Reduce the total number of existing tax offices by at least 50% by the end of 2020.

According to Decision 520/QD-BTC dated April 13, 2018, of the Minister of Finance approving the plan for restructuring and merging district, county, and town tax offices into regional tax offices under the provincial and centrally-administered city tax departments, the goal is to reduce the total number of existing tax offices in the entire sector by at least 50% by the end of 2020. www.expertis.vn

Accordingly, the reorganization of the organizational structure must comply with Resolution 18-NQ/TW dated October 25, 2017, of the 12th Central Committee, Resolution 04-NQ/BCSĐ dated March 30, 2018, of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Finance on the implementation of Resolution 18-NQ/TW; and Decision 444/QĐ-BTC dated March 30, 2018, of the Minister of Finance promulgating the Action Plan of the Ministry of Finance to implement Resolution 18-NQ/TW, ensuring a streamlined, efficient, and stable structure that does not affect work performance and ensures the successful completion of assigned political tasks. The reorganization of the organizational structure must follow a roadmap, avoiding major disruptions to the organization, personnel, and morale of civil servants and employees, while meeting the requirements of reform, modernization, and workforce reduction.

Regarding the implementation roadmap, the goal is to reduce the total number of existing tax offices in the entire sector by at least 50% by the end of 2020. Specifically: from now until the end of 2018, 327 district, county, and town tax offices under 63 tax departments will be reorganized into 154 regional tax offices (a reduction of 173 offices). This includes merging 192 tax offices into 90 regional tax offices (a reduction of 102 offices), to be completed before July 1, 2018; and merging 135 district, county, and town tax offices into 64 regional tax offices (a reduction of 71 offices), to be completed before September 1, 2018.

In 2019, 53 district, county, and town tax offices under 63 tax departments were reorganized into 25 regional tax offices (a reduction of 28 offices). In 2020, 168 district, county, and town tax offices under 63 tax departments were reorganized into 78 regional tax offices (a reduction of 90 offices).

Following the policy of the Ministry of Finance, the General Department of Taxation issued Decision 855/QD-TCT dated April 24, 2018, establishing a Steering Committee to implement and ensure the successful execution of the plan to establish regional tax offices according to the set roadmap and schedule. Many provincial and city tax departments have briefed key officials within their departments on the purpose and significance of reorganizing the tax office structure, aiming to raise awareness among officials and civil servants, meet the requirements of reform and modernization, and streamline staffing. Simultaneously, many tax departments have proactively reported their plans for reorganizing and merging tax offices within their provinces and cities to seek guidance from local Party committees and authorities.

However, due to organizational restructuring and personnel reduction, which involved human resources and were implemented simultaneously in a short period, difficulties and obstacles inevitably arose. Some tax departments have requested further guidance from the Ministry of Finance and the General Department of Taxation to avoid disruption and negative impacts on budget revenue collection in their respective areas.