PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 05-09-121.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: WAC 458-20-268 Annual surveys for certain tax adjustments.
Hearing Location(s): Capital Plaza Building, 4th Floor, L&P Large Conference Room, 1025 Union Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, on December 6, 2006, at 10:00 a.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: December 13, 2006.
Submit Written Comments to: Allan C. Lau, P.O. Box 47453, Olympia, WA 98504-7453, e-mail AllanL@dor.wa.gov, fax (360) 586-5543, by December 6, 2006.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Sandy Davis no later than ten days before the hearing date, TTY 1-800-451-7985 or (360) 725-7499.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: In order to take certain tax credits, deferrals, and exemptions ("tax adjustments"), taxpayers must file an annual survey with the department of revenue (the "department") containing information about their business activities and employment. This rule explains the survey requirements for the various tax adjustments. This rule also explains who is required to file an annual survey, how to file a survey, and what information must be included in the survey.
The department is proposing this new rule to incorporate provisions of the following: (a) Chapter 2, Laws of 2004, (b) chapter 25, Laws of 2004, (c) chapter 513, Laws of 2005, (d) chapter 514, Laws of 2005, (e) chapter 112, Laws of 2006, (f) chapter 177, Laws of 2006, (g) chapter 178, Laws of 2006, (h) chapter 300, Laws of 2006, and (i) chapter 354, Laws of 2006. These provisions require completion of an annual survey by a person claiming the following tax adjustments:
| • | B&O tax credit for research and development spending under RCW 82.04.4452, |
| • | Rural counties sales and use tax deferral under chapter 82.60 RCW, |
| • | High technology sales and use tax deferral under chapter 82.63 RCW, |
| • | Sales and use tax deferral for biotechnology product manufacturing under chapter 82.75 RCW, |
| • | Sales and use tax deferral for dairy product manufacturing, seafood product manufacturing, and fresh fruit and vegetable processing under chapter 82.74 RCW, |
| • | B&O tax exemption for dairy products under RCW 82.04.4268, seafood products under RCW 82.04.4269, and fruits and vegetables under RCW 82.04.4266, |
| • | B&O tax credit for aerospace preproduction development under RCW 82.04.4487, |
| • | Reduced B&O tax rate for certain FAR part 145 certificated repair stations under RCW 82.04.250(3), |
| • | B&O tax credit for customized employment training under RCW 82.04.449, and |
| • | Reduced B&O tax rates for timber products under RCW 82.04.260(12). |
Reasons Supporting Proposal: To clarify the annual survey requirements.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 82.32.300 and 82.01.060(2).
Statute Being Implemented: RCW 82.04.4452, 82.60.070, 82.63.020, 82.74.040, 82.32.610, 82.32.630, 82.32.635, 82.32.640, 82.32.645, 82.32.050, 82.32.590, and 82.32.600.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: Department of revenue, governmental.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Allan C. Lau, 1025 Union Avenue S.E., Suite #544, Olympia, WA, (360) 570-6134; Implementation: Alan R. Lynn, 1025 Union Avenue S.E., Suite #544, Olympia, WA, (360) 570-6125; and Enforcement: Janis P. Bianchi, 1025 Union Avenue S.E., Suite #544, Olympia, WA, (360) 570-6147.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The rule does not impose any new performance requirement or administrative burden on any small business not required by statute.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The proposed rule is not a significant legislative rule as defined by RCW 34.05.328.
October 26, 2006
Alan R. Lynn
Rules Coordinator
OTS-7732.7
NEW SECTION
WAC 458-20-268
Annual surveys for certain tax
adjustments.
(1) Introduction. In order to take certain tax
credits, deferrals, and exemptions ("tax adjustments"),
taxpayers must file an annual survey with the department of
revenue (the "department") containing information about their
business activities and employment. This section explains the
survey requirements for the various tax adjustments. This
section also explains who is required to file an annual
survey, how to file a survey, and what information must be
included in the survey.
Refer to WAC 458-20-267 (Annual reports for certain tax adjustments) for more information on the annual report requirements for certain tax incentive programs.
This section provides examples that 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 of the facts and circumstances.
(2) Who is required to file the annual survey? The following persons must file an annual survey:
(a) A person claiming the B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4452 for engaging in qualified research and development. A separate annual survey must be filed for each tax reporting account. If the person has assigned its entire B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4452 to another person, the assignor is not required to file an annual survey. In such an instance, the assignee of the B&O tax credit is required to file an annual survey. If the person has assigned a portion of its B&O tax credit to another person, both the assignor and the assignee are required to file an annual survey. Refer to WAC 458-20-24003 (Tax incentives for high technology businesses) for more specific information about this tax adjustment.
(b) An applicant for deferral of taxes under chapter 82.60 RCW for sales and use taxes on an eligible investment project in rural counties. Refer to WAC 458-20-24001 (Sales and use tax deferral -- Manufacturing and research/development activities in rural counties -- Applications filed after March 31, 2004) for more specific information about this tax adjustment.
