514.1—Annual fees.

(a) Each gaming operation under the jurisdiction of the Commission shall pay to the Commission annual fees as established by the Commission. The Commission, by a vote of not less than two of its members, shall adopt the rates of fees to be paid.
(1) The Commission shall adopt preliminary rates for each calendar year no later than February 1st of that year, and, if considered necessary, shall modify those rates no later than July 1st of that year.
(2) The Commission shall publish the rates of fees in a notice in the Federal Register.
(3) The rates of fees imposed shall be—
(i) No more than 2.5 percent of the first $ 1,500,000 (1st tier), and
(ii) No more than 5 percent of amounts in excess of the first $1,500,000 (2nd tier) of the assessable gross revenues from each gaming operation subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission.
(4) If a tribe has a certificate of self-regulation, the rate of fees imposed shall be no more than .25 percent of assessable gross revenues from self-regulated class II gaming operations.
(b) For purposes of computing fees, assessable gross revenues for each gaming operation are the annual total amount of money wagered on class II and III games, admission fees (including table or card fees), less any amounts paid out as prizes or paid for prizes awarded, and less an allowance for amortization of capital expenditures for structures.
(1) Unless otherwise provided by the regulations, generally accepted accounting principles shall be used.
(2) The allowance for amortization of capital expenditures for structures shall be either:
(i) An amount not to exceed 5% of the cost of structures in use throughout the year and 2.5% (two and one-half percent) of the cost of structures in use during only a part of the year; or
(ii) An amount not to exceed 10% of the cost of the total amount of amortization/depreciation expenses for the year.
(3) Examples of computations follow:
(i) For paragraph (2)(i) of this section:
Gross gaming revenues:
Money wagered $1,000,000
Admission fees 5,000
1,005,000
Less:
Prizes paid in cash $500,000
Cost of other prizes awarded 10,000 510,000
Gross gaming profit 495,000
Less allowance for amortization of capital expenditures for structures:
Capital expenditures for structures made in—
Prior years 750,000
Current year 50,000
Maximum allowance:
$750,000 × .05 = 37,500
50,000 × .025 = 1,250 38,750
Assessable gross revenues 456,250
(ii) For paragraph (2)(ii) of this section:
Gross gaming revenues:
Money wagered $1,000,000
Admission fees 5,000 1,005,000
Less:
Prizes paid in cash $500,000
Cost of other prizes awarded 10,000 510,000
Gross gaming profit 495,000
Code of Federal Regulations 34
Less allowance for amortization of capital expenditures for structures:
Total amount of amortization/depreciation per books 400,000
Maximum allowance:
$400,000 × .10 = 40,000
Gross gaming revenues 455,000
Assessable gross revenues 455,000
(4) All class II and III revenues from gaming operations are to be included.
(c) Each gaming operation subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission and not exempt from paying fees pursuant to the self-regulation provisions shall file with the Commission a statement showing its assessable gross revenues for the previous calendar year.
(1) These statements shall show the amounts derived from each type of game, the amounts deducted for prizes, and the amounts deducted for the amortization of structures;
(2) These statements shall be sent to the Commission on or before June 30th and December 31st of each calendar year.
(3) The statements shall identify an individual or individuals to be contacted should the Commission need to communicate further with the gaming operation. The telephone numbers of the individual(s) shall be included.
(4) Each gaming operation shall determine the amount of fees to be paid and remit them with the statement required in paragraph (c) of this section. The fees payable shall be computed using—
(i) The most recent rates of fees adopted by the Commission pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of this section,
(ii) The assessable gross revenues for the previous calendar year as reported pursuant to this paragraph, and
(iii) The amounts paid and credits received during the year.
(5) Each statement shall include the computation of the fees payable, showing all amounts used in the calculations. The required calculations are as follows:
(i) Multiply the previous calendar year's 1st tier assessable gross revenues by the rate for those revenues adopted by the Commission.
(ii) Multiply the previous calendar year's 2nd tier assessable gross revenues by the rate for those revenues adopted by the Commission.
(iii) Add (total) the results (products) obtained in paragraphs (c)(5)(i) and (ii) of this section.
(iv) Multiply the total obtained in paragraph (c)(5)(iii) of this section by 1/2.
(v) The amount computed in paragraph (c)(5)(iv) of this section is the amount to be remitted.
(6) Examples of fee computations follow:
(i) Where a filing is made for June 30th of the calendar year, the previous year's assessable gross revenues are $2,000,000, the fee rates adopted by the Commission are 0.0% on the first $1,500,000 and .08% on the remainder, the amounts to be used and the computations to be made are as follows:
1st tier revenues—$1,500,000 × 0.0% =
2nd tier revenues—500,000 ×.08% = $400
Annual fees 400
Multiply for fraction of year—1/2 or .50
Fees for first payment 200
Amount to be remitted 200
(7) The statements, remittances and communications about fees shall be transmitted to the Commission at the following address: Office of Finance, National Indian Gaming Commission, 1441 L Street, NW., Suite 9100, Washington, DC 20005. Checks should be made payable to the National Indian Gaming Commission (do not remit cash).
(8) The Commission may assess a penalty for failure to file timely a statement.
(9) Interest shall be assessed at rates established from time to time by the Secretary of the Treasury on amounts remaining unpaid after their due date.
(d) The total amount of all fees imposed during any fiscal year shall not exceed the statutory maximum imposed by Congress. The Commission shall credit pro-rata any fees collected in excess of this amount against amounts otherwise due by June 30th and December 31st of each calendar year.
(e) Failure to pay fees, any applicable penalties, and interest related thereto may be grounds for:
(1) Closure, or
(2) Disapproving or revoking the approval of the Chairman of any license, ordinance, or resolution required under this Act for the operation of gaming.
(f) To the extent that revenue derived from fees imposed under the schedule established under this paragraph are not expended or committed at the close of any fiscal year, such funds shall remain available until expended to defray the costs of operations of the Commission.

Code of Federal Regulations

[74 FR 36933, July 27, 2009; 75 FR 2795, Jan. 19, 2010]