The effectiveness of lead seals at gas stations

(Baonghean) - To rectify the situation of commercial fraud in the petroleum business, prevent tax losses, and promptly prevent acts of violating consumer rights, the province has directed functional branches to coordinate in implementing solutions to seal total meters on petroleum measuring devices. After 3 months of implementation, most of the petroleum stations in the province have basically been sealed.

In Yen Thanh, after just over 1 month of implementing lead seals, 48/50 gas stations have been stamped. Currently, Hoanh Son Company Limited and Thanh Truc Private Enterprise have not complied with the stamping. Yen Thanh has 5 enterprises that have implemented the accounting regime and paid taxes according to the declaration, while the remaining stores pay taxes on a lump sum basis. Mr. Duong Minh Duc, Head of Yen Thanh Tax Department, said: After sealing the gas stations, Yen Thanh Tax Department has strengthened management work, periodically sent staff to regularly check the status of the seals, and recorded numbers on the meter each month to determine the amount of gasoline sold.

Yen Thanh Tax Department officers inspected a gas station in Yen Thanh Town.

To facilitate the sealing of petrol stations, Yen Thanh has sent an official dispatch to notify businesses before implementation. For stores that pay taxes by contract, on average paying 300,000 - 400,000 VND/business/month, Yen Thanh Tax Department has compiled, reviewed, and invited petrol businesses to a meeting to switch from contract to tax payment by declaration. Through the declaration activity, petrol businesses must open accounting books, making it easier for authorities to control. Propagating to businesses to proactively pay taxes electronically for convenience in management. Representative of the petrol owner, Yen Thanh Trading Company (Yen Thanh Town) shared: Switching from contract to tax declaration is more convenient for businesses, we also agree with the State's policy to do business equally.

According to Mr. Duong Minh Duc, Head of Yen Thanh Tax Department, the previous amount was only 300,000 VND/month/household, but now some businesses have self-declared from 800,000 VND to 1 million VND/household/month, so the tax rate has increased. However, after recording the meter numbers, the Tax Department continues to conduct inspections to compare, requiring businesses to declare additional revenue, tax arrears and pay to the budget according to State regulations. For the 2 businesses that have not complied with the sealing stamps, at that time there were no sanctions, the Provincial Tax Department is asking for opinions from superiors to soon proceed with the next steps.

After checking and inspecting, there are 57 petrol and oil trading establishments in Quynh Luu district. Currently, the functional agencies have affixed stamps to 47 petrol and oil stations. The reason for not having affixed stamps is known to be because some pumps are broken. Mr. Nguyen Van Thang, Head of Quynh Luu Tax Department, said: At this time, Quynh Luu Tax Department is dividing the teams to record the numbers on the petrol and oil station meters to compare the monthly declarations of taxpayers and the amount of petrol and oil imported (based on the supplier's invoices). The Department periodically checks the condition of the seals. In case of detecting damaged stamps, the cause will be determined and a record of fines will be drawn up according to regulations.

It is expected that by the end of September 1, 2015, the Quynh Luu Tax Department will have finalized the list of total meter readings for 47/47 petrol stations. Mr. Tran Dinh Phiem, owner of Hai Ha private enterprise (Quynh Hong, Quynh Luu), a new enterprise that has been allowed to put stamps on petrol stations, said: "Tax officers read total meters to finalize quarterly quickly, without affecting the time of petrol businesses. Enterprises also proactively declare taxes quarterly to pay to the State."

In the districts of Dien Chau, Nam Dan, Thanh Chuong... the tax departments also arranged teams to read the total meters of petrol stations. By the end of October 1, Dien Chau Tax Department had completed reading the total meters, finalizing the data of 45/45 petrol stations. Notably, during the process of reading the total meters, tax officers discovered that Quang Khanh Enterprise in Dien An commune had altered the seal, the department reminded the unit and handled the matter.

Up to now, after 3 months of deployment, the provincial interdisciplinary inspection team including representatives of the Tax Department, the Department of Science and Technology, and tax branches have sealed the meters (meters) of over 800 pumps of more than 600 petrol stations in the province. After sealing, the Provincial Tax Department has directed to strengthen the inspection of the status of the stickers. Every month, the Provincial Tax Department directs tax agencies to record the total meter numbers to determine the amount of petrol and oil sold and compare them with the tax declaration. If violations are detected, timely sanctions will be taken. Every quarter, the Provincial Tax Department synthesizes and reports to the Provincial People's Committee on the results of the implementation of the above assigned tasks. Currently, the tax branches are simultaneously recording the numbers on the total meter quarterly.

Ms. Hong Anh, Head of the General Department of Budget Estimates of the Provincial Tax Department, added: After the period of stamping the gas station meters, most businesses have complied with the province's policy, especially for input, many businesses have purchased gasoline at the main points that have registered to declare taxes in accordance with the law. According to Ms. Hong Anh, if the stores buy gasoline in the right "stream", it will contribute to increasing the budget in the province. If they buy smuggled gasoline, they will lose 4,000 - 5,000 VND/liter in tax. According to the Tax Department's estimate, after stamping, the environmental protection tax from gasoline will increase by 5 - 6 billion VND. Other taxes may also increase after the Tax Department synthesizes the first quarter data after the seal.

The current issue is the need to continue to strengthen management and inspection after labeling. After monthly and quarterly verification, if violations in the export and import of raw materials are discovered, the petroleum business establishments must be strictly handled according to the law. Focus on thoroughly and comprehensively inspecting all petroleum business establishments in the area regarding compliance with legal regulations in petroleum business activities regarding business registration, price posting and selling at the correct listed price, measuring equipment, petroleum quality, etc.

Van Truong