Title: An act relating to tax incentives for the distribution and retail sale of biodiesel and alcohol fuels.

Brief Description: Providing tax incentives for the distribution and retail sale of biodiesel and alcohol fuels.

Sponsors: Representatives Sullivan, Crouse, Wood, Morris, Grant, Schoesler, Quall, Ruderman and Schindler.

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

• Establishes tax deductions and exemptions for the retail sale and distribution of biodiesel and alcohol fuels.

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 16 members: Representatives Morris, Chair; Ruderman, Vice Chair; Sullivan, Vice Chair; Crouse, Ranking Minority Member; Nixon, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Blake, Bush, DeBolt, Hudgins, Kirby, McMahan, Romero, Tom, Wallace and Wood.

Biodiesel is a non-petroleum diesel fuel produced from renewable sources such as vegetable oils, animal fats, and recycled cooking oils. It can be blended at any percentage with petroleum diesel or used as a pure product (neat diesel). Other states have adopted policies and incentives to encourage the use of biodiesel.

Blended biodiesel is in use in Washington to fuel some passenger cars and municipal vehicles.

The Business and Occupation (B&O) Tax is Washington's major business tax. The tax is imposed on the gross receipts of business activities conducted within the state. Revenues are deposited in the State General Fund.

The B&O tax does not permit deductions for the costs of doing business, such as payments for raw materials and wages of employees. However, there are many exemptions for specific types of business activities as well as certain deductions and credits permitted under the B&O tax statutes. For example, a deduction from taxable income is allowed for income derived from the sale of fuel consumed outside of United States territorial waters in vessels engaging in foreign commerce.

The state retail sales tax rate is 6.5 percent and is imposed on the retail sale of most items of tangible personal property and some services. In addition, local sales taxes apply. Cities and counties may levy a local tax at a rate up to a maximum of 3.1 percent; currently, local rates levied range from 0.5 percent to 2.4 percent. The combined tax rate is between a minimum of 7 percent and a maximum of 8.9 percent depending on the location of the purchase. Sales tax is paid by the purchaser and collected by the seller. Sales tax revenue is deposited in the State General Fund.

The use tax is imposed on the use of an item in this state when the acquisition of the item has not been subject to sales tax. The use tax applies to items purchased from sellers who do not collect sales tax, items acquired from out-of-state, and items produced by the person using the item. Use tax is equal to the sales tax rate multiplied by the value of the property used. Use tax is paid directly to the Department of Revenue. Use tax revenue is deposited in the State General Fund.

All real and personal property is subject to property tax each year based on its value, unless a specific exemption is provided by law. There are two classes of property. Real property consists of land and the buildings, structures, and improvements that are affixed to the land. Personal property consists of all other property.

Tax incentives in the form of tax deductions and exemptions are established for the retail sale and distribution of biodiesel fuels, and alcohol fuels made from a product other than petroleum or natural gas.

Beginning July 1, 2003, and until June 30, 2009, a business may deduct from its business and occupation tax obligation the amounts it receives from the retail sale or distribution of biodiesel or alcohol fuels. The amounts deducted must be those attributable to the pure biodiesel or alcohol portion of the fuel blend.

Beginning July 1, 2003, and until June 30, 2009, a person who sells biodiesel or alcohol fuel blends at retail, or who distributes these fuel blends, may claim an exemption from state sales and use taxes paid on qualifying investments. The exemption is in the form of a remittance which requires the taxpayer to pay the tax and then seek a return of the qualifying portion of the tax paid.

Qualifying investments include the purchase of machinery and equipment as well as labor and services used for biodiesel or alcohol refueling and vehicles and other personal property used for biodiesel or alcohol blended fuel distribution. Qualifying fuels are fuels with at least 20 percent biodiesel or 85 percent alcohol. If the personal property on which the exemption is claimed is used for purposes other than the retail sale or distribution of biodeisel or alcohol fuels within three years of initial operation, the exempted taxes become due. Local governments may also provide a local sales and use tax exemption for the retail sale and distribution of biodiesel and alcohol fuel blends.

Personal property used directly in the motorized transportation of biodiesel or alcohol fuel blends is exempt from property taxes beginning with the collection in 2004 and through 2009. This exemption applies if at least 75 percent of the fuel distribution activity is biodiesel or alcohol fuel blends.

The substitute bill clarifies the definition of biodiesel and removes an unnecessary section. For purposes of the sales and use tax exemption for the retail sale of alcohol fuels, the percentage of alcohol in the blended fuel changes from 10 percent alcohol to 85 percent alcohol.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill: The bill has an emergency clause and takes effect on July 1, 2003.

Testimony For: This bill is part of a package of bills that is designed in a comprehensive fashion to help farmers, improve air quality, and create jobs. Diesel fuel is a significant contributor to air pollution. Use of biodiesel can contribute to cleaner air. Biodiesel is a small but growing industry. As an industry it faces challenges. The petroleum industry is a mature industry. This bill gives biodiesel a chance to catch up. The biggest barrier to the use of biodiesel and ethanol is cost. Demand for the fuel will help make it more available. Providing tax incentives will help reduce the risk and cost for providing fuel stations to make the product available. The biggest incentive to use these fuels is having it available at the pump. The requirement that 75 percent of a fueling station's business be biodiesel or alcohol fuel could discourage existing businesses from moving into providing these fuels. Certain counties do not qualify for the sales and use tax exemption. The coverage should be broader.

Testified: (In support) Representative Sullivan, prime sponsor; Dennis McLerran, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency; Linda Graham, Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition; Jim Armstrong, Spokane County Conservation District; Graeme Sackrison; Robert Pregulman, Washington Public Interest Research Group; Sam Bryant; Donna Ewing, League of Women Voters, Washington; Toni Potter, Global Warming Action; Heather Rhoads-Weaver, Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development; and Mark Tegan, Lilyblad.