Many questions on typical import-export goods have been solved by HCM City Customs

Leaders of HCM City Customs Department and Saigon port area 3 Customs Branch had a dialogue with enterprise. Photo: T.H

Facilitate typical import – export goods

The import and export activities through the ports managed by Saigon Port area 3 Customs Branch are mostly gasoline, iron and steel. Manager of the Saigon Port area 3 Customs Branch Le Dinh Thuat said the management area of ​​the unit has many specialties, with more than a dozen specialised warehouses and ports, in recent years, Saigon port area 3 Customs Branch has applying many modern management methods to create the best conditions for the import-export activities of enterprises.

On the occasion of the Vietnamese Entrepreneur's Day (October 13), Manager Le Dinh Thuat sent sincere congratulations to businesses, wished they would overcome current difficult challenges, complete their business plans and continue accompanying with customs authorities in import and export goods activities.

Sharing with the difficulties of businesses in recent times, Deputy Director of HCM City Customs Department Nguyen Huu Nghiep said due to the complex Covid-19 pandemic, businesses had faced many difficulties in their operations, besides that, import-export businesses are also affected by trade barriers, for example, enterprises operating in steel were affected by safeguarding duties on steel items. In the spirit of continuing to accompany and facilitate enterprises, the Saigon port area 3 Customs Branch in particular and HCM City Customs Department in general would commit to continue to reform administrative procedures, guide and promptly answer difficulties and problems for enterprises, facilitating cargo clearance quickly for import and export goods.

At the dialogue, to help businesses grasp and implement the regulations, the leaders of Saigon port area 3 Customs Branch noted enterprises that faced many new regulations in procedures, such as: origin of goods, bring goods to preserve, inspect the preservation of goods and procedures for goods in transit.

Answering many problems

At the dialogue, leaders of Saigon port area 3 Customs Branch answered many questions about customs procedures related to the import of machinery and equipment; tax refund and the settlement of backlogged goods.

Pham Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of Petroleum Region II Company, said that petroleum item was a unique product and policies had always changed a lot with new changes, Customs authorities have promptly updated, guide for businesses, helped to implement cargo clearance quickly. However, the enterprise also raised several problems and recommendations to the Customs authorities.

According to the representative, currently, there were two import declarations of petroleum from 2015 waiting for tax refund. Recently, the General Department of Vietnam Customs verified the C/O and has responded in document to confirm the validity of the C/O related to these two shipments, the HCM City Customs Department had also issued a document directing the tax refund. So the enterprise hoped the border customs authority to complete the procedures and refund VND68 billion of tax for businesses soon.

Representatives of Petroleum Region II Company (Petrolimex Saigon) raised a question at the dialogue. Photo: T.H

Answering the above problems of the enterprise, Le Chien Thang, Deputy Manager of the Saigon port area 3 Customs branch, said, regarding the tax refund of the two above shipments, Saigon port area 3 Customs Branchhas already refunded the tax to the enterprise in accordance with regulations. However, due to doubts about the C/O, the Post-Clearance Audit Customs Branch had carried out the post-clearance audit and the enterprise had paid the tax refunded to the account of temporary collection of the Post-Clearance Audit Customs Branch. The General Department of Vietnam Customs has confirmed the validity of the C/O for the tax refund done by the Post-Clearance Audit Customs branch. The branch would record it to report to the HCM City Customs Departmentand discuss with the Post-Clearance Audit Customs Branch to conduct a tax refund for the enterprise.

For some recommendations of enterprises on vehicle inspection, procedures for opening export declarations of petroleum, Saigon port area 3 Customs branch had recorded to report to the General Department of Vietnam Customs for consideration and settlement.

A representative of Truong Hai Auto Joint Stock Company (Thaco) said that Thaco had implemented many import and export procedures for goods at HCM City, at the Saigon port area 3 Customs branch, businesses had always received support of the Customs, and have no doubts about the service. However, the enterprise suggested customs authorities reconsider the price consultation for the consignments having tax rate of 0%. At the same time, from now until before the Lunar New Year, the company would carry out procedures for importing many goods. The company hoped to continue receiving support from the branch on implementing procedures to timely deliver dossiers to customers.

Highly appreciating the procedure reform and facilitation of the HCM City Customs Department in general, the Saigon port area 3 Customs branch in particular, the import-export enterprises wanted to continue to be guided and trained by the Customs authority on new documents like this dialogue, so businesses could grasp and comply with the regulations. With specific characteristics, import-export enterprises operating in petroleum and steel proposed that besides immediately solving arising problems, the Customs authority should maintain annual dialogues with enterprises, along with organising separate training on new procedures and policies for firms.

The port enterprises said the implementation of electronic clearance at the ports had been done very well. Port enterprises always coordinate well with the customs authorities to facilitate enterprises to receive goods at ports quickly.