VietNamNet Bridge - Though having not paid VND400 billion in tax, the two gold mining companies run by Besra Group in Quang Nam province may still be allowed to export nearly 400 kilos of gold.

Deputy Governor of the State Bank Nguyen Thi Hong has sent a document to the government, proposing that the government allow Bong Mieu and Phuoc Son Gold Mining Companies to export gold. 

The exporters are businesses that have not paid tax despite the repeated reminders from the Quang Nam provincial taxation body. They have been forced to stop exploiting gold, they still want to export gold.

Bong Mieu in July 2015 sent a dispatch to the State Bank asking for the permission to export 175 kilos of gold, while Phuoc Son wants to export 200 kilos.

The State Bank thinks that though the two gold miners have not fulfilled their tax duties, they still should be allowed to export gold to ease the difficulties they are facing. If they can export gold, they would have money to pay workers and pay tax while drawing up  restructuring plans.

If Bong Mieu and Phuoc Son are allowed to export gold, they must make commitments to fulfill tax duties after the export.

The State Bank’s proposal has raised anger among the public, because the two gold miners are on the Quang Nam taxation body’s blacklist as enterprises which deliberately do not fulfill tax duties. 

Meanwhile, the Bong Mieu Gold Company is now under investigation by the Quang Nam provincial Police which has tried to clarify the company’s behavior of issuing blank bills to sell VND107 billion worth of gold.

An analyst commented that he cannot understand why the State Bank still agrees on the miners’ proposal to export gold if it knows that under current laws, companies can only export material gold if they have not violated laws within the last 12 months.

Prior to that, the General Department of Taxation released a decision allowing Bong Mieu to issue a bill of sale of gold in the domestic market. However, as the decision faced strong opposition from the public, the taxation body has stopped the document.

Nguyen Viet Xuan, head of the Quang Nam provincial taxation agency, when asked to comment about the State Bank’s proposal, said the taxation body was consulted with before the decision was made. 

Xuan said the taxation body would agree to allow Bong Mieu and Phuoc Son to export gold if they promise to fulfill tax duties. If the two companies cannot pay the tax sum within 12 months, the State Bank will have to take responsibility.

NLD