Special consumption tax on air conditioners should be abolished.

National Assembly delegates objected to the inclusion of air conditioners in the Special Consumption Tax because "air conditioners are not at fault".

Delegate Truong Trong Nghia (Ho Chi Minh City Delegation) opposed the inclusion of air conditioners in the special consumption tax. Photo: National Assembly

On the afternoon of November 27, the National Assembly discussed in the hall the draft Law on Special Consumption Tax (amended). Delegate Ha Sy Dong (Quang Tri Delegation) said that air conditioners have been subject to Special Consumption Tax since 1998 at a rate of 20%, and were reduced to 10% in 2008. According to the delegate, in the past, air conditioners could be considered a luxury, but now, along with the development of society, air conditioners have become an essential need in work and life. "Vietnam is probably the only country in the world that imposes Special Consumption Tax on air conditioners," the delegate said.

Delegate Ha Sy Dong (Quang Tri Delegation) expressed his opinion on Special Consumption Tax. Photo: National Assembly

The Quang Tri delegation said that other countries control air conditioners in two ways: Controlling refrigerant solvents and energy efficiency. Currently, Vietnam has regulations to control refrigerant solvents in the direction of reducing import quotas for refrigerants that have negative impacts on the ozone layer and the greenhouse effect. According to businesses, import quotas have decreased, and the cost of purchasing refrigerant solvents has increased continuously in recent years (an average increase of about 15-20% per year). Vietnam also has regulations on energy efficiency for air conditioners, increasingly moving towards increasing minimum energy efficiency. "Therefore, the Special Consumption Tax on air conditioners is no longer necessary and should be abolished," the delegate concluded. Regarding gasoline, the delegate said that many countries tax gasoline, usually countries tax Special Consumption Tax or Environmental Protection Tax on gasoline, "but I have not found any country that taxes Special Consumption Tax and Environmental Protection Tax", the delegate said. Gasoline products are currently subject to two taxes with the same consumption-restricting nature: Special Consumption Tax and Environmental Protection Tax. Delegates proposed to study the removal of Special Consumption Tax on gasoline; if necessary, adjust Environmental Protection Tax to suit the objectives of this tax. Delegate Truong Trong Nghia (Ho Chi Minh City Delegation) also opposed the inclusion of air conditioners in the Special Consumption Tax category because air conditioners are not at fault. "Air conditioners help people have better living conditions. It is better to instruct people on how to use air conditioners, when to use them and how to use them, rather than imposing Special Consumption Tax," said the delegate.

Laodong.vn

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