Twenty-Nine Palms Band appeals ruling on gaming income taxes

Thursday, December 9, 2010  

The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians continues to fight the state of California over taxes on gaming-related income

The tribe distributes revenues from the Spotlight 29 Casino to its members under a federally-approved revenue allocation plan. Some members also work at the casino.

The tribe says California is violating the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by imposing a tax on gaming-related income. But a federal judge apparently ruled that the state can collect state income tax from tribal members who don't live on the reservation, The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported.

The tribe is now preparing to take the case to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the paper said. Briefs are due in January 2011.

In a separate case, a California Court of Appeals ruled that a member of the tribe must pay state income taxes on her tribe's per capita payments because she lived on another reservation.

Get the Story:
State, tribes at odds on income tax payments (The Riverside Press-Enterprise 12/9)
Tax man also calls on California Indians (Capitol Weekly 12/7)

Related Stories:
Twenty-Nine Palms woman loses per capita tax lawsuit (3/9)
Twenty-Nine Palms Band sues over casino income (11/16)