Official Letter No. 4923/TCHQ-TXNK regarding the selection of a commercial bank to be VAT refund agents for foreigners
Name of legal document: Official Letter No. 4923/TCHQ-TXNK issued on 24/07/2020 by the General Department of Customs of the Ministry of Finance on regarding the selection of a commercial bank to be VAT refund agents for foreigners (referred to as the “Official Letter No. 4923/TCHQ-TXNK”).
Effective date: 24/07/2020.
Some contents should be noted:
Firstly,“General Department of Customs informs banks to know and request banks research to register as VAT refund agent for foreigners at Da Nang International Airport” and “Registration documents please send to the General Department of Customs before August 15, 2020”.
Secondly, issuing an Appendix on the list of banks cooperating to collect, specifically:
“APPENDIX
LIST OF BANKS COOPERATING TO COLLECT (Issued together with Official Letter No. 4923/TCHQ-TXNK dated July 24, 2020 of the General Department of Customs)
No.
Name of commercial bank
1
Joint Stock Commercial Bank For Investment And Development Of Vietnam (BIDV)
2
Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MbBank)
3
Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank)
4
Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB)
5
Vietnam Technological And Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank)
6
Vietnam Bank For Agriculture and Rural Development
7
VIETNAM MARITIME COMMERCIAL JOINT STOCK BANK (Maritimebank)
8
Vietnam Prosperity Bank (Vpbank)
9
HoChiMinh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDBank)
10
Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB)
11
Australia and New Zealand Banking
12
An Binh Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ABbank)
13
LIEN VIET POST JOINT STOCK COMMERCIAL BANK (LienVietPostBank)
14
PETROLIMEX GROUP COMMERCIAL JOINT STOCK BANK (PGbank)
15
Ngân hàng The Bank of Tokyo – Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd (BTMU)
16
DongA Bank
17
Saigon Commercial Bank (SCB)
18
Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Sacombank)
19
Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank (TPBank)
20
Saigon – Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB)
21
Nam A Commercial Joint Stock Bank
22
Southeast Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SeABank)
23
VIET CAPITAL JOINT STOCK BANK (VCCB)
24
MIZUHO BANK, LTD.
25
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)
26
INDOVINA BANK LIMITED
27
SHINHAN BANK VIETNAM LIMITED
28
VietNam-Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank
29
CITIBANK N.A.
30
Kien Long Commercial Joint Stock Bank KienLongBank)
1. CÁC VĂN BẢN PHÁP LUẬT ĐƯỢC BAN HÀNH TRONG THÁNG 07/2020
Công văn 4923/TCHQ-TXNK về việc lựa chọn ngân hàng thương mại là đại lý hoàn thuế GTGT
Tên văn bản pháp luật: Công văn 4923/TCHQ-TXNK ban hành ngày 24/07/2020 của Tổng cục Hải quan Bộ Tài chính về việc về việc lựa chọn ngân hàng thương mại là đại lý hoàn thuế GTGT (sau đây viết tắt là “Công văn số 4923/ TCHQ-TXNK”)
Ngày có hiệu lực: 24/07/2020.
Một số nội dung có thể lưu ý:.
Một là, “Tổng cục Hải quan thông báo để các ngân hàng biết và đề nghị các ngân hàng nghiên cứu đăng ký tham gia làm đại lý hoàn thuế GTGT cho người nước ngoài tại sân bay quốc tế Đà Nẵng” và “Văn bản đăng ký xin gửi về Tổng cục Hải quan trước ngày 15/8/2020”.
