The Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee (TTAC) convened its first public meeting of 2026 at the U.S. Department of the Treasury in Washington, D.C.
The TTAC met quorum with six members present at the in-person meeting:
- W. Ron Allen, Tribal Chair and CEO of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe (Washington State)
- Will Micklin, 4th Vice President of the Central Council of Tlingit Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Alaska)
- Rodney Butler, Chairman, Mashantucket Pequot Tribe (Connecticut)
- Chief Allan, Chairman, Coeur d’Alene Tribe(Idaho)
- Martin Tucker, CFO, Choctaw Nation (Oklahoma)
- Carla Keene, Chairman of the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians (Oregon)
Representatives from key federal agencies, including the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), were in attendance. Notable participants included:
- Brandon Beach, U.S. Treasurer, U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Ken Kies, Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy, U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Frank Bisignano, CEO, Internal Revenue Service
- Luke Pettit, Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions, U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Chase Wilson, Associate Director, White House Intergovernmental Affairs
The TTAC public meeting primarily focused on implementing the finalized regulations concerning General Welfare Exclusion (GWE) and the tax treatment of Wholly-owned Tribally Chartered Corporate entities, as well as outlining next steps for the education and training requirement for IRS field agents. The discussion also emphasized strengthening ongoing collaboration between the TTAC, the Treasury, and the IRS to better support Tribal nations and economic development. Key policy priorities discussed included the tax treatment of partially owned Tribally chartered corporate entities, expanding access to tax-exempt bond financing for Tribal nations, achieving excise tax exemption parity, and ensuring that Tribal general welfare benefits are excluded from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility determinations.
TTAC Meeting Highlights
TTAC Chairman W. Ron Allen thanked Treasury Leadership and the Office of Tribal and Native Affairs for their work on finalizing historic rules on the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion and the tax treatment of Wholly-owned Tribally Chartered Corporations.
Vice President Will Micklin of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska advocated for recommendations on Tribal employee plans, consultations, and clearer pension guidance. He also called for elevating the Office of Indian Tribal Governments (ITG) within the IRS to better serve Indian Country and the necessity for engagement with the Department of Labor on Tribal issues.
Chairman Rodney Butler of the Mashantucket Pequot Nation emphasized the significance of the TTAC and the Treasury and Administration’s dedication to promoting Tribal economic development, self-determination, and self-governance. He also drew attention to Section 78721 of the Internal Revenue Code, which was enacted as part of the Indian Tribal Government Tax Status Act of 1982. This section, however, due to adverse guidance issued by the IRS, has failed to achieve parity concerning the issuance of tax-exempt bonds.
Frank Bisignano, CEO of the Internal Revenue Service, affirmed the IRS’s commitment to government-to-government collaboration with Tribal nations and pledged continued support for the Office of Indian Tribal Governments (ITG) division, which serves as the IRS’s primary point of contact for Tribal governments.
Treasurer Brandon Beach celebrated the finalization of Tribal tax guidance on GWE and the tax treatment of Wholly-owned Tribally Chartered Corporate entities that have been in development for over 30 years, crediting the collective efforts of all TTAC members and agency partners. He underscored the administration’s commitment to economic growth and building economic strength to benefit the next generation of Americans, including Tribal communities.
Luke Pettit, Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, presented information on Trump Accounts, or 530A accounts, a new type of IRA-style savings account for children. TTAC members expressed interest in promoting these accounts in Tribal communities, noting the opportunity to instill and create long-term financial security.
Policy Priorities
GWE Training and Education Curriculum Development
A collaborative, multi-step process is currently under development to provide comprehensive training for IRS field agents on GWE regulations. This initiative aims to ensure that the development of curriculum and the education of IRS agents include input from the TTAC and consultation with Tribal nations and leaders. NAFOA will also host a listening session in Reno, Nevada, on April 28th, providing an initial opportunity for input. Furthermore, surveys will be distributed to collect additional Tribal feedback, with the results informing recommendations prepared for the subsequent TTAC meeting and next steps of training development. The IRS has formally committed to consulting with Tribal governments before finalizing any training program.
Partially Owned Tribally Charted Corporate Entities
Guidance on the tax treatment of wholly-owned Tribally chartered corporate entities was finalized in December 2025; however, substantial uncertainty persists regarding partially owned Tribally chartered corporate entities. TTAC and NAFOA are currently soliciting further input via surveys and listening sessions to inform subsequent guidance requests.
