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AN ACT Relating to reducing business and occupation taxes by reducing the 1993 service rate increases by fifty percent and increasing tax credits in distressed areas; amending RCW 82.04.255, 82.04.290, and 82.62.030; adding a new section to chapter 82.04 RCW; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

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

Sec. 1. RCW 82.04.255 and 1993 sp.s. c 25 s 202 are each amended to read as follows:

Upon every person engaging within the state as a real estate broker; as to such persons, the amount of the tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of ((~~2.0~~)) 1.75 percent.

The measure of the tax on real estate commissions earned by the real estate broker shall be the gross commission earned by the particular real estate brokerage office including that portion of the commission paid to salesmen or associate brokers in the same office on a particular transaction: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That where a real estate commission is divided between an originating brokerage office and a cooperating brokerage office on a particular transaction, each brokerage office shall pay the tax only upon their respective shares of said commission: AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That where the brokerage office has paid the tax as provided herein, salesmen or associate brokers within the same brokerage office shall not be required to pay a similar tax upon the same transaction.

Sec. 2. RCW 82.04.290 and 1995 c 229 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) Upon every person engaging within this state in the business of providing selected business services other than or in addition to those enumerated in RCW 82.04.250 or 82.04.270; as to such persons the amount of tax on account of such activities shall be equal to the gross income of the business multiplied by the rate of ((~~2.5~~)) 2.0 percent.

(2) Upon every person engaging within this state in banking, loan, security, investment management, investment advisory, or other financial businesses, other than or in addition to those enumerated in subsection (3) of this section; as to such persons, the amount of the tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of ((~~1.70~~)) 1.6 percent.

(3) Upon every person engaging within this state in the business of providing international investment management services, as to such persons, the amount of tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the gross income or gross proceeds of sales of the business multiplied by a rate of 0.275 percent.

(4) Upon every person engaging within this state in any business activity other than or in addition to those enumerated in RCW 82.04.230, 82.04.240, 82.04.250, 82.04.255, 82.04.260, 82.04.270, and 82.04.280, and subsections (1), (2), and (3) of this section; as to such persons the amount of tax on account of such activities shall be equal to the gross income of the business multiplied by the rate of ((~~2.0~~)) 1.75 percent.

This section includes, among others, and without limiting the scope hereof (whether or not title to materials used in the performance of such business passes to another by accession, confusion or other than by outright sale), persons engaged in the business of rendering any type of service which does not constitute a "sale at retail" or a "sale at wholesale." The value of advertising, demonstration, and promotional supplies and materials furnished to an agent by his principal or supplier to be used for informational, educational and promotional purposes shall not be considered a part of the agent's remuneration or commission and shall not be subject to taxation under this section.

Sec. 3. RCW 82.62.030 and 1986 c 116 s 17 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) A person shall be allowed a credit against the tax due under chapter 82.04 RCW ((~~of an amount equal to~~)) as provided in this section. For an application approved before January 1, 1996, the credit shall equal one thousand dollars for each qualified employment position directly created in an eligible business project. For an application approved on or after January 1, 1996, the credit shall equal two thousand dollars for each qualified employment position directly created in an eligible business project.

(2) The department shall keep a running total of all credits granted under this chapter during each fiscal biennium. The department shall not allow any credits which would cause the tabulation for a biennium to exceed fifteen million dollars. If all or part of an application for credit is disallowed under this subsection, the disallowed portion shall be carried over for approval the next biennium. However, the applicant's carryover into the next biennium is only permitted if the tabulation for the next biennium does not exceed fifteen million dollars as of the date on which the department has disallowed the application.

(3) No recipient is eligible for tax credits in excess of three hundred thousand dollars.

(4) No recipient may use the tax credits to decertify a union or to displace existing jobs in any community in the state.

(5) No recipient may receive a tax credit on taxes which have not been paid during the taxable year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 82.04 RCW to read as follows:

(1) There may be credited against the tax imposed by this chapter, the value of state-approved, employer-provided or sponsored job training services designed to enhance the job-related performance of employees, for those businesses eligible for a tax deferral under chapter 82.60 RCW.

(2) The value of the state-approved, job training services provided by the employer to the employee, without charge, shall be determined by the allocation of the cost method using generally accepted accounting standards.

(3) The credit allowed under this section shall be limited to an amount equal to twenty percent of the value of the state-approved, job training services determined under subsection (2) of this section. The total credits allowed under this section for a business shall not exceed five thousand dollars per calendar year.

(4) Prior to claiming the credit under this section, the business must obtain approval of the proposed job training service from the employment security department. The employer's request for approval must include a description of the proposed job training service, how the job training will enhance the employee's performance, and the cost of the proposed job training.

(5) This section only applies to training in respect to eligible business projects for which an application is approved on or after January 1, 1996.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect January 1, 1996.