He has discovered that the Bill legalising the taxing of church ministers is not limited to the "alofa" or contributions made by members.

"I am sad because we were not informed about this during the public meetings."

"During the consultations, all the Ministry of Revenue went after was the alofa but, to my surprise, someone came across the new amendment and pointed it out to me.

"Why were the Minister of Revenue Tialavea Tionisio Hunt, and his Associate Minister So'oalo Mene, not honest from the beginning about this hidden amendment?

"So aside from the alofa, they now want to tax us on our other incomes that we receive when conducting service prayers for functions, weddings and funerals," said the furious Church Minister.

The pastor said the unfairness of the decision by the government was keeping them in the dark about taxing all income they receive from their roles as church ministers.

"All right, that's fine, but I think the government should also look at taxing the cash envelopes the Cabinet Ministers receive from any event they attend.

"It is only fair that, if they desperately need money as indicated by their measures put in place to obtain more funding, they too should also be taxed when they receive their cash envelopes."

Source

• Samoa Observer
• Image: looppacificassets.s3.amazonaws.com

"We are now in the process of carrying out consultations with churches," Samoa's Minister of Revenue, Ti'alavea Tionisio Hunt says.

"We already had a meeting with the Executive of the Samoa National Council of Churches where we discussed the issue,"

He said he understood pastors do volunteering work and give out money and food for those in need.

"But we (Member of Parliaments) are also doing the same. We also give out money to develop our districts and help those who need help. The difference is that we pay tax and they don't."

"The proposed changes targets the money church ministers receive from the congregation every two weeks (alofa/peleti)."

"We will not touch other contributions made by the church. We believe those other contributions are for the development of the churches."

"This will also exclude the money they get from funerals, weddings, and other things."

The Minister said a form would be provided by the Ministry for every church minister in Samoa.

"They will write down how much they get and we will calculate the amount of tax they have to pay depending on how much they receive."

"It's just going to be just like other workers in Samoa. You have to pay as you earn."(P.A.Y.E)."

Ti'alavea said it was not the Ministry's intention to offend members of the clergy.

"We don't belittle their commitment and the performance of their roles in our country but we just think it is only right for them to pay tax as everyone else."

"If God wants it to happen, it will happen. If not, then it will not happen."

Ti'alavea said they are also looking at businesses run by churches in Samoa.

"We are revisiting the existing law so they can all be included."

Source

• sobserver.ws
• sobserver.ws
• Image. revdw 1.files.wordpres.com