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Governor reminds locals that filing taxes using other people’s
kids is against the law
Governor Togiola Tulafono said during his weekend radio program that one of the biggest problems facing the Tax Office involves locals who are claiming other people’s children as dependents on their income tax returns.
The Governor reminds local tax filers that such actions are against the law and a number of cases discovered during the issuance of tax rebate checks have revealed that the practice is ongoing in the territory.
Togiola stresses that if a person did not take care of the children being claimed on their tax returns, then it is illegal for them to claim the children as dependents.
Currently, the Governor’s Office is reviewing cases involving these fraudulent activities, while the Tax Office is taking a closer look at the issue prior to issuing any tax rebate checks. According to Togiola, some taxpayers will be very unhappy to discover that they will not be receiving a rebate check as a result of engaging in such practices.
Meanwhile, several local residents have been called in to the Tax Office to amend their 2007 tax returns and make changes that include providing proof that the children being claimed are in fact theirs, and that the children have valid social security numbers. This is to ensure that each tax filer gets what they are entitled to under the tax stimulus package.
The tax stimulus package is in its first year and some parents are regretting ever letting family members and friends claim their children as dependents on their 2007 tax returns, as now those people are benefiting not once, but twice, using children they don’t even take care of.
In response to a caller that said her husband was told by a Tax Office employee that he was entitled to two tax rebate checks because he works two jobs and filed two separate tax returns, Governor Togiola explained that each tax filer, regardless of whether they work more than one job, should only file one tax return and therefore, would be entitled to only one tax rebate check.
The Governor said filing more than one tax return is against the law and he will request the Treasury Department to look into the matter.
So far, over 9,650 locals have received their tax rebate checks, totaling over $10 million from the $20.4 million the American Samoa Government received in April under the federal economic stimulus package.
ASG has until July 31 to process and issue tax rebate checks to qualified tax payers who filed their 2007 tax returns on or before April 15. Those who filed after that date but before November 30 should expect to get their tax rebate checks by December 31, 2008.
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