Date Recorded: January 15th, 2026
Download: PowerPoint Presentation
Speakers:
Fatima Abbas, Director, Office of Tribal & Native Affairs at U.S. Department of the Treasury, and Designated Federal Officer for the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee
Krishna Vallabhaneni, Tax Legislative Counsel, U.S. Department of the Treasury
This webinar examined the finalization of Treasury rules on the General Welfare Exclusion Act and Tribal Wholly-Owned Corporate Entities—groundbreaking regulations that promise to transform Tribal economic development and provide long-awaited tax certainty for Indian Country.
Announced on December 15, 2025, these rules are the result of years of sustained Tribal advocacy and consultation with the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee. They affirm Tribal sovereignty by granting Tribes deference in determining general welfare benefits. The rules explicitly exempt wholly-owned Tribally chartered corporations from federal income tax and recognize Tribal authority to make special needs determinations on par with states.
Speakers broke down the key provisions of each regulation and explored their practical implications for Tribal finance operations and economic development strategies. Implementation considerations, including IRS training requirements and audit suspensions, were addressed, and an explanation of this final guidance was provided to assist Tribes with leveraging this tax clarity to strengthen their economies while maintaining sovereign authority when designing welfare programs or structuring business entities.