create favourable conditions for taxpayers in fulfilling their tax obligations to the State.

For example, on the implementation of tax extension, the regulations on the order and procedures for extension were very simple. Taxpayers only needed to submit the Application for Extension once for all taxes and submit it online to extend the tax and land rent. To help businesses and taxpayers enjoy convenience in completing tax extension procedures, the General Department of Taxation has upgraded electronic tax applications (Etax 1.9.0, iCaNhan 3.0.4, Itaxviewer 1.7.5, Support declaration support 4.5.7) to assist taxpayers in making and submitting the application for extension of tax payment and land rent payment in 2021 via electronic methods.

In addition, the General Department of Taxation has directed to accelerate the implementation and expanded support for individual taxpayers to perform electronic services such as tax declaration, electronic tax payment for individuals renting houses; declare and pay electronic registration fees for cars and motorbikes; expanding service of online payment of financial obligations on land of households and individuals.

The Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Taxation have implemented many synchronous solutions, with the aim of creating favourable conditions for people and businesses, reducing time and costs in implementing the project and tax obligations to the State.

The pandemic is still complex in many provinces. Therefore, the Government and the Ministry of Finance are calculating new support packages. Could you please explain what additional measures is the tax sector taking and will implement to support taxpayers as soon as the new policy is issued?

The General Department of Taxation has put 479 online support channels (eTax system) into operation. Therefore, in addition to the online support sessions the tax departments are conducting, in the process of fulfilling their tax obligations, if the taxpayer has any questions, they can send them to the tax office through the online support channel. The team of tax officials would update and respond to taxpayers as soon as possible.

I also have to share that, although I have made made great efforts to simplify administrative procedures and apply information technology in tax administration, there might be difficulties in the implementation process.

The General Department of Taxation is ready to listen and received the comments and suggestions of the business community and taxpayers. For issues fall under the jurisdiction of tax departments, we would direct tax departments to receive and answer. For issues under the authority of the General Department of Taxation, we would report to the leaders of the General Department of Taxation to direct specialised units to answer. For issues beyond the authority of the General Department of Taxation, we would report to the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Government and submit to the National Assembly for amendments and supplements.