S-1527

AN ACT Relating to the taxation of adult entertainment materials and services; amending RCW 82.08.020, 82.08.010, 82.12.020, 82.12.0252, 82.12.035, 82.12.040, 82.12.060, and 82.14.020; reenacting and amending RCW 82.12.010; adding a new section to chapter 82.32 RCW; creating a new section; and providing an effective date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the sale and use of adult entertainment materials and services result in increased costs to the state through the provision of increased governmental services, including human services and criminal justice services. It is the legislature's intention that the activities that result in these increased services bear more of the costs of these services. The legislature intends to dedicate the revenues from a tax on the sale and use of adult entertainment materials and services to crime victims' compensation, with an emphasis towards providing services, support, or therapy to those children who are victims of sexual abuse.

Sec. 2. RCW 82.08.020 and 1985 c 32 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) There is levied and there shall be collected a tax on each retail sale in this state equal to six and five-tenths percent of the selling price.

(2) In addition to any tax imposed under subsection (1) of this section there is levied and there shall be collected a tax on each retail sale of adult entertainment materials and services equal to eighteen and one-half percent of the selling price.

(3) The tax imposed under this chapter shall apply to successive retail sales of the same property.

((~~(3)~~)) (4) The rates provided in this section ((~~applies~~)) apply to taxes imposed under chapter 82.12 RCW as provided in RCW 82.12.020.

Sec. 3. RCW 82.08.010 and 1985 c 38 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) "Selling price" means the consideration, whether money, credits, rights, or other property except trade-in property of like kind, expressed in the terms of money paid or delivered by a buyer to a seller without any deduction on account of the cost of tangible property sold, the cost of materials used, labor costs, interest, discount, delivery costs, taxes other than taxes imposed under this chapter if the seller advertises the price as including the tax or that the seller is paying the tax, or any other expenses whatsoever paid or accrued and without any deduction on account of losses; but shall not include the amount of cash discount actually taken by a buyer; and shall be subject to modification to the extent modification is provided for in RCW 82.08.080.

When tangible personal property is rented or leased under circumstances that the consideration paid does not represent a reasonable rental for the use of the articles so rented or leased, the "selling price" shall be determined as nearly as possible according to the value of such use at the places of use of similar products of like quality and character under such rules as the department of revenue may prescribe((;)).

(2) "Seller" means every person, including the state and its departments and institutions, making sales at retail or retail sales to a buyer or consumer, whether as agent, broker, or principal, except "seller" does not mean the state and its departments and institutions when making sales to the state and its departments and institutions((;)).

(3) "Buyer" and "consumer" include, without limiting the scope hereof, every individual, receiver, assignee, trustee in bankruptcy, trust, estate, firm, copartnership, joint venture, club, company, joint stock company, business trust, corporation, association, society, or any group of individuals acting as a unit, whether mutual, cooperative, fraternal, nonprofit, or otherwise, municipal corporation, quasi municipal corporation, and also the state, its departments and institutions and all political subdivisions thereof, irrespective of the nature of the activities engaged in or functions performed, and also the United States or any instrumentality thereof((;)).

(4) "Adult entertainment materials and services" means those entertainment materials and services that are primarily oriented to an interest in sex, including but not limited to magazines, photographs, motion pictures, videotapes, videodiscs, cable television services, telephone services, audiotapes, computer programs, and paraphernalia. "Adult entertainment materials and services" does not include (a) books or magazines that contain no photographs or other graphics or (b) motion pictures, videotapes, videodiscs, or cable television services that do not contain any explicit sex of the type that would be rated "X" using the standards existing on January 1, 1991, of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. Any motion picture, videotape, videodisc, cable television service, or other visual medium that contains any explicit sex of the type that would be rated "X" using these standards shall be considered to be primarily oriented to an interest in sex.

