Cases: Chickasaw Nation v. United States, 208 F.3d 871 (10th Cir. 2000); Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe v. United States, 197 F.3d 949 (8th Cir. 1999); Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Internal Revenue Service, 658 F. Supp. 1434 (W.D. Wis. 1987)
(a) General rule An Indian tribal government shall be treated as a State—
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(1) for purposes of determining whether and in what amount any contribution or transfer to or for the use of such government (or a political subdivision thereof) is deductible under—
(A) section 170 (relating to income tax deduction for charitable, etc., contributions and gifts),
(B) sections 2055 and 2106(a)(2) (relating to estate tax deduction for transfers of public, charitable, and religious uses), or
(C) section 2522 (relating to gift tax deduction for charitable and similar gifts);
(2) subject to subsection (b), for purposes of any exemption from, credit or refund of, or payment with respect to, an excise tax imposed by—
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(A) chapter 31 (relating to tax on special fuels),
(B) chapter 32 (relating to manufacturers excise taxes),
(C) subchapter B of chapter 33 (relating to communications excise tax), or
(D) subchapter D of chapter 36 (relating to tax on use of certain highway vehicles);
(3) for purposes of section 164 (relating to deduction for taxes);
(4) subject to subsection (c), for purposes of section 103 (relating to State and local bonds);
Amended 1986
- 1986 Pub. L. 99-514 Pub. L. 99–514, § 1301(j)(6), substituted “(relating to State and local bonds)” for “(relating to interest on certain governmental obligations)”.
(5) for purposes of section 511(a)(2)(B) (relating to the taxation of colleges and universities which are agencies or instrumentalities of governments or their political subdivisions);
(6) for purposes of—
Amended 1983, 1984, 1986, 1993
- 1993 Pub. L. 103-66 Pub. L. 103–66 redesignated former subpars. (C) and (D) as (B) and (C), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “section 162(e) (relating to appearances, etc., with respect to legislation),”.
- 1986 Pub. L. 99-514 Pub. L. 99–514, § 123(b)(3), redesignated subpars. (C) to (E), as previously redesignated by section 112(b)(4) of Pub. L. 99–514, as (B) to (D), respectively, and struck out previously redesignated subpar. (B), which read as follows: “section 117(b)(2)(A) (relating to scholarships and fellowship grants),”.
- 1986 Pub. L. 99-514 Pub. L. 99–514, § 112(b)(4), redesignated subpars. (B) to (F) as (A) to (E), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: “section 24(c)(4) (defining State for purposes of credit for contribution to candidates for public offices),”.
- 1986 Pub. L. 99-514 Pub. L. 99–514, § 1878(i), made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 98–369, § 1065(b). See 1984 Amendment note below.
- 1986 Pub. L. 99-514 Pub. L. 99–514, § 1899A(65), substituted “; and” for period at end.
- 1984 Pub. L. 98-369 Pub. L. 98–369, § 1065(b), as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 1878(i), added subpars. (B), (D), and (F), and redesignated former subpars. (B) and (C) as (C) and (E), respectively.
- 1983 Pub. L. 98-21 Pub. L. 98–21 redesignated subpars. (B) to (D) as (A) to (C), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (A), which referred to section 37(e)(9)(A) (relating to certain public retirement systems).
(A) section 105(e) (relating to accident and health plans),
Amended 1984
- 1984 Pub. L. 98-369 Pub. L. 98–369, § 474(r)(41), substituted “section 24(c)(4)” for “section 41(c)(4)”.
(B) section 403(b)(1)(A)(ii) (relating to the taxation of contributions of certain employers for employee annuities), and
Amended 1984, 1993
- 1993 Pub. L. 103-66 Pub. L. 103–66 redesignated former subpars. (C) and (D) as (B) and (C), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “section 162(e) (relating to appearances, etc., with respect to legislation),”.
- 1984 Pub. L. 98-369 Pub. L. 98–369, § 1065(b), as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 1878(i), added subpars. (B), (D), and (F), and redesignated former subpars. (B) and (C) as (C) and (E), respectively.
