PERMANENT RULES
Purpose: WAC 458-20-177 describes the application of the B&O and retail sales taxes to sales of motor vehicles, campers, and trailers to nonresident consumers. The rule describes the application of the retail sales tax exemption provided by RCW 82.08.0264 for the sale of motor vehicles, campers, and trailers delivered to nonresidents in Washington, including military personnel temporarily stationed in Washington. It also describes the tax consequences of a sale to a nonresident when the vehicle, camper, or trailer is delivered outside the state.
The department amended this rule to update the documentation forms that are provided in the rule. The "Buyer's Certificate -- Out-of-State Delivery" and "Seller's Certificate -- Out-of-State Delivery" have been changed to require that statements regarding the accuracy and completion of the information on the certificates be initialed by the buyer and person delivering the vehicle to the buyer. Information about the sales tax exemptions provided by RCW 82.08.0269 and 82.08.0273 has been added. Specific factual examples of sales of motor vehicles and their respective tax results have also been added to the rule. The information in this rule has been reorganized to make it easier for readers to understand and use.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 458-20-177 Sales of motor vehicles, campers, and
trailers to nonresident((s)) consumers.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 82.32.300 and 82.01.060(2).
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 05-06-018 on February 22, 2005.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: June 30, 2005.
Janis P. Bianchi, Manager
Interpretations and
Technical Advice Unit
OTS-7736.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order ET 83-1, filed 3/30/83)
WAC 458-20-177
Sales of motor vehicles, campers, and
trailers to nonresident((s)) consumers.
((The scope of this
rule is limited to sales by dealers in this state of motor
vehicles, campers, and trailers to nonresidents of the state
for use outside the state.
For the purposes of this rule, members of the armed
services (but not including civilian military employees) who
are temporarily stationed in the State of Washington pursuant
to military orders will be presumed to be nonresidents unless
such persons were residents of this state at the time of their
induction; the term "vehicle" as used herein refers to motor
vehicles, campers, and trailers.
A deduction from gross proceeds of sales will be allowed when, as a necessary incident of the contract of sale, the seller agrees to, and does, deliver the vehicle to the buyer at a point outside the state, or delivers the same to a common carrier consigned to the purchaser outside the state.
The foregoing deduction, however, will be allowed only when the seller has secured and retains in his files satisfactory proof:
(a) That under the terms of the sales agreement the seller was required to deliver the vehicle to the buyer at a point outside this state; and
(b) That such out-of-state delivery was actually made by the seller or by a common carrier acting as his agent.
For forms of proof acceptable to the department of
revenue see below under retail sales tax-out-of-state
delivery. For "interstate commerce" deductions, generally,
refer to WAC 458-20-193A.
(a) Said vehicle will be taken from the point of delivery in this state directly to a point outside this state under the authority of a trip permit issued by the department of licensing pursuant to the provisions of RCW 46.16.160; or
(b) Said vehicle will be registered and licensed immediately (at the time of delivery) under the laws of the state of the purchaser's residence, will not be used in this state more than three months, and will not be required to be registered and licensed under the laws of this state.
Thus, in determining whether or not this particular exemption from the retail sales tax is applicable the dealer must establish the facts, first, that the purchaser is a bona fide nonresident of Washington and that the vehicle is for use outside this state and, second, that the vehicle is to be driven from his premises under the authority of either (a) a trip permit, or (b) valid license plates issued to that vehicle by the state of the purchaser's residence, with such plates actually affixed to the vehicle at the time of final delivery.
As evidence of the exempt nature of the sales transaction the seller, at the time of sale, is required to take an affidavit from the buyer giving his name, the state of his residence, his address in that state, the name, year and motor or serial number of the vehicle purchased, the date of sale, his declaration that the described vehicle is being purchased for use outside this state and, finally, that the vehicle will be driven from the premises of the dealer under the authority of a trip permit (giving the number) or that the vehicle has been registered and licensed by the state of his residence and will be driven from the premises of the dealer with valid license plates (giving the number) issued by that state affixed thereto. If the vehicle being sold is already licensed with valid Washington plates and the nonresident purchaser wishes to qualify for exemption by transporting the vehicle out-of-state under authority of a trip permit, the dealer is required to remove the Washington plates prior to delivery of the vehicle and retain evidence of such removal to avoid liability for collection and payment of the retail sales tax. The seller must himself certify by appending a certification to the affidavit, to the fact that the vehicle left his premises under the authority of a trip permit or with valid license plates issued by the state of the buyer's residence affixed thereto. The buyer's affidavit and the dealer's certificate must be in the following form:
The foregoing affidavit will be prima facie evidence that sales of vehicles to nonresidents have qualified for the sales tax exemption provided in RCW 82.08.0264 when there are no contrary facts which would negate the presumption that the seller relied thereon in complete good faith. The burden rests upon the seller to exercise a reasonable degree of prudence in accepting statements relative to the nonresidence of buyers. Lack of good faith on the part of the seller or lack of the exercise of the degree of care required would be indicated, for example, if the seller has knowledge that the buyer is living or is employed in Washington, if for the purpose of financing the purchase of the vehicle the buyer gives a local address, if at the time of sale arrangements are made for future servicing of the vehicle in the seller's shop and a local address is shown for the shop customer, or if the seller has ready access to any other information which discloses that the buyer may not be in fact a resident of the state which he claims. A nonresident permit issued by the department of revenue may be accepted as prima facie evidence of the out-of-state residence of the buyer, but does not relieve the seller from obtaining the affidavit and completing the certificate required by this rule.
