August 13, 2015 by thanhniennews
People wait to file tax forms at an office in Hanoi. Photo: Ngoc Thang
A new survey has found that when it comes to tax procedures in Vietnam, foreign companies are more likely to be asked to pay “unofficial fees” to tax officials.
The survey conducted last year by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) found 41 percent of foreign-invested firms in the country had to offer under-the-table money to be treated properly.
The rate among Vietnamese private firms is 33 percent, and for state-owned enterprises it is 19 percent.
Many of the respondents said they did not complain about bribe solicitations to avoid “damaging the relationship” with the officials. Some believed that lawsuits would only cost them more money.
The survey found that half of the companies faced “unnecessary troubles” with the tax officials, usually for tax registration and tax declaration.
‘No change’
VCCI, which represents thousands of businesses in the country, sent the questions to around 10,000 businesses operating in Vietnam, but only around 2,500 responded.
The survey was the first conducted by the business chamber on tax procedures.
Economist Vu Quoc Tuan said that many businesses are no longer interested this kind of survey “because they have seen no change.”
Tuan said customs and tax agencies held discussions with businesses every year, but words did not translate into action.
“Businesses have expressed their opinions and they don’t really feel that they are being listened to.”
The General Tax Department said it has saved businesses more than 420 hours at tax offices by abolishing hundreds of procedures over the past year.
Economists said if the agency puts most of the procedures online, businesses will not have to meet tax officials and they will not have to pay bribes.
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I am an attorney in the Washington DC area, with a Doctor of Law in the US, attended the master program at the National School of Administration of Việt Nam, and graduated from Sài Gòn University Law School. I aso studied philosophy at the School of Letters in Sài Gòn.
I have worked as an anti-trust attorney for Federal Trade Commission and a litigator for a fortune-100 telecom company in Washington DC. I have taught law courses for legal professionals in Việt Nam and still counsel VN government agencies on legal matters. I have founded and managed businesses for me and my family, both law and non-law.
I have published many articles on national newspapers and radio stations in Việt Nam.
In 1989 I was one of the founding members of US-VN Trade Council, working to re-establish US-VN relationship.
Since the early 90's, I have established and managed VNFORUM and VNBIZ forum on VN-related matters; these forums are the subject of a PhD thesis by Dr. Caroline Valverde at UC-Berkeley and her book Transnationalizing Viet Nam.
I translate poetry and my translation of "A Request at Đồng Lộc Cemetery" is now engraved on a stone memorial at Đồng Lộc National Shrine in VN.
I study and teach the Bible and Buddhism. In 2009 I founded and still manage dotchuoinon.com on positive thinking and two other blogs on Buddhism. In 2015 a group of friends and I founded website CVD - Conversations on Vietnam Development (cvdvn.net).
I study the art of leadership with many friends who are religious, business and government leaders from many countries.
In October 2011 Phu Nu Publishing House in Hanoi published my book "Positive Thinking to Change Your Life", in Vietnamese (TƯ DUY TÍCH CỰC Thay Đổi Cuộc Sống).
In December 2013 Phu Nu Publishing House published my book "10 Core Values for Success".
I practice Jiu Jitsu and Tai Chi for health, and play guitar as a hobby, usually accompanying my wife Trần Lê Túy Phượng, aka singer Linh Phượng.
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