Tax-exempt Bonding for Tribal Governments
The existing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance under Section 7871 has created considerable ambiguity, impeding Tribal economic development and investment. TTAC has advocated for the issuance of new guidance, consistent with the administration’s deregulatory initiatives, to enable Tribal governments to issue tax-exempt bonds in parity with state and local governments. TTAC also highlighted the Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act (TTIRA), introduced in both the House and the Senate, as a measure that would establish parity and clarity for Tribal nations and enhance access to essential financial instruments, such as tax-exempt bonds. TTAC also drew attention to the significant disparity in the issuance of tax-exempt bonds between Tribal nations and state and local governments. In 2020, Tribal governments collectively issued $39 million in tax-exempt debt, whereas state and local governments issued $51 billion during the same period.
Excise Tax Exemption Parity
The IRS’s 1984 guidance on Section 7871 excise tax exemptions for Tribal political subdivisions is outdated and burdensome. Since 1984, subdivisions not on the initial list must seek costly, time-consuming private letter rulings (PLR) to secure the exemption Congress intended, creating economic uncertainty. TTAC requests that the IRS collaborate with Tribal nations and TTAC to modernize this guidance, aligning with Congressional intent and the President’s deregulatory agenda.
Tribal General Welfare Benefits and SSI eligibility
Many Tribal members are currently faced with a difficult choice: accept Tribal General Welfare benefits or retain eligibility for vital programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid. TTAC and various public commenters identified this as a critical issue, particularly vulnerable Tribal members, such as elders. TTAC hopes to work towards a solution to exclude Tribal general welfare benefits for SSI eligibility.
Subcommittee Updates
General Welfare Exclusion Subcommittee
- The subcommittee is in the active development phase of a GWE training and education curriculum for IRS field agents and tribal financial officers.
- The approach is intentional and collaborative, and Tribal input will be incorporated at every stage of design.
- The NAFOA listening session in Reno, NV, on April 28th will be an important opportunity to gather input.
- Surveys will supplement listening sessions, with consolidated recommendations to be presented at the next TTAC meeting.
Tribal Economies Subcommittee
- The subcommittee is looking ahead to gaining guidance on partially owned Tribally chartered corporate entities and joint ventures; uncertainty in this area continues to hamper economic development.
- NAFOA surveys and listening sessions are underway to gather Tribal input on joint venture tax treatment.
- Tribal bond financing identified as an urgent priority — TTAC is advocating for guidance to enable Tribes to access capital markets on an equal footing with state and local governments.
Tribal Parity & Reform Subcommittee
- The subcommittee expressed a desire to collaborate with the Department of Labor regarding pension issues and to publish proposed rules on including alternative investments in a 401(k) plan’s investment selection.
- The subcommittee also highlighted that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) established a new deduction for specific overtime pay, as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The IRS issued interim relief (Notice 2025-62) for the 2025 tax year without prior consultation with the TTAC. The TTAC would like to make sure that future guidance on these deductions and reporting requirements for Tribal employers is addressed through the TTAC, with an opportunity to coordinate appropriate Tribal input. It is important to make sure that Tribal employers seeking to apply the new deduction rules are not deemed to have inadvertently waived important sovereignty positions under FLSA. The TTAC requests that the Treasury engage with TTAC on this issue.
- The subcommittee addresses the Tribal Tax and Investment Reform and its provisions that seek to achieve parity and clarity on issues such as Tribal bonds, Tribal pensions, economic development, and employment tax credits. TTAC offers technical assistance and favorable feedback regarding the Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act.
Public Comments
Chairwoman Melanie McFalls, Walker River Paiute Tribe
- Expressed appreciation for the Administration’s deregulation efforts and the impact of No Tax on Tips and No Tax on Overtime policies on Tribal communities.
- Thanked Secretary Bessent and Treasurer Beach for finalizing the GWE and wholly owned entity regulations.
- Raised the SSI/GWE interaction issue as a critical concern for Tribal members.
- Expressed enthusiasm for Trump Accounts as an investment in youth financial literacy, and emphasized the importance of financial education resources for Tribal communities.
Chairman William Iyall, Cowlitz Tribes
- Reflected on a decade-plus journey to finalize GWE regulations across four administrations, crediting the Trump administration for prioritizing and completing the process.
- Emphasized that finalized GWE rules now allow Tribes to provide benefits to members both on and off Tribal lands.
- Called for deference to individual Tribal nations in training and guidance implementation.
Next TTAC Meeting: Details and dates for the next public meeting of the TTAC will be announced soon. Visit the U.S Department of the Treasury’s TTAC page for more information.If you have any questions or comments, please contact our Director of Policy, Nicholas Lovesee, at nicholas@nafoa.org, or our Policy Specialist, Marisa Joseph, at marisa@nafoa.org.
