The e-invoices have been used mostly in the payment of TV cable and internet services. (Photo: thesaigontimes.vn) Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Finance is drafting regulations one-bills and will ask the Government to set a deadline of July 2018 forbusinesses to switch over from paper. But local businesses say they don’t havethe information technology resources to meet the proposed deadline.
Their concerns were heard at an online discussion on e-invoices held onTuesday. The Government is seeking to promote e-invoices because statisticsfrom the General Department of Taxation showed that while paper invoices cost atotal of 4 trillion VND (177.8 million USD) a year, universal e-invoice usewould cost only 1 trillion VND. E-invoices also make it more difficult forbusinesses to evade taxes while ensuring they receive all the tax refunds towhich they are entitled.
“The application of e-invoices could create transparency for all transactions.When the use of e-invoice becomes popular, transactions of even less than 200,000VND will result in a tax refund. This could bring big profits to companies,”said Dau Anh Tuan, head of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s LegalDepartment.
The number of businesses using e-invoices has increased steadily. By the end ofJune, there were some 2,700 firms using 300 million e-invoices, up from 800firms at the end of last year. Nearly 2,400 businesses used e-invoices verifiedby tax agencies in the pilot implementation of the General Department of Taxationin 2014.
However, Tuan expressed doubts about the implementation timeline proposed, asthe department has received many complaints from firms about the short amountof time they would have to replace paper bills.
He said many small and micro companies are particularly worried about meetingthe implementation deadline.
Firms have also wondered about the invoice form and agencies issuing theinvoices.
Nguyen Dai Tri, deputy director of the General Department of Taxation (GDT),said the e-invoices could be completed in three forms, similar to the currentsituation with paper invoice. Firms could issue their own invoices, useintermediaries or verified invoices from tax departments.
Big groups such as VNPT and EVN could build their own e-invoices whilesmall-and-medium sized firms could use services from intermediate agencies suchas BKAV and Viettel.
E-invoices would bring conveniences for both tax agencies and tax payers. Theycould help businesses save time and money, and better manage their invoices.Tax agencies would have a database for inspections and discovering fraudactivities in issuing invoices.
“However, any change or reform could have affects to the society and firms. Itwas the reason that the Government should have a careful roadmap. Businessesusing paper invoices could gradually shift into e-invoices,” he said, addingthat management agencies would try not to harm production and businesses.
He said that the tax industry would continue to use paper invoices in parallelwith e-invoices. With the strong development of IT, most businesses have beenready for online transactions. The use of e-invoices therefore would not be toodifficult for firms.
Tri added that the GDT proposed to MoF that the deadline for the shift frompaper invoices to e-invoices be done even in July 2019.
He said the GDT has implemented electronic tax activities includingregistration, payment, declaration and refund in the past few years. It hasalso given priority to issues of infrastructure and equipment for the taxpayment.
He called for active cooperation among agencies to ensure success of thee-invoicing.-VNA
Their concerns were heard at an online discussion on e-invoices held onTuesday. The Government is seeking to promote e-invoices because statisticsfrom the General Department of Taxation showed that while paper invoices cost atotal of 4 trillion VND (177.8 million USD) a year, universal e-invoice usewould cost only 1 trillion VND. E-invoices also make it more difficult forbusinesses to evade taxes while ensuring they receive all the tax refunds towhich they are entitled.
“The application of e-invoices could create transparency for all transactions.When the use of e-invoice becomes popular, transactions of even less than 200,000VND will result in a tax refund. This could bring big profits to companies,”said Dau Anh Tuan, head of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s LegalDepartment.
The number of businesses using e-invoices has increased steadily. By the end ofJune, there were some 2,700 firms using 300 million e-invoices, up from 800firms at the end of last year. Nearly 2,400 businesses used e-invoices verifiedby tax agencies in the pilot implementation of the General Department of Taxationin 2014.
However, Tuan expressed doubts about the implementation timeline proposed, asthe department has received many complaints from firms about the short amountof time they would have to replace paper bills.
He said many small and micro companies are particularly worried about meetingthe implementation deadline.
Firms have also wondered about the invoice form and agencies issuing theinvoices.
Nguyen Dai Tri, deputy director of the General Department of Taxation (GDT),said the e-invoices could be completed in three forms, similar to the currentsituation with paper invoice. Firms could issue their own invoices, useintermediaries or verified invoices from tax departments.
Big groups such as VNPT and EVN could build their own e-invoices whilesmall-and-medium sized firms could use services from intermediate agencies suchas BKAV and Viettel.
E-invoices would bring conveniences for both tax agencies and tax payers. Theycould help businesses save time and money, and better manage their invoices.Tax agencies would have a database for inspections and discovering fraudactivities in issuing invoices.
“However, any change or reform could have affects to the society and firms. Itwas the reason that the Government should have a careful roadmap. Businessesusing paper invoices could gradually shift into e-invoices,” he said, addingthat management agencies would try not to harm production and businesses.
He said that the tax industry would continue to use paper invoices in parallelwith e-invoices. With the strong development of IT, most businesses have beenready for online transactions. The use of e-invoices therefore would not be toodifficult for firms.
Tri added that the GDT proposed to MoF that the deadline for the shift frompaper invoices to e-invoices be done even in July 2019.
He said the GDT has implemented electronic tax activities includingregistration, payment, declaration and refund in the past few years. It hasalso given priority to issues of infrastructure and equipment for the taxpayment.
He called for active cooperation among agencies to ensure success of thee-invoicing.-VNA
VNA
