Customs sector sets record of US$633 billion in trade

	Constantly reforming and facilitating businesses in the field of tax and customs
	The Customs sector continues to make efforts to cut costs and clearance times for businesses
	Force in charge of drug prevention and combat in the Customs sector

Customs officers of Huu Nghi International Border Gate Customs Branch at work. Photo: H.Nu

Creating favorable conditions for import and export activities

Despite the turbulent year caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the milestone of US$633 billion in trade is a bright spot in this year's economic picture. State revenue from import and export activities also surged year-on-year.

The result was partly due to the rise in crude oil prices, prices of iron and steel, iron ore, iron and steel products, imported CBU cars and imported components, machinery and equipment for wind power projects.

In addition, the Customs sector made great efforts in introducing solutions to create the best conditions and remove difficulties for enterprises.

A representative of the Import-Export Tax Department under the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) said from early in the year, the General Department issued guiding documents on budget collection in 2021, such as Directive 215/CT-TCHQ dated January 15, 2021, and Official Letter 119/TCHQ-GSQL dated January 11, 2021.

Accordingly, customs units nationwide implemented the solutions set out, creating favorable conditions for import and export activities to support enterprises.

Especially, during the peak period of the pandemic, the Customs agency advised and proposed competent authorities to issue legal documents on administrative reform towards enhancing IT application, improving the business climate, improving national competitiveness, removing difficulties for production and business activities of enterprises; facilitation to attract foreign investment and promote export production, contributing to economic growth and supporting tax collection of the Customs.

The Customs authority also reported to the Ministry of Finance to submit to the Government on issuing Resolution 106/NQ-CP on applying tax incentives for imported goods for the prevention and control of the pandemic; and Decision 1921/QD-BTC on adding items subject to import tax exemption.

Furthermore, the Customs authority has guided and allowed businesses to submit e-customs documents and established customs groups to solve problems related to customs procedures for imported and exported goods; temporarily exempted customs inspection of goods preservation at the storage locations in locked down areas until these areas reopened; suspended compliance assessment for businesses without signs of violations; and allowed Saigon Newport Corporation to bring goods from Cat Lai port to seaports/inland container depots in the same seaport system of the corporation in Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces to relieve congestion at Cat Lai port.

Moreover, the customs authority has facilitated customs procedures for exported agricultural products through the northern border provinces; guided the quick clearance of shipments of medical supplies, equipment, medicines, vaccines, biological products for testing, aid and donated goods imported by domestic organizations and individuals to the Government, the Ministry of Health, the People's Committees of the provinces and cities, the Fatherland Front Committees of the provinces and cities to serve urgent requirements of pandemic prevention and control, health treatment and examination.

The Customs authority has actively participated in the development of mechanisms and policies to support import and export activities amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Customs sector has advised taxpayers to make tax payments through the electronic customs system, simplified procedures of physical inspection and certification; applied information technology which allows customs officers to work from home during social distancing as required by the Government.

Besides, the General Department of Customs has implemented solutions to combat trade fraud and revenue loss and gained remarkable results.

Driving force for 2022

The bright spot in trade in 2021 is opening up great hopes for 2022.

The customs sector exceeded the 2021 budget target, but to achieve the highest revenue in 2022, it requires efforts of each province, city and each custom unit.

The representative of the Import-Export Tax Department said the Customs sector aimed to offer flexible policies to help enterprises overcome difficulties, develop production and business.

Accordingly, customs authorities at all levels will step up the reform of administrative procedures, strengthen the application of electronic customs to create favorable conditions for taxpayers and customs declarants; develop many solutions to combat State revenue loss such as modernizing and improving the efficiency of inspection; improving post-customs clearance audit, combating smuggling and trade fraud, accelerating tax debt collection and enforcing tax debts.

Six key contents of administrative reform of the Customs sector in 2021-2025

The Customs sector will also continue to promptly remove or propose competent authorities to remove difficulties in tax mechanisms or policies in the field of import and export to boost production and business. This is the premise to ensure revenue for the State budget.

The General Department of Customs has required its units to quickly implement solutions to strive to reach the 2022 target of VND352,000 billion.