Apartment building fined 120 billion for not paying bills, residents worry about paying more taxes, management board fears 'disaster will fall on their heads'

After the "huge" fine imposed on the management board of Conic Southeast Asia, many other apartment management boards are also worried - Photo: CONIC

The case of the management board of Conic Southeast Asia apartment building being fined nearly 120 billion VND for not issuing invoices when providing services to residents, as reported by Tuoi Tre Online , has created debate among readers.

Many opinions say that the small management board salary but comes with great legal risks, causing confusion among the management board and apartment building management board.

Readers suggest that it is time for relevant authorities to speak up, answer questions and provide clear guidance on the issue of invoices for apartment service fees.

Why pay VAT if you are not doing business?

Reader Nguyen Quoc An (Ehome 4 apartment building) said that many apartment buildings across the country do not issue invoices and collect VAT from residents. They only collect VAT for water for the water plant, while the electricity industry collects electricity bills directly from residents.

According to reader Quoc An, relevant agencies need to get involved soon because the current management board is afraid to do it, most of them do it for fun, with a salary of 1-2 million/month but unfortunately they get "involved" in a crime.

As for collecting VAT on service fees, apartment residents will object because it is unreasonable.

Reader Lan said that many apartment buildings do not issue invoices to residents, but only when requested.

According to this reader, if such a fine is imposed, most apartment buildings nationwide should be fined.

Besides, the board of directors is elected by the people, but in reality, the salary is low and there are no benefits, so if they are fined like that, how will they pay?

Reader Lan also expressed concern about whether tax authorities, especially local tax authorities, have provided specific guidance to apartment buildings. If they have not provided guidance, the fines would be unreasonable.

Therefore, readers suggest that the ministries and branches need to speak up soon.

Meanwhile, reader Lam Nguyen commented that the cost of apartment management is agreed upon by the residents living in that apartment building to contribute together for use, the management board is just a representative elected by the people to manage and spend that money.

Therefore, this is completely without any business or trading activities. At the same time, it also raises the issue of the tax authority fining the apartment building management board for not issuing invoices to collect money from households.

Worry about people paying more taxes

Reader Nguyen Van Anh said that according to regulations, residents must pay service fees such as parking fees to serve the building's operations, and no one mentioned paying taxes.

But the tax department says this part is taxable. This shows that tax decrees and regulations are not yet unified.

The management board is elected by the people and collects and pays on behalf of the rental units such as the management board, apartment building security team, elevator repair, infrastructure repair, water pumping, fire prevention and fighting, septic tank treatment...

"They are not businesses that buy and sell to people, so they do not issue invoices to people to pay taxes. Now if they issue invoices, do they force people to pay this tax?" - reader Van Anh raised the question.

According to reader Van Anh, "it would be unreasonable to have to pay an additional tax for the shared use."

Hopefully the government and tax authorities need to clarify to avoid causing confusion for residents and especially building management boards."

Meanwhile, a reader named Tuan in an apartment building in Ho Chi Minh City said that the apartment building only collects parking fees, some small spaces to serve security guard rental, public lighting, tree trimming, apartment cleaning, and apartment operation.

If tax is required, it will have to be collected from apartment owners, but in reality, no one adds VAT to payment vouchers such as parking, cleaning, and apartment operation.

Therefore, reader Tuan thinks that "the fine is not satisfactory", and hopes that the tax authority will give opinions so that people living in apartments can feel secure.

Fear of "disaster falling on head"

Reader Hoa said that this is an incident that has caused public confusion, especially among those participating in apartment management boards across the country because they are afraid of "a disaster falling from the sky" while receiving only a few hundred thousand to 1.2 million VND/month in remuneration.

According to reader Hoa, the penalty document dated February 27, 2025, nearly three months have passed but there has been no official response from the authorities regarding the right or wrong of this incident, making the apartment residents sad.

"My apartment building is in the process of re-electing the management board. The old people are determined to resign. For the past half month, they have called for candidates for hundreds of apartments but no one has applied for them because they are afraid of "disaster" falling on them," reader Hoa said.

NGOC HIEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chung-cu-bi-phat-120-ti-vi-khong-hoa-don-dan-lo-chiu-them-thue-ban-quan-tri-so-hoa-roi-xuong-dau-20250515234943509.htm