Build a connection between tax authorities and businesses

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Getting started is not easy

Since Decree 119/2018/ND-CP on electronic invoices was issued by the Government, the entire tax sector has been persistent in propagating and calling for businesses to participate in transformation. In big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City,that have favorable conditions to apply electronic invoices, businesses and economic organizations are familiar with interacting with tax authorities through the electronic environment, while in mountainous provinces, it is much more difficult to spread knowledge about electronic invoices.

Dien Bien is a northern mountainous province that has difficulties in geographical characteristics. Speakingwith reporters fromCustoms Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen ManhChuyen, Deputy Director of Dien Bien Department of Taxation, said that the provincial Tax Department is currently managing more than 1,000 enterprises with production and business activities in the province. Few businesses are limited in technology level andfinancial capacity. They have not updated guidelines and policies, so they don’t care about changing invoice forms or developing declaration of electronic invoice software. Therefore, after more than ayear of urgingbusinesses to participate in electronic invoices, fewer than fifty enterprises have participated in this service so far. Moreover, the participating businesses are mostly those with large scale and accounting systems, such as electricity and water companies.

In Yen Bai, the Director of Yen Bai Department of Taxation, Hung Xuan Hung, said the implementation of electronic invoices in this locality facedmany difficulties due to economy, infrastructure, as well as limited awareness of businesses. Many units are used to using traditional paper invoices, so they are afraid of changing. Some businesses do not want to use e-invoices because they are worried about information technology infrastructure which is not guaranteed or having errors on invoices that will be difficult to fix.

The fact also shows that, in the mountainous provinces, most businesses have difficulties in the implementation of electronic invoices.

Nam Nhun District, Lai Chau Province is a new district which facesdifficulties both in terms of economy and geographical location. The Nam Nhun Department of Taxation manages less than forty enterprises, of which there are more than tenregularly operate businesses. When talking about the implementation of electronic invoices in this poor district, tax officials are concerned because 100% of businesses managed by the District Tax Office are micro enterprises. Many businesses create an invoice for months, so it is extremely difficult to mobilize enterprises to invest in computers, transmission systems, and the initial costs to deploy electronic invoices.

The number of enterprises implementing electronic invoices nationwide is increasing day by day. Photo: ThuyLinh

Removing barriers and difficulties for businesses

In the era of digital economic development, the management of the tax authorities must also be "digitized". It is indispensable for businesses to convert to using electronic invoices. Speaking about the implementation of this task, most tax departments showed high determination and had early schedules and assignments to ensure the schedule was set by the General Department of Taxation.

Yen Bai Department of Taxation actively organizes training courses for tax officials, businesses and large business households in the area in order to gradually remove difficulties and help businesses access electronic invoices. Along with that, the Department of Taxation has supported and guidedtaxpayers to make electronic invoices from the registration stage to the management and reporting of invoices through telephone hotlines or direct support at the "one-stop-shop" section of tax offices at all levels. For newly established businesses, the tax office introduces and connects them with reputable intermediaries such as Viettel, VNPT Yen Bai, Misa Company for these enterprises to approach and deploy electronic invoices in the most convenient way,so problems will be solved.

An information technology officer at the Dien Bien Department of Taxation in charge of supporting electronic invoices for businesses said the taxpayer is supported by the Department of Taxation at all times and anywhere at the request of taxpayers.

“All problems are welcomed and actively supported by the tax office. This support can be done by phone, or directly at the tax office, via email, via teamviewer (online support application) and written support. To support businesses, we are not afraid of any form of communication, including coming to business headquarters,as long as the work is efficient, businesses are excited about electronic invoices and tax offices complete assigned tasks,”the officer said.

Thanks to the "tireless" support of the Tax Agency, the number of enterprises deploying electronic invoices nationwide is increasing day by day.

According to Le Van Phuoc, Director of HoaSen Yen Bai Building Materials Co., Ltd., sinceJanuary 2019, the company started to switch from traditional paper invoices to electronic invoices. At first, businesses were also very concerned about the slow transmission system, which may affect on issuingsale invoices. In addition, with the special feature of bulky heavy goods when traveling without a paper invoice, it may be difficult for the authorities. However, after a period of implementation, it shows that the network works smoothly, the invoice issuance takes place quickly and easily, and businesses do not face difficulties in using electronic invoices. More importantly, when using electronic invoices, the management and look up of invoices are very convenient, businesses do not worry about losing or damaging invoices, when it is necessary, they can be found and converted immediately into paper copies.

From now to the time when enterprises have to completely switch to electronic invoices (November 1, 2020) is not far away. The legal basis is complete with a clear system of Decrees and Circulars. The important thing now is the implementation of the Tax office and the ideology of the businesses. Although the conversion is inevitable, if the business does not support and trust this modern form of invoice will be difficult in the implementation process, especially in localities with economic difficulties such as mountainous provinces. Therefore, it is necessary for the consensus and co-operation of both sides so that the tax industry can catch up with the "digitalization" race that is spreading on all sides of Vietnam's economy.