(c) An applicant for deferral of taxes under chapter 82.63 RCW for sales and use taxes on an eligible investment project in high technology. Refer to WAC 458-20-24003 (Tax incentives for high technology businesses) for more specific information about this tax adjustment.
(d) An applicant for deferral of taxes under chapter 82.75 RCW for sales and use taxes on an eligible investment project in biotechnology products.
(e) A lessee of an eligible investment project under chapters 82.60, 82.63, and 82.75 RCW (as defined in RCW 82.60.020 (4)(b)(ii), 82.63.010 (7)(b), or 82.75.010 (5)(b)(ii)) who receives the economic benefit of the deferral and agrees in writing with the department to complete the annual survey. A lessor, by written contract, must agree to pass the economic benefit of the deferral to its lessee. The economic benefit of the deferral to the lessee must be no less than the amount of tax deferred by the lessor as evidenced by written documentation of any type, whether by payment, credit, or other financial arrangement between the lessor or owner of the qualified building and the lessee. An applicant who is a lessor of an eligible investment project that received a deferral of taxes under chapters 82.60, 82.63, and 82.75 RCW and who meets these requirements is not required to complete and file an annual survey.
(f) A person claiming the B&O tax exemption provided by RCW 82.04.4268 for dairy products, RCW 82.04.4269 for seafood products, and RCW 82.04.4266 for fruits and vegetables.
The first survey filed under this subsection must also include employment, wage, and benefit information for the twelve-month period immediately before first use of the B&O tax exemption. In order to meet this requirement, a person must complete a survey for the calendar year immediately preceding the first use of the B&O tax exemption.
(g) An applicant for deferral of taxes under chapter 82.74 RCW for sales and use taxes on an eligible investment project for dairy product manufacturing, seafood product manufacturing, or fresh fruit and vegetable processing. This tax adjustment is effective July 1, 2007.
(h) A lessee of an eligible investment project under chapters 82.74 RCW (as defined in RCW 82.74.010 (4)(b)) who receives the economic benefit of the deferral and agrees in writing with the department to complete the annual survey. A lessor, by written contract, must agree to pass the economic benefit of the deferral to its lessee. The economic benefit of the deferral to the lessee must be no less than the amount of tax deferred by the lessor as evidenced by written documentation of any type, whether by payment, credit, or other financial arrangement between the lessor or owner of the qualified building and the lessee. An applicant who is a lessor of an eligible investment project that received a deferral of taxes under chapter 82.74 RCW and who meets these requirements is not required to complete and file an annual survey. This tax adjustment is effective July 1, 2007.
(i) A person claiming the B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4487 for persons engaged in qualified preproduction development in the field of aeronautics. A separate annual survey must be filed for each tax reporting account. If the person has assigned its entire B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4487 to another person, the assignor is not required to file an annual survey. In such an instance, the assignee of the B&O tax credit is required to file an annual survey. If the person has assigned a portion of its B&O tax credit to another person, both the assignor and the assignee are required to file an annual survey.
(j) A person claiming the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.250(3) as FAR part 145 certificated repair stations.
(k) A person claiming the B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.449 for customized employment training.
The first survey filed under this subsection must also include employment, wage, and benefit information for the twelve-month period immediately before first use of the B&O tax credit. In order to meet this requirement, a person must complete a survey for the calendar year immediately preceding the first use of the B&O tax credit.
(l) A person claiming the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.260(12) for timber products.
The first survey filed under this subsection must also include employment, wage, and benefit information for the twelve-month period immediately before first use of the B&O tax rate. In order to meet this requirement, a person must complete a survey for the calendar year immediately preceding the first use of the B&O tax rate.
(3) How to file annual surveys.
(a) Required form. The department has developed a survey form that must be used to complete the annual survey unless a person obtains prior written approval from the department to file the annual survey in an alternative format.
(b) Electronic filing. A survey is filed electronically when the department receives the survey in an electronic format. The department may waive the electronic filing requirement for good cause shown. Any person not statutorily required to electronically file the survey has the option of filing the annual survey electronically.
Persons that claim the following tax adjustments must file the survey electronically with the department:
(i) B&O tax credit for qualified research and development under RCW 82.04.4452 (subsection (2)(a) of this section);
(ii) B&O tax exemptions for dairy products, seafood products or fruits and vegetables under RCW 82.04.4268, 82.04.4269, and 82.04.4266 (subsection (2)(f) of this section);
(iii) Sales and use tax deferral for dairy product manufacturing, seafood product manufacturing, or fresh fruit and vegetable processing under chapter 82.74 RCW (subsection (2)(g) and (h) of this section);
(iv) B&O tax credit for qualified preproduction development in the field of aeronautics under RCW 82.04.4487 (subsection (2)(i) of this section);
(v) B&O tax rate for FAR part 145 certificated repair stations under RCW 82.04.250(3) (subsection (2)(j) of this section); and
(vi) B&O tax rate for timber products under RCW 82.04.260(12) (subsection (2)(l) of this section).
