Hanoi’s tax revenue up 18 percent in first half of 2017 hinh anh 1An officer from the Hanoi Department of Taxation’s branch in Thanh Xuan District provides an online tax filing and payment consultation. (Photo: VNA)
 
Hanoi (VNA) – The capital city of Hanoi collected over 93.9 trillion VND (4.1 billion USD) in taxes during the first half of this year, completing 50.1 percent of its annual target and 18 percent higher compared with the same period in 2016, the municipal Tax Department reported on July 10.

Mai Son, deputy director of the department, said inspections were conducted of over 8,155 companies in the capital city in the first six months, equivalent to 44.8 percent of the target and up 79.6 percent year-on-year. “The inspections aim to reduce unpaid tax and force businesses to comply with tax laws, thus avoiding losses for the State budget,” Son said.

A strong focus on debt collection by Hanoi’s Tax Department right from the beginning of the year has resulted in the recovery of 6.4 trillion VND in arrears, Son said, adding that the tax department had become the country’s leading tax unit in debt collection.

Time and costs spent on completing taxation procedures have already been significantly reduced thanks to a series of measures promoting administrative reform, including the application of IT in tax management, he said.

As many as 98 percent of businesses in the city used online tax filing procedures, and 95 percent registered for e-tax payments, Son said. 

“The department’s tax collection goal set out for 2017 was estimated at 205 trillion VND, which was relatively high, up 19 percent over 2016, posing many challenges for the second half,” Son said.

In a bid to meet the target, the tax department will strengthen coordination with the municipal police to detect, prevent and promptly handle tax fraud or evasion, especially the sale or use of illegal tax invoices, he added.

Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, Nguyen Doan Toan said the municipal tax department should undertake dialogues with firms, listening to their difficulties and discussing solutions, thereby ensuring sustainable tax collection, Toan said.-VNA
VNA