Members of the armed services who are temporarily stationed in Washington pursuant to military orders will be presumed to be nonresidents unless such persons were residents of this state at the time of their induction. This presumption is not applicable in respect to civilian employees of the armed services.
In all other cases where delivery of the vehicle is made to the buyer in this state, the retail sales tax applies and must be collected at the time of sale. The mere fact that the buyer may be or claims to be a nonresident or that he intends to, and actually does, use the vehicle in some other state are not in themselves sufficient to entitle him to the benefit of this exemption. In every instance where the vehicle is licensed or titled in Washington by the purchaser the retail sales tax is applicable.
(2) Out-of-state deliveries. Out-of-state deliveries to buyers who are bona fide nonresidents are exempt from the retail sales tax when the seller, as a necessary incident to the contract of sale, delivers possession of vehicles to such buyers at points outside Washington and such vehicles are not licensed or titled in this state. If the vehicle being sold bears valid Washington plates and the nonresident wishes to qualify for exemption by taking delivery from the dealer at a point outside the state, the dealer is required to remove the Washington plates prior to delivery and retain evidence of such removal to avoid liability for collection and payment of the retail sales tax.
In such cases, as evidence of the exempt nature of the transaction, the seller must take from the buyer a certificate of out-of-state delivery which shall give the purchaser's name and address, the name, model, year and motor number of the vehicle purchased, and contain the buyer's statement that he is a bona fide resident of the named state, that the vehicle was purchased for use outside Washington state and that under the terms of the sales agreement the dealer was required to and did deliver the vehicle to a named point outside the state of Washington. The certificate shall be signed by the buyer at the place of delivery. Attached to this certificate and made a part thereof shall be a certification by the seller that he delivered the vehicle to the purchaser named at the named place of delivery.
These certificates shall be substantially in the following form:
The retail sales tax applies upon sales at retail made by local dealers to local residents for use by them in this state, even though delivery may be taken by the purchaser at the factory or other point outside this state, or that shipment may be made direct from outside this state to the purchaser in this state. However, where delivery is taken by local residents in foreign countries the vehicles will be deemed not to be for use in this state and local dealers will not be required to collect the retail sales tax.
(3) Records to be retained by seller. The affidavits and certificates referred to in this rule must be retained by the seller in his files as a part of his permanent records subject to audit by the department of revenue. In the absence of such proof, claims that transactions were exempt from tax will be disallowed.)) (1) Introduction. This rule applies to any sale of a vehicle to a consumer who is not a resident of the state, including nonresident military personnel temporarily stationed in Washington. The rule describes the different business and occupation (B&O) and retail sales tax consequences that result from vehicle sales to nonresidents, particularly the sales tax exemption provided by RCW 82.08.0264. It also describes the documentation a seller must retain to demonstrate that a sale is exempt.
For information on use tax liability associated with vehicles, see WAC 458-20-178, Use tax.
For sales of vehicles to Indians or Indian tribes and required documentation, see WAC 458-20-192, Indians -- Indian country.
Questions regarding vehicle licensing or registration requirements should be directed to the department of licensing.
(2) What is a "vehicle"? For the purposes of this rule, a "vehicle" is any vehicle of a type that may be lawfully licensed under chapter 46.16 RCW for operation on a public highway in this state, except that the term does not include any machinery and implements for use in conducting a farming activity subject to RCW 82.08.0268. The term "vehicle" includes, but is not limited to, a car, truck, camper, trailer, bus, motorhome, and motorcycles equipped for road use. It does not include farm tractors, bicycles, mopeds, motorized scooters, snowmobiles, or vehicles that are manufactured for exclusively off-road use.
