Indian Reservation Taxless Fuel

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

A couple weeks ago I found a few truck stops off I-90 in NY (exit 58) not too far from my bus barn.

Big lines and I could see why. The price everywhere else in the area that day was $2.659/g.:( There it was $.70 lower (tax) $1.95/g :) This happens to be on an Indian reservation. Small casino there too, and tax free smokes:eek:

I was wondering if all those truckers pay that tax with special forms to the fed and state like they are supposed to?

What do you think?

JIM

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Welcome to reality Jim.

The Indian reservation fuel in Irving and Salamance areas does not have the taxes charged off the Seneca Indian Nation Reservation property. It has always been cheaper and whenever we bought fuel in NY it was always on the reservation.

NY has been trying for years to get the taxes on that fuel, and so far have been unsuccessful.

As an alternative just buy fuel in states that do not gouge. You have long range tanks so KY, TN, GA, SC, NJ are all good states where the fuel is more reasonable. NY is heading into bankruptcy and they will be attempting to tax more and more.

[Jerry Winchester]

I may have relayed this story before, but my experience buying fuel from the "tribe" had an interesting consequence.

After fueling, I proceeded to the counter to pay. The clerk tells me how much I owe.

I then proceed to tell him that what he is telling me and what the pump says are not the same.

He tells me they go by the computer and not the pump.

I tell him that if that is the case, he needs to get the pump checked by the Corporation Commission (the folks who regulate fuel metering in Oklahoma).

He tells me that I am on indian nation grounds and the laws of the state do not apply to them and in a really pissy voice proceeds to tell me how much I need to pay or else.

Then I pose a hypothetical question to him; "If I drag your ass across this counter and kick it out into the drive way, will the Oklahoma Highway Patrol come to your rescue or will we have to wait for the Tribal Police?"

He took the amount listed on the pump and I left.

Cowboys - 1 Indians - 0

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

I paid at the pump with a credit card, just like it read. All was good and I was happy that day.

JIM:)

[Jerry Winchester]

I paid at the pump with a credit card, just like it read. All was good and I was happy that day.

Are you telling me you are afraid of the Indians?

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

What I meant was, they charged the discounted rate, and you could pay at the pump. I never even saw an Indian. I didn't have to be afraid:rolleyes:

JIM

[flyu2there]

The West Coast Injuns are not quite so kind, I am convinced they keep the tax money for themselves to add another smoke filled wing to their Casino.
Fact the last one I stopped at, White Mountain Apache, actually wanted more than the street prices for all fuels.

BTW what's the deal with these reservations....big beautiful casinos, etc, surrounded by hundreds of old beater house trailers with the apparent status symbol being how many no running cars and trucks one can have up on blocks on their property?

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

There is a reservation outside Syracuse NY. I've heard stories that if the cops are chasing you and you go into the reservation, they stop and give up the chase.


JIM

[tdelorme]

So, Jim, your telling us that the snow has melted and you finally got the bus out of the barn. Finally.

We filled up in Nashville Sunday morning for $1.91, but we're stuck on $1.99 around here local.

Jerry, I was in Air Power Equipment Co. in Mt. Pleasant, TX this afternoon and the kid behind the counter had on a cool Boots & Coots camo ball cap.
I ask him where he got the hat and he said a guy from B&C had come in a rented some stuff awhile back and gave him the cap and a video. Whats you all doing up in this country anyway?? Oil patch is sure slow right now and US Steel just closed the steel mill at Lone Star, TX. Not good for the locals

[Jerry Winchester]

We have a yard in Longview and Shreveport. Lots of work still going on in the Haynsville shale. Good wells too.

[GDeen]

We have a yard in Longview and Shreveport. Lots of work still going on in the Haynsville shale. Good wells too.


Too many good wells unfortunately in an already oversupplied market...from my admittedly biased perspective.

[Orren Zook]

I had a customer working in NY cutting trees, his fleet of trucks was fueling at the reservation in Salamanca while on that job because the prices were better. When it came time to file his year end tax returns the US government and state of NY billed him for unpaid road use tax... I doubt any of us would be in similar circumstances, but maybe so if your coach was titled under a business entity.

[truk4u]

I always fuel at Salamanca with the bus when we go to upstate NY each summer. Back in the NY trucking days, we didn't allow drivers to fuel at any of the the reservations because there was no fuel purchase credit to offset the NY ton mile tax. If you didn't buy enough fuel to offset the miles run in the state, you had to pay!:(

[Jon Wehrenberg]

I cannot speak about other states, but NY has a requirement for filing highway use taxes. Any vehicle in excess of 17,999# used for commercial purposes must file and display a HUT sticker on the front bumper.

That company got nailed for the taxes because they could not prove payment of the taxes. The tax form is a nightmare because you have to account for miles driven and the records need to reflect NY State miles and miles driven in other states which are exempt from the taxes.

Adding to the nightmare filling out the forms are such things as miles driven on the NYS Thruway are exempt so you need to keep detailed records and then report accurately. I am glad I am not in NY state anymore.

Our buses do not have to pay because they are not commercial.

[lewpopp]

Jon, you are absolutely on the mark on the truck tax, but did you have to mention that our busses are private vehicles and not the old "private coach" sign bit will reappear. Oh well, I feeling better as each day goes by but who cares.