Important move to facilitate trade and enhance management effectiveness

On December 4, the Customs Department held a press conference to introduce and explain new points of the Law on Value Added Tax and the Law on Special Consumption Tax. These documents are considered an important step towards standardizing and making tax policies transparent, contributing to facilitating trade and enhancing management effectiveness.

Overview of the press conference.

Standardize a series of regulations in the value added tax law

At the press conference, Ms. Nguyen Thi Khanh Huyen, Customs Tax Department, said that the Law on Value Added Tax No. 48/2024/QH15 and guiding decrees have added many contents that were previously only regulated by official dispatch, helping to reduce legal risks and increase predictability for businesses. The highlight is the expansion of the group of goods not subject to VAT. value added tax, creating a more open corridor for import and export activities.

Accordingly, goods imported from abroad by financial leasing companies are allowed to be transferred directly to duty-free zones for leasing, and are not subject to value added tax. Exported products are resources and exploited minerals (raw or processed according to the List issued by the Government ) are also clearly defined as not subject to tax in accordance with the policy of restricting the export of raw resources. Cases such as assets moving within the import tax exemption limit, goods exchanged by border residents, relics, antiques, and national treasures imported by competent state agencies are also legalized, ensuring consistency with the law on export and import taxes.

Along with expanding incentives, the Law on Value Added Tax also narrows the scope of tax exemption, shifting some items from non-taxable to 5% taxable, including fertilizers, fishing vessels, machinery and equipment specialized for agricultural production. Some groups of goods previously subject to a 5% tax rate are also adjusted to 10%, such as sugar and by-products from sugar production, equipment, teaching and research tools, semi-processed resin, and unprocessed forest products. This adjustment aims to create a reasonable tax structure, reduce overlap and ensure fairness among industries.

The law also clearly stipulates the principles of tax rate application: enterprises trading in many types of goods must declare according to each corresponding tax rate; if they cannot distinguish, they must pay the highest tax rate. This regulation helps limit the situation of false declaration, minimize risks and avoid taking advantage of policies. The principles of tax rate application for agricultural, forestry, aquatic products, waste, by-products and scrap are also clarified to unify the calculation method nationwide.

The Customs Department emphasized that synchronizing regulations from July 1, 2025 will help businesses proactively plan production and business, while management agencies will strengthen monitoring, connect data and apply technology, thereby reducing administrative procedures.

Adjusting special consumption tax to guide safer consumption

Law Special consumption tax Decree No. 66/2025/QH15, effective from January 1, 2026, also brings about many major changes, demonstrating a "two-way" approach: facilitating production and export activities, while tightening management of groups of goods that affect public health.

In the business support group, the Law removes the regulation on imposing special consumption tax on air conditioners with a capacity of 24,000 BTU or less, reducing production and import costs, while helping to lower prices and increase the competitiveness of domestic enterprises. The Law also expands the group not subject to special consumption tax to include goods manufactured and processed for export; exported goods that have paid tax but are returned; certain types of vehicles used in relic sites, hospitals, and schools; helicopters and gliders used for rescue and training. In addition, the Law adds conditions for tax deduction and refund for imported raw materials used to produce export goods, dissolved or bankrupt enterprises with tax remaining to be deducted, or cases under international treaties.

In the group of tightening management, the Law adds soft drinks with sugar content over 5g/100ml to the list of those subject to special consumption tax to guide healthier consumption. Cigarettes, alcohol and beer continue to be adjusted according to the roadmap of increasing tax rates; only cigarettes and cigars are subject to absolute tax in parallel with proportional tax, creating a stronger impact in reducing the consumption of products harmful to health.

A representative of the Customs Tax Department said: “The tax increase on this group of goods is aimed at indirectly reducing consumption, thereby protecting public health. This is also a trend in line with international experience.”

The law also clarifies the concept of taxable objects to avoid different interpretations in practice. Instead of using the general concept of “aircraft” as before – which caused controversy when unmanned aerial vehicles appeared – the new law clearly stipulates that airplanes, helicopters, and gliders are taxable objects. At the same time, votive paper and votive objects continue to be subject to tax but do not include children’s toys and teaching aids, ensuring a clear and easy-to-apply distinction.

Regarding temporarily imported and re-exported goods, the Law supplements strict regulations: if a business re-exports or re-imports past the deadline or changes the purpose of use within the temporary import period, it must pay special consumption tax. This regulation is consistent with customs law, ensuring transparency and ease of control.

The time for calculating tax on imported goods is determined as the time of customs declaration registration, consistent with the law on export and import taxes and current management mechanisms.

According to the Customs Department, changes in the Law on Value Added Tax, the Law on Special Consumption Tax and Circular 51/2025/TT-BTC create a more coherent and transparent tax policy system, helping businesses reduce compliance costs, increase predictability and proactively plan their business. At the same time, stronger regulatory measures for groups of goods harmful to health demonstrate the State's responsibility in protecting the community and are in line with international trends.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/buoc-chuyen-quan-trong-gop-phan-tao-thuan-loi-thuong-mai-va-tang-cuong-hieu-luc-quan-ly-5066962.html