CCA 1119032: tribal council member compensation is not subject to SECA tax

Plain-English summary

Chief Counsel advised that compensation paid to an elected Indian tribal council member for council services is not subject to self-employment tax. Revenue Ruling 59-354 treats those services as employment for federal employment-tax purposes, but the payments are not wages subject to FICA or income-tax withholding when the duties resemble those of a city council. The advice also states that the payments are not subject to the Self-Employment Contributions Act.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Are amounts paid to an elected Indian tribal council member for council services subject to self-employment tax?
• Outcome: Advice given
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 61 and 1402; Rev. Rul. 59-354; Publication 4268; CCA 199906001; TAM 9410006.

Full text (IRS public release)

ID: CCA_2011041509011770 Number: 201119032
Release Date: 5/13/2011
Office: -----------------------------
UILC: 1402.00-00

From: ----------------------
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2011 9:01:18 AM
To: --------------------------
Cc: ---------------
Subject: ITG question re SECA tax on tribal council member compensation

You asked whether amounts paid to an elected Indian tribal council member, for services rendered as
such, are subject to self-employment tax. The answer is no.

Revenue Ruling 59-354 concludes that services performed by members of tribal councils in their
capacities as council members do not constitute “employment” for Federal employment tax purposes and,
although includible in gross income under section 61 of the Code, amounts paid to members of tribal
councils for services performed by them as council members do not constitute “wages” where their duties
appear to be similar to the duties of a city council. The revenue ruling does not conclude that Indian tribal
council members are not employees; rather, the assumption is that they were common law employees.

It has been the Service’s position that a taxpayer in his capacity as an elected tribal council member is a
common law employee for Federal employment tax purposes. Based on Rev. Rul. 59-354, remuneration
paid to the tribal council member is not subject to the FICA taxes or income tax withholding. Further,
amounts paid to a tribal council member for services rendered as an elected tribal council member are
not subject to the taxes imposed under the Self-Employment Contributions Act.

See Publication 4268 (Rev. 11-08), Indian Tribal Government Employment Tax Desk Guide, page 18;
CCA 199906001 (tribal council members were employees, payments were not wages); TAM 9410006
(tribal council member was employee, payments were not subject to SECA tax).

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