(c) How to obtain the form. The form may be filed electronically online or obtained by downloading it from the department's web site (www.dor.wa.gov). It may also be obtained from the department's district offices, by telephoning the telephone information center (800-647-7706), or by contacting the department's special programs division at:
Department of Revenue
Special Programs Division
Post Office Box 47477
Olympia, WA 98504-7477
Fax: 360-586-2163
(d) Due date. For persons claiming any B&O tax credit,
tax exemption, or tax rate listed under this section, the
survey must be filed or postmarked by March 31st following any
calendar year in which the tax credit, tax exemption, or tax
rate is claimed.
For applicants of any sales tax deferrals listed under this section, the survey must be filed or postmarked by March 31st of the year following the calendar year in which an eligible investment project is certified by the department as being operationally complete and each of the seven succeeding calendar years.
(e) Examples.
(i) Advanced Computing, Inc. qualifies for the B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4452 and applied it against taxes due in calendar year 2006. Advanced Computing, Inc. must electronically file an annual survey with the department by March 31, 2007.
(ii) In 1999, Biotechnology, Inc. applied for and received a sales and use tax deferral under chapter 82.63 RCW for an eligible investment project in qualified research and development. The investment project was certified by the department as being operationally complete in 2001. Biotechnology, Inc. must file its annual survey with the department for the 2005 calendar year by March 31, 2006. A survey is due from Biotechnology, Inc. by March 31st each following year, with its last survey due March 31, 2008.
(iii) Advanced Materials, Inc. has been conducting manufacturing activities in a building leased from Property Management Services since 2002. Property Management Services is a recipient of a deferral under chapter 82.60 RCW, and the building was certified by the department as operationally complete in 2002. In order to pass on the entire economic benefit of the deferral, Property Management Services charges Advanced Materials, Inc. $5,000 less in rent each year. Prior to the 2004 calendar year, Advanced Materials, Inc. is not required under chapter 82.60 RCW to file an annual survey. Advanced Materials, Inc., however, must file its annual survey with the department for the 2004 calendar year by March 31, 2005, assuming all the requirements of RCW 82.60.020 (4)(b)(ii) are met. A survey is due from Advanced Materials, Inc. by March 31st each following year, with its last survey due by March 31, 2009.
(iv) Fruit Canning, Inc. claims the B&O tax exemption provided in RCW 82.04.4266 for the gross proceeds of sales derived from the canning of fruit for the first time in 2006. Fruit Canning, Inc. must file two annual surveys with the department by March 31, 2007, one covering calendar year 2005 and one covering calendar year 2006. If Fruit Canning, Inc. claims the B&O tax exemption during subsequent years, it must file an annual survey for each of those years by March 31 of each following year.
(4) What information does the annual survey require? The annual survey requests information about the following:
(a) Amount of tax deferred, the amount of B&O tax exempted, the amount of B&O tax credit taken, or the amount of B&O tax reduced under the preferential rate;
(b) The number of new products or research projects by general classification;
(c) The number of trademarks, patents, and copyrights associated with activities at the investment project.
(d) The following information for employment positions in Washington:
(i) The total number of employment positions;
(ii) Full-time, part-time, and temporary employment positions as a percent of total employment. Refer to subsection (7) of this section for information about full-time, part-time, and temporary employment positions;
(iii) The number of employment positions according to the wage bands of less than $30,000; $30,000 or greater, but less than $60,000; and $60,000 or greater. A wage band containing fewer than three individuals may be combined with the next lowest wage band; and
(iv) The number of employment positions that have employer-provided medical, dental, and retirement benefits, by each of the wage bands; and
(e) Additional information the department requests that is necessary to measure the results of the tax adjustments.
(i) The department is required to report to the state legislature summary descriptive statistics by category and the effectiveness of the tax adjustments, such as job creation, company growth, and such other factors as the department selects or as the statutes identify. The department has included questions related to measuring these effects.
(ii) In addition, the department has included questions related to:
(A) The person's use of the sales and use tax exemption for machinery and equipment used in manufacturing provided in RCW 82.08.02565 and 82.12.02565; and
(B) The Unified Business Identifier used with the Washington state employment security department and all employment security department reference numbers used on quarterly tax reports that cover the employment positions reported in the annual survey.
(5) What is total employment in the annual survey?
(a) The annual survey requires information on all full-time, part-time, and temporary employment positions located in Washington state on December 31st of the calendar year covered by the report. Total employment includes persons who are on leaves of absence such as sick leave, vacation, disability leave, jury duty, military leave, and workers compensation leave, regardless of whether those persons are receiving wages. Total employment does not include separation from employment such as layoffs or reductions in force. Vacant positions are not included in total employment.
