Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam General Department of Taxation is pushing head with tax reform in line with international practice, said Deputy General Director Nguyen Daiꦇ Tri at a workshop in Hanoi on December 18.

He noted that the sector has worked to simplify administrative procedures and apply information technology. However, the reform is not simple and easy at all, he said, citing time-consuming tax payment process and modest improvements in tax facilitation. Joanna Nasr, an expert from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and co-writer of the IFC and World Bank’s business environment report 2015, pointed out the fact that Vietnam is ranking second in Asia-Pacific in terms of tax payment time. She also cited limitations in tax inspection, information collection, supplementary document preparation, and payment methods. To solve these problems, deputy head of the General Department of Taxation’s reform division Hoang Thi Lan Anh said the tax sector moves to build database for risk management and appoint staff to receive feedback from customers on e-tax payment and declaration. According to Tri, the Prime Minister has also approved a tax reform strategy between 2011 and 2020, which urges the tax sector to reduce time for completing administrative formalities and become one of the five leading countries in Southeast Asia leading in tax facilitation in 2015.-VNA