(3) What are the tax consequences when a vehicle sold to a nonresident is delivered in-state? A sale of a vehicle to a nonresident where the vehicle is delivered in-state is exempt from retail sales tax if the sale meets the requirements of RCW 82.08.0264. In all other cases where the vehicle is delivered to the buyer in this state, the retail sales tax applies and must be collected at the time of sale, unless otherwise exempt by law. The mere fact that the buyer may be or claims to be a nonresident or that the buyer intends to, and actually does, use the vehicle in some other state does not, by itself, entitle the buyer to the exemption. In any case where the seller licenses or registers the vehicle in Washington on the buyer's behalf, the retail sales tax applies.
In computing the B&O tax liability of persons engaged in the business of selling vehicles, no deduction is allowed for a sale made to a nonresident for use outside this state if the nonresident buyer takes delivery in Washington. This is true even if the buyer is entitled to an exemption from the retail sales tax.
(a) Exemption requirements. If a vehicle is delivered within this state to a nonresident buyer, retail sales tax does not apply if the vehicle is purchased for use outside this state and, immediately upon delivery, the vehicle:
(i) Is removed from the state under the authority of a trip permit issued by the department of licensing pursuant to RCW 46.16.160; or
(ii) Is registered and licensed in the state of the buyer's residence, will not be used in this state more than three months, and will not be legally required to be registered and licensed in this state.
If the vehicle bears Washington state license plates, the seller must remove the Washington plates before delivering the vehicle and retain evidence of that removal to avoid liability for collection and payment of the retail sales tax.
(b) Seller obligations; documentation. The seller must properly document the following facts:
(i) The buyer is a nonresident of Washington;
(ii) The vehicle is for use outside this state;
(iii) The vehicle is to be removed from the seller's premises under the authority of either:
(A) A trip permit; or
(B) Valid license plates issued for that vehicle by the state of the buyer's residence, with the plates actually affixed to the vehicle upon final delivery; and
(iv) If the vehicle bears Washington state license plates, the seller has removed the Washington plates before delivery.
To comply with these requirements, the seller must retain a properly completed buyer's affidavit and seller's certificate (in-state delivery) in substantially the form prescribed in subsection (5) of this rule. The seller must also retain documentation of the buyer's nonresidence, as required in subsection (6) of this rule. If the nonresident buyer is a corporation, the seller must also retain the number of the corporate nonresident permit.
(4) What are the tax consequences when a vehicle sold to a nonresident is delivered out-of-state? A sale of a vehicle to a nonresident where the seller delivers the vehicle out-of-state is exempt from retail sales tax. If the vehicle is delivered to the buyer outside the state, the seller may also deduct the sale amount from the gross proceeds of sales for B&O tax purposes. The deductible amount must be included in the gross income reported on the excise tax return and then deducted on the return to determine the amount of taxable income. The deduction must be identified on the deduction detail page of the return as an "interstate and foreign sales" deduction.
(a) Requirements. If a vehicle is delivered outside the state to a nonresident buyer, retail sales tax does not apply if:
(i) The seller, as required by the contract of sale, delivers possession of the vehicle to the buyer at a point outside Washington; and
(ii) The vehicle is not licensed or registered in this state. If the vehicle bears Washington state license plates, the seller must remove the Washington plates before delivery and retain evidence of that removal to avoid liability for collection and payment of the retail sales tax.
(b) Seller obligations; documentation. The seller must properly document the following facts:
(i) The buyer's out-of-state address;
(ii) The vehicle is not licensed or registered in this state or the Washington state license plates have been removed from the vehicle before delivery;
(iii) Under the terms of the sales agreement, the seller is required to deliver the vehicle to the buyer at a point outside this state; and
(iv) The out-of-state delivery was actually made by the seller or by a common carrier acting as the seller's agent.
To comply with these requirements, the seller must retain a properly completed buyer's certificate and seller's certificate (out-of-state delivery) in substantially the form prescribed in subsection (5) of this rule. The seller's certificate must be signed by the person who actually delivers the vehicle to the buyer at the out-of-state location and may be completed only after delivery occurs.
(c) Documentation when delivery is made by common carrier. When a vehicle is delivered outside the state by common carrier acting as the seller's agent, no buyer's certificate or seller's certificate is required. Instead, the seller must retain:
(i) Evidence that the vehicle's license plates (if licensed in Washington) were removed; and
(ii) A signed copy of the bill of lading issued by the carrier. The bill of lading must show the seller as the consignor and indicate that the carrier agrees to transport the vehicle to a point outside the state.