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(C) section 454(b)(2) (relating to discount obligations); and
Amended 1984, 1993
- 1993 Pub. L. 103-66 Pub. L. 103–66 redesignated former subpars. (C) and (D) as (B) and (C), respectively, and struck out former subpar. (B) which read as follows: “section 162(e) (relating to appearances, etc., with respect to legislation),”.
- 1984 Pub. L. 98-369 Pub. L. 98–369, § 1065(b), as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, § 1878(i), added subpars. (B), (D), and (F), and redesignated former subpars. (B) and (C) as (C) and (E), respectively.
(b) Additional requirements for excise tax exemptions Paragraph (2) of subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any transaction only if, in addition to any other requirement of this title applicable to similar transactions involving a State or political subdivision thereof, the transaction involves the exercise of an essential governmental function of the Indian tribal government.
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(c) Additional requirements for tax-exempt bonds
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(1) In general Subsection (a) of section 103 shall apply to any obligation (not described in paragraph (2)) issued by an Indian tribal government (or subdivision thereof) only if such obligation is part of an issue substantially all of the proceeds of which are to be used in the exercise of any essential governmental function.
“Substantially” implies facts and circumstances. No regulation cites this provision (eCFR, Oct 19, 2026)
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(2) No exemption for private activity bonds Except as provided in paragraph (3), subsection (a) of section 103 shall not apply to any private activity bond (as defined in section 141(a)) issued by an Indian tribal government (or subdivision thereof).
Amended 1986, 1987
- 1987 Pub. L. 100-203 Pub. L. 100–203, § 10632(b)(2), substituted “Except as provided in paragraph (3), subsection (a)” for “Subsection (a)”.
- 1986 Pub. L. 99-514 Pub. L. 99–514, § 1301(j)(7), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “Subsection (a) of section 103 shall not apply to any of the following issued by an Indian tribal government (or subdivision thereof):
“(A) An industrial development bond (as defined in section 103(b)(2)).
“(B) An obligation described in section 103(l)(1)(A) (relating to scholarship bonds).
“(C) A mortgage subsidy bond (as defined in paragraph (1) of section 103A(b) without regard to paragraph (2) thereof).”
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(3) Exception for certain private activity bonds
Amended 1987
- 1987 Pub. L. 100-203 Pub. L. 100–203, § 10632(b)(1), added par. (3).
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(A) In general In the case of an obligation to which this paragraph applies—
(i) paragraph (2) shall not apply,
(ii) such obligation shall be treated for purposes of this title as a qualified small issue bond, and
(iii) section 146 shall not apply.
(B) Obligations to which paragraph applies This paragraph shall apply to any obligation issued as part of an issue if—
(i) 95 percent or more of the net proceeds of the issue are to be used for the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or improvement of property which is of a character subject to the allowance for depreciation and which is part of a manufacturing facility (as defined in section 144(a)(12)(C)),
(ii) such issue is issued by an Indian tribal government or a subdivision thereof,
(iii) 95 percent or more of the net proceeds of the issue are to be used to finance property which—
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(I) is to be located on land which, throughout the 5-year period ending on the date of issuance of such issue, is part of the qualified Indian lands of the issuer, and
(II) is to be owned and operated by such issuer,
(iv) such obligation would not be a private activity bond without regard to subparagraph (C),
(v) it is reasonably expected (at the time of issuance of the issue) that the employment requirement of subparagraph (D)(i) will be met with respect to the facility to be financed by the net proceeds of the issue, and
“Reasonably” implies facts and circumstances. No regulation cites this provision (eCFR, Oct 19, 2026)
(vi) no principal user of such facility will be a person (or group of persons) described in section 144(a)(6)(B).
For purposes of clause (iii), section 150(a)(5) shall apply.
(C) Private activity bond rules to apply An obligation to which this paragraph applies (other than an obligation described in paragraph (1)) shall be treated for purposes of this title as a private activity bond.
