By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The Guam Chamber of Commerce urged the Guam legislature to appropriate funds to cover the “convenience fees” levied by the government on credit card transactions.
“While maintaining the credit card convenience fee waiver may incur costs, the long-term benefits to taxpayers and the government far outweigh these expenses,” Ernie Galito, chair of the Chamber’s board of directors said in a statement.
The credit card fees were waived by the Department of Revenue and Taxation in 2020 and reinstated on Oct. 1 following the expiration of federal funds that plugged the revenue gap during the waiver period.
Credit card users are charged between 1.5 percent and 3.5 percent.
According to the Department of Administration, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero had advised the legislature to set aside $4.7 million from the expected $10 million increase in local revenue to cover the credit card fees for individual taxpayers.
“The legislature failed to act on this, leaving no appropriation to pay for credit card fees,” the DOA said in a Sept. 12 press statement.
Galito urged the legislature to back the credit card fee waivers with a corresponding appropriation.
“By allocating the anticipated $10 million to the DRT, the legislature can ensure this valuable service remains available to Guam residents,” he said.
The Chamber’s board chair endorsed online transactions, citing studies that showed online payments can reduce processing costs by as much as 25 percent.
“DRT can use these savings to offset the cost of the waiver, making it a sustainable and cost-effective policy,” Galito said
"Online payments have led to faster and more accurate transactions, reducing administrative burdens and improving efficiency," Galito said. "This has allowed the department to focus on other critical tasks, such as ensuring compliance and providing taxpayer services."
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