It is necessary to develop separate software for Program of Enterprises complying with Customs Law

	Practical experience gained from supporting enterprises in customs law compliance
	Ho Chi Minh City Customs focuses on developing partnerships with businesses
	Heading toward the official implementation of the Voluntary Compliance Program

Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department Do Thanh Quang (right) shared and encouraged Tam Son International Co., Ltd. to participate in the Program. Photo: L.T

Sir, Ho Chi Minh City Customs is one of the pioneer units to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to implement the Program with businesses, what are the results so far?

As a pioneer in signing a Memorandum of Understanding to implement the Program with businesses from September 2022, after 4 rounds of evaluation implementation, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department currently has 17 businesses participating in. The program has achieved remarkable results, helping to facilitate trade and reduce costs for businesses through improving the level of legal compliance of businesses and reducing the rate of physical inspection of imported and exported goods. In particular, many businesses have increased their compliance level after participating in the Program.

Specifically, 4/17 businesses increased their compliance level (about 23.5%) and 11 businesses kept their compliance level at a high level (about 64.7%). With the companionship and support of the Customs agency, the rate of document inspection and goods inspection has improved significantly, helping member businesses save costs and reduce customs clearance time. For import declaration channeling, the rate of Green channel increased by 6.16%, Yellow channel decreased by 5.61%, Red channel decreased by 0.55%. The situation of the rate of Green channel in exports increased by 14.42%, Yellow channel decreased by 13.73%, Red channel decreased by 0.69%.

Having achieved the above results, what solutions has the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department implemented to support businesses participating in the Program, sir?

It can be said that to achieve the above results, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has proactively developed action plans, sent to participating businesses and periodically notified the situation of customs law violations. Customs and make recommendations affecting the compliance level of businesses to improve compliance efficiency of businesses. At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department has deployed propaganda through many forms to encourage and mobilize participating businesses.

In addition, the unit also confirms membership status on the VNACCS/VCIS System, Risk Management Information System (CRMS) and sends a list of participating businesses to all under and directly under the Department to support and create favorable conditions for businesses and improve support for member businesses. The units also arrange separate hotline numbers to promptly answer questions about customs procedures within 24 hours of receiving requests and requests for support from member enterprises.

At the Sub-departments, the unit arranges priority doors and signposts to check documents, and simultaneously assigns qualified civil servants to check documents and goods of businesses participating in the Program; The units are directed by their leaders to coordinate with port warehouse businesses to arrange separate areas for member businesses to conveniently receive goods. In particular, arrange and assign leaders of Sub-departments and civil servants to monitor and urge implementation of the requests of focal units on supporting member businesses.

Enterprises' customs declarations are assigned to highly qualified civil servants to check documents and physically inspect goods to best support businesses; create conditions for quick customs clearance of goods. If a case arises, the Sub-departments are also very proactive in suggesting ways to promptly handle the business or reporting to superiors for cases beyond their authority.

As the person directing the implementation of the Program, how do you evaluate this Program?

With the results achieved, the Program received a lot of positive feedback from the business community when enjoying benefits in reducing inspection rates, supporting convenient customs procedures, and proactively preventing violations during import and export activities.

In addition, businesses all realize that participating in the Program turns the partnership between Customs authorities and businesses into a trusted partner, businesses constantly spread the benefits of the Program to partners and other import-export businesses. At the same time, it also helps businesses manage and control their import-export activities and proactively prevent violations. This is a prerequisite to improve the level of legal compliance of businesses.

Although a separate area has not been arranged as required by the Program, businesses that encounter problems and need support are given priority support by the Customs agency. That is also one of the Program's facilitating policies.

How will the Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department expand the Program after the pilot implementation period, sir?

The Customs sector sets a requirement that after 2 years of implementation, 100% of businesses participating in the Program will not be handled for violations of customs law, and will be assessed for compliance with the law at level 2 ( high compliance), level 3 (medium compliance); After 5 years of implementing the Program, through support activities and voluntary compliance of businesses, strive to increase the rate of businesses complying with levels 2 and 3 to over 20% of the total number of businesses operating export and import.

To achieve the above goal, it is necessary to apply information technology in management to reform and modernize working methods. Accordingly, it is necessary to research and develop a separate software for the Program to interact between Customs and businesses, creating conditions that allow member businesses to independently look up information being provided by the Customs agency quarterly at the periodic announcement of information about the company's operating situation such as: Number of declarations, types, turnover, level and reason why the enterprise is classified as being in the current level of compliance, etc. This not only helps businesses promptly control and limit risks within the business, but also proactively adjust and overcome errors and violations through periodic notification to businesses.

Thank you Sir!