Training and solving difficulty on customs valuation for European enterprises

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Toan, Deputy Director of Import-Export Duty Department - HCM City Customs Department guide entreprises on customs valuation. Photo: T.H

Mrs. Maren Maischein, member of the Board of Executive Committee of European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham), said that 2017 marked a year of close cooperation between the HCM City Customs Department and EuroCham. The two sides held three training sessions and dialogues that achieved satisfactory results. The HCM City Customs Department has become an effective partner between the business community and central government authorities.

At the dialogue with European businesses, by the end of 2017, the customs authority had supported, shared and answered many questions and concerns of enterprises related to customs valuation.

In order to assist enterprises in grasping and implementing customs valuation, avoiding complaints, HCM City Customs Department continues to cooperate in organizing customs valuation training to assist EuroCham members and businesses in Vietnam.

At the training session, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Toan, Deputy Director of Import-Export Duty Department - HCM City Customs Department, introduced to businesses the issues of customs valuation methods for import and export goods; Goods classification - HS Code; Special preferential tariff...

Beside the contents of the guidance, training on customs valuation, representatives of the Customs Department have discussed and solved many problems for many enterprises.

Answering the question on the database of taxable valuation, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Toan explained, based on the Circular No. 39/2015 / TT-BTC of Ministry of Finance dated 15/3/2015, database on taxable Customs valuation are collected from various information sources, such as the declared price of business communication doing customs procedures nationwide, which is accepted by the customs authorities according to the transaction value for tax calculation. The offer prices of manufacturers, exporters, distributors in the exporting country; Information provided by the Chambers of Commerce – Consulate of Vietnam at other countries or Chambers of Commerce – Consulate of other nations that settled in Vietnam; Information provided by the Anti- smuggling and investigation Department – General Department of Vietnam Customs; Information provided by the Ministry of Industry and Trade or relevant ministries ... Customs price database is issued by the General Department of Vietnam Customs twice a year. In 2017, the General Department of Vietnam Customs issued Decision 96 / QD-TCHQ dated 31/3/2017 regulating the list of risk management and reference price.

Answering questions relating to formalities of customs valuation for non-commercial goods and schedule of implementation, representatives of the HCM City Customs Department said that pursuant to Article 17 of Circular 39 / 2015 / TT-BTC dated 25/3/2015 of the Ministry of Finance stipulating on non-commercial gifts, will be calculated according to the declared price if the customs have no doubt. In cases where customs authorities suspect the declared prices of enterprises to be untrue, or below the prices of identical or similar goods which are updated by the customs authorities in the customs system, the customs authorities shall adjust the tax calculation prices of the non – commercial goods (gifts) according to the tax rates available in the data system, but not the database.

The period for determination of non-commercial goods prices shall comply with the Circular No. 38/2015 / TT-BTC of Ministry of Finance dated 25/3/2015 on goods clearance within 8 working hours. By providing knowledge in the field of Customs, it will facilitate enterprises to understand clearly and comprehensively the policies and regulations. This is also the best opportunity for enterprises to exchange and clarify their concerns, ensuring the process of customs clearance of enterprises in the future is faster and more convenient.