The mandate of the First Nations Tax Commission includes the authority to review and approve local revenue laws made under the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act (the “Act”). Section 35(1)(a) of the Act gives the FNTC the power to establish standards, not inconsistent with the regulations, “respecting the form and content of local revenue laws.”

The standards established by the Commission place form and content requirements on s.5 local revenue laws enacted by First Nations. Together with the Act and its associated regulations, the standards form the regulatory framework governing First Nation taxation under the Act.

The FNTC has developed standards concerning property taxation laws, property assessment laws, annual expenditures laws, annual rates laws, and submission of information. Each standard has been developed to complement the Act and its regulations in ensuring that they reflect best practices in First Nation property taxation.