Prime Minister requests strict implementation of regulations on electronic invoices in petroleum business and retail

Telegrams sent to the Ministers of Industry and Trade, Finance, Public Security, Information and Communications; Government Inspector General; Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises; Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities; Chairman and General Director of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, Vietnam National Petroleum Group, Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company, Nghi Son Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited; Chairman of Vietnam Petroleum Association.

The dispatch stated: Implementing the provisions of the Law on Tax Administration 2019 and Decree No. 123/2020/ND-CP dated October 19, 2020 of the Government on the use of electronic invoices, the Government and the Prime Minister have issued many documents directing ministries, agencies and enterprises to implement drastic and synchronous solutions in the management of petroleum products to ensure adequate supply of petroleum for production, business, consumption and management of the use of electronic invoices for petroleum business and retail activities, especially recent dispatches and resolutions: dispatches of the Prime Minister: No. 1123/CD-TTg dated November 18, 2023, No. 1284/CD-TTg dated December 1, 2023, No. 1437/CD-TTg dated December 30, 2023, No. 09/CD-TTg dated December 24, 2023. 01 year 2024 and Resolution No. 28/NQ-CP dated March 5, 2024 of the Government.

However, in the context of the world situation continuing to develop in a complicated and unpredictable manner, affecting the price and supply of gasoline and oil in the world and in the country; many businesses, stores trading and retailing gasoline and oil have not strictly implemented regulations; smuggling and commercial fraud in the gasoline and oil sector still pose a potential risk of complicated developments...

To further improve the effectiveness of petroleum management and operation, ensure sufficient petroleum supply for the domestic market and strictly implement regulations on management and use of electronic invoices for petroleum business and retail activities, the Prime Minister requests the Minister of Industry and Trade, the Minister of Finance, the Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises, the Chairmen of the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities, the Chairman and General Director of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, Vietnam National Petroleum Group, Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company, Nghi Son Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, the Chairman of Vietnam Petroleum Association and the Heads of relevant ministries and agencies to seriously, fully, resolutely, promptly and effectively implement the tasks and solutions assigned in the above-mentioned Resolutions of the Government, Official Dispatches and directives of the Prime Minister.

The Minister of Industry and Trade regularly monitors and grasps the situation of the world and domestic petroleum market to proactively take early and remote measures according to authority and regulations to meet the demand for petroleum for production, business and consumption activities of the people, absolutely not allowing shortages or interruptions in petroleum supply in any situation.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade directs petroleum businesses and petroleum retailers nationwide to properly and fully comply with the provisions of the law on petroleum trading; strictly implement regulations on electronic invoices for petroleum trading and retail activities, especially in issuing electronic invoices at petroleum retail stores for customers for each sale at petroleum retail stores and providing electronic invoice data according to regulations. At the same time, continue to research solutions to further simplify payment methods through the application of strong and thorough digital transformation in issuing electronic invoices connected with the tax sector.

Coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities according to their assigned functions and tasks to direct functional forces to consider handling petroleum trading enterprises that do not comply with regulations on electronic invoices, including requesting the temporary suspension of business activities and revoking licenses and certificates of eligibility for petroleum trading according to the direction of the Government in Resolution No. 28/NQ-CP dated March 5, 2024; at the same time, synchronously implement solutions to ensure the supply of petroleum for the domestic market.

Urgently preside over and coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to review, thoroughly and comprehensively evaluate, and propose the development of a Decree to replace the Decrees on petroleum trading in accordance with the direction of the Government Standing Committee in Notice No. 172/TB-VPCP dated October 14, 2023 and the provisions of the Law on promulgation of legal documents, meeting practical requirements and state management work, harmonizing the interests of the state, people and businesses; submit to the Government in the second quarter of 2024.

The Minister of Finance shall preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Public Security, the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities and relevant ministries, agencies and localities to immediately deploy drastic, synchronous and effective solutions requiring petroleum business units to strictly implement regulations on electronic invoices, issue electronic invoices for each sale at petroleum retail stores and connect data with tax authorities as prescribed. Strongly promote and thoroughly implement digital transformation in issuing electronic invoices connected with tax authorities.

