Twenty-Nine Palms woman loses per capita tax lawsuit

Tuesday, March 9, 2010  

A member of the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians must pay state income taxes on her tribe's per capita payments because she lived on another reservation, the California Court of Appeals ruled.

Angelina Mike received $345,000 in revenues from the Spotlight 29 Casino. But she was living on the Agua Caliente Reservation at the time so the court for the 4th district said she owes taxes.

Mike's attorney is planning an appeal and believes the case will go to the U.S. Supreme Court. Turtle Talk has posted documents from the case, Mike v. Franchise Tax Board.

Separately, the tribe filed its own lawsuit against the state.

Get the Story:
Court rules tribe member must pay taxes (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 3/9)
Court of Appeal Upholds Ruling in Indian Tribe Tax Case (The Metropolitan News-Enterprise 3/8)