Saigon Zoo was honored for good tax payment.

In the list of enterprises presented by the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department for commendation today, December 20, the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden was initially named. However, the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department said at the last minute that it did not commend them due to land rental debt.

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden honored for good tax payment - Photo: CHAU TUAN

Many familiar names were honored

Today, the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department held a conference to honor businesses with effective production and business achievements and good implementation of tax policies and laws in 2023.

In this list, there are 15 companies awarded certificates of merit by the General Department of Taxation, 106 enterprises awarded certificates of merit by the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department, and the rest are enterprises awarded certificates of merit by the Ministry of Finance.

This year's list of honors includes many familiar names. The Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department said that initially, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden Company Limited was expected to be named. However, at the last minute, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden was eliminated.

Regarding the reason for the disqualification, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department - said that initially, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden was proposed to be commended due to its business results in 2023.

“Apart from land rent arrears, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden has no tax arrears or tax penalties. Therefore, this enterprise appeared on the initial list. However, due to the controversy over land rent arrears, the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department did not commend it in the end,” Mr. Dung explained.

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden has attracted public attention in recent days, when on December 10, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden "called for help" because it was facing the risk of having to stop operating due to lack of funds when it was forced to pay back nearly 800 billion VND in land rental debt.

In 2014, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee signed a decision to lease land with an area of ^{​​158,117m2} for public use under an annual payment regime for a period of 50 years. The annual land rent is 163.3 billion VND.

However, the commercial area only occupies a very small area (about ^5,600m2 ) and Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden has paid the annual fee. The remaining area is completely used for conservation work.

After Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens "called for help", on the afternoon of December 11, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment met with representatives of Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens Company Limited (Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens) to guide the dossier to adjust the land lease decision No. 5918 of 2014 of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

On the sidelines of the 20th session of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council on December 11, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai said that he had assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to review and scrutinize decisions on land allocation and land lease.

"The part used for production and business will be rented out, and the part used for general services must be calculated appropriately, and can be transferred without calculating land rental fees. When adjusting, the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department will base on the regulations to recalculate," said Mr. Mai.

Mr. Mai also emphasized that he will remove difficulties and not let the zoo stop operating.

Recognizing and honoring the contributions of businesses and entrepreneurs

Many businesses were commended for good tax payment today - Photo: AH

In today's commendation list, there are many companies such as: Mobile Vietnam Technology Company Limited; Decathlon Vietnam Company Limited, Keppel Land Watco-II, Plaza Hotel Joint Venture Company Limited; Saigon Port, Saigon Co.op Binh Tan Company Limited, Co.op Rach Mieu, Nhon Hoa Scale; Tam Duc Heart Hospital; Nha Be Garment, Gia An 115 Hospital, Digital World Joint Stock Company, My Hao Cosmetics...

Notably, there are up to 15 foreign banks on the commendation list such as: Keb Hana Bank - Ho Chi Minh City branch, MUFG Bank, Ltd - Ho Chi Minh City branch, United Overseas Bank; China Construction Bank, Corporation, BNB Paribas, Mizuho Bank, lTD - Ho Chi Minh City branch; Deutsche Bank AG - Ho Chi Minh City branch...

According to Mr. Nguyen Nam Binh - Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department, the socio-economic situation has shown positive signs in 2024. To date, total domestic revenue in 2024 has reached more than 373,000 billion VND, reaching 106.2% of the estimate, up 14.1% over the same period.

Mr. Nguyen Nam Binh said that this positive result is practical proof of the utmost efforts of businesses, entrepreneurs, taxpayers, and the support from agencies and departments in creating favorable conditions for production and business.

Therefore, the conference to honor exemplary taxpayers is a recognition and honor of the great contributions of businesses and entrepreneurs to the development of Ho Chi Minh City.

"In the coming time, the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department will continue to accompany and share difficulties and problems with taxpayers; create favorable conditions in the tax field so that taxpayers can feel secure and focus on developing production and business," Mr. Binh emphasized.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department - said that in the coming time, Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department will continue to promote digital transformation, apply information technology, reform administrative procedures, create the most favorable conditions and save costs for taxpayers.

"At the same time, we are committed to ensuring publicity, transparency and fairness in the implementation of tax obligations, always listening and promptly resolving difficulties and problems of businesses, taking taxpayer satisfaction as a measure of the quality and effectiveness of tax management," Mr. Dung emphasized.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thao-cam-vien-sai-gon-duoc-trinh-tuyen-duong-nop-thue-tot-20241220171947974.htm