Indian veterans in New Mexico say the state is moving to implement an income tax settlement without consulting them.

Raymond Jim, a member of the Navajo Nation who is president of the Shiprock Agency Veterans Organization, said the state Taxation and Revenue Department came up an estimated $2 million settlement on its own. Jim said Indian veterans are owed $300 million.

"There was no study done among American Indians," Jim told The Farmington Daily Times. "The tax department made appointments to come to the reservation, but they never came."

The state Legislature passed a bill to refund Indian veterans who were improperly assessed state income taxes during their military service. Another bill will be required to appropriate and distribute the money.

Get the Story:
Veterans challenge tax refund data (The Farmington Daily Times 10/26)

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New Mexico owes Indian veterans $2M in taxes (10/8)