(b) Examples. Assume these facts for the following examples. National Construction Equipment (NCE) manufactures bulldozers, cranes, and other earth-moving equipment in Ridgefield, WA and Kennewick, WA. NCE received a deferral of taxes under chapter 82.60 RCW for sales and use taxes on its new manufacturing site in Kennewick, WA.
(i) NCE employs two hundred workers in Ridgefield manufacturing construction cranes. NCE employs two hundred fifty workers in Kennewick manufacturing bulldozers and other earth-moving equipment. Although NCE's facility in Ridgefield does not qualify for any tax adjustments, NCE's annual survey must report a total of four hundred fifty employment positions. The annual survey includes all Washington state employment positions, which includes employment positions engaged in activities that do not qualify for tax adjustments.
(ii) On November 20th, NCE lays off seventy-five workers. NCE notifies ten of the laid off workers on December 20th that they will be rehired and begin work on January 2nd. The seventy-five employment positions are excluded from NCE's annual survey, because a separation of employment has occurred. Although NCE intends to rehire ten employees, those employment positions are vacant on December 31st.
(iii) On December 31st, NCE has one hundred employees on vacation leave, five employees on sick leave, two employees on military leave, one employee who is scheduled to retire as of January 1st, and three vacant employment positions. The employment positions of employees on vacation, sick leave, and military leave must be included in NCE's annual survey. The one employee scheduled to retire must be included in the annual survey because the employment position is filled on December 31st. The three vacant positions are not included in the annual survey.
(iv) In June, NCE hires two employees from a local college to intern in its engineering department. When the academic year begins in September, one employee ends the internship. The other employee's internship continues until the following June. NCE must report one employment position on the annual survey, representing the one intern employed on December 31st.
(6) When is an employment position located in Washington state? The annual survey seeks information about Washington employment positions only. An employment position is located in Washington state if:
(a) The service of the employee is performed entirely within the state;
(b) The service of the employee is performed both within and without the state, but the service performed without the state is incidental to the employee's service within the state;
(c) The service of the employee is performed both within and without the state, and the employee's base of operations is within the state;
(d) The service of the employee is performed both within and without the state, but the service is directed or controlled in this state; or
(e) The service of the employee is performed both within and without the state and the service is not directed or controlled in this state, but the employee's individual residence is in this state.
(f) Examples. Assume these facts for the following examples. Acme Computer, Inc. develops computer software and claims the B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4452 for its research and development spending. Acme Computer, headquartered in California, has employees working at four locations in Washington state. Acme Computer also has offices in Oregon and Texas.
(i) Ed is a software engineer in Acme Computer's Vancouver office. Ed occasionally works at Acme Computer's Portland, Oregon office when other software engineers are on leave. Ed's position must be included in the number of total employment in Washington state that Acme Computer reports on the annual survey. Ed performs services both within and without the state, but the services performed without the state are incidental to the employee services within Washington state.
(ii) John is an Acme Computer salesperson. John travels throughout Washington, Oregon, and Idaho promoting sales of new Acme Computer products. John's activities are directed by his manager in Acme Computer's Spokane office. John's position must be included in the number of total employment in Washington state that Acme Computer reports on the annual survey. John performs services both within and without the state, but the services are directed or controlled in Washington state.
(iii) Jane, vice-president for product development, works in Acme Computer's Portland, Oregon office. Jane regularly travels to Seattle to review the progress of research and development projects conducted in Washington state. Jane's position must not be included in the number of total employment in Washington state that Acme Computer reports on the annual survey. Although Jane regularly performs services within Washington state, her activities are directed or controlled in Oregon.
(iv) Roberta, a service technician, travels throughout the United States servicing Acme Computer products. Her activities are directed from Acme Computer's corporate offices in California, but she works from her home office in Tacoma. Roberta's position must be included in the number of total employment in Washington state that Acme Computer reports on the annual survey. Roberta performs services both within and without the state and the service is not directed or controlled in this state, but her residence is in Washington state.
(7) What are full-time, part-time and temporary employment positions? The survey must separately identify the number of full-time, part-time, and temporary employment positions as a percent of total employment.
(a) Full-time and part-time employment positions. A position is considered full-time or part-time if the employer intends for the position to be filled for at least fifty-two consecutive weeks or twelve consecutive months, excluding any leaves of absence.
(i) A full-time position is a position that requires the employee to work, excluding overtime hours, thirty-five hours per week for fifty-two consecutive weeks, four hundred fifty-five hours a quarter, or one thousand eight hundred twenty hours during a period of twelve consecutive months.
(ii) A part-time position is a position in which the employee may work less than the hours required for a full-time position.