(5) The meaning attributed in chapter 82.04 RCW to the terms "tax year," "taxable year," "person," "company," "sale," "sale at retail," "retail sale," "sale at wholesale," "wholesale," "business," "engaging in business," "cash discount," "successor," "consumer," "in this state" and "within this state" shall apply equally to the provisions of this chapter.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 82.32 RCW to read as follows:

All revenues collected on sales and use of adult entertainment materials and services under chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW shall be deposited in the public safety and education account under RCW 43.08.250 and shall only be used for the purposes of crime victims' compensation, with an emphasis towards providing services, support, or therapy to those children who are victims of sexual abuse.

Sec. 5. RCW 82.12.010 and 1985 and by section 1, chapter 222, Laws of 1985 c 132 s 1 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) "Value of the article used" shall mean the consideration, whether money, credit, rights, or other property except trade-in property of like kind, expressed in terms of money, paid or given or contracted to be paid or given by the purchaser to the seller for the article of tangible personal property, the use of which is taxable under this chapter. The term includes, in addition to the consideration paid or given or contracted to be paid or given, the amount of any tariff or duty paid with respect to the importation of the article used. In case the article used is acquired by lease or by gift or is extracted, produced, or manufactured by the person using the same or is sold under conditions wherein the purchase price does not represent the true value thereof, the value of the article used shall be determined as nearly as possible according to the retail selling price at place of use of similar products of like quality and character under such rules and regulations as the department of revenue may prescribe.

In case the articles used are acquired by bailment, the value of the use of the articles so used shall be in an amount representing a reasonable rental for the use of the articles so bailed, determined as nearly as possible according to the value of such use at the places of use of similar products of like quality and character under such rules and regulations as the department of revenue may prescribe: PROVIDED, That in case any such articles of tangible personal property are used in respect to the construction, repairing, decorating, or improving of, and which become or are to become an ingredient or component of, new or existing buildings or other structures under, upon, or above real property of or for the United States, any instrumentality thereof, or a county or city housing authority created pursuant to chapter 35.82 RCW, including the installing or attaching of any such articles therein or thereto, whether or not such personal property becomes a part of the realty by virtue of installation, then the value of the use of such articles so used shall be determined according to the retail selling price of such articles, or in the absence of such a selling price, as nearly as possible according to the retail selling price at place of use of similar products of like quality and character or, in the absence of either of these selling price measures, such value may be determined upon a cost basis, in any event under such rules and regulations as the department of revenue may prescribe.

In the case of articles owned by a user engaged in business outside the state which are brought into the state for no more than ninety days in any period of three hundred sixty-five consecutive days and which are temporarily used for business purposes by the person in this state, the value of the article used shall be an amount representing a reasonable rental for the use of the articles, unless the person has paid tax under this chapter or chapter 82.08 RCW upon the full value of the article used, as defined in the first paragraph of this subsection.

In the case of articles manufactured or produced by the user and used in the manufacture or production of products sold or to be sold to the department of defense of the United States, the value of the articles used shall be determined according to the value of the ingredients of such articles.

In the case of an article manufactured or produced for purposes of serving as a prototype for the development of a new or improved product, the value of the article used shall be determined by: (a) The retail selling price of such new or improved product when first offered for sale; or (b) the value of materials incorporated into the prototype in cases in which the new or improved product is not offered for sale.

(2) "Value of the service used" shall mean the consideration paid, whether money, credit, rights, or other property, expressed in terms of money, paid or given or contracted to be paid or given by the purchaser to the seller for the service, the use of which is taxable under this chapter. If the service is received by gift or under conditions wherein the purchase price does not represent the true value of the service, the value of the service used shall be determined as nearly as possible according to the retail selling price at the place of use of similar services of like quality and character under rules prescribed by the department of revenue.

(3) "Use," "used," "using," or "put to use" shall have their ordinary meaning, and shall mean:

(a) With respect to personal property, the first act within this state by which the taxpayer takes or assumes dominion or control over the article of tangible personal property (as a consumer), and include installation, storage, withdrawal from storage, or any other act preparatory to subsequent actual use or consumption within this state; and

(b) With respect to an adult entertainment service which affords a benefit or is otherwise capable of use within this state, the use within this state of the service, regardless of the place of performance.

