To mark the 40^th Anniversary of the Samoa Observer, a series of selected articles printed over the last 40 years will be re-published in the next two weeks, to show our readers the issues covered by this newspaper over the years and the personalities that made the headlines. 

First Published: 21 October 1987

Church ministers responsible for parishes and congregations whose incomes are from charitable donations from church members will not be paying taxes, Cabinet has approved. 

This exemption does not include members of the clergy who hold office within their respective church organizations for instance a president, secretary and such who receive regular salaries allowances. 

They will be taxed like everyone else. 

The Cabinet has directed the Department of Inland Revenue and the Office of the Attorney General to submit urgently of recommendations on how the existing Income Tax Act could be amended to ensure that the meaning and intention of the decision is not open to abuse.