Amendment needed to key law to encourage sustainable link vao 188bet moi nhat efficient agriculture: insiders

HÀ NỘI — Over the past decade, a key tax law has revealed many shortcomings, causing significant impacts on Việt Nam’s agricultural sector – a key pillar of the economy. Experts link vao 188bet moi nhat businesses have called for timely link vao 188bet moi nhat effective changes to address these issues, support farmers link vao 188bet moi nhat businesses link vao 188bet moi nhat move towards sustainable agriculture.

The Law No. 71/2014/QH13, issued on November 26, 2014, amending link vao 188bet moi nhat supplementing certain provisions of the Tax Law, provides a VAT exemption for fertilisers.

Nguyễn Văn Phụng, former Director of the Large Enterprise Tax Management Department at the General Department of Taxation, noted that in 2008, the National Assembly passed the VAT Law with three rates: zero per cent, 5 per cent link vao 188bet moi nhat 10 per cent. Fertilisers link vao 188bet moi nhat specialised agricultural machinery were taxed at 5 per cent. However, during the economic crisis in the Asia-Pacific region in 2008 link vao 188bet moi nhat the subsequent difficulties Việt Nam faced, policymakers had to find ways to support the agricultural sector.

Many scientists link vao 188bet moi nhat industry associations recommended lowering the VAT on agricultural inputs, including fertilisers, to reduce costs for farmers link vao 188bet moi nhat benefit producers.

During discussions, the National Assembly considered reducing the VAT rate on agricultural inputs from 5 per cent to a non-taxable status due to the lack of data proving whether a 5 per cent or non-taxable rate was more beneficial. In 2014, the Assembly amended Law No. 71 to exempt fertilisers link vao 188bet moi nhat specialised agricultural machinery from VAT.

After implementation, the law exhibited several issues. Domestic fertiliser prices didn't decrease but increased, limiting production link vao 188bet moi nhat business activities, hampering investment projects in fertiliser production link vao 188bet moi nhat causing difficulties for businesses link vao 188bet moi nhat farmers.

Phụng Hà, Vice Chairman link vao 188bet moi nhat General Secretary of the Vietnam Fertiliser Association, highlighted the difficulties faced by fertiliser manufacturers due to the inability to deduct VAT on input goods link vao 188bet moi nhat services. This increased production costs link vao 188bet moi nhat reduced profits, disadvantaging domestic producers against imported fertilisers. Additionally, the inability to deduct input VAT discouraged investment in new, high-quality  fertiliser products.

Fertilisers account for 40-60 per cent of agricultural production costs link vao 188bet moi nhat if these costs could be deducted, the overall product cost would decrease, he said.

On the other hand, Law No. 71 exempts imported fertilisers from VAT, benefiting foreign manufacturers exporting to Việt Nam.

Annually, Việt Nam's agriculture consumes 11-12 million tonnes of fertilisers, with about eight million tonnes produced domestically. The rest are imported, creating unfair competition due to VAT exemptions abroad.

According to economist Ngô Trí Long, the lack of VAT deductions makes domestic fertilisers less competitive. Foreign enterprises benefit from reduced import duties in Việt Nam under free trade agreements, allowing them to lower fertiliser prices link vao 188bet moi nhat compete with domestic producers, even those using outdated technologies. This not only hampers domestic fertiliser production but also negatively impacts agricultural products link vao 188bet moi nhat the environment.

Long-term dependence on imported fertilisers cannot sustain agricultural development link vao 188bet moi nhat harms the relationship between industry, agriculture, farmers link vao 188bet moi nhat rural areas, affecting national food security, Long said.

He claimed that without tax policy changes, domestic companies might shift their business strategies, conceding market share to cheaper, lower-quality imported fertilisers, posing a significant threat to Việt Nam's agriculture link vao 188bet moi nhat agricultural exports.

Taxed again?

Nguyễn Trí Ngọc, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fertiliser Association, noted that 60 per cent of imported fertilisers come from Russia link vao 188bet moi nhat China, with VAT rates of 20 per cent link vao 188bet moi nhat 11 per cent, respectively. Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia link vao 188bet moi nhat Thailand also tax fertilisers at around 8 per cent.

With agricultural export value of US$55 billion annually, Ngọc said Việt Nam needs refined support policies, particularly tax policies, to sustain this sector.

Both experts link vao 188bet moi nhat businesses have proposed reinstating a 5 per cent VAT rate for fertilisers link vao 188bet moi nhat specialised agricultural machinery to encourage investment link vao 188bet moi nhat reduce costs.

Nguyễn Hoàng Trung, Deputy General Director of DAP - Vinachem, affirmed that amending Law No. 71 to tax fertilisers would benefit domestic producers by lowering input costs, reducing product prices link vao 188bet moi nhat increasing market competitiveness. This would also provide resources link vao 188bet moi nhat incentives for investment in technology link vao 188bet moi nhat production scale, leading to high-quality fertiliser products for farmers.

At the National Assembly’s session on the draft Value Added Tax (VAT) Law amendments on June 24, Minister of Finance Hồ Đức Phớc emphasised that VAT has a broad regulatory scope covering nearly all goods link vao 188bet moi nhat services. Therefore, this law is complex link vao 188bet moi nhat impacts the interests of many producers link vao 188bet moi nhat businesses. Consequently, amending provisions in the draft must ensure production link vao 188bet moi nhat trade development in accordance with established tax strategies.

The drafting committee rigorously studies link vao 188bet moi nhat assesses the impact of each VAT policy to encompass revenue sources, expand tax bases link vao 188bet moi nhat align with international practices, Phớc said.

Regarding fertilisers, he noted differing views suggesting tax exemption versus a 5-per-cent tax rate. Previously, fertilisers were taxed, then exempted link vao 188bet moi nhat are now being considered for taxation again. The drafting committee will need to reassess the impacts link vao 188bet moi nhat present them to the National Assembly at the year-end session. — VNS

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