WSR 20-09-034
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
[Filed April 7, 2020, 11:13 a.m., effective May 8, 2020]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: Updating WAC 458-61A-113 to reflect the real estate excise tax exemption for sales of standing timber taxable under RCW 82.04.260 (12)(d), provided in SHB 1513 (2007), codified in RCW 82.45.195.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 458-61A-113 Timber, standing.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 82.45.150, 82.32.300, and 82.01.060(2).
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 20-03-106 on January 15, 2020.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: April 6, 2020.
Atif Aziz
Rules Coordinator
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 05-23-093, filed 11/16/05, effective 12/17/05)
WAC 458-61A-113Timber, standing.
(1) The real estate excise tax applies to the sale of timber if the ownership of the timber is transferred while the timber is standing. The tax applies to the sale of standing timber whether the sale is accomplished by deed or by contract. See also chapters 84.33 RCW and 458-40 WAC for specific regulations and rules regarding the taxation of timber and forest land.
(2) The grantor's irrevocable agreement to sell timber and pass ownership to it as it is cut is a taxable transaction if the total amount of the sale is specified in the original contract.
(3) A contract to transfer the ownership of timber after it has been cut and removed from land by the grantee is not a taxable transaction.
(4) A contract between a timber owner and a harvester ((when))under which the harvester provides the service of cutting the timber and transporting it to the mill is not subject to the real estate excise tax if the timber owner retains ownership of the timber until it is delivered to and purchased by the mill.
(5) Notwithstanding the above subsections, a sale of standing timber is exempt from real estate excise tax if the gross income from the sale is subject to business and occupation tax under RCW 82.04.260 (12)(d).