American Samoa Tipping & Tax Guide for Travellers

Although you won't see any sales tax added at checkout in American Samoa, there is an import tax.

The territory imposes an 8% import tax on goods, and retailers simply build this into their prices rather than surprising you at the till. What this means for you as a traveller is that everyday items like pasta, tinned goods and snacks will cost more than what you're used to paying back home (or at least compared to mainland U.S.).

We've found that budgeting for groceries and basic necessities requires a bit more planning here. For a detailed breakdown of what to expect, check out our American Samoa Travel Budget: How Much Does a Trip to American Samoa Cost?

American Samoa's remote location means virtually everything must be shipped in from hundreds of miles away. Those import duties and shipping costs don't just disappear – they get passed directly on to consumers.

When travelling to American Samoa, you'll encounter a 5% government tax on hotel accommodation that's added at checkout. This tax applies to all accommodations that charge a daily rate, so it's something to factor into your budget.

Interestingly, you usually won't notice this tax when booking larger hotels like Tradewinds Hotel and Sadies By The Sea, as they typically include it in their quoted rates. However, smaller accommodations may clearly state it on your receipt.

For example, Pago Pago Airport Inn provides clear evidence of this tax with a notice stating: "NOTICE: TO ALL OUR GUESTS – A 5% government tax will be added to the usual room rate."

For example, this means if you book a single room for US$85, you'll actually pay US$89.25 total (US$85 + US$4.25 tax). It's a relatively small amount, but worth knowing about, so there are no surprises when you check out of your accommodation.

Good news for travellers leaving American Samoa; there's no departure tax to worry about when you're heading home!

However, you'll want to keep in mind that getting to American Samoa is where the taxes come into play. If you're flying from the US, there's a federal tax of approximately US$13.40 that gets added to your ticket for international travel (yes, American Samoa counts as international for tax purposes, even though it's a US territory). There are also a departure tax for Independent Samoa.

For arrival in Pago Pago, there is an AS Passenger Facility Charge of US$4.50 that's already built into your flight ticket price.

Most other fees you'll encounter are standard airline charges like fuel surcharges and insurance fees. Nothing out of the ordinary there!