(iii) In some instances, an employee may not be required to work the hours required for full-time employment because of paid rest and meal breaks, health and safety laws, disability laws, shift differentials, or collective bargaining agreements. If, in the absence of these factors, the employee would be required to work the number of hours for a full-time position to receive their current wage, the position must be reported as a full-time employment position.
(b) Temporary positions. There are two types of temporary positions.
(i) Employees of the person required to complete the survey. In the case of a temporary employee directly employed by the person required to complete the survey, a temporary position is a position intended to be filled for a period of less than fifty-two consecutive weeks or twelve consecutive months. For example, seasonal employment positions are temporary positions. These temporary positions must be included in the information required in subsections (5), (8), and (9) of this section.
(ii) Workers furnished by staffing companies. A temporary position also includes a position filled by a worker furnished by a staffing company, regardless of the duration of the placement. These temporary positions must be included in the information required in subsections (5), (8), and (9) of this section. In addition, the person filling out the annual survey must provide the following additional information:
(A) Total number of staffing company employees furnished by staffing companies;
(B) Top three occupational codes of all staffing company employees; and
(C) Average duration of all staffing company employees.
(c) Examples. Assume these facts for the following examples. Worldwide Materials, Inc. is a developer of materials used in manufacturing electronic devices at a facility located in Everett, WA. Worldwide Materials claims the B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4452 for its research and development spending. Worldwide Materials has one hundred employees.
(i) On December 31st, Worldwide Materials has five employees on workers' compensation leave. At the time of the work-related injuries, the employees worked forty hours a week and were expected to work for fifty-two consecutive weeks. Worldwide Materials must report these employees as being employed in a full-time position. Although the five employees are not currently working, they are on workers' compensation leave and Worldwide Materials had intended for the full-time positions to be filled for at least fifty-two consecutive weeks.
(ii) In September, Worldwide Materials hires two employees on a full-time basis for a two-year project to design composite materials to be used in a new airplane model. Because the position is intended to be filled for a period exceeding twelve consecutive months, Worldwide Materials must report these positions as two full-time positions.
(iii) Worldwide Materials has two employees who clean laboratories during the evenings. The employees regularly work 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, fifty-two weeks a year. Because the employees work less than thirty-five hours a week, the employment positions are reported as part-time positions.
(iv) On November 1st, a Worldwide Materials engineer begins twelve weeks of family and medical leave. The engineer was expected to work forty hours a week for fifty-two consecutive weeks. While the engineer is on leave, Worldwide Materials hires a staffing company to furnish a worker to complete the engineer's projects. Worldwide Materials must report the engineer as a full-time position on the annual report. Worldwide Materials must also report the worker furnished by the staffing company as a temporary employment position and include the information as required in (b) of this subsection.
(v) Worldwide Materials allows three of its research employees to work on specific projects with a flexible schedule. These employees are not required to work a set amount of hours each week, but are expected to work twelve consecutive months. The three research employees are paid a comparable wage as other research employees who are required to work a set schedule of forty hours a week. Although the three research employees may work fewer hours, they are receiving comparable wages as other research employees working forty hours a week. Worldwide Materials must report these positions as full-time employment positions, because each position is equivalent to a full-time employment position.
(vi) Worldwide Materials has a large order to fulfill and hires ten employees for the months of June and July. Five of the employees leave at the end of July. Worldwide Materials decides to have the remaining five employees work on an on-call basis for the remainder of the year. As of December 31st, three of the employees are working for Worldwide Materials on an on-call basis. Worldwide Materials must report three temporary employment positions on the annual survey and include these positions in the information required in subsections (5), (8), and (9) of this section.
(8) What are wages? For the purposes of the annual survey, "wages" means compensation paid to an individual for personal services, whether denominated as wages, salary, commission, or otherwise as reported on the W-2 forms of employees. Stock options granted as compensation to employees are wages to the extent they are reported on the W-2 forms of the employees and are taken as a deduction for federal income tax purposes by the employer. The compensation of a proprietor or a partner is determined in one of two ways:
(a) If there is net income for federal income tax purposes, the amount reported subject to self-employment tax is the compensation.
(b) If there is no net income for federal income tax purposes, reasonable cash withdrawals or cash advances is the compensation.
(9) What are employer-provided benefits? The annual survey requires persons to report the number of employees that have employer-provided medical, dental, and retirement benefits, by each of the wage bands. An employee has employer-provided medical, dental, and retirement benefits if the employee is currently eligible to participate or receive the benefit. A benefit is "employer-provided" if the medical, dental, and retirement benefit is dependent on the employer's establishment or administration of the benefit. A benefit that is equally available to employees and the general public is not an "employer-provided" benefit.
(a) What are medical benefits? "Medical benefits" means compensation, not paid as wages, in the form of a health plan offered by an employer to its employees. A "health plan" means any plan, fund, or program established, maintained, or funded by an employer for the purpose of providing for its employees or their beneficiaries, through the purchase of insurance or otherwise, medical and/or dental care services.
