The Fight for Fair Tax Treatment in the CNMI
They say death and taxes are the two certainties in life, but even if taxes are inevitable, administering it should be fair across all Americans. Taxpayers in the Marianas face unique challenges in meeting their federal tax obligations, from long mail delays to limited access to IRS resources and confusion about how the law applies. A common misconception is that people and businesses in the CNMI don’t pay federal taxes. That’s not true. Our community faces real burdens in navigating the system, and we deserve the same access and clarity as any other U.S. jurisdiction. I was grateful to meet with CNMI Tax Attorney Tina Azarvand this week to hear her perspective and share ideas on how we can push for more responsive and equitable tax administration for the Marianas.