Hai là, ban hành Phụ lục Danh sách các ngân hàng phối hợp thu, cụ thể:
“PHỤ LỤC
DANH SÁCH CÁC NGÂN HÀNG PHỐI HỢP THU (Ban hành kèm theo công văn số 4923/TCHQ-TXNK ngày 24 tháng 7 năm 2020 của Tổng cục Hải quan)
TT
Tên ngân hàng thương mại
1
Ngân hàng TMCP Đầu tư và Phát triển Việt Nam (BIDV)
2
Ngân hàng TMCP Quân đội (Mbbank)
3
Ngân hàng TMCP Ngoại thương Việt Nam (Vietcombank)
4
Ngân hàng TMCP Quốc tế (VIB)
5
Ngân hàng TMCP Kỹ thương Việt Nam (Techcombank)
6
Ngân hàng Nông nghiệp và phát triển nông thôn Việt Nam
7
Ngân hàng TMCP Hàng hải (Maritimebank)
8
Ngân hàng TMCP Việt Nam Thịnh vượng (Vpbank)
9
Ngân hàng Phát triển Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (HDBank)
10
Ngân hàng TMCP Phương đông (OCB)
11
Ngân hàng TNHH một thành viên ANZ (Việt Nam)
12
Ngân hàng TMCP An bình (ABbank)
13
Ngân hàng TMCP Bưu điện Liên Việt (LienVietPostBank)
14
Ngân hàng TMCP Xăng dầu (PGbank)
15
Ngân hàng The Bank of Tokyo – Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd (BTMU)
16
Ngân hàng TMCP Đông Á (DongA Bank)
17
Ngân hàng TMCP Sài gòn (SCB)
18
Ngân hàng TMCP Sài gòn Thương tín (Sacombank)
19
Ngân hàng TMCP Tiên Phong (TPBank)
20
Ngân hàng TMCP Sài Gòn – Hà Nội (SHB)
21
Ngân hàng thương mại cổ phần Nam Á
22
Ngân hàng TMCP Đông Nam Á (SeABank)
23
Ngân hàng TMCP Bản Việt (VCCB)
24
Ngân hàng Mizuho Bank, Ltd
25
Ngân hàng Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)
26
Ngân hàng trách nhiệm hữu hạn INDOVINA
27
Ngân hàng TNHH một thành viên Shinhan Việt Nam
28
Ngân hàng thương mại cổ phần Việt Á
29
Ngân hàng CITIBANK, N.A.,
30
Ngân hàng thương mại cố phần Kiên Long (KienLongBank)
Decision No. 1121/QD-NHNN on the amendment of the Circular No. 52/2018/TT-NHNN dated December 31, 2018 of the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam prescribing credit rating of credit institutions and foreign bank branches
Name of legal document: Decision No. 1121/QD-NHNN issued on 22/06/2020 by the State Bank of Viet Nam on the amendment of the Circular No. 52/2018/TT-NHNN dated December 31, 2018 of the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam prescribing credit rating of credit institutions and foreign bank branches (referred to as the “Decision No. 1121/QD-NHNN”).
Effective date: 22/06/2020.
Some contents should be noted:
Firstly, correcting the phrase “The higher the value of a quantitative indicator, the higher the risk level”.
Specifically, Clause 2 Article 1 of Circular No. 52/2018/TT-NHNN stipulates: “Article 1. Correction of a number of technical errors prescribed in the Circular No. 52/2018/TT-NHNN dated December 31, 2018 of the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam regulating the classification of credit institutions and bank branches are as follows:
…
2. Article 14:
At ordinal number 2.5 The Table of Scoring benchmarks for specific quantitative indicators, correcting the phrase “The higher the value of a quantitative indicator, the higher the risk level” to “The higher the value of a quantitative indicator, the lower the risk level”.”
Secondly, correcting technical errors in Article 16 of Circular No. 52/2018/TT-NHNN.
