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Governor reveals three or four cabinet members haven’t filed taxes

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga
reporters@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — At last week’s cabinet meeting, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga revealed that about three or four cabinet directors — that he didn’t identify by name — have not filed their taxes, and this is according to information provided to him by ASG Treasurer Ueligitone Tonumaipe’a.

Lolo made the revelation after Tonumaipe’a gave a brief verbal statement regarding the distribution of the first round of stimulus checks — which were in mail boxes last Saturday.

While he didn’t say how far back these cabinet members didn’t file taxes, the governor reminded directors that “we should set an example for the public” at all times.”

If in four years, “you didn’t file taxes, then something is happening to you” or “you owe taxes to government” from past years, according to the governor, who advised cabinet members to file and pay their taxes as this is another source of ASG revenue.

Meanwhile, the governor encouraged cabinet members with knowledge in accounting and filing taxes to help local residents, who are now wanting to file their taxes because of benefits for qualified tax payers through the federally funded stimulus checks.

According to the governor, he has observed taxpayers quickly looking to file taxes for 2018 and 2019 because of the stimulus checks.