PIT adjustments to amplify consumer spending

PIT adjustments to amplify consumer spending, illustration photo

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee has officially approved the personal income tax (PIT) deduction based on dependents. Accordingly, the deduction for taxpayers will be raised from VND9 million ($390) to VND11 million ($480) per month, while the deduction for each dependent will be lifted from VND3.6 million ($160) to VND4.4 million ($190).

The new scheme is expected to be applied right away for this year’s tax period and aims to cushion distressed taxpayers in the face of a staggering economy. It is applicable for employment income only, not for capital gains and investment income.

According to Nguyen Tan Tai, manager of Tax and Corporate Services at Grant Thorton Vietnam, under the withholding mechanism, companies only collect taxes on behalf of local tax authorities as they are the source of income. That is to say, the change on tax deduction should bring benefits directly to individual taxpayers because it will ease the pressure for them, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic difficulties imposed by it.

In the long run, this policy can bring positive impacts to business, including foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs), as it can promote consumers’ spending due to an increase in their net earnings, and plays its part in driving up the economy.

“At Grant Thorton Vietnam, we will apply the new reduction when the new PIT deduction scheme is effective. The benefits of the new policy will go directly to our employees,” said Tai.

Nguyen Van Phung, director of the Department of Tax Administration at Large Enterprises from the General Department of Taxation, told VIR that PIT will be applied to all employees, including those who work for FIEs.

Accordingly, the new PIT deduction is applicable from January 1, 2020. Hence, for employers finalising PIT on behalf of their employees at the year-end tax period in 2021, if employees’ tax liability is less than the sum of tax paid during the year, they can claim a refund.

A representative from Everpia JSC, which runs the popular bedding brand Everon and entered Vietnam 25 years ago with factories in Hanoi, Hung Yen, and Dong Nai provinces, told VIR that the majority of its employees would benefit from the newly adopted PIT. “As a South Korean firm operating in Vietnam, we closely follow the Vietnamese tax policy. The deduction for taxpayers is consistent with market volatility and current economic struggles, and is a boon for our employees.”

The new measure, on the other hand, might have little spillover effects on some businesses which cover PIT for expats. WK Vina, an FIE focusing on construction, confirmed with VIR that salaries of its foreign employees will not be significantly affected since they are higher than the PIT deduction threhold.

Increasing deduction for PIT would lower tax revenue significantly. The Ministry of Finance estimates that if the proposal is implemented, the budget will lead to an approximate reduction of VND10.3 trillion ($448 million) in annual revenue. However, more than one million employees will avail themselves of the new relief measure. Furthermore, the deadline for payments of PIT will be extended to December 31, 2020 as per Decree No.41/2020/ND-CP dated April 8, which is applicable to individuals and business households working in the eligible business lines.