Supporting traders to access electronic payments
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department, as of September 17, the total number of business households managed by this agency was 361,879 households, of which Ho Chi Minh City (before the merger) accounted for 243,356 households, Binh Duong 87,364 households and Ba Ria - Vung Tau 31,159 households.
Of these, 19,060 business households have paid taxes according to the declaration method, the remaining 257,389 households are subject to tax, accounting for 71.13% of the total number of business households and 93.1% of the total number of households paying taxes.
These figures show that the digital transformation process of HCMC's traders still has a lot of work to do.
Mr. Nguyen Nguyen Phuong - Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City shared that the change in operating methods takes place across the country, not only in business households but also in state management agencies. If it is not adapted, it will be left behind, he stressed.
Grasping that reality, the Department of Industry and Trade has worked with e-wallet management units and payment intermediaries to find solutions to support traders in accessing modern money management and payment technology, making declaration more convenient.
Thanks to digital transformation, customers now only need to scan the QR code to pay, both quickly and with clear transaction traces. Many traders are also supported with POS (cartage cards) at reasonable costs, and some places even offer free or incentives for each area.
Mr. Phuong affirmed that the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City will continue to accompany traders in accessing convenient and safe payment methods, helping them easily adapt to new regulations of the tax sector. In addition, for agricultural business households facing difficulties, the Department will coordinate with traders, industrial kitchens and traditional markets to find suitable consumption directions.
Forever business is also the foundation for businesses to be more confident in the digital transformation process - the leader of the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City affirmed.
Creating momentum for business households to transform digitally
Recently, at a workshop on eliminating contract tax, Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Cuong - Member of the National Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee said that supporting business households in digital transformation is necessary, although the initial cost is not small. "But in the long term, the State is not at a disadvantage. When people's business is strong, the economy is developed, and the water floods, the boats will also float," he said.
Sharing this view, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nam - Deputy Director of the Domestic Market Management and Development Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) said that State agencies are implementing many synchronous policies to support business households.
The Tax Department (Ministry of Finance) has instructed businesses to use electronic invoices, declare taxes online, and organized training and technical support. The Ministry of Industry and Trade also promotes the introduction of businesses and business households to e-commerce platforms, training skills in brand promotion and online sales.
At the local level, the People's Committees of provinces and cities have established a Steering Committee for digital transformation, opening business support centers to coordinate with post offices, banks and technology enterprises to guide business households to gradually digitize their operations.
However, Mr. Nam believes that the biggest obstacle at present is not technique, but the old psychology and habits of traders. "Many people just want to focus on selling goods, afraid to get their papers. But if it is not transparent, it will be very difficult to access support programs or expand the market" - he shared.
Issuing electronic invoices not only helps prove the legal origin of goods, but also ensures consumer rights in warranty, complaints or return.
