ASG: Tax refunds mean increased purchasing power for recipients

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Another round of tax refund checks - totaling more than $1.8 million - is scheduled for release today, Monday, Apr. 25, bringing new cash into the local economy and giving consumers new purchasing power, that will keep stores and other outlets busy this week.

ASG  Treasurer Malemo Tausaga, in a brief statement last Friday afternoon, announced that the 6th batch of tax refunds for a total of 431 taxpayers who filed on Feb. 3 and a portion of Feb. 4 is being released today.

According to Treasury, 27 taxpayers will receive the refunds through direct depoit, 337 by mail, and 67 individuals who don’t have a mailing address on their tax returns will pick up the refund at the Treasury Disbursing Office on the ground floor of the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building — where social distancing and wearing a face mask is strictly enforced.

Of the total of more than $1.89 million in tax refunds, $426,773 is paid from locally collected funds and over 1.46 million from the Additional Child Tax Credit, which is funded by the US Internal Revenue Service.

If you are expecting a tax refund and did not receive it, call the Tax Office for further information and assistance. “Do not visit the office,” the ASG Treasury statement said.