Ministry studies tax and fee reduction and exemption package

Production at Fuhong Precision Component in Đình Trám Industrial Zone, Bắc Giang Province. A 30 per cent reduction in corporate income tax is being considered to support COVID-hit enterprises. — VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam

 HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Finance is studying a tax and fee reduction and exemption package estimated to be worth around VNĐ20 trillion (US$897 million) to support citizens and enterprises affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nguyễn Quốc Hưng, director of the ministry’s Tax Policy Division, said that the proposals about tax and fee reductions and exemptions would be raised in a draft about budget collection solutions.

The procedure for the draft compilation would be shortened and proposed to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee soon to provide timely support to virus-hit citizens and businesses.

The pandemic had badly affected lives of citizens and production and business of enterprises, especially those of small and medium sizes and household businesses, as well as a number of sectors, including tourism, transportation, accommodation and catering services, Hưng said.

“It is necessary to raise timely support for citizens and enterprises to help them overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he stressed.

Under the draft, four proposals about tax and fee reduction and exemption were raised.

Notably, the ministry proposed a 30 per cent reduction in the corporate income tax which enterprises must pay in 2021.

A 50 per cent reduction in tax which household businesses and individuals operating in all sectors must pay in the third and the fourth quarter of 2021 was proposed, together with a 30 per cent reduction in the value added tax for several sector.

The ministry also proposed exemption of the fee for late payments arising in 2020 and 2021 for enterprises and organisations which incurred losses for the three consecutive years of 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The Government asked the Ministry of Finance to complete the draft and propose it to the Prime Minister before August 10.

Hưng said that the reductions and exemptions were estimated to cause a drop of about VNĐ20 trillion in budget revenue.

The ministry was also studying proposals to reduce land use fees in 2021, he said.

It has been estimated that the Government support in tax and fee reductions and exemptions will total VNĐ138 trillion this year, of which support worth VNĐ118 trillion has already been issued.

The tax and fee reductions and exemptions totalled VNĐ129 trillion last year. — VNS