Samoa’s Ministry of Revenue’s proposal for the Head of State and church ministers serving in villages to pay tax has been given the approval of cabinet.
The Minister of Revenue, Tialavea Tionisio Hunt, said the taxes would be effective in the new financial year, starting next month.
The tax plan is opposed by the two main churches, the Methodist and the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa.
Tialavea said church ministers receiving less than $US7,500 in love offerings, or alofa, from church members would not be paying tax.
He made it clear that the proposal was openly discussed with representatives of various church organizations but the ministry had the final say.
Tialavea said he believed it was time for everyone to contribute in the development of the country’s economy.