(i) Health plans include any:
(A) "Employee welfare benefit plan" as defined by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA);
(B) "Health plan" or "health benefit plan" as defined in RCW 48.43.005;
(C) Self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangement as defined in RCW 48.125.010;
(D) "Qualified health insurance" as defined in Section 35 of the Internal Revenue Code;
(E) "Archer MSA" as defined in Section 220 of the Internal Revenue Code;
(F) "Health savings plan" as defined in Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code;
(G) "Health plan" qualifying under Section 213 of the Internal Revenue Code;
(H) Governmental plans; and
(I) Church plans.
(ii) "Health care services" means services offered or provided by health care facilities and health care providers relating to the prevention, cure, or treatment of illness, injury, or disease.
(b) What are dental benefits? "Dental benefits" means a dental health plan offered by an employer as a benefit to its employees. "Dental health plan" has the same meaning as "health plan" in (a) of this subsection, but is for the purpose of providing for employees or their beneficiaries, through the purchase of insurance or otherwise, dental care services. "Dental care services" means services offered or provided by health care facilities and health care providers relating to the prevention, cure, or treatment of illness, injury, or disease of human teeth, alveolar process, gums, or jaw.
(c) What are retirement benefits? "Retirement benefits" means compensation, not paid as wages, in the form of a retirement plan offered by an employer to its employees. An employer contribution to the retirement plan is not required for a retirement plan to be employer-provided. A "retirement plan" means any plan, account, deposit, annuity, or benefit, other than a life insurance policy, that provides for retirement income or deferred income to employees for periods after employment is terminated. The term includes pensions, annuities, stock bonus plans, employee stock ownership plans, profit sharing plans, self-employed retirement plans, individual retirement accounts, individual retirement annuities, and retirement bonds, as well as any other plan or program, without regard to its source of funding, and without regard to whether the retirement plan is a qualified plan meeting the guidelines established in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code.
(d) Examples. Assume these facts for the following examples. Medical Resource, Inc. is a pharmaceutical manufacturer located in Spokane, WA. Medical Resource, Inc. claims the B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4452 for its research and development spending. It employs two hundred full-time employees and fifty part-time employees. Medical Resource, Inc. also hires a staffing company to furnish seventy-five workers.
(i) Medical Resource, Inc. offers its employees two different health plans as a medical benefit. Plan A is available at no cost to full-time employees. Employees are not eligible to participate in Plan A until completing thirty days of employment. Plan B costs employees $200 each month. Full-time and part-time employees are eligible for Plan B after six months of employment. One hundred full-time employees are enrolled in Plan A. One hundred full-time and part-time employees are enrolled in Plan B. Forty full-time and part-time employees chose not to enroll in either plan. Ten part-time employees are not yet eligible for either Plan A or Plan B. Medical Resource, Inc. must report two hundred employees as having employer-provided medical benefits, because this is the number of employees enrolled in the health plans it offers.
(ii) Medical Resource, Inc. does not offer medical benefits to the employees of the staffing company. However, twenty-five of these workers have enrolled in a health plan through the staffing company. Medical Resource, Inc. must report these twenty-five employment positions as having employer-provided medical benefits.
(iii) Medical Resource, Inc. does not offer its employees dental insurance, but has arranged with a group of dental providers to provide all employees with a 30% discount on any dental care service. No action, other than Medical Resource, Inc. employment, is required by employees to receive this benefit. Unlike the medical benefit, employees are eligible for the dental benefit as of the first day of employment. This benefit is not provided to the workers furnished by the staffing company. Medical Resource, Inc. must report two hundred and fifty employment positions as having dental benefits, because this is the number of employees enrolled in this dental plan.
(iv) Medical Resource, Inc. offers a 401(k) Plan to its full-time and part-time employees after six months of employment. Medical Resource, Inc. makes matching contributions to an employee's 401(k) Plan after two years of employment. On December 31st, two hundred and twenty-five workers are eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan. Two hundred workers are enrolled in the 401(k) Plan. One hundred of these workers receive matching contributions. Medical Resource, Inc. must report two hundred employment positions as having employer-provided retirement benefits, because this is the number of employees enrolled in the 401(k) Plan.
(v) Medical Resource, Inc. coordinates with a bank to insert information in employee paycheck envelopes on the bank's Individual Retirement Account (IRA) options offered to bank customers. Employees who open an IRA with the bank can arrange to have their contributions directly deposited from their paychecks into their accounts. Fifty employees open IRAs with the bank. Medical Resource, Inc. cannot report that these fifty employees have employer-provided retirement benefits. IRAs are not an employer-provided benefit because the ability to establish the IRA is not dependent on Medical Resource, Inc.'s participation or sponsorship of the benefit.
