15 new policies came into effect in January 2017.

(Baonghean.vn) - Seven cases exempted from business license fees; regional minimum wage; fees for issuing new Citizen Identity Cards; new regulations on registration and license plate fees for cars and motorbikes;... are some of the new policies that came into effect from January 2017.

1. There are 7 cases where business license fees are waived.

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Decree No. 139/2016/ND-CP dated October 4, 2016, regulating business license fees, effective from January 1, 2017, stipulates 7 cases where business license fees are exempted, including:

+ Individuals, groups of individuals, and households engaged in production and business activities with annual revenue of 100 million VND or less.

+ Individuals, groups of individuals, and households engaged in irregular production and business activities; without a fixed business location, as guided by the Ministry of Finance.

+ Individuals, groups of individuals, and households producing salt.

+ Organizations, individuals, groups of individuals, and households engaged in aquaculture, fishing, and fisheries logistics services.

+ Community post office; media outlets (print, radio, television, online).

+ Branches, representative offices, and business locations of cooperatives providing technical services directly serving agricultural production.

+ People's credit funds at the commune level; cooperatives specializing in providing services for agricultural production; branches, representative offices, and business locations of cooperatives and private enterprises operating in mountainous areas. Mountainous areas are defined according to the regulations of the Committee for Ethnic Minorities.

2. Collect a 10% registration fee on passenger cars with 9 seats or fewer.

Passenger cars with 9 seats or fewer are subject to a 10% registration fee for the first time (illustrative image/source: internet).

According to Decree 140/2016/ND-CP dated October 10, 2016, on registration fees, effective from January 1, 2017, the registration fee is 2% for automobiles, trailers or semi-trailers towed by automobiles, and similar vehicles.

Specifically, passenger cars with 9 seats or fewer are subject to a 10% initial registration fee. If a higher rate is deemed appropriate to local conditions, the Provincial/City People's Council may decide to adjust the rate upwards, but not exceeding 50% of the general rate.

For passenger cars with 9 seats or fewer, the registration fee for the second and subsequent registrations is 2%, and this rate is applied uniformly nationwide.

3. Some specific mechanisms for Da Nang City

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Decree No. 144/2016/ND-CP dated November 1, 2016, stipulates a number of specific mechanisms regarding investment, finance, budget, and decentralized management for Da Nang City, effective from January 1, 2017.

This special mechanism aims to promote the rapid and sustainable socio-economic development of the City; creating conditions for the City to leverage its advantages to become one of the major cities in the country.

To transform Da Nang into a major socio-economic center, playing the role of an industrial, commercial, and service hub for Central Vietnam by 2020; creating a significant impetus for the development of provinces in the Central and Central Highlands regions.

4. Increase forest environmental service fees.

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The government has just issued Decree No. 147/2016/ND-CP amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 99/2010/ND-CP dated September 24, 2010 of the Government on the policy of payment for forest environmental services.

Effective from January 1, 2017, Decree No. 147/2016/ND-CP dated November 2, 2016 amends and supplements several articles of Decree No. 99/2010/ND-CP dated September 24, 2010 of the Government on the policy of payment for forest environmental services (FES).

One of the amendments is to adjust the payment rates for environmental services for hydropower and water treatment plants.

According to the amendment, the payment rate for environmental services for hydropower plants increased from 20 VND/kWh to 36 VND/kWh, and for clean water production facilities from 40 VND/m3 to 52 VND/m3.

5. The Ministry of Industry and Trade receives and reviews milk price registrations.

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Decree No. 149/2016/ND-CP, amending and supplementing several articles of Decree No. 177/2013/ND-CP, recently issued by the Government, stipulates that the Ministry of Industry and Trade shall receive and review price registration forms for milk products intended for children under 6 years old; the Ministry of Health shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to provide detailed guidance on the list of these products.

Effective from January 1, 2017, Decree 149/2016/ND-CP dated November 11, 2016 amends and supplements several articles of Decree No. 177/2013/ND-CP dated November 14, 2013 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of several articles of the Law on Prices.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade receives and reviews the price registration forms for milk products for children under 6 years old; the Ministry of Health, in coordination with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will provide detailed guidance on the list of these products.

6. Regional minimum wage

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According to Decree No. 153/2016/ND-CP dated November 14, 2016, stipulating the regional minimum wage for employees working under labor contracts effective from January 1, 2017, the regional minimum wage applicable to employees working in enterprises from January 1, 2017, is as follows:

Region I: 3,750,000 VND/month;

Region II: 3,320,000 VND/month;

Region III: 2,900,000 VND/month;

Region IV: 2,580,000 VND/month.

Thus, the new regional minimum wage is approximately 180,000-250,000 VND/month higher than the current wage.

7. Environmental protection fee for wastewater

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Effective from January 1, 2017, Decree No. 154/2016/ND-CP dated November 16, 2016, stipulates the subjects liable for fees, cases of exemption, fee payers, collection rates, declaration, payment, management, and use of environmental protection fees for wastewater.

The decree clearly stipulates that the environmental protection fee for domestic wastewater is 10% of the selling price of 1 m3 of clean water, excluding value-added tax. If a higher rate is deemed necessary, the People's Council of the province or centrally-governed city shall decide on a specific rate appropriate to the local situation.

Environmental fees are revenue collected from the state budget for environmental protection activities, calculated based on the amount of pollutants emitted and the cost of pollution treatment or remediation of negative impacts caused by pollutants on the environment. The purpose of environmental fees is to prevent the discharge of treatable pollutants into the environment, including domestic wastewater.

