PM Nguyen Tan Dung addresses the video-conference to discuss ways to implement financial and budget tasks for the rest of 2013, Ha Noi, July 17, 2013 - Photo: VGP

PM Nguyen Tan Dung made the point on Wednesday at a video-teleconference to discuss ways to implement financial and budget tasks for the rest of the year. 

The Government chief requested the Ministry of Finance to work with localities and enterprises to collect budget on schedule; strictly supervise value-added tax refunds; prevent transfer pricing, tax debt and tax evasion.

He also asked the Ministry to focus on reforming administrative procedures, especially those relating to tax and customs sectors.

PM Dung stressed on the necessity to tighten management of budget spending and resolutely cut unnecessary expenditures to avoid wastefulness.

Despite positive signs of the economy, Viet Nam encountered many difficulties and challenges in budget collection in the first six months.

State budget revenues reached some 16 billion in the reviewed period, or 43.7% of the forecast. Domestic revenues accounted for only 43.3%, the lowest level for the past several years, according to the Ministry of Finance.

Key contributors to the State budget like Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong and Da Nang had reported that their revenues were below 50% of the whole year estimates.

Meanwhile, State budget totaled US$21 billion, equivalent to 45.9% of estimates, and up 7.5% over the previous year’s first half./.

By Kim Loan