Specifically, Clause 2 Article 1 of Circular No. 52/2018/TT-NHNN stipulates: “Article 1. Correction of a number of technical errors prescribed in the Circular No. 52/2018/TT-NHNN dated December 31, 2018 of the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam regulating the classification of credit institutions and bank branches are as follows:
…
3. In Article 16 of Circular 52 printed:
“3. In case where credit institutions or foreign bank branches have yet to be or are not subject to…”
Now revised to: “4. In case where credit institutions or foreign bank branches have yet to be or are not subject to…””
1. CÁC VĂN BẢN PHÁP LUẬT ĐƯỢC BAN HÀNH TRONG THÁNG 06/2020
Quyết định số 1121/QĐ-NHNN về việc đính chính Thông tư số 52/2018/TT-NHNN ngày 31/12/2018 của Thống đốc Ngân hàng Nhà nước quy định xếp hạng tổ chức tín dụng, chi nhánh ngân hàng nước ngoài
Tên văn bản pháp luật: Quyết định số định số 1121/QĐ-NHNN ban hành ngày 22/06/2020 của Ngân hàng Nhà nước Việt Nam về việc đính chính Thông tư số 52/2018/TT-NHNNngày 31/12/2018 của Thống đốc Ngân hàng Nhà nước quy định xếp hạng tổ chức tín dụng, chi nhánh ngân hàng nước ngoài (sau đây viết tắt là “Quyết định số 1121/QĐ-NHNN”)
Ngày có hiệu lực: 22/06/2020.
Một số nội dung có thể lưu ý:
Một là, đính chính cụm từ “Chỉ tiêu định lượng có giá trị càng lớn thì mức độ rủi ro càng tăng”
Cụ thể, khoản 2 Điều 1 Quyết định số 1121/QĐ-NHNN quy định: “Điều 1. Đính chính một số lỗi kỹ thuật quy định tại Thông tư số 52/2018/TT-NHNN ngày 31 tháng 12 năm 2018 của Thống đốc Ngân hàng Nhà nước quy định xếp hạng tổ chức tín dụng, chi nhánh ngân hàng nước ngoài như sau:
…
2. Điều 14:
Tại số thứ tự 2.5 Bảng ngưỡng tính điểm từng chỉ tiêu định lượng, đính chính cụm từ “Chỉ tiêu định lượng có giá trị càng lớn thì mức độ rủi ro càng tăng” thành “Chỉ tiêu định lượng có giá trị càng lớn thì mức độ rủi ro càng giảm”.”
Hai là, đính chính lỗi kỹ thuật tại Điều 16 Thông tư số 52/2018/TT-NHNN.
Cụ thể, khoản 3 Điều 1 Quyết định số 1121/QĐ-NHNN quy định: “Điều 1. Đính chính một số lỗi kỹ thuật quy định tại Thông tư số 52/2018/TT-NHNN ngày 31 tháng 12 năm 2018 của Thống đốc Ngân hàng Nhà nước quy định xếp hạng tổ chức tín dụng, chi nhánh ngân hàng nước ngoài như sau:
…
3. TạiĐiều 16 Thông tư 52đã in:
“3. Tổ chức tín dụng, chi nhánh ngân hàng nước ngoài chưa hoặc không thuộc đối tượng…”
Nay sửa thành: “4. Tổ chức tín dụng, chi nhánh ngân hàng nước ngoài chưa hoặc không thuộc đối tượng…”
On 1st Feb 2020 in Vietnam, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 173/QD-TTg about the Declaration of Covid-19 epidemic – novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease[1] (“Covid-19”). On that basis, recently the State authorities have issued a number of documents to prevent and control this Covid-19, which may have affected company’s production, business and human resources activities, as well as the ability to perform contractual obligations previously concluded.
Therefore, QNT Law Firm would like to send this Legal Update to you in order to help you get a basic view on some of legal issues related to Covid-19, namely: Force Majeure and Basic Change of Circumstances under laws of Vietnam. Hopefully this document will be useful to you in the meantime.
1. Force Majeure
Under the provisions of laws of Vietnam, where an obligor is not able to perform a civil obligation due to an event of force majeure, it shall not have civil liability[2], commercial liability[3] unless otherwise agreed or otherwise provided by law.
In particular, a force majeure event (“Force Majeure”) is understood to be an event which occurs in an objective manner which is not able to be foreseen and which is not able to be remedied by all possible necessary and admissible measures being taken[4]. Accordingly, to an event is called Force Majeure when:
An event occurs in an objective manner which is not able to be foreseen; and
(Consequences of the event/Liability) which is not able to be remedied (by the exempt Party) by all possible necessary and admissible measures being taken.
