The Minister of Revenue today responded to concerns raised by members of the business community about the number of requirements involved in applying for and renewing business licences.
The Ministry acknowledges the feedback from our business community and reaffirms their understanding that compliance requirements can sometimes feel complex and be a cost burden. These requirements, however, are not arbitrary. They are guided by the Business Licences Act 1998, the Business Licence Regulations 2012, and the Business Licence Amendment Regulations 2022.
Hon. Pauga Te’omatavui Talalelei Pauga
The Minister explained that the expanded documentation now required, such as beneficial ownership information, sector-specific certificates, and land tenure verification, is designed to protect both businesses and Samoa’s economy by increasing transparency, reducing fraud, and ensuring the safety and legitimacy of all business activities.
These changes bring Samoa into alignment with international best practices, particularly in the areas of beneficial ownership, transparency and anti-money laundering standards.
Simplifying the Process for Businesses
The Ministry is actively working to make compliance easier and swifter for business operators.
Initiatives include:
- Updated and simplified application and renewal forms
- A clear checklist of required documents published online and at Ministry counters
- Mobile help desks and community outreach to assist businesses in preparing applications
- Online submission options to reduce wait times at counters
- Multilingual (English and Samoan) public information materials and short animated videos explaining the requirements
The Ministry is also allowing more extended time for renewal to avoid last-minute rush and overcrowded of customers in only two months. In doing this, we allow earlier renewal from November 2025 to January 2026, but business licenses certificates will only be available from December 2025 to January 2026 due to system set up.
The Ministry’s goal is not to create barriers, but to help businesses succeed while meeting their legal obligations. All license holders are urged to take advantage of the Ministry’s information sessions, online tools and dedicated support channels in preparation for the upcoming 2026 renewal period.
The Minister concluded by inviting continued dialogue with the private sector to further improve the business licensing system, while reaffirming the Government’s commitment to a fair and transparent process.
From the Office of the Minister of Revenue
Date: 20 November 2025
Lagolago malosi a le Malo mo Pisinisi ae ia fa’amausali pea tulaga aloaia ile tausisia ma le usita’ia o Tulafono.
Ua faaalia le finagalo o le Minisita o Tupe Maua i lenei aso i popolega na fa’aalia e nisi o le aufaipisinisi e fa’atatau i le tele o vaega moomia mo le talosagaina o le toe fa’afouina o laisene pisinisi.
E faamaonia e le Matagaluega fautuaga a le mamalu o le aufaipisinisi ma le lagona e tutupu lava manatu faapenei pe a o’o ina faamalosia soo se mana’oga faaletulafono. E ao pea ona faailo, o nei moomiaga faaletulafono, e le oni vaega e soona tupu fua pe o ni mana’oga faaopopo. O nei vaega uma o lo’o aiaia ma faatulafonoina i lalo o le Tulafono o Laisene Pisinisi 1998, Tulafono Faatonutonu o Laisene Pisinisi 2012, ma Tulafono Faatonutonu o Teuteuga o Laisene Pisinisi 2022.
Afioga. Pauga Te’omatavui Talalelei Pauga
Na fa’amalamalama e le Minisita o le faala’uaiteleina o mana’oga o pepa moomia mo le talosaga, e pei o fa’amatalaga i le tagata moni e ona ina le pisinisi (beneficial ownership), tusipasi o tomai fa’apitoa mo ituaiga pisinisi, fa’amaoniga o le pule i fanua e faatino ai pisinisi, e faia uma nei tulaga ina ia malu puipuia ai le atina’e o le tamaoaiga o Samoa, aemaise o puipuiga mai faiga fa’a-soli tulafono, ma le mautinoa o le amiotonu o galuega fa’apisinisi uma.
O lona uiga, o nei suiga o lo’o sosolo lava i taiala e tusa ai ma pulega lelei fa’avaomalo, aemaise lava i mana’oga mo le fa’ailoaina o ē e ona moni pisinisi, tulaga fa’amaoni ma le manino, ma tulaga o puipuiga fa’asaga i tupe fa’aofi mai fa’asolitulafono (anti–money laundering).
Fa’afaigofieina o le alafua mo le ‘Au Fai Pisinisi
O lo’o galulue malosi pea le Matagaluega e fa’afaigofie, vave ma sa’o tulaga o le tausisia e pisinisi o tulafono.
O nisi o galuega ua fa’agasolo e aofia ai:
- Iloiloina o pepa talosaga mo pisinisi ia fa’afouina ma fa’afaigofie
- Fa’amanino le lisi manino o pepa mana’omia, ma tuuina i luga o le upega tafa’ilagi a le Matagaluega
- Auaunaga fesoasoani ma a’oa’oga fa’alaua’itele e fesoasoani ai i le tapenaina o talosaga
- Iloilo faiga e tu’uina atu ai talosaga i luga o upega tafa’ilagi e fa’aitiitia ai taimi e fa’atali
- Fa’aaogaina o gagana Samoa ma le Faa-Peretania e fa’alauiloa fa’amatalaga e fa’atatau i vaega e moomia fa’aogaina ai metotia fa’anei ona po
Ua fa’ataotoina foʻi e le Matagaluega se taimi talafeagai ma umi e agai mai ai le atunuu mo le faʻafouina o laisene, ina ia ʻalofia ai le faʻatopetope ma le fe’ōma’i i le taimi mulimuli, i totonu o le lua masina. O le ala lea ua mafua ai ona matou aga’i loa e amata vave le faʻafouina o laisene ia Novema 2025 seia aulia Ianuari 2026, ae o kopi o laisene pisinisi uma, o le a fa’atoa mafai ona piki’ina e amata atu ile masina o Tesema 2025 seia aulia Ianuari 2026, ona o le faʻatulagaina o le tatou polokalame faatekonolosi.
O le sini autū a le Matagaluega e le o le faia o ni papuipui, ae ia fesoasoani lea i le manuia o pisinisi ma mautinoa le tausisia o tulafono. E talosagaina ai latou o loo umia laisene ina ia fa’aaogaina polokalame fa’alauiloa, faamatalaga i luga o le upega tafa’ilagi, fa’apea avanoa e faatalanoa ai mataupu fia malamalama, a’o tapena mo le toe fa’afouina o laisene mo le tausaga 2026.
Na fa’ai’u le finagalo o le Minisita i lona toe faamalosiau ina ia faaauau pea le galulue fa’atasi ma le itu o vaega tuma’oti e toe fa’aleleia atili ai pea le faatinoina o laisene pisinisi, ma faamausali’ina ai pea le ‘anavatau a le Malo mo faiga manino ma le tonu i ana galuega faatino.
Mai le Ofisa o le Minisita o Tupe Maua
Aso: 17 Novema 2025
