Native American fishing income now counts toward retirement plans

The US Treasury Department has changed how it defines income for members of Indian Tribes who earn money from fishing rights. This means that money can now be counted as compensation for calculating retirement plan benefits and contributions.

For decades, income from fishing rights was treated differently from other forms of compensation, which limited how much Tribal members could save for retirement. This rule change puts that income on equal footing with other earnings. It means more money can go into retirement plans, which helps build long-term financial security for these communities.