The Nghe An Taxation Agency applied coercive measures (deducting money from bank accounts) to force Thien Minh Duc Group in Vinh City in Nghe An province to pay tax arrears and fines for delays in tax payments, totaling VND940 billion.

The taxation agency also did not allow Chu Thi Thanh, president of Thien Minh Duc, the legal representative of the company, to leave the country because her company had not fulfilled tax duties.

Thien Minh Duc, which became operational in 2001, trades petroleum products throughout the country. The company also invests in real estate, paper and packaging production, and restaurants and hotels in many localities.

The government’s inspectors found that some wholesale traders lent money to individuals who used money for personal purposes, equal to trillions of dong.

In 2017-2022, the company lent VND7.485 trillion to Chu Dang Khoa, deputy CEO, and Thanh. By the time of inspection, the two individuals had owed VND1.396 trillion. 

The Hau Giang Taxation Agency has forced the Nam Song Hau Trading Investing Petroleum JSC in Chau Thanh district in Hau Giang province to pay tax debts.

The decision was released because the company had owed taxes for more than 90 days and the amount is VND1.1 trillion, valid from December 18, 2023 to December 17, 2024.

For the same reason, in mid-December 2023, the Can Tho City Taxation Agency forced Can Tho Branch of the company to pay a debt of VND92 billion.

Nam Song Hau is a large petroleum enterprise in the Mekong Delta, with branches in many provinces, including Can Tho, Hau Giang, Soc Trang and Bac Lieu. The company also invests in restaurants, hotels, agriculture and aquaculture.

The General Department of Customs (GDC) has requested local customs agencies to stop customs procedures for the petroleum products and materials of Hai Ha Petro and Xuyen Viet Oil.

The General Department of Customs (GDC) said the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has revoked the certificate on work as focal petroleum traders. The two enterprises are not eligible to fulfill procedures for petroleum imports, temporary imports for export later, or petroleum preparation.

On January 23, the investigation agency of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) released a decision on filing charges for violations in managing and using state assets causing loss and waste, and violations of regulations on accounting, causing serious consequences, committed by Hai Ha Petro and relevant units.

The investigation agency also issued a warrant on detaining Tran Tuyet Mai, chair and CEO of Hai Ha Petro.

On January 12, MOIT revoked the operation licenses of some petroleum traders, including Hai Ha Petro, for abuse of the price stabilization fund as well as for tax debts.

Hai Ha Petro, headquartered in Thai Binh, is a large petroleum distributor with a network in many northern cities and provinces, including Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and Thai Binh.

According to the Government Inspectorate, Hai Ha Petro misused the stabilization fund, under-declared its environmental protection tax, and owed trillions of dong in taxes. 

As of the end of November 2023, the balance of the stabilization fund account of the enterprise had reached VND612 billion. To date, Hai Ha Petro owes VND1,700 billion in taxes.

Also misusing the stabilization fund and owing taxes, Xuyen Viet Oil had its operation licensed revoked in August 2023. By that time, the company owed VND1.528 trillion to the state budget.

Xuyen Viet Oil was established in 2005 with headquarters in HCM City. It held a 40 percent market share in HCM City and some provinces in the south-central region when its license was revoked.

Of the 179 enterprises owing VND494 billion in tax listed by Ninh Binh Taxation Agency, Trung Linh Phat Co Ltd, one of 38 major petroleum traders, was No 1 with debt of VND178 billion.

The company also owed money to commercial banks. In October 2023, BIDV Nam Dinh auctioned off three properties of the company in Ninh Binh City to collect debts.

Hanh Nguyen