2SHB 2130 -
By Senators Hobbs, Honeyford
ADOPTED 04/26/2009
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 101 A new section is added to chapter 82.08
RCW to read as follows:
(1)(a) Except as provided in section 103 of this act, purchasers
who have paid the tax imposed by RCW 82.08.020 on machinery and
equipment used directly in generating electricity using fuel cells,
wind, sun, biomass energy, tidal or wave energy, geothermal resources,
anaerobic digestion, technology that converts otherwise lost energy
from exhaust, or landfill gas as the principal source of power, or to
sales of or charges made for labor and services rendered in respect to
installing such machinery and equipment, are eligible for an exemption
as provided in this section, but only if the purchaser develops with
such machinery, equipment, and labor a facility capable of generating
not less than one thousand watts of electricity.
(b) Beginning on July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2011, the tax
levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to the sale of machinery and
equipment described in (a) of this subsection that are used directly in
generating electricity or to sales of or charges made for labor and
services rendered in respect to installing such machinery and
equipment.
(c) Beginning on July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2013, the amount of
the exemption under this subsection (1) is equal to seventy-five
percent of the state and local sales tax paid. The purchaser is
eligible for an exemption under this subsection (1)(c) in the form of
a remittance.
(2) For purposes of this section and section 102 of this act, the
following definitions apply:
(a) "Biomass energy" includes: (i) Byproducts of pulping and wood
manufacturing process; (ii) animal waste; (iii) solid organic fuels
from wood; (iv) forest or field residues; (v) wooden demolition or
construction debris; (vi) food waste; (vii) liquors derived from algae
and other sources; (viii) dedicated energy crops; (ix) biosolids; and
(x) yard waste. "Biomass energy" does not include wood pieces that
have been treated with chemical preservatives such as creosote,
pentachlorophenol, or copper-chrome-arsenic; wood from old growth
forests; or municipal solid waste.
(b) "Fuel cell" means an electrochemical reaction that generates
electricity by combining atoms of hydrogen and oxygen in the presence
of a catalyst.
(c) "Landfill gas" means biomass fuel, of the type qualified for
federal tax credits under Title 26 U.S.C. Sec. 29 of the federal
internal revenue code, collected from a "landfill" as defined under RCW
70.95.030.
(d)(i) "Machinery and equipment" means fixtures, devices, and
support facilities that are integral and necessary to the generation of
electricity using fuel cells, wind, sun, biomass energy, tidal or wave
energy, geothermal resources, anaerobic digestion, technology that
converts otherwise lost energy from exhaust, or landfill gas as the
principal source of power.
(ii) "Machinery and equipment" does not include: (A) Hand-powered
tools; (B) property with a useful life of less than one year; (C)
repair parts required to restore machinery and equipment to normal
working order; (D) replacement parts that do not increase productivity,
improve efficiency, or extend the useful life of machinery and
equipment; (E) buildings; or (F) building fixtures that are not
integral and necessary to the generation of electricity that are
permanently affixed to and become a physical part of a building.
(3)(a) Machinery and equipment is "used directly" in generating
electricity by wind energy, solar energy, biomass energy, tidal or wave
energy, geothermal resources, anaerobic digestion, technology that
converts otherwise lost energy from exhaust, or landfill gas power if
it provides any part of the process that captures the energy of the
wind, sun, biomass energy, tidal or wave energy, geothermal resources,
anaerobic digestion, technology that converts otherwise lost energy
from exhaust, or landfill gas, converts that energy to electricity, and
stores, transforms, or transmits that electricity for entry into or
operation in parallel with electric transmission and distribution
systems.
(b) Machinery and equipment is "used directly" in generating
electricity by fuel cells if it provides any part of the process that
captures the energy of the fuel, converts that energy to electricity,
and stores, transforms, or transmits that electricity for entry into or
operation in parallel with electric transmission and distribution
systems.
(4)(a) A purchaser claiming an exemption in the form of a
remittance under subsection (1)(c) of this section must pay the tax
imposed by RCW 82.08.020 and all applicable local sales taxes imposed
under the authority of chapters 82.14 and 81.104 RCW. The purchaser
may then apply to the department for remittance in a form and manner
prescribed by the department. A purchaser may not apply for a
remittance under this section more frequently than once per quarter.
The purchaser must specify the amount of exempted tax claimed and the
qualifying purchases for which the exemption is claimed. The purchaser
must retain, in adequate detail, records to enable the department to
determine whether the purchaser is entitled to an exemption under this
section, including: Invoices; proof of tax paid; and documents
describing the machinery and equipment.
(b) The department must determine eligibility under this section
based on the information provided by the purchaser, which is subject to
audit verification by the department. The department must on a
quarterly basis remit exempted amounts to qualifying purchasers who
submitted applications during the previous quarter.
(5) This section expires July 1, 2013.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 102 A new section is added to chapter 82.12
RCW to read as follows:
(1)(a) Except as provided in section 104 of this act, consumers who
have paid the tax imposed by RCW 82.12.020 on machinery and equipment
used directly in generating electricity using fuel cells, wind, sun,
biomass energy, tidal or wave energy, geothermal resources, anaerobic
digestion, technology that converts otherwise lost energy from exhaust,
or landfill gas as the principal source of power, or to sales of or
charges made for labor and services rendered in respect to installing
such machinery and equipment, are eligible for an exemption as provided
in this section, but only if the purchaser develops with such
machinery, equipment, and labor a facility capable of generating not