The Ministry of Finance directs tax authorities to coordinate with the police and other relevant agencies to step up inspection and examination of the implementation of regulations on electronic invoices and the issuance of electronic invoices at petrol and oil retail stores in accordance with the provisions of law, the Government's direction in Resolution No. 28/NQ-CP dated March 5, 2024 and relevant directions of the Prime Minister; promptly and strictly handle according to the provisions of law if not implemented or intentionally not implemented.

At the same time, continue to preside over and coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and key petroleum traders to review and decide on adjusting related costs in the formula for calculating the basic price of petroleum in accordance with the provisions of the Decrees on petroleum trading and related legal regulations, closely following developments in the world petroleum market and the production and business activities of enterprises.

The Minister of Information and Communications shall closely coordinate with the Ministers of Industry and Trade and Finance to direct press agencies and coordinate with Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam, and Vietnam News Agency to provide official and timely information on the policies and directions of the Government and local ministries and branches on the management and operation of petroleum products, ensuring the supply of petroleum and implementing legal regulations on electronic invoices to create consensus in public opinion, avoiding incorrect reporting that causes market instability. The Ministries of Industry and Trade and Finance shall proactively and actively provide timely information to the Ministry of Information and Communications and press agencies as prescribed.

The Chairman of the State Capital Management Committee at Enterprises shall closely coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to direct the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group and the Vietnam National Petroleum Group to immediately implement the issuance of electronic invoices at retail gasoline stores for customers for each sale at retail gasoline stores and provide electronic invoice data according to regulations and connect with tax authorities through digital transformation; have plans for production, storage, distribution, and regulation of gasoline in a suitable, scientific, and effective manner, ensuring that there is no shortage of gasoline supply for the market.

The National Steering Committee 389, the Ministers of Industry and Trade, Finance, Public Security, Government Inspectorate, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities and Heads of relevant agencies, according to their assigned functions and tasks, shall strengthen inspection and supervision to promptly detect, prevent and strictly handle according to the provisions of law acts of speculation, hoarding, smuggling of gasoline across the border, trade fraud, violations of regulations on gasoline trading, regulations on electronic invoices, etc.; continue to closely monitor gasoline trading activities (gasoline quality, sales time, retail prices of gasoline, use of the Gasoline Price Stabilization Fund, etc.); at the same time, create favorable conditions for traders to conduct business activities, transport, circulate, distribute gasoline and ensure security, social order and safety in the area according to regulations.

Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall strengthen the direction of local departments and branches to closely coordinate with competent authorities on Tax, Police, Industry and Trade and relevant agencies to step up management, inspection, supervision, detection and strict handling of violations, non-implementation or intentional non-implementation of regulations on electronic invoices connecting with tax authorities through digital transformation for local gasoline retail activities in accordance with the directions of the Government in Resolution No. 28/NQ-CP dated March 5, 2024 and of the Prime Minister in Official Dispatch No. 1123/CD-TTg dated November 18, 2023 and No. 1284/CD-TTg dated December 1, 2023.

The Chairman and General Director of the Corporations and Enterprises: Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, Vietnam National Petroleum Group, Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Company, Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Company shall proactively develop production plans, business plans, safe, stable and effective operation of the factories; closely follow the situation of the world and domestic petroleum market, proactively and promptly handle arising situations within their authority, and report to competent authorities in cases beyond their authority, ensuring adequate supply of petroleum to the market according to the plan approved by competent authorities and regulations of law.

Vietnam Petroleum Association strengthens the work of informing members about the developments in the world petroleum market, ensuring accurate, timely and precise information, contributing to creating a basis for orienting the business activities of petroleum traders. Thoroughly instruct members to seriously and fully implement the rights, obligations, responsibilities and business ethics of traders as prescribed in the Decrees on petroleum trading and other relevant legal provisions, especially the strict, complete and timely implementation of regulations on electronic invoices connecting with tax authorities for petroleum trading activities in accordance with the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister.