Tax stamp limits won't apply to tribe-owned stores

Tuesday, March 14th 2006, 9:52 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Tobacco stores owned by American Indian tribes will be exempt from emergency rules limiting the number of 6-cent tax stamps that tobacco wholesalers can sell.

The rules originally covered stores that were either owned or licensed by tribes, but an Oklahoma Tax Commission official says they will now apply only to privately owned stores licensed by a tribe.

The 6-cent stamps are the cheapest available in Oklahoma and allow stores along state borders to sell less expensive cigarettes to remain competitive with competition in other states.

Cigarettes sold in nontribal stores must have $1.03 tax stamps.