Judge dismisses Sauk-Suiattle suit over sales tax, tribe agrees

SAUK-SUIATTLE RESERVATION — A federal judge last month dismissed the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe’s lawsuit against the state over the collection of an online sales tax after the state informed the tribe of the existing tax reimbursement process.

Filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle in December, the tribe argued tribal members should be exempt from the collection of 6.5% sales tax in online purchases, in addition to exemptions for in-person purchases on the reservation.

This week, Jack Fiander, the tribe’s general counsel, said the lawsuit was rendered “unnecessary” upon further investigation. There is an existing process for reimbursement from the state, and tribal members can notify online retailers of their tribal status before the payment is made and have the tax removed.

“The process already existed, but it seems to me ideally it should have been on the state to send out a notice to various online retailers that tribes at these locations are tax exempt,” Fiander said.

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/judge-dismisses-sauk-suiattle-suit-over-sales-tax-tribe-agrees/