((~~(3)~~)) (4) "Taxpayer" and "purchaser" include all persons included within the meaning of the word "buyer" and the word "consumer" as defined in chapters 82.04 and 82.08 RCW((;)).

((~~(4)~~)) (5) "Retailer" means every seller as defined in RCW 82.08.010 and every person engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property or adult entertainment services at retail and every person required to collect from purchasers the tax imposed under this chapter((;)).

((~~(5)~~)) (6) The meaning ascribed to words and phrases in chapters 82.04 and 82.08 RCW, insofar as applicable, shall have full force and effect with respect to taxes imposed under the provisions of this chapter. "Consumer," in addition to the meaning ascribed to it in chapters 82.04 and 82.08 RCW insofar as applicable, shall also mean any person who distributes or displays, or causes to be distributed or displayed, any article of tangible personal property, except newspapers, the primary purpose of which is to promote the sale of products or services. In addition, "consumer" includes any person who purchases, acquires, or uses any adult entertainment service other than for resale in the regular course of business. Resale of a service means a separately stated charge to another person for the service by a person who has paid or is obligated to pay an identical charge to one who has originally rendered the identical service.

Sec. 6. RCW 82.12.020 and 1983 c 7 s 7 are each amended to read as follows:

There is hereby levied and there shall be collected from every person in this state a tax or excise for the privilege of using within this state as a consumer any article of tangible personal property or adult entertainment service purchased at retail, or acquired by lease, gift, repossession, or bailment, or extracted or produced or manufactured by the person so using the same, or otherwise furnished to a person engaged in any business taxable under RCW 82.04.280, subsections (2) or (7). This tax will not apply with respect to the use of any article of tangible personal property purchased, extracted, produced or manufactured outside this state until the transportation of such article has finally ended or until such article has become commingled with the general mass of property in this state. This tax shall apply to the use of every article of tangible personal property, including property acquired at a casual or isolated sale, and including byproducts used by the manufacturer thereof, except as hereinafter provided, irrespective of whether the article or similar articles are manufactured or are available for purchase within this state. Except as provided in RCW 82.12.0252, payment by one purchaser or user of tangible personal property or adult entertainment services of the tax imposed by chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW shall not have the effect of exempting any other purchaser or user of the same property or services from the taxes imposed by such chapters. The tax shall be levied and collected in an amount equal to the value of the article used or the value of the service used by the taxpayer multiplied by the rate in effect for the retail sales tax under RCW 82.08.020, as now or hereafter amended, in the county in which the article or service is used.

Sec. 7. RCW 82.12.0252 and 1980 c 37 s 52 are each amended to read as follows:

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply in respect to the use of any article of tangible personal property or adult entertainment service purchased at retail or acquired by lease, gift or bailment if the sale thereof to, or the use thereof by, the present user or his bailor or donor has already been subjected to the tax under chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW and such tax has been paid by the present user or by his bailor or donor; or in respect to the use of property acquired by bailment and such tax has once been paid based on reasonable rental as determined by RCW

82.12.060 measured by the value of the article at time of first use multiplied by the tax rate imposed by chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW as of the time of first use; or in respect to the use of any article of tangible personal property acquired by bailment, if the property was acquired by a previous bailee from the same bailor for use in the same general activity and such original bailment was prior to June 9, 1961.

Sec. 8. RCW 82.12.035 and 1987 c 27 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

A credit shall be allowed against the taxes imposed by this chapter upon the use of tangible personal property or adult entertainment services in the state of Washington in the amount that the present user thereof or his or her bailor or donor has paid a retail sales or use tax with respect to such property or service to any other state of the United States, any political subdivision thereof, the District of Columbia, and any foreign country or political subdivision thereof, prior to the use of such property or services in Washington.

