Six targets to make post-clearance audit key task in modern customs management

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Director of the Post-Clearance Audit Department Nguyen Tien Loc chaired a press conference on anti-origin fraud of export goods (in December 2019). Photo: T.B

Meeting standard as modern customs management

To reform and enhance post-clearance audit work, on November 19, the Director General of the General Department of Vietnam Customs issued Directive 7180/CT-TCHQ. The target is to make post-clearance audits a key task in modern customs management and encourage businesses to voluntarily comply with the law.

At an online conference to review performance in 2019 and deploy tasks for 2020 held by the General Department of Vietnam Customs, Director of Post-Clearance Audit Department Nguyen Tien Loc said to achieve the target, a specific goal will be assigned to the department and relevant units in the whole sector.

Firstly, enhance efficiency of post-clearance and focus on key schemes. Thereby, direct performance in the whole post-clearance audit force to detect and handle in a unified manner for violations.

Secondly, promote reforms in specialised operation of post-clearance audits and focus on reforming the following areas: Researching legal regulations and import-export activities of businesses; upgrading and applying technology for collecting information and assessing businesses; processing, analysing and selecting information before inspection; handling results of post-clearance audit; the performance of post-clearance audits at Customs departments which have no post-clearance audit branches, post-clearance audits to assess compliance at the premises of customs declarants.

Thirdly, enhance efficiency of reports, dialogues and settlements of complaints to limit trouble for businesses, prevent tax debts and avoid complaints and lawsuits

Fourthly, prevent overlaps in specialised inspection under the Prime Minister’s Directive No. 20/ CT-TTg dated May 17, 2017 associated with performance of post clearance audits in accordance with the Customs Law.

Fifthly, review and evaluate the organisational structure and operational efficiency of the post-clearance audit force to streamline in line with the 12th Party Central Committee’s Resolution 18-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017 and the direction of the Ministry of Finance; strengthen inspections, handling of violations, and commendation of customs officials in performance of public duties.

Sixthly, improve the quality and specify responsibilities of the Post-Clearance Audit Department and departments under the General Department of Vietnam Customs in coordination, information exchange, skill exchange, answering problems in the post-clearance audit and handling the results of post clearance audits.

Strengthen inspection

According to Director of the Post-Clearance Audit Department, understanding the importance of the directive, the department has focused on deploying activities to implement contents in post clearance audits nationwide.

Specifically, after the directive was issued, the Post Clearance Audit Department held a conference to announce contents of the directive to all leaders and officers.

In addition, after the Lunar New Year 2020, the General Department of Vietnam Customs will hold a conference to announce the directive to local customs departments and exchange operational activities and handle difficulties and problems in post clearance audits.

Additionally, the Post Clearance Audit Department also focuses on directing, guiding and specifying contents in the directive.

To carry out targets set out in the directive, the department is accelerating the development of legal basic on post clearance audit, reviewing and standardising forms prescribed in post clearance audits to instruct and perform in a unified manner the whole country.

Building and upgrading the STQ01 to meet requirements of updating, exploiting, evaluating and selecting the information on operation of businesses; risk analysis, assessment and warning; development of post clearance audit plans; Summarising data, reforming report of the post clearance audit force; monitoring and checking results in performing tasks of the Post Clearance Audit Department and municipal and provincial customs departments.

Building business maps in the country under each type in each area and collecting information about import and export activities of businesses to serve post clearance audits.

For the inspection of performance of the directive, the Post Clearance Audit Department will develop a plan to submit the leader of the General Department of Vietnam Customs to instruct performance of post clearance audit for local customs departments.

The director of the Post Clearance Audit Department said although the directive was issued for more than one year, the department has deployed solutions to put the directive into the specific performance in the post clearance audit.

For the above targets and solutions, Directive 7180/ CT-TCHQ is expected to bring a dramatic change for post clearance audits in the whole country and confirm the important role of the post clearance audit for customs operation.