Tightening control over retail petroleum business activities

Provincial People's Committee has just issued a document to implement the Ministry of Finance's directive to strengthen the inspection and supervision of electronic invoice (E-invoice) regulations for each sale transaction in the retail petroleum business activities. Accordingly, provincial People's Committee has requested relevant departments, sectors and People’s Committees of districts, cities and relevant units to have close and regular collaboration with provincial Tax Department to effectively implement the Ministry of Finance's directive outlined in Official Letter No. 12311/BTC-TCT dated November 11, 2024.

The Official Letter No. 12311/BTC-TCT dated November 11, 2024, issued by the Ministry of Finance states: On September 23, 2024, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 99/CĐ-TTg regarding the continued implementation of measures to ensure the supply of petroleum for production, business, and consumption by people and enterprises. This includes assigning tasks to the Minister of Finance and Chairpersons of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to strengthen inspection and supervision. The letter specifies that retail petroleum outlets and traders strictly adhere to regulations on E-invoices for each sale and connect data with the tax authorities. It also emphasizes the need to promptly detect and strictly handle violations of regulations concerning petroleum business activities and E-invoices.

The Ministry of Finance has requested that the Chairpersons of People's Committees in provinces and centrally-managed cities to further focus on directing the implementation of key tasks, including directing local agencies and departments of Industry and Trade, Police, Information and Communications, Planning and Investment, Science and Technology, etc. to closely coordinate with the tax authorities at all levels to establish inter-agency inspection teams. These teams should regularly or randomly inspect compliance with regulations on petroleum business activities and the management and use of E-invoices for each sale at retail petroleum outlets and businesses under the law; directing the Department of Information and Communications  as well as local media agencies  to work with tax authorities to intensify and diversify propaganda solutions. The goal is to inform the local consumers and petroleum retailers of the regulations and enhance their awareness and compliance regarding petroleum business activities, regulations on issuing e-invoices for each sale as outlined in Decree No. 123/2020/NĐ-CP and the forms of penalties for violations of the invoicing regulations when selling goods under the Government’s Decree No. 125/2020/NĐ-CP dated October 19, 2020 to enhance the effectiveness of State management in tax administration.

Reported by H.Anh-Translated by Kim Tin