Sec. 9. RCW 82.12.040 and 1986 c 48 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Every person who maintains in this state a place of business or a stock of goods, or engages in business activities within this state, shall obtain from the department a certificate of registration, and shall, at the time of making sales, or making transfers of either possession or title or both, of tangible personal property or adult entertainment services for use in this state, collect from the purchasers or transferees the tax imposed under this chapter. For the purposes of this chapter, the phrase "maintains in this state a place of business" shall include the solicitation of sales and/or taking of orders by sales agents or traveling representatives. For the purposes of this chapter, "engages in business activity within this state" includes every activity which is sufficient under the Constitution of the United States for this state to require collection of tax under this chapter. The department shall in rules specify activities which constitute engaging in business activity within this state, and shall keep the rules current with future court interpretations of the Constitution of the United States.

(2) Every person who engages in this state in the business of acting as an independent selling agent for persons who do not hold a valid certificate of registration, and who receives compensation by reason of sales of tangible personal property or adult entertainment services of his or her principals ((~~made~~)) for use in this state, shall, at the time such sales are made, collect from the purchasers the tax imposed under this chapter, and for that purpose shall be deemed a retailer as defined in this chapter.

(3) The tax required to be collected by this chapter shall be deemed to be held in trust by the retailer until paid to the department and any retailer who appropriates or converts the tax collected to his or her own use or to any use other than the payment of the tax provided herein to the extent that the money required to be collected is not available for payment on the due date as prescribed shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. In case any seller fails to collect the tax herein imposed or having collected the tax, fails to pay the same to the department in the manner prescribed, whether such failure is the result of his or her own acts or the result of acts or conditions beyond his or her control, he or she shall nevertheless, be personally liable to the state for the amount of such tax.

(4) Any retailer who refunds, remits, or rebates to a purchaser, or transferee, either directly or indirectly, and by whatever means, all or any part of the tax levied by this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Sec. 10. RCW 82.12.060 and 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 s 54 are each amended to read as follows:

In the case of installment sales and leases of personal property or adult entertainment services, the department, by regulation, may provide for the collection of taxes upon the installments of the purchase price, or amount of rental, as of the time the same fall due.

In the case of property acquired by bailment, the department, by regulation, may provide for payment of the tax due in installments based on the reasonable rental for the property as determined under RCW 82.12.010(1).

Sec. 11. RCW 82.14.020 and 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 s 31 are each amended to read as follows:

For purposes of this chapter:

(1) A retail sale consisting solely of the sale of tangible personal property shall be deemed to have occurred at the retail outlet at or from which delivery is made to the consumer;

(2) Except as provided in subsection (5) of this section, a retail sale consisting essentially of the performance of personal business or professional services or adult entertainment services shall be deemed to have occurred at the place at which such services were primarily performed;

(3) A retail sale consisting of the rental of tangible personal property shall be deemed to have occurred (a) in the case of a rental involving periodic rental payments, at the primary place of use by the lessee during the period covered by each payment, or (b) in all other cases, at the place of first use by the lessee;

(4) A retail sale within the scope of the second paragraph of RCW 82.04.050, and a retail sale of taxable personal property to be installed by the seller shall be deemed to have occurred at the place where the labor and services involved were primarily performed;

(5) A retail sale consisting of the providing to a consumer of telephone service, as defined in RCW 82.04.065, other than a sale of tangible personal property under subsection (1) of this section or a rental of tangible personal property under subsection (3) of this section, shall be deemed to have occurred at the situs of the telephone or other instrument through which the telephone service is rendered;

(6) "City" means a city or town;

(7) The meaning ascribed to words and phrases in chapters 82.04, 82.08 and 82.12 RCW, as now or hereafter amended, insofar as applicable, shall have full force and effect with respect to taxes imposed under authority of this chapter;

(8) "Taxable event" shall mean any retail sale, or any use of an article of tangible personal property, upon which a state tax is imposed pursuant to chapter 82.08 or 82.12 RCW, as they now exist or may hereafter be amended: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That the term shall not include a retail sale taxable pursuant to RCW 82.08.150, as now or hereafter amended;

(9) "Treasurer or other legal depository" shall mean the treasurer or legal depository of a county or city.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. This act shall take effect on August 1, 1991.