(10) Is the annual survey confidential? The annual survey is subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330. However, information on the amount of tax adjustment taken is not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the public upon request. More confidentiality provisions in regards to the annual surveys are as follows:
(a) Failure to timely file a complete annual survey subject to disclosure. If the following taxpayers fail to timely file a complete annual survey for claiming the tax adjustment, then the fact that such taxpayers fail to timely file a complete annual survey is not confidential:
(i) Persons receiving deferral of taxes under chapter 82.75 RCW on an eligible investment project in biotechnology products (RCW 82.32.645(6));
(ii) Persons claiming the B&O tax exemption provided by RCW 82.04.4266 for fruits and vegetables, RCW 82.04.4268 for dairy products, and RCW 82.04.4269 for seafood products (RCW 82.32.610(5)); and
(iii) Persons claiming the B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.449 for customized employment training (RCW 82.32.650(5)).
(b) Amount reported in annual survey is different from the amount claimed or allowed. If the following taxpayers report the amount of the tax adjustment on the annual survey which is different than the amount actually claimed on the taxpayers' tax returns or otherwise allowed by the department, then the amount actually claimed or allowed may be disclosed:
(i) Persons claiming the high technology B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4452 (RCW 82.04.4452 (6)(d)(i));
(ii) Persons claiming the B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4487 for engaging in qualified preproduction development in the field of aeronautics (RCW 82.32.635 (2)(c));
(iii) Persons claiming the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.250(3) as FAR part 145 certificated repair stations (RCW 82.32.640 (2)(c)); and
(iv) Persons claiming the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.260(12) for timber products (RCW 82.32.630 (2)(d)).
(c) Tax adjustment is less than ten thousand dollars. If the tax adjustment of the following taxpayers is less than ten thousand dollars during the period covered by the annual survey, then such taxpayers may request the department to treat the tax adjustment as confidential under RCW 82.32.330. The request must be made for each survey in writing, dated and signed by the owner, corporate officer, partner, guardian, executor, receiver, administrator, or trustee of the business, and filed with the department's special programs division at the address provided above in subsection (3) of this section.
(i) Persons claiming the high technology B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4452 (RCW 82.04.4452 (6)(d)(ii));
(ii) Persons claiming the B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4487 for engaging in qualified preproduction development in the field of aeronautics (RCW 82.32.635 (2)(d));
(iii) Persons claiming the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.250(3) as FAR part 145 certificated repair stations (RCW 82.32.640 (2)(d)); and
(iv) Persons claiming the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.260(12) for timber products (RCW 82.32.630 (2)(e)).
(11) What are the consequences for failing to timely file a complete annual survey?
(a) What is a "complete annual survey"? An annual survey is complete if:
(i) The annual survey is filed on the form required by this section or in an electronic format as required by law; and
(ii) The person makes a good faith effort to substantially respond to all survey questions required by this section.
Responses such as "varied," "various," or "please contact for information" are not good faith responses to a question.
(b) High technology business and occupation (B&O) tax credit. If a person claiming the B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4452 for persons engaged in qualified research and development fails to timely file a complete annual survey by the date due, the person is not eligible to take or assign the credit in the year the person failed to timely complete the annual survey. See RCW 82.04.4452. For example, if a person claims the credit in 2006 but fails to file a complete annual survey by March 31, 2007, then the person is not eligible to take or assign the credit in 2007. If a person claims the B&O tax credit during this period of ineligibility, the department will declare the amount of taxes for which the credit was claimed during the period of ineligibility to be immediately due and payable with interest and penalties, as provided in chapter 82.32 RCW.
If a person fails to file the survey by the due date as the result of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer, the person may request a thirty-day extension of the due date. See WAC 458-20-228 for more information on circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer. The request must be made in writing before the due date to the address provided in subsection (3)(c) of this section.
(c) Tax deferrals for investment projects in rural counties. If a recipient of the deferral fails to timely file a complete annual survey required under RCW 82.60.070 by the date due, 12.5% of the total deferred tax is immediately due. See RCW 82.60.070. If the economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as provided in RCW 82.60.020(4), the lessee is responsible for payment to the extent the lessee has received the economic benefit. No penalties or interest will be assessed on the deferred sales/use tax; however, all other penalties and interest applicable to excise tax assessment may be assessed and imposed. For example, if a person fails to file a complete annual survey by March 31, 2007, then 12.5% of the total deferred tax is immediately due, with applicable penalties and interest beginning to accrue on the due date.
(d) Tax deferrals for investment projects for high technology businesses. If a recipient of the deferral fails to timely file a complete annual survey required under RCW 82.63.020 by the date due, 12.5% of the total deferred tax is immediately due with interest, but not penalties, as provided in chapter 82.32 RCW. See RCW 82.63.045. Interest is computed retroactively to the date the tax deferral was claimed and accrues until the liability is paid in full. If the economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as provided in RCW 82.63.010(7), the lessee is responsible for payment to the extent the lessee has received the economic benefit.
