New York tax collector 'prepared to enforce' tobacco tax on tribes

Wednesday, March 9, 2011  

The new tax commissioner for the state of New York says he is "prepared to enforce" a tobacco tax on tribes.

Thomas Mattox was confirmed to the head of the Department of Taxation and Finance on Tuesday. He said the state wants to start collecting the tax "immediately," The Buffalo News reported.

"There's nothing new here," Seneca Nation President Robert Odawa Porter said in a press release. "The Nation prefers dialogue to confrontation. When the state wants to discuss this issue, we'll be open to those discussions. As always, we will defend our treaty rights vigorously."

The state contends it can force wholesalers who sell tobacco to tribes to pay the tax upfront. A lawsuit in federal court has temporarily blocked the state from proceeding with its plan.

Get the Story:
Tax man eyes Indian tobacco sales (The Buffalo News 3/9)

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Editorial: New York on track to collect tobacco tax in Indian Country (2/7)
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