Customs always enhances modern management method

	Customs sector has reduced the amount of tax debt by over VND 157 billion
	Shortening the specialized inspection time: Customs makes efforts and takes connectivity initiative
	Compliance Management - an advanced Customs management method

Mr. Nguyen Tran Hieu

Firstly, regarding the institutional reform, the sector has focused on developing and submitting to the National Assembly for approval of the Customs Law in 2014; participated in the development and submitted to the National Assembly for approval the Law on Export and Import Duties 2016 and basically completed the document system detailing and guiding the implementation with many strong institutional reforms on customs procedures.

Accordingly, reducing the number of customs clearance procedures from 239 procedures before the Customs Law of 2014 to 183 procedures. Most administrative procedures are simplified in terms of paperwork and processed electronically, creating maximum conditions for businesses. Recently, the Customs has proposed to cut 15 out of 31 business conditions in the field of customs.

Secondly, regarding the IT application, Customs has drastically applied information technology to the management and implementation of customs procedures. Since 2014, the Customs has launched and operated effectively the automated systems for customs clearance VNACCS / VCIS with the participation of 100% of Customs Departments to ensure 24/7 operation with 99% of Customs procedures which are processed via this systems. Up to now, 11 ministries and sectors have participated in the National Single Window mechanism with 68 administrative procedures being connected.

The Customs has also set up and operated a management system of export processing and production in a new management method; automated system for seaports and airports Customs management and supervision and deployed the online public service at least level 3 for 173 out of 183 administrative procedures (accounting for more than 94.5% of the total) in which, 161 administrative procedures are provided with online public service at level 4.

In addition, Customs has signed with 37 commercial banks to collect electronic tax, which accounted for 90% of the Customs revenue, thereby reducing the time from 2 days to 15 minutes; and officially launched the 24/7 e-tax payment and clearance scheme from October 23rd, 2017 with 13 commercial banks.

Thirdly, Customs has enhanced modern customs management method and followed the Government’s policy which is boosting the shift from pre-inspection into post-inspection", so that most of the cleared dossiers (imports) are inspected after clearance.

Customs is constantly applying risk management in goods clearance. First of all, in order to classify goods channel for appropriate customs clearance measures, Customs has implemented prior determination of customs codes, origin and customs value. The implementation of the authorized economic operator policy is to step up the Customs clearance. Currently, Customs is developing a pilot scheme for post-clearance guarantee to submit to the Prime Minister for approval in 2018.

Fourthly, Customs has taken the initiative in coordinating with the specialized management ministries to reform the specialized inspection for imported and exported goods. Accordingly, to this date, 13 ministries have amended and supplemented 81 out of 87 legal documents on specialized management and inspection (93%). The specialized management ministries have developed and promulgated a number of documents towards reducing the number of goods subject to specialized inspection before customs clearance; transferring from the pre-customs clearance into post-clearance for some goods and abolishing some inappropriate regulations.

To unify the codes of goods subject to specialized management and inspection according to Circular No. 65/2017 / TT-BTC, the General Department of Customs has coordinated with the specialized ministries to review and standardize codes for the List of goods subject to specialized management and inspection. The General Department has proposed to the Ministry of Finance to request the ministries and sectors to review standards and technical regulations for goods subject to specialized inspection. Fifthly, Customs has continuously reformed the apparatus and improved the quality of cadres and civil servants. Accordingly, the customs sector has reviewed and strengthened its organizational structure in a streamlined and more effective and efficient manner, thereby reducing 239 units at team level under Branches and equivalent bodies. The General Department of Customs has promulgated the Regulation on public-duty performance, the Regulation on the control of 3 Customs levels, the Client Service Charter and the Customs-Business Partnership Plan.

Sixthly, the customs sector has performed well the auxiliary activities to carry out the customs procedures. Accordingly, regularly listing and publicizing administrative procedures n the Customs field, promptly receiving and handling complaints about administrative procedures; and regularly propagating Customs laws for Customs officers and the business community in many forms.

The customs sector has paid attention to investigation and combat against smuggling activities in order to ensure a fair, healthy and convenient business environment; actively coordinated with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to monitor, measure and evaluate the satisfaction for customs operations, thereby, listening and receiving complaints and removing shortcomings.

Cai Mep Port Customs committed to business facilitation VCN- On 25th October 2017, at the Cai Mep Port, Cai Mep Port Customs Branch (Ba Ria-Vung Tau ...

According to the Vietnam Cross-Border Trade Indicator 2017 in Doing Business report, the cross-border clearance time in Viet Nam has been significantly reduced, with a reduction of 6 hours for imported goods (from 138 hours to 132 hours), a reduction of 3 hours for exported goods (from 108 hours to 105 hours). The cost of customs clearance of goods across the border decreased by US$ 19 / container for both imported and exported goods.