Many proposals of seafood enterprises on VAT refund have been answered by the Ministry of Finance

	Seafood exports to the CPTPP market are positive
	Seafood exports to the UAE have significant potential
	VIFTA- Opportunity for Vietnamese seafood to enter the Middle East market

Seafood enterprises look for opportunities at the international seafood exhibition just held on August 23, 2023. Photo: T.H

According to information from VASEP, the Ministry of Finance has recently issued Official Letter 8606/BTC-TCT to respond to the petitions of seafood businesses which were requested through VASEP.

Accordingly, related to VASEP's recommendation on the implementation of Resolution No. 88/NQ-CP dated June 8, 2023 on VAT refund for people and businesses in accordance with the law: In May 26, 2023, the Ministry of Finance issued Official Dispatch No. 5427/BTC-VP informing the Minister's instructions to the General Director of Taxation to urgently implement and direct the Tax Departments of the provinces and central cities to "timely handle VAT refund dossiers to the right subjects and according to the provisions of law, immediately direct the units to provide instructions and refund VAT for eligible tax refund dossiers as prescribed by law; Strengthen the inspection and examination to detect the use of fake invoices and profiteering in tax refund to appropriate state budget, and strictly handle pursuant to the provisions of law”.

Following the direction of the Minister of Finance, on May 26, 2023, the General Department of Taxation issued Official Letter No. 2099/TCT-KK to the Heads of Tax Departments of the provinces and central cities on the implementation of the direction of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance on VAT refund.

Then, on June 19, 2023, the General Department of Taxation issued Official Letter No. 2489/TCT-VP to the Directors of Tax Departments of the provinces and central cities on speeding up the processing of VAT refund dossiers.

Regarding the recommendations of seafood businesses on extending the policies of exemption, reduction, extension and exemption and reduction of fees and charges until the end of 2023, the Ministry of Finance said that in order to promptly and proactively implement the socio-economic and financial-budgetary development goals of 2023, simultaneously support businesses and people, the Ministry of Finance has urgently studied and submitted to the Government to continue to extend the deadline for payment of value added tax, corporate income tax, personal income tax and land rent in 2023 according to Decree No. 12/2023/NĐ-CP dated April 14, 2023 of the Government.

Regarding VAT reduction, the Ministry of Finance has submitted to the Government for promulgation Decree No. 44/2023/ND-CP dated June 30, 2023 stipulating the VAT reduction policy under Resolution No. 101/2013/QH15 dated June 24, 2023 of the National Assembly. The Decree took effect from July 1, 2023 to the end of December 31, 2023.

Regarding the reduction of a number of fees and charges, on June 29, 2023, the Ministry of Finance issued Circular No. 44/2023/TT-BTC stipulating the reduction of the collection rate from 10% to 50% for 36 kinds of fee, charge to support people and businesses. The Circular takes effect from July 1, 2023 to the end of December 31, 2023.

In addition, at the recent dialogue conference between the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and businesses, facing the problems and recommendations of some businesses on VAT refund, the leaders of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department and Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department guided and answered many questions and concerns of businesses and said that they would coordinate to make tax refunds for businesses smoothly and in accordance with regulations.