ALBANY NY (06/07/2018) (readMedia)-- Statement of James Calvin, President, New York Association of Convenience Stores:
For over 20 years, tribal facilitation of cigarette tax avoidance by non-Indian New Yorkers has cost the State of New York billions of dollars in tax revenue, deprived tax-collecting retailers of untold billions in legitimate business, and thwarted public policies designed to reduce smoking.
In accordance with today's unanimous Court of Appeals ruling, the members of NYACS look forward to the state Tax Department moving swiftly to begin collecting applicable taxes on cigarettes sold by Native American enterprises to non-Indian consumers, restoring a level playing field once and for all.