Accelerate reforms and simplify tax procedures.

(Chinhphu.vn) - In the context of the Government's efforts to accelerate administrative reform, the Tax sector is striving to reduce and simplify tax procedures to lower costs and save time for citizens and businesses.

Consultation workshop on proposed reductions and simplification of administrative procedures - Photo: VGP/HT

This was the content discussed at the consultation workshop on the plan to reduce and simplify tax administrative procedures, organized by the Tax Department ( Ministry of Finance ) on the afternoon of April 21st in Hanoi.

Adhering closely to the government 's reform policies and ensuring their effectiveness.

In recent years, tax administrative procedure reform has become a top priority for the tax sector. In the spirit of strictly implementing the Government's directives, especially Official Dispatch No. 22/CĐ-TTg dated March 9, 2025 and Resolution No. 66/NQ-CP dated March 26, 2025, tax departments at all levels have proactively and decisively undertaken this reform.

Deputy Director of the Tax Department Dang Ngoc Minh speaks at the workshop - Photo: VGP/HT

Deputy Director of the Tax Department, Dang Ngoc Minh, affirmed: The tax sector identifies tax administrative procedure reform as a key political task. Therefore, the Tax Department has implemented many solutions simultaneously, with urgency and seriousness.

Firstly, the tax sector has reduced the number of procedures from 304 to 219, of which 134 have reached the level of fully online public services.

Secondly, to continue the reform process, the Tax Department will promote digitalization and automation; and at the same time, improve interoperability between agencies to shorten the processing time of documents.

Thirdly, we will propose amendments to relevant legal documents to improve the institutional framework, while simultaneously communicating and soliciting feedback from citizens and businesses for further improvements.

Deputy Director Dang Ngoc Minh emphasized: Reforming tax administrative procedures is no longer an option, but an inevitable requirement. The tax sector aims to reduce processing time and compliance costs for businesses by at least 30%, while increasing the percentage of procedures performed electronically to 100% in the 2025-2026 period.

Accordingly, the tax sector is focusing on implementing various solutions such as: reviewing and standardizing procedures; digitizing the process of receiving and processing documents; simplifying the components of documents and forms; and promoting data linkage between agencies.

"The tax department will organize regular consultations and update feedback to continuously improve," the head of the Tax Department affirmed.

Representatives from the Department of Administrative Procedure Control - Government Office highly appreciated the proactive spirit of the Ministry of Finance - a ministry with the largest number of administrative procedures among all ministries and sectors. The Ministry of Finance's early implementation of a comprehensive review of tax procedures is clear evidence of its determination to reform.

We will listen to feedback, accelerate reforms, and strive for modernization and service.

At the workshop, delegates contributed many practical ideas, helping to refine the reform plan in accordance with Resolution 66/NQ-CP.

From the perspective of representing the business community, Mr. Dau Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary General and Head of the Legal Department (VCCI), acknowledged that the tax sector is one of the most proactive and systematic reform agencies. According to him, the recent reform results are commendable, but there are still gaps that need improvement.

Firstly, some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) still face difficulties in completing tax refund procedures, therefore further streamlining of the process is necessary.

Secondly, there needs to be a mechanism for faster feedback and problem resolution, especially when businesses cease operations or face capital constraints.

Third, there is a need for increased transparency and more user surveys to assess the true effectiveness of the reforms.

"Overall, we appreciate the tax sector's efforts in reforming procedures. Many procedures that previously took days now only take a few minutes to complete on a phone," said Mr. Dau Anh Tuan.

Expert Nguyen Thi Cuc, President of the Vietnam Tax Consulting Association - Photo: VGP/HT

Sharing the same view, expert Nguyen Thi Cuc, President of the Vietnam Tax Consulting Association, stated that the tax sector is one of the sectors with the strongest administrative procedure reforms. "However, better communication is needed so that people understand the true nature of the reforms, avoiding a situation where the positive aspects go unnoticed while difficulties are more frequently reported," Ms. Nguyen Thi Cuc noted.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu - Head of the Tax Operations Department, Tax Department (Ministry of Finance) - Photo: VGP/HT

Emphasizing the role of technology, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu, Head of the Tax Operations Department, Tax Department (Ministry of Finance), said: "The tax sector has applied smart technology to handle the entire electronic tax payment process. However, there are still some procedures that need improvement, such as tax refunds or tax registration. Therefore, the sector is continuing to review and simplify the required documents and build standardized procedures in the digital environment."

During the review, the Tax Department discovered that many procedures had similar content but applied to different subjects. Therefore, the proposed solution is to design a single procedure, and then the system will suggest appropriate documents based on the taxpayer's information.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu, the tax sector will implement administrative procedures in a "one form - multiple subjects" approach to avoid overlap and make them more accessible to taxpayers. Some areas require significant reform, such as simplifying the information related to financial reports and tax settlement documents. In addition, some electronic tax processing procedures still lack data connectivity and need improvement to further facilitate taxpayers.

Transparency in tax data and the application of artificial intelligence to analyze, forecast, and support businesses in compliance and error avoidance are crucial.

"Tax administration reform needs to start from the root, which is the institutional framework. Without amending the Tax Administration Law, efforts to reduce forms or paperwork will not yield sustainable results," Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu emphasized.

A representative from the Department of Administrative Procedure Control (Government Office) emphasized: The government's goal is not only to reduce the number of procedures, but also to reduce the time and cost of compliance.

Therefore, the "merging" of similar procedures must be substantive, not just a formal technique. If it only changes the form without reducing time or costs, it cannot be considered a genuine reform.

In addition, it is necessary to statistically measure the specific costs of complying with administrative procedures (e.g., how many hours, how much money) to serve as a basis for evaluating the effectiveness of reforms.

Responding to the feedback received, the leaders of the Tax Department (Ministry of Finance) affirmed: With its core role, the tax sector leadership is committed to continuing to improve the institutional framework, promote digitalization, and enhance service quality, thereby contributing to building a modern, transparent, and efficient administrative system.

"Reforms will not stop at numbers or reports, but must be quantified by the satisfaction of citizens and businesses. The proposals at the workshop will be compiled, reviewed, and revised accordingly before being submitted to competent authorities for consideration and promulgation of corresponding legal documents, ensuring compliance with the spirit of Resolution 66/NQ-CP: reducing costs, reducing time, and increasing efficiency," the head of the Tax Department emphasized.

Huy Thang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/tang-toc-cai-cach-don-gian-thu-tuc-thue-10225042119060084.htm