Letter: Time to get rid of tax 'exemptions' in Indian Country

n response to June 11’s letter from Yankton Sioux Tribe members Thurman Cournoyer Sr. and Glenford “Sam” Sully: They forgot to mention Native American tribes throughout the U.S. are exempt from income taxes. In 2011, 236 Native American tribes operating 422 gambling facilities across 28 states earned $26.5 billion. Yet these tribes and their wholly owned tribal corporations are not subject to federal income tax on their earnings.

The exemptions are absolute; tribes are exempt from federal income taxes even when conducting commercial activities. YST leaders then list farm subsidy payments I’ve received, and say my taxes need to be placed under “horrible scrutiny” regarding any and all tax benefits I may have received. Nice try boys, but, unlike tribal members, I get no special tax exemptions, private or corporate. Individual tribal members get exemptions. One of these is income from individually allotted land that remains in trust.