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(D) Employment requirements
(i) In general The employment requirements of this subparagraph are met with respect to a facility financed by the net proceeds of an issue if, as of the close of each calendar year in the testing period, the aggregate face amount of all outstanding tax-exempt private activity bonds issued to provide financing for the establishment which includes such facility is not more than 20 times greater than the aggregate wages (as defined by section 3121(a)) paid during the preceding calendar year to individuals (who are enrolled members of the Indian tribe of the issuer or the spouse of any such member) for services rendered at such establishment.
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(ii) Failure to meet requirements
(I) In general If, as of the close of any calendar year in the testing period, the requirements of this subparagraph are not met with respect to an establishment, section 103 shall cease to apply to interest received or accrued (on all private activity bonds issued to provide financing for the establishment) after the close of such calendar year.
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(II) Exception Subclause (I) shall not apply if the requirements of this subparagraph would be met if the aggregate face amount of all tax-exempt private activity bonds issued to provide financing for the establishment and outstanding at the close of the 90th day after the close of the calendar year were substituted in clause (i) for such bonds outstanding at the close of such calendar year.
Amended 2018
- 2018 Pub. L. 115-141 Pub. L. 115–141 substituted “the calendar year” for “the calender year”.
(iii) Testing period For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “testing period” means, with respect to an issue, each calendar year which begins more than 2 years after the date of issuance of the issue (or, in the case of a refunding obligation, the date of issuance of the original issue).
(E) Definitions For purposes of this paragraph—
(i) Qualified Indian lands The term “qualified Indian lands” means land which is held in trust by the United States for the benefit of an Indian tribe.
(ii) Indian tribe The term “Indian tribe” means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.
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(iii) Net proceeds The term “net proceeds” has the meaning given such term by section 150(a)(3).
(d) Treatment of subdivisions of Indian tribal governments as political subdivisions For the purposes specified in subsection (a), a subdivision of an Indian tribal government shall be treated as a political subdivision of a State if (and only if) the Secretary determines (after consultation with the Secretary of the Interior) that such subdivision has been delegated the right to exercise one or more of the substantial governmental functions of the Indian tribal government.
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(e) Essential governmental function For purposes of this section, the term “essential governmental function” shall not include any function which is not customarily performed by State and local governments with general taxing powers.
Amended 1987
- 1987 Pub. L. 100-203 Pub. L. 100–203, § 10632(a), added subsec. (e).
(f) Tribal economic development bonds
Amended 2009
- 2009 Pub. L. 111-5 Pub. L. 111–5 added subsec. (f).
(1) Allocation of limitation
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(A) In general The Secretary shall allocate the national tribal economic development bond limitation among the Indian tribal governments in such manner as the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, determines appropriate.
(B) National limitation There is a national tribal economic development bond limitation of $2,000,000,000.
(2) Bonds treated as exempt from tax In the case of a tribal economic development bond—
(A) notwithstanding subsection (c), such bond shall be treated for purposes of this title in the same manner as if such bond were issued by a State,
(B) the Indian tribal government issuing such bond and any instrumentality of such Indian tribal government shall be treated as a State for purposes of section 141, and
(C) section 146 shall not apply.
(3) Tribal economic development bond
(A) In general For purposes of this section, the term “tribal economic development bond” means any bond issued by an Indian tribal government—
(i) the interest on which would be exempt from tax under section 103 if issued by a State or local government, and
(ii) which is designated by the Indian tribal government as a tribal economic development bond for purposes of this subsection.
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(B) Exceptions Such term shall not include any bond issued as part of an issue if any portion of the proceeds of such issue are used to finance—
(i) any portion of a building in which class II or class III gaming (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act) is conducted or housed or any other property actually used in the conduct of such gaming, or
(ii) any facility located outside the Indian reservation (as defined in section 168(j)(6)).
(C) Limitation on amount of bonds designated The maximum aggregate face amount of bonds which may be designated by any Indian tribal government under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed the amount of national tribal economic development bond limitation allocated to such government under paragraph (1).