The American Samoa Senate is seeking details from the Treasury Department about tax exemptions that government has granted to local businesses.
Senate President Lolo Moliga says the Senate wants to find the information because of concerns over the number of exemptions granted which may have caused a loss in revenue.
Lolo says they need to evaluate the granted exemptions, the benefits the territory received and the loss of revenue to the government because of granting the exemptions.
In a letter to Treasury , Lolo says granting tax exemptions is a way to provide an incentive that will attract industrial development investment and spark employment creation for the residents.
However he says arbitrary granting of tax exemptions can severely erode the tax revenue base.
