Long An Customs put more efforts to collect revenue in difficult times

Customs officer of Ben Luc Branch, Long An Customs Department instructed import-export procedures for enterprise. Photo: T.D

Challenges from reduced revenue

Long An Customs Department said that by the end of March 2023, there were 1,492 enterprises carrying out customs procedures for import and export goods at affiliated customs branches, an increase of 3.2% over the same period last year. In particular, FDI enterprises accounted for 41% while domestic enterprises accounted for 59%, an increase of 4% over the same period last year.

However, the accumulated import-export turnover reached US$3.79 billion, dropping 6%. In particular, the export turnover reached US$2,357 million, a decrease of 7% while the import turnover reached US$1,433 million, a decline of 5% compared to the same period in 2022. This resulted in a decrease of revenue collection of Long An Customs Department in the first quarter of 2023 which only reach VND1,001.5 billion, equivalent to 20.63% of the assigned target, reducing by 14.2% over the same period last year.

Evaluating the causes of the decrease in revenue, Long An Customs Department said that revenues from on-spot import and export goods decreased sharply compared to the same period in 2022, because there was no additional tax payment for the cases of on-spot import and export following the instructions in Official Letter No. 5529/TCHQ-TXNK dated November 24, 2021, on handling problems at Decree No. 18/2021/ND-CP.

In addition, the majority of enterprises operating in the area are processing enterprises, export production and export processing enterprises, goods are subjected to tax exemption, or they only incur import and export tax on machinery and spare parts so the revenue is not high.

Revenues from current businesses are VND270.54 billion, increasing 53% over the same period last year due to imports of LPG and asphalt (VND53.04 billion), non-ferrous metals (VND137.6 billion), and palm oil (VND56 billion). However, the income from this group of businesses is not stable.

Support and facilitate businesses

According to the leader of Long An Customs Department, the completion rate of the unit in performing revenue collection is lower than the industry's rate which is 1.5%.

In 2023, Long An Customs Department was assigned a collection target of VND 5,000 billion, an increase of 6% compared to the assigned target in 2022, and an increase of 4% compared to the actual revenue in 2022. This is a very difficult task for the unit when facing the situation of unpredictable fluctuations of domestic and international economies, high inflation, and the war between Russia and Ukraine has not ended.

Anticipating difficulties, Long An Customs Department has closely followed the key work programs and plans of the General Department of Vietnam Customs in 2023, actively developed plans and proposed solutions to carry out key tasks on state revenue collection, as well as implementing administrative reform and customs modernization solutions, focusing on facilitating import and export goods.

The work of supporting, removing difficulties, and facilitating import-export activities of enterprises continues to be maintained in many forms such as phone, email, and zalo.

Recently, Duc Hoa Customs Branch held an online business dialogue in the first quarter of 2023 with the participation of 40 businesses. According to Deputy Manager of Duc Hoa Customs Branch Nguyen Quoc Hung, this is the first time that an online business dialogue is held at the branch. Through the dialogue, Duc Hoa Customs Branch updated and guided many of the latest contents and policies to businesses, and listened to feedback, difficulties as well as aspirations of enterprises so that the Customs authorities can understand and improve in supporting enterprises to carry out import and export business activities.

In parallel with supporting businesses, Long An Customs Department determined that it was necessary to continue to effectively implement the state management of customs on the border for import-export activities, trade promotion, entry and exit, coordinate with competent forces in combating smuggling, trade fraud, illegally transporting goods across borders, and ensuring border security.

To promote import-export activities and facilitate border economic development in association with ensuring national defense and security in Long An province by 2030, with an orientation to 2050, Long An Customs Department also proposed to upgrade and expand traffic routes connecting from ports, warehouses, yards, industrial clusters, export processing zones to the border gate area.

Urgently upgrade and expand Highway 62 or invest and build a new route for replacement, connecting from Highway 1 to Binh Hiep international border gate to shorten the time and increase traffic to facilitate the transportation of import and export goods, transit through the border gate as well as the implementation of the Road Transport Agreement between Vietnam and Cambodia for the Binh Hiep-Pray Vor international border gate.

At the same time, investing and developing warehousing, yard, transportation, packing, loading and unloading services, supporting in carrying out administrative procedures; providing other support services to develop the border economic zone, commensurate with the facilities in the neighboring country that have been invested.