8. Types of digital certificates used for digital signing in financial transactions.

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According to Decree 156/2016/ND-CP dated November 21, 2016, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 27/2007/ND-CP dated February 23, 2007, of the Government on electronic transactions in financial activities, effective from January 10, 2017, the types of digital certificates used for digital signing in financial activities between organizations, individuals and financial institutions are as follows:

Digital certificates are issued by public digital signature certification service providers; digital certificates issued by specialized digital signature certification service providers serving agencies within the political system; recognized foreign digital certificates; foreign digital certificates accepted in Vietnam; foreign digital certificates accepted in international transactions.

9. Regulations on the establishment of Veterans Associations in enterprises.

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Effective from January 15, 2017, Decree 157/2016/ND-CP dated November 24, 2016 amends and supplements Decree 150/2016/ND-CP dated December 12, 2006, which provides detailed regulations and guidance on the implementation of several articles of the Ordinance on War Veterans, including the addition of regulations on the establishment of War Veterans Associations in enterprises.

Specifically, within enterprises that meet the conditions for establishing a Veterans Association, the following procedures apply: For enterprises with a Party organization, the higher-level Veterans Association, in coordination with the Party organization within the enterprise, will establish a Veterans Association within that enterprise, based on specific conditions.

For businesses without a Party organization, if the employees are veterans and wish to establish an association, the higher-level Party organization will coordinate with the business and the higher-level Veterans Association to consider and decide on the establishment of a Veterans Association within that business.

10. Conditions for exploring mineral resources used as common building materials.

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Decree No. 158/2016/ND-CP dated November 29, 2016, detailing the implementation of several articles of the Mineral Law, effective from January 15, 2017, clearly stipulates the conditions for business households to explore for minerals used as common construction materials. Specifically, business households as defined in Clause 2, Article 34 of the Mineral Law are granted a license to explore for minerals used as common construction materials when they meet the following conditions:

1. Selected by the Provincial People's Committee in accordance with Article 15 of this Decree; having a contract with an organization that meets the conditions for practicing mineral exploration as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 35 of the Mineral Law to implement the exploration project;

2. There must be a mineral exploration plan for common building materials in accordance with regulations and consistent with the mineral exploration, exploitation, and utilization plan of the province or centrally-administered city where the minerals are located;

3. The area proposed for exploration shall not exceed 1 hectare.

11. Regulations detailing certain provisions of the Law on State Budget

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The government has issued Decree No. 163/2016/ND-CP dated December 21, 2016, detailing the implementation of several articles of the Law on State Budget.

Effective from January 1, 2017, Decree No. 163/2016/ND-CP dated December 21, 2016, provides detailed regulations for the implementation of several articles of the Law on State Budget concerning budget preparation; budget revenue collection; budget expenditure control and payment; state budget management based on performance results; budget settlement; principles, conditions, and authority for budget advance payments, transfer of funds, and use of budget reserves; use of financial reserve funds; public disclosure of the state budget, community oversight of the state budget, and other matters as stipulated in the Law on State Budget...

12. Maximum price for road usage services

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The Ministry of Transport has issued Circular No. 35/2016/TT-BGTVT stipulating the maximum price for road usage services in road construction investment projects for business purposes managed by the Ministry of Transport, including national highways and expressways, effective from January 1, 2017.

Accordingly, the maximum price for a single use of road services is the maximum fee stipulated for each vehicle group (including value-added tax). The maximum monthly price is the maximum fee for road usage services when a vehicle passes through the toll station within a 30-day period. The maximum monthly price is calculated as 30 times the maximum price for a single use.

The quarterly maximum price is the maximum fee for road usage services when vehicles pass through the toll station within a 90-day period. The quarterly maximum price is calculated as three times the monthly maximum price plus a 10% discount.

13. New regulations on business registration fees

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From January 1, 2017, the rates, collection methods, management, and use of fees for providing business information and business registration fees will be implemented according to the regulations in Circular 215/2016/TT-BTC newly issued by the Ministry of Finance.

Accordingly, organizations and individuals registering businesses under Vietnamese law must pay a business registration fee.

Organizations and individuals using business information services must pay a fee for providing business information.

The following entities are exempt from fees: Businesses that supplement or change information due to changes in administrative boundaries; businesses registering for dissolution or temporary suspension of operations; businesses terminating the operation of branches, representative offices, or business locations; businesses registering online; and state agencies requesting information for state management purposes.

14. Fee for issuing a new Citizen Identity Card: 30,000 VND

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According to Circular No. 256/2016/TT-BTC regulating the fee rates, collection methods, and management of fees for issuing Citizen Identity Cards, effective from January 1, 2017, the fee rates for issuing new, replacing, and reissuing Citizen Identity Cards are as follows: For citizens aged 16 and above applying for a new Citizen Identity Card; replacing a Citizen Identity Card upon reaching the ages of 25, 40, and 60; or converting from a 9-digit or 12-digit National Identity Card to a Citizen Identity Card, the fee is 30,000 VND per Citizen Identity Card.

Replacing a Citizen Identity Card when it is damaged and unusable; changing information about surname, middle name, given name; personal characteristics; re-determining gender, place of origin; correcting errors in information on the card; upon citizen's request, the fee is 50,000 VND per Citizen Identity Card.

Reissuing a Citizen Identity Card when the original card is lost, or regaining Vietnamese citizenship according to the provisions of the Vietnamese Nationality Law, costs 70,000 VND per Citizen Identity Card.

15. New regulations on registration fees and license plate issuance for cars and motorcycles.

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The Ministry of Finance has just issued Circular 229/2016/TT-BTC regulating the rates, collection methods, payment, and management of registration fees and license plate issuance for road motor vehicles.

Accordingly, the registration and license plate fees for vehicles are divided into different levels for 3 regions: Region I includes Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City; Region II includes centrally-governed cities (excluding Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City), provincial cities, and towns; Region III includes all other areas outside Regions I and II mentioned above.

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