Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A media question posed during last Monday’s news conference relates to government collections, if it has been affected due to ongoing COVID-19 emergency declaration restrictions, which among other things, closed down non-essential businesses.

In response, Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasalo said that he has asked ASG Treasury and the report received is that “our collections and revenues continue to be good. So there’s no concern, projections are still on target.”

“So they are comfortable with our operations at this point,” said Talauega, who is also the Governor’s Authorized Representative (GAR).

TAX REFUNDS

If you filed your tax on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3, and were expecting a refund but didn’t receive it, ASG Treasury asks that you call the Tax Office for further information and assistance — DON’T VISIT THE OFFICE.

Tax refund checks totaling more than $1.4 million for 362 tax payers who filed on these dates — Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 —  identified as tax refund batch #4, were released on April 11.

According to Treasury data, 23 tax filers received their refunds through direct deposit, 302 via the mail — tax filers who have mailing address — and 37 individuals are able to pick up their refunds at the 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 $1.41 million in tax refunds, $345,163 was paid from locally collected funds and over $1.06 million from the Additional Child Tax Credit, which is funded by the US Internal Revenue Service.