The Land Records on Hold by the Tax Agency: Ho Chi Minh City to Report and Seek the Prime Minister’s Opinion

On August 18, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council, in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City Television and the municipal Department of Information and Communications, organized the ‘People Ask, Government Answers’ program for August. The theme of this month’s program was ‘Land Law 2024: Rights and Obligations of Citizens and Responsibilities of the Government.’

During the program, lawyer Nguyen Van Hau, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, pointed out that there has been a significant increase in the number of citizens applying for procedures related to land use conversion and land use right certificates since the announcement of the city’s new land price framework.

However, many land use conversion applications submitted by Ho Chi Minh City residents since August 1 have been pending. “While the tax departments at the district and county levels, as well as in Thu Duc City, are still accepting applications, they have not been able to calculate the land use fees to be paid,” said lawyer Nguyen Van Hau. “So, when can these applications be processed, and what is the expected timeline for completing the land use fee calculations? How will this affect the progress of land-related procedures?” he asked.

Responding to this concern, Mr. Nguyen Toan Thang, Director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, explained that according to Article 275 of the Land Law 2024, if the provincial People’s Committee decides to adjust the land price framework, the new prices must be applied from August 1.

However, Ho Chi Minh City has not issued the adjusted land price framework and is still in the process of collecting opinions. Mr. Thang assured that the people’s land-related dossiers are still being processed by the competent authorities and are not stagnant. Regarding the financial obligations when the dossiers are transferred to the tax department, the departments have reported to the municipal People’s Committee, and the city will report to the Prime Minister.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Bui Xuan Cuong said that the adjusted land price framework is still in the process of collecting opinions. Recently, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City organized a social criticism conference, and the City Party Committee’s Mass Mobilization Commission also held a conference to gather opinions. The City Party Committee’s Propaganda Commission is also widely collecting opinions from the people.

“The People’s Committee will report to the delegates of the municipal People’s Council early this week to further contribute their opinions before reporting to the City Party Committee’s Standing Committee,” said Mr. Bui Xuan Cuong. “This is to ensure that the adjusted land price framework complies with the Land Law 2024, which took effect on August 1, 2024, and that the framework no longer includes coefficient calculations. It should also be in line with the practical situation of the locality,” he added.

According to the Vice Chairman, the land price framework is not just an issue for Ho Chi Minh City, but also a challenge for other localities. “This week, the city will sign a document to report and request guidance and directions from the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Ministry of Finance to resolve this matter,” Mr. Bui Xuan Cuong emphasized.