As Indianz.com reports, the "fiscal cliff" bill includes several provisions that are designed to stimulate employment and economic opportunities in Indian Country.
The Indian Employment Tax Credit, which encourages businesses to hire tribal members and their spouses, expired in December 2011 but is now retroactivated to 2012 and extended until the end of 2013.
The Accelerated Depreciation Incentive, which helps businesses locate on Indian lands, also expired in December 2011 but also received a two-year extension, until the end of 2013.
A production credit for coal facilities that were placed in service in Indian Country before 2009 was also extended until January 2014.
The New Market Tax Credit Program was extended through the end of 2013, with $3.5 billion in tax credits allocated for each year.
At the original request of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, Gabe Galanda has written a paper that explains the interplay of all of these and other tax advantages in Indian Country, titled, "The Business Case for Private Investment and Development in Indian Country." It is available here.
Gabriel "Gabe" Galanda is a partner at Galanda Broadman PLLC, of Seattle, an American Indian owned law firm. He is an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes of Covelo, California. Gabe assists tribal governments and businesses in all matters of tribal economic development and diversification, including entity formation and related tax strategy. He also helps tribes and tribal businesses and joint ventures withstand attack from federal, state and local government. Gabe can be reached at 206.691.3631 or gabe@galandabroadman.com.