In connection with the Covid-19, we understand that:
Firstly, emphasize that, the Prime Minister’s Decision on the declaration of Covid-19 above is not a sufficient legal basis so that you do not have to bear civil and commercial liability due to the Force Majeure.
Secondly, the Prime Minister’s Decision on the declaration of Covid-19 above is the legal basis for determining that the Covid-19 is an objective manner occurrence[5] – only one of the conditions for obtaining the Covid-19 could be considered a Force Majeure to waive liability for the exempt Party.
Thirdly, when the Covid-19 may referred to as an force majeure event to waive liability for its failed obligations, the obligor must prove[6] that it failed to remedy the consequences of the event (cause of failure to comply with the obligations), although he/his has taken all necessary measures in its permissible capacity to remedy them.
In addition, from 18 December 2015, Vietnam officially ratified the accession to the Vienna Convention on the Contract of International Sales of Goods of the United Nations (CISG). In particular, Clause 1, Article 79 of the CISG also provides for exemption of liability, specifically: “A party is not liable for a failure to perform any of his obligations if he proves that the failure was due to an impediment beyond his control and that he could not reasonably be expected to have taken the impediment into account at the time of the conclusion of the contract or to have avoided or overcome it or its consequences.”.
The exemption of liability due to a Force Majeure shall be determined on a case-by-case basis, on the basis of consideration of the Parties’ lawful terms of agreement on definitions, conditions of application and legal consequences, etc. of the Force Majeure stipulated in the signed Contract.
2. Basic Change of Circumstances
Under the provisions of laws of Vietnam, in the case of basic circumstances change, the affected party may request the other party to the re-negotiate the contract in a reasonable period of time[7].
In particular, the basic change of circumstances (“BCC”) is construed as having fully met the following conditions:
The circumstances change due to objective reasons occurred after the conclusion of the contract;
At the time of concluding the contract, the parties could not foresee a change in circumstances;
The circumstances change such greatly that if the parties know in advance, the contract has not been concluded or are concluded, but with completely different content;
The continuation of the contract without the change in the contract would cause serious damage to one party;
The party having interests adversely affected has adopted all the necessary measures in its ability, in accordance with the nature of the contract, cannot prevent or minimize the extent of effect.[8]
The BBC and Force Majeure are mainly different in the following:
Criteria
Force Majeure
Basic Change of Circumstances
Desire
The obligor wishes to be exempt from liability.
The affected party wishes to renegotiate the Contract.
Conditions
Requests cannot overcome the consequences of an event even though all necessary measures have been taken in its ability (they cannot fulfill their obligations).
Requests has taken all necessary measures in its ability, in accordance with the nature of the contract, cannot prevent or minimize the extent of effect (they cannot prevent, minimize damage).
In connection with the Covid-19, we understand that:
Firstly, the Prime Minister’s Decision on the declaration of Covid-19 above is the legal basis for determining the condition of “objective reasons occurred”.
Secondly, the affected Party must basically demonstrate the following issues:
There is a great change in the circumstances of Contract performance compared to the signed time.
Serious damage to them if the content of the Contract is not changed.
It has taken all necessary measures in its ability, consistent with the nature of the Contract but could not prevent, minimize the extent of effect.
Therefore, if the consequences of the Covid-19 cause serious damage when performing the Contract, you can consider applying this BCC provision. If the Parties cannot reach an agreement on amending the Contract within a reasonable period of time, any of the Parties may request a Court to handle. Note that, in the process of negotiating amendments and termination of the Contract and the Court handling the case, the Parties must continue to perform its obligations under the Contract, unless otherwise agreed.
[1] Replaced by the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 447/QD-TTg dated April 1, 2020
[5] This issue is based on information officially published in Vietnam.
[6] Clause 2 Article 294 of Law on Commercial stipulates: “The contract-breaching party shall bear the burden of proof of cases of liability exemption”
