Government tells gas stations to switch to electronic bills by this month

It had issued the order two weeks ago, warning that noncompliance would attract penalties.

It had in fact wanted fuel stations to switch to electronic bills in July last year but many did not comply and continued to submit bills to the tax authorities and at random periodicity.

There are 17,000 fuel stations in the country, but only 2,700 -- belonging to Petrolimex -- have been upgraded for issuing electronic bills.

The other companies are yet to make the switch.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has estimated that it costs VND400 million (US$16,460) to VND1 billion to install new software and hardware in a gas station for reporting sales in real time.

Many could not afford it and could shut down, affecting the retail fuel market, it said and suggested extending the deadline for the switch to the end of next year.