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OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
PRESS RELEASE
(for immediate release – Wednesday, April 30, 2008)
Contact: click here to email newsroom
Office: (684) 633-4116 - Fax: (684) 633-2269 - Cell: (684) 733-4680
Gov. Togiola announces $20.4 million for tax rebate checks,
issued within 2 weeks
(UTULEI) - Governor Togiola Tulafono today announced the U.S. Treasury has accepted a proposed American Samoa Government plan for the disbursement of tax rebates from President Bush’s economic growth package, or tax stimulus rebate.
Governor Togiola said $20.4 million was received this week from the U.S. Treasury for tax stimulus rebate distribution and is being held in a separate account.
According to Governor Togiola, after a final tax system check, that includes eligibility and qualifications criteria check and recalculations by Treasury and the Tax Office, tax rebate checks will be issued within two weeks. Governor Togiola expressed his delight on the new funds that will be injected into the local economy. He said listen out for the announcement for rebate check distribution and not to visit the Disbursing Office in Utulei for checks, yet.
“This is great news for the people of American Samoa as it will give us a big boost in our economy. I wish to kindly ask the public for their patience in allowing the Treasury and the Tax Office staff to perform its duties in testing and checking the level of payments for each local tax payer and the information that it currently has in its system. The checks are not ready, yet. The tax stimulus rebate is from federal funds, so we must be sure that we have the accurate numbers and not issue above the amount. So, please do not rush to EOB for your rebate checks this week.” said Governor Togiola.
The tax stimulus rebates will provide “eligible” tax payers with payments of $300 to a maximum of $600 per tax payer, and $300 per qualifying child. The Tax Office says not everyone will qualify.
Governor Togiola expressed his gratitude to the Department of Treasury and staff for working diligently to secure the economic growth package for the Territory.
“I wish to commend our Treasurer Gaea Perefoti Failautusi and Tax Manager Melvin Joseph for their excellent work with the U.S. Treasury to ensure that our people in American Samoa who are eligible for the tax rebate will receive it,” said Governor Togiola. “I also wish to give special thanks to Mel Joseph for developing a successful plan with the U.S. Treasurer that assures all of our eligible tax payers are covered in this single payment. With the high cost of gasoline and food, this is wonderful news for our people and our economy.”
People must file a tax return for their 2007 income to be eligible for a rebate check. The tax rebate checks will be issued in the order of when the tax payer filed their tax return prior to the tax filing deadline of April 15th.
---americansamoa.gov---
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