Cherokee Nation weighs tobacco tax suspension

Friday, April 25, 2008  

The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is considering a suspension of its tobacco tax in order to help retailers who have been affected by a state crackdown on cigarette sales.

The tribe imposes a tax of 50-cents per pack on cigarettes. That's in addition to the state tax of a maximum of 86-cents per pack.

Some tribal retailers, however, were selling cigarettes with state tax stamps as low as 6-cents per pack. An arbitration panel said that violated the tribal-state tobacco compact.

Since then, tobacco sales have dropped 33 percent, a tribal tax commissioner said. The suspension of the tribal tax would help those retailers. The suspension would be lifted if the tribe reaches a new agreement with the state.

Get the Story:
Cherokee tax may be suspended (The Tulsa World 4/25)

Related Stories:
Oklahoma weighs action on tribal tobacco (4/23)
State rejects lower tobacco tax for Cherokee Nation (4/21)
Cherokee Nation wants lower tobacco tax rate (4/9)
Muscogee Nation considers tobacco tax compact (4/3)
Editorial: What's next in tobacco compact fight? (4/1)
Ruling faults Cherokee Nation on tobacco compact (3/28)