Ads by Google Ads by Google

Treasury prepares for Advance CTC disbursements that begin Sept. 29

ASG govt logo
You can sign up online for direct deposit into your bank account

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a statement yesterday, ASG Deputy Treasury, Levi Reese, confirmed the release date this month of the first payment for the Advance Child Tax Credit or the Advance CTC, funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

According to the statement, more than $13 million will be disbursed on Sept. 29th for 6,700 taxpayers with qualifying children who filed their 2020 American Samoa tax return from January 1st to July 31st of this year. These individuals will receive their checks through the mail and direct deposit.

Those without mailing addresses on their tax returns can pick up their checks that will be distributed at the Gov. H. Rex Lee Auditorium from 8a.m to 4p.m.  Social distancing and masks will be strictly enforced.

Answering a separate Frequently Asked Question, ASG Treasury explained that the Advance CTC are early payments to eligible tax payers for qualified children claimed on their 2020 American Samoa tax return. And total advance CTC will equal 50% of the estimated amount of the CTC an individual will claim on their 2021 tax return during the 2022 tax filing season.

It also says that eligible taxpayers will receive two quarterly payments — in September and December for:

• qualified dependents age 5 and under, qualifying for a total of $1,800. Eligible taxpayers would received two payments of $900; and

• qualified dependents age 6 to 17 qualify for a total of 1,500. Eligible taxpayers will receive two payments of $750.

Furthermore, payments are subject to reduction based on higher income limitations.

In the statement, ASG Treasury encourages taxpayers expecting to receive the Advance CTC to make use of its direct-deposit service as this “shall lighten traffic” in the banks, Post Office, the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building in Utulei and funds will be deposited directly into the taxpayer’s bank account.

Direct-deposit forms can be found online at [www.americansamoa.gov/tax-office] and at the Tax Office on the ground floor of the Executive Office Building.

In order to complete the processing of the direct-deposit application, Treasury said the taxpayer has to provide a bank statement that matches the taxpayer’s name on the tax return — both husband and wife if filed jointly — and all bank numbers have to be visible because some bank statements only contain the last four digits of the account number.

For a taxpayer who wishes to opt out of receiving the Advance CTC this year, the person can fill out Form T15323 to unenroll and will instead receive all payments next year after the 2021 American Samoa tax return is filed. This form is found online at [www.americansamoa.gov/tax-office]

Tax Office manager Vaaimamao E. Poufa told lawmakers last month that there will be two payments this year and the other two next year.

One of the questions addressed in the Frequently Asked Questions sheet, and has been raised by others in the community is, “Do I qualify without any income or filing requirement?”. And the reply:

• Even if you have $0 in income, you qualify for the advance CTC if you are eligible.

• All individuals with $0 income and/or are not required to file a tax return can visit the Tax Office to prepare a non-filer tax return.