A series of conflicting views

Commenting on VietNamNet’s article on the temporary suspension of the departure of legal representatives of businesses with tax debts, many readers said that strong measures are necessary for businesses that deliberately delay and refuse to pay taxes. However, there were also many angry opinions because leaders were suspended from leaving the country when their tax debts were only 1-10 million VND.

Many people believe that the regulation on temporary suspension of exit in tax debt collection is still applied rigidly and mechanically in some cases.

Reader Pham Doan Chung cited his own specific case, when he was appointed by a state agency to represent capital at a business awaiting bankruptcy, and had his invoices forcibly collected by the Tax Department and his account frozen due to tax debts...

Before this reader came to take up the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors and legal representative, the agency had sent a written report on the status of the business and the personnel taking up the position, but still received a decision to temporarily suspend exit from the tax agency.

According to TVP readers, in recent years, the National Assembly has issued many laws, and the Government has also issued decrees on very strict tax management. According to regulations, organizations and individuals who still owe taxes, the tax authority has the right to request a temporary suspension of exit. This is completely correct in terms of deterrence.

However, in terms of reason and subjectivity, it is not good, because before the tax authority sends a request to temporarily suspend exit, there should be a regulation that the tax authority has sent a written notice to the enterprise up to 3 times without the enterprise responding, then the tax authority has the right to send a request to the exit authority.

"Here, we consider many different aspects, there are tax authorities that do the right thing, but there are also authorities that I believe do not follow the process, and do not even send notices to businesses, business leaders only know when they are temporarily suspended from leaving the country," this reader questioned.

tien nam khanh.jpg
Many people expressed their indignation at the fact that business leaders were delayed from leaving the country when they only owed 1-10 million VND in taxes. Photo: Nam Khanh

Meanwhile, reader Ngan Thuy has a different opinion.

According to this reader, the thuedientu system is updated regularly and continuously. Sometimes there is a delay but it is not significant, usually only 1 or 2 days. When there is a tax debt, there is a notification sent to the email as well as the information portal of the business, individual, etc. If you do not check and update in time, you will be handled, but they say it is rigid.

"The tax authorities follow the regulations, they don't do whatever they want. Nothing comes naturally with debt. If you can't determine the debt, you have to contact the tax authorities for support in checking. Sometimes it's because you don't investigate, don't know the cause and blame the tax authorities. The rule of law is respected, if you don't follow the law, who will take responsibility for the discipline?", this reader analyzed.

Reader BT thinks: If a businessman owes taxes and only finds out at the airport, it may just be due to poor management. How can you manage a business that you don't know whether it owes money or not? If it's a personal tax debt, does the company's accounting department not know how to calculate and pay taxes to the company's leaders?

Need to review tax debt limit, information transparency

To solve this problem, reader Tran Nguyen Ha suggested reviewing the tax debt limit of the enterprise before imposing a temporary suspension of the leader's departure. For example, if a business pays several billion VND in taxes per year but is late in paying a few million VND in taxes, the departure should not be delayed, because the probability of tax evasion is almost zero.

Reader JJ Nguyen also suggested that it is necessary to distinguish between large and small tax debts, and from there, to stipulate a certain level of tax arrears and above that will result in temporary suspension of exit from the country. In addition, there should be measures to announce, even publicize, cases of tax arrears in the media. This would also be effective in tax collection.

Reader 84985159xxx suggested: 1/ When temporarily suspending exit, the tax authority must send a notice to the person whose exit is suspended so that they know and update the information. Or it must be posted on the website, which can be looked up using the CCCD card information.

2/ For the police agency, it is recommended to publicly disclose information on the website about the list of people who are temporarily suspended from leaving the country. The publicly posted information can be easily looked up by ID card number or passport number, along with a request for temporary suspension of exit from the requesting unit such as tax authority, enforcement agency, customs, court, etc. so that people who are temporarily suspended from leaving the country can look up and know the reason to fix it before buying a round-trip ticket.

This reader complained that he only found out when he got to the airport that his departure was delayed, even though he had already bought a ticket and booked a hotel. This caused economic damage and ruined his business plans when he had scheduled meetings with foreign partners.

Don't let businessmen arrive at the airport and find out they've been delayed in their departure.

Don't let businessmen arrive at the airport and find out they've been delayed in their departure.

"If there were adequate notices and warnings, few people would trade their reputation to delay paying a few million dong in taxes," the expert said.
General Department of Taxation leaders: Do not rigidly postpone the exit of tax-indebted businessmen

General Department of Taxation leaders: Do not rigidly postpone the exit of tax-indebted businessmen

According to the General Department of Taxation, temporary suspension of exit is not the most 'strong' measure in tax debt collection. In the implementation process, tax authorities also base on the actual situation and do not apply it rigidly and widely.
Businessman delayed from leaving the country due to debt of several million or billions: 'I don't joke about my business'

Businessman delayed from leaving the country due to debt of several million or billions: 'I don't joke about my business'

"Under normal health conditions, no one wants to owe taxes to the point of having to temporarily suspend their departure from the country. Enforcing invoices is already torture for businesses," a business representative shared.