Kinhtedothi - On the afternoon of March 10, continuing the 43rd session, the National Assembly Standing Committee gave opinions on explaining, accepting, and revising the draft Law on Special Consumption Tax (amended).
Reporting on the explanation, acceptance and revision of the draft Law on Special Consumption Tax (amended), Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee Phan Van Mai stated 4 main contents on which the drafting agency and the agency in charge of reviewing the draft law still have different opinions.
Specifically, these are regulations on taxable objects; non-taxable objects; tax rates and tax levels for sugary soft drinks, pickup trucks, hybrid cars; and implementation.
Discussing at the meeting, Permanent Deputy Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Committee for Petitions and Supervision Le Thi Nga said that the nature of special consumption tax is to apply to luxury goods, not to encourage consumption. Meanwhile, gasoline is an essential commodity that cannot be absent in people's lives. If special consumption tax is applied to essential goods, it is not in accordance with the nature and purpose of this tax. She requested the drafting agency and the examining agency to explain why gasoline is still in the list of goods subject to special consumption tax.
Air conditioners with normal capacity may have been a luxury item ten years ago, but Director Le Thi Nga said that this item has now become essential.
Along with gasoline, the Standing Deputy Chairman of the People's Petition and Supervision Committee proposed to remove air conditioners with a capacity of 90,000 BTU or less from the list of items subject to special consumption tax (the draft Law stipulates that air conditioners with a capacity of 90,000 BTU or less are subject to special consumption tax).
Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Law and Justice Hoang Thanh Tung said that from the beginning his view was not to include gasoline and air conditioners in the taxable objects.
“Gasoline is an essential commodity, not only an input commodity of the economy but also in people's lives. Everyone has to use gasoline, not to mention this commodity is also subject to environmental protection tax. The same goes for air conditioners, many opinions of National Assembly delegates discussing at the 8th Session also suggested reconsideration. From urban to rural areas, most people now have air conditioners, this is a luxury item to impose special consumption tax is no longer appropriate.
"Now is the time to consider removing gasoline and air conditioners with a capacity of less than 90,000 BTU from the list of goods subject to special consumption tax," said Chairman Hoang Thanh Tung. If the tax continues to be imposed, the drafting agency needs to have a convincing explanation.
Clarifying the continued taxing of gasoline and air conditioners, Deputy Minister of Finance Cao Anh Tuan said that with air conditioners, some types have undergone technological changes to reduce the use of environmentally harmful refrigerants as well as increase energy savings. However, air conditioners still use different refrigerants that are harmful to the environment and the ozone layer.
“Refer to some countries that impose special consumption tax on air conditioners, such as: Korea, India, Norway... Some European countries, such as Spain, prohibit the use of air conditioners below 27 degrees; in the UK, to install air conditioners, you must apply for a license”, Mr. Cao Anh Tuan said and emphasized the view of continuing to impose special consumption tax on air conditioners below 90,000 BTU. The tax is aimed at raising awareness about limiting consumption as well as orienting electricity consumption and protecting the environment.
Regarding gasoline, the Deputy Minister of Finance said that gasoline contains a lot of fossil fuels, which are not renewable, so it needs to be used sparingly. Most countries impose special consumption tax on gasoline.
Concluding the meeting, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Vu Hong Thanh said that the National Assembly Standing Committee suggested that, for the remaining different opinions, the drafting agency and the agency in charge of the review continue to review and discuss to reach a consensus, avoiding having many different options presented to the National Assembly.
Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/can-nhac-ve-de-xuat-tiep-tuc-danh-thue-tieu-thu-dac-biet-voi-xang-dieu-hoa.html
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