The Tax Office in American Samoa is today beginning to send out refunds amounting to a total of 1.6 million US dollars.
The bulk of the money is funded by the US Treasury for Additional Child tax Credits , which pays $1,000 per child under 18, with a maximum of three child credits per family.
KHJ News said Treasury had been telling the public that the issuance of cheques was awaiting an upgrade of the Tax Office computer system and funds from the US Treasury.
However, it became known that tax refunds for government employees had begun quietly after they claimed they or a member of their immediate family needed medical treatment off island.
According to senior government officials who handle finance the Treasurer Ueligitone Tonumaipe'a approved payment based on instructions from the Governor's Office.
Pago Pago, American Samoa Photo: Wikipedia