New Mexico governor signs Indian veteran tax bill

Thursday, March 6, 2008  

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) signed into law a bill that will refund state taxes to Indian veterans.

Indian veterans are exempt from state taxes during the years they serve in the military. But due to paperwork requirements, many weren't able to claim their refunds.

"Veterans have to have their discharge records to claim the refunds," Louis Izels, a Vietnam veteran, told The Farmington Daily Times. "Many of them from World War II didn't even have Social Security numbers."

SB574 affects an unknown number of Indian veterans. The law requires a count and a tally of the refunds owed, which could run as high as $300 million.

Get the Story:
Bill to refund taxes to American Indian veterans (The Farmington Daily Times 3/6)

New Mexico governor signs urban Indian health law (3/4)