(5) What forms should be used to document an exempt sale? The following documents are necessary to substantiate exempt sales to nonresidents. Do not send the documents described in this subsection to the department of revenue, but keep them as part of the seller's permanent records for five years. Without this documentation, claims that a transaction was exempt from tax will be disallowed.
Copies of the forms can be obtained:
• From the department's internet web site at http://dor.wa.gov
• By facsimile by calling fast fax at 360-705-6705 or 800-647-7706 (using menu options)
• By writing to:
Taxpayer Services
Washington State Department of Revenue
P.O. Box 47478
Olympia, Washington 98504-7478
(a) In-state delivery. A sale with in-state delivery
requires a completed buyer's affidavit and seller's
certificate-in-state delivery.
The buyer's affidavit must be substantially in the following form:
The buyer's certificate must be substantially in the following form:
(a) If the seller knows that the buyer is living in Washington;
(b) If the buyer gives a Washington address for the purpose of financing the purchase of the vehicle;
(c) If, at the time of sale, arrangements are made for future servicing of the vehicle in the seller's shop and a Washington address or telephone number is shown for the shop customer; or
(d) If the seller has ready access to any other information that discloses that the buyer may be a resident of Washington.
(7) Do military personnel qualify for the nonresident exemptions? A member of the armed services who is temporarily stationed in Washington is presumed to be a nonresident, unless that person was a resident of this state when inducted. This presumption does not apply to a civilian employee of the armed services. Nonetheless, a sale to a nonresident member of the armed forces must meet all of the statutory requirements for a retail sales tax exemption or B&O tax deduction. If a vehicle sold to a member of the armed forces will remain in Washington for more than three months, retail sales tax is due on the sale, even if the vehicle is registered in the home state of the armed forces member.
(a) Military temporary license. In addition to the exemptions provided under RCW 82.08.0264, a member of the armed forces may alternatively qualify for the retail sales tax and use tax exemptions provided by RCW 46.16.480 if the member obtains a 45-day nonresident military temporary license from the department of licensing under RCW 46.16.460 and satisfies the requirements of RCW 46.16.480.
(b) Additional documentation required. In addition to the documentation otherwise required by this rule, for a sale to a member of the armed forces a seller must retain a copy of military orders showing that the buyer:
(i) Is temporarily stationed in Washington and will leave within three months of the date of purchase; or
(ii) Is permanently reassigned to a new duty station outside Washington and will leave within three months of the date of purchase.
(c) Military personnel of NATO-member nations. Pursuant to treaty, a member of the armed forces of any NATO-member nation who is stationed in Washington is considered to be a nonresident for purposes of the RCW 82.08.0264 retail sales tax exemption. The buyer must meet all otherwise applicable requirements for exemption. In addition, the seller must retain proof of the buyer's military assignment in Washington as a member of a NATO-member nation's armed forces.
(8) Are sales to residents of noncontiguous states exempt from Washington retail sales tax? RCW 82.08.0269 exempts purchases of tangible personal property from the retail sales tax if the property is purchased for use in states, territories, and possessions of the United States that are not contiguous with any other state. However, the exemption only applies if, as a necessary incident to the contract of sale, the seller delivers the property to the purchaser or the purchaser's designated agent at the usual receiving terminal of the carrier selected to transport the goods, under such circumstances that it is reasonably certain that the goods will be transported directly to a destination in a noncontiguous state, territory, or possession.
RCW 82.08.0269 applies to the sale of motor vehicles when the requirements stated above are met. Therefore, in addition to being exempt from retail sales tax under RCW 82.08.0264 (discussed above), a sale of a motor vehicle to a resident of a noncontiguous state, territory, or possession may qualify for exemption under RCW 82.08.0269. If so, the sale is exempt from retail sales tax but does not qualify for a B&O tax deduction. For more information on the requirements of the RCW 82.08.0269 exemption, including the documentation requirements, see WAC 458-20-193, Inbound and outbound interstate sales of tangible personal property.
(9) Are sales to residents of states with no sales tax exempt from Washington retail sales tax? RCW 82.08.0273 exempts purchases of tangible personal property from the retail sales tax if the purchaser is a resident of another state or possession or a province of Canada that does not impose a retail sales tax or use tax of three percent or more. That statute does not apply to purchases of vehicles. Because RCW 82.08.0264 more specifically applies to the sale of vehicles, it takes precedence over RCW 82.08.0273. A resident of another state or possession or a province of Canada that does not impose a retail sales tax or use tax of three percent or more may purchase and take delivery of a vehicle in Washington free of retail sales tax only if the person meets the requirements of RCW 82.08.0264 or 82.08.0269.
(10) Examples. The following examples identify a number of facts and then state a conclusion. These examples should be used only as a general guide. The tax results of other situations must be determined after a review of all facts and circumstances.
