By Martha Taumata Fa’avae
Tax refunds for ‘faifeau’ came up in closed consultations organised by the Ministry of Revenue for church ministers from all the denominations in the country at the EFKS Youth Hall last week.
The Minister of Revenue, Tuala Ponifasio, attended the meeting and assured participants that income taxes imposed on ‘faifeau’ by the previous Government will be raised at the next session of Parliament on the 12 of December 2021.
The consultations were dominated by EFKS ‘faifeau’ with only a sprinkle from other denominations present.
EFKS Chairman, Rev. Elder Iosefa Uilelea, did not want to speak on the issue except to announce an official written statement by the church to be handed in on the faifeau tax.
The Chairman felt there is nothing more to be added on the matter that has already gone as far as a court ruling on a challenge by the EFKS faifeau.
Church Secretary, Rev. Vavatau Taufao, however, tried to justify the protest against the faifeau tax by boasting of the annual $4m tala budget by the church to fund the 5 colleges, missionary and vocational training.
He suggested that this was the direct contribution by the church through education to the development of Samoa.
Rev. Taufao noted as well the $400 thousand tala the church recorded on payments through the VAGST.
His primary concern against the ‘faifeau tax’, however, is the harm it threatens to the church foundation that he did not elaborate on.
Most of the church leaders side-stepped the ongoing ‘faifeau tax’ debate with claims of standard church practice to support all policies by the Government of the day.
Pastor Samoa Unoi of the Peace Chapel Church was the lone voice who stood strongly in support of income taxes for church ministers.
He admitted that they are a small church and are responsible for running only three schools; but is firm in his belief that ‘faifeau’ should pay taxes.
Cabinet recently decided to suspend the payment of ‘faifeau taxes’.
A final decision whether to repeal the income tax law for ‘faifeau’ is lined up for debate in the upcoming Parliament session.
Revenue Minister Tuala was apologetic to the ‘faifeau’ during the consultations for the indignity of being dragged into the debate.
He assured them that the FAST Government is firmly of the belief that ‘faifeau’ should not pay taxes.
The HRPP opposition leader, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has scoffed at any intentions by the FAST Government to offer tax refunds for ‘faifeau’.
“But if they can afford to refund the ‘faifeau’ then it should be done fairly to include not just the EFKS church ministers but all the 39 church denominations in Samoa,” Tuilaepa counseled.
The former Prime Minister pondered why the Government should limit the tax refunds to the ‘faifeau’ if their intention is to please them.
He felt all the income tax payers including individuals and business owners deserve to be pleased with refunds too.’
Tuilaepa was quick to draw a comparison with the opposition promise to meet the demands of the people by building on developments that will benefit everyone and not just a few.
‘Our election mandate was to please everyone by investing in national developments that will benefit all in the long run.
“We don’t want to be involved in a spending spree of handouts that will benefit only a selected few.”
He defended his HRPP Government ‘faifeau tax’ intention for the benefit of the whole country and not offend anyone’s dignity and position of respect as suggested by the Revenue Minister.
He pointed to the office of Head of State where is His Highness was also taxed under the same law passed in Parliament to tax the ‘faifeau’.
It is unclear at this point if His Highness will also receive any tax refund or be exempted if or when the ‘faifeau tax’ is repealed.