The American Samoa government's been urged to get tough on collecting taxes before it brings in any new ones.
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The chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives, Lavea Legaee Mauga, told Treasury officials the government should take a good hard look at improving its methods.
Lavea, who's a former tax office employee, told a hearing on a proposed revenue generating bill that some income wasn't being taxed.
Lavea says many home owners have been turning their houses into apartments, and the government is not collecting any money from the income they are raking in.
The faipule said some of the landlords live off island and tenants are paying rent into their local bank accounts.
Lavea advised Treasury to be more aggressive in collecting taxes as the government needs all the financial help it can get.