(a) Buyer purchases a vehicle from Dealer. Buyer provides identification indicating that Buyer is a resident of California and provides California license plates for the vehicle. However, Buyer also states that he intends to use the vehicle in the state of Washington for four months before returning to California. Buyer does not qualify for a sales tax exemption because Buyer will use the vehicle for more than three months in the state.
(b) Buyer provides proof of residency in Idaho; there are no contrary facts regarding Buyer's residency. Buyer completes the buyer's affidavit, stating that the vehicle is for use out-of-state. Buyer obtains and uses a trip permit issued under authority of RCW 46.16.160 to remove the vehicle from Washington. The Dealer completes a seller's certificate and certifies that the Dealer removed the Washington license plates before delivering the vehicle to Buyer. This sale qualifies for the retail sales tax exemption but not the B&O tax deduction.
(c) Buyer is a Washington resident, employed by out-of-state Corporation X. On behalf of Corporation X, Buyer purchases and accepts in-state delivery of a vehicle from Dealer. The vehicle will be used as a company car out-of-state and will not be used or garaged in Washington. Payment is made by corporate check. Buyer provides a trip permit for transport of the vehicle out of Washington. This sale qualifies for the retail sales tax exemption (but not for the B&O tax deduction) notwithstanding the Washington residency of its employee. The Dealer must record in its records the number of the corporate nonresident permit.
(d) Buyer is a resident of Alaska and purchases a vehicle from Dealer in Washington. The sales contract requires Dealer to deliver the vehicle to Buyer at Anchorage, Alaska. Before shipping the vehicle, Dealer removes the vehicle's Washington state license plates and retains a photocopy of the plates as evidence of the removal. Seller ships the vehicle to Alaska by common carrier. Seller retains a signed copy of the bill of lading, indicating the Seller as consignor and the Buyer as consignee. This sale qualifies for the retail sales tax exemption and a B&O tax deduction.
(e) Buyer is a resident of Alaska and purchases a vehicle from Dealer in Washington. Dealer delivers the vehicle to the Buyer at dockside in Seattle to be shipped to Anchorage, Alaska by common carrier. Dealer retains the exemption certificate and dock receipt required by WAC 458-20-193. This sale qualifies for the retail sales tax exemption provided by RCW 82.08.0269 but not for a B&O tax deduction.
(f) Buyer is a member of the armed forces and provides a copy of her orders showing that she is temporarily stationed in Washington. Before entering military service, buyer resided in another state. Buyer purchases a vehicle from Dealer and licenses it in her home state, but intends to keep the vehicle in this state for over three months. This sale does not qualify for any exemption or deduction. If the vehicle were to be removed from the state within three months, the sale would qualify for the RCW 82.08.0264 retail sales tax exemption but not for a B&O tax deduction.
(g) Buyer owns homes in Washington and Arizona, spending summers in Washington and winters in Arizona. In October, Buyer purchases a vehicle from Dealer, asserting that he will immediately drive the vehicle to Arizona and license it in that state. Buyer presents an Arizona driver's license for identification and provides a trip permit to remove the vehicle from Washington. Dealer is aware that Buyer lives in Washington for a significant portion of each year. In such a case, the sale would not qualify for the retail sales tax exemption. Under these facts, Buyer has dual residency in Washington and Arizona for tax purposes and Dealer cannot, in good faith, rely upon a buyer's affidavit from Buyer.
(h) Buyer provides an Oregon driver's license and states that the vehicle will be licensed in Oregon and used out-of-state. However, when Dealer runs a credit check on Buyer, the credit report contains several references to a Washington address for Buyer. In this situation, Dealer cannot rely in good faith on Buyer's single form of identification as proof of nonresidency. The dealer must obtain additional evidence of nonresidency to substantiate a claimed exemption before making a tax-exempt sale in this situation.
(i) Buyer purchases a motorcycle from Dealer in Vancouver, Washington. The motorcycle is equipped for use on public highways. Buyer provides an Oregon driver's license and asserts that the motorcycle will be licensed in Oregon. Buyer also states that the motorcycle will only be used outside of Washington. Buyer places the motorcycle in the back of a truck for transport to Oregon. This sale does not qualify for any exemption or deduction. To qualify for the sales tax exemption, RCW 82.08.0264 requires the Buyer to obtain a trip permit or provide license plates from another state before removing the vehicle from Washington.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 82.32.300. 83-08-026 (Order ET 83-1), § 458-20-177, filed 3/30/83; Order ET 70-3, § 458-20-177 (Rule 177), filed 5/29/70, effective 7/1/70.]