By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Despite the appropriation of $4.7 million to cover the credit card fees, Guam residents are still being levied the so-called “convenience fee” for their government transactions.
Sen. Joe San Agustin asked the Department of Administration to clarify the implementation of Public Law 37-135, which authorized the Treasurer of Guam to lift the credit card fees and transfer funds from the government of Guam's "revenue surplus" to make up for the waived cost.
“Over the past several weeks, I’ve received phone calls from many residents who advised they were charged the credit card service fees when paying by card at the Treasurer of Guam for various services,” San Agustin said in a letter to DOA Director Edward Birn.
“This should not be the case after Public Law 37-135 was signed into law on Nov. 6, 2024 by Gov. Leon Guerrero,” said the senator, who authored the law.
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.
San Agustin asked to Birn to clarify the “effective date for when reimbursements to those inaccurately charged the fees will be made and confirmation that the fees will not be charged for future individual payors.”
Subscribe to
our digital
monthly edition
Comments