Proposing to simplify tax refund procedures for international guests

This is one of the solutions proposed by Ms. Nguyen Thi Cuc, President of the Vietnam Tax Advisory Association during the Vietnam Tourism Forum: New orientation, new actions, on the morning of April 1.

Ms. Cuc questioned the current level of spending per capita of international tourists to Vietnam is not high. Therefore, it is necessary to encourage them to buy goods. The solution to this problem is to facilitate the method of VAT refund for guests.

Currently, Vietnam is implementing tax refunds at airports and ports before customers leave the country. Visitors will shop at designated stores that sell tax refund goods, and then the store will issue an invoice cum tax refund declaration. Visitors must bring this invoice to the airport, the port of call, return it to customs for inspection, stamp it, and then bring it to the payment department to get a tax refund.

“I think this policy is quite inadequate for tourists, because many people are in a hurry. In some cases, because they are afraid of not being on time to fly, they did not get tax refunds, affecting the spending of guests in Vietnam. “, she said.

Ms. Cuc suggested that tourists make VAT refunds right at the place where they shop for goods like many other countries are applying, including Japan. After purchasing, visitors bring the invoice to the tax refund counter at shopping centers, supermarkets and shops for procedures. After checking the purchased goods and immigration documents, the tax refund department can directly pay by cash or credit card on the spot and stamp the confirmation for customs to check when the guest exits.

As an independent expert, Ms. Cuc said that the tourism industry has its own characteristics, so it is necessary to have its own tax policies. During the seminar, she also proposed to adjust the land rent for tourism businesses, such as clearly distinguishing the actual land used and the unused land (landscape, ecotourism…). According to her, this is a big burden that businesses such as amusement parks and eco-tourism are entangled in.

Also in the forum, experts and businesses continued to propose solutions to make tourism really open and promote a quick recovery. Including suggestions expand list visa-free countries, increasing the adoption of e-visa and increasing the visa-free period up to 30 days for visitors.

Lan Huong