(e) Business and occupation (B&O) tax exemption for fruit and vegetable, dairy product, and seafood product businesses. If a person fails to timely file a complete annual survey for the B&O tax exemption under RCW 82.04.4266, 82.04.4268, or 82.04.4269 by the due date, the amount of taxes exempted for the previous calendar year is immediately due and payable. See RCW 82.32.610. Interest, but not penalties, applies to the amounts due under this subsection. The amount due must be calculated using a rate of 0.138%. Interest is computed retroactively to the date the tax exemption was claimed and accrues until the liability is paid in full.
If a person fails to file the survey by the due date as the result of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer, the person may request a thirty-day extension of the due date. See WAC 458-20-228 for more information on circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer. The request must be made in writing before the due date to the address provided in subsection (3)(c) of this section.
(f) Tax deferrals for investment projects for fruit and vegetable, dairy product, and seafood product businesses. If a recipient of the deferral fails to file a complete annual survey required under RCW 82.74.040 by the date due, 12.5% of the total deferred tax is immediately due with interest, but not penalties, as provided in chapter 82.32 RCW. See RCW 82.74.040. Interest begins to accrue on the due date and accrues until the liability is paid in full. If the economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as provided in RCW 82.74.010(4), the lessee must be responsible for payment to the extent the lessee has received the economic benefit.
If a person fails to file the survey by the due date as the result of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer, the person may request a thirty-day extension of the due date. See WAC 458-20-228 for more information on circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer. The request must be made in writing before the due date to the address provided in subsection (3)(c) of this section.
(g) Tax deferrals for investment projects for biotechnology products. If a recipient of the deferral fails to file a complete annual survey required under RCW 82.32.645 by the due date, 12.5% of the total deferred tax is immediately due with interest, but not penalties, as provided in chapter 82.32 RCW. See RCW 82.32.645. Interest begins to accrue on the due date and accrues until the liability is paid in full.
(h) Business and occupation (B&O) tax credit for qualified preproduction development in the field of aeronautics under RCW 82.04.4487. If a person fails to timely file a complete annual survey for the B&O tax credit under RCW 82.04.4487 by the due date, the amount of tax credit claimed for the previous calendar year is immediately due and payable. See RCW 82.32.635. Interest, but not penalties, applies to the amounts due under this subsection. Interest is computed retroactively to the date the tax credit was claimed and accrues until the liability is paid in full.
If a person fails to file the survey by the due date as the result of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer, the person may request a thirty-day extension of the due date. See WAC 458-20-228 for more information on circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer. The request must be made in writing before the due date to the address provided in subsection (3)(c) of this section.
A person is not required to file a complete annual survey under this subsection if the person is required to and timely files the annual report under RCW 82.32.545.
(i) Reduced business and occupation (B&O) tax rate for FAR part 145 certificated repair stations. If a person fails to timely file a complete annual survey for the reduced B&O tax rate under RCW 82.04.250(3) by the due date, the amount of tax reduced for the previous calendar year is immediately due and payable. See RCW 82.32.640. Interest, but not penalties, applies to the amounts due under this subsection. Interest is computed retroactively to the date the reduced taxes were due and accrues until the liability is paid in full.
If a person fails to file the survey by due date as the result of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer, the person may request a thirty-day extension of the due date. See WAC 458-20-228 for more information on circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer. The request must be made in writing before the due date to the address provided in subsection (3)(c) of this section.
(j) Business and occupation (B&O) tax credit for customized employment training. If a person fails to timely file a complete annual survey for the B&O tax credit under RCW 82.04.449 by the due date, the amount of tax credit claimed for the previous calendar year is immediately due and payable. See RCW 82.32.650. Interest, but not penalties, applies to the amounts due under this subsection. Interest is computed retroactively to the date the tax credit was claimed and accrues until the liability is paid in full.
If a person fails to file the survey by the due date as the result of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer, the person may request a thirty-day extension of the due date. See WAC 458-20-228 for more information on circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer. The request must be made in writing before the due date to the address provided in subsection (3)(c) of this section.
(k) Reduced business and occupation (B&O) tax credit for timber products. If a person fails to timely file a complete annual survey for the reduced B&O tax rate under RCW 82.04.260(12) by the due date, the amount of tax reduced for the previous calendar year is immediately due and payable. See RCW 82.32.630. Interest, but not penalties, applies to the amounts due under this subsection. Interest is computed retroactively to the date the reduced taxes were due and accrues until the liability is paid in full.
If a person fails to file the survey by the due date as the result of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer, the person may request a thirty-day extension of the due date. See WAC 458-20-228 for more information on circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer. The request must be made in writing before the due date to the address provided in subsection (3)(c) of this section.
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