ALBANY – New York State Senator Michael F. Nozzolio Friday called on Governor Eliot Spitzer to enforce New York state law and begin collecting sales taxes on cigarettes sold by Native American retailers.
Under current law, cigarettes sold by Indians to non-Indians must include sales taxes. However, Indian businesses continue to refuse to pay the sales tax, causing an unfair advantage over competing retailers.
“It is very disconcerting that the State Department of Taxation still has not yet begun enforcing the law and collecting sales taxes from Indian-owned businesses,” said Senator Nozzolio. “The current situation continues to cause an unfair economic disadvantage for our state’s other retailers, particularly for those who operate their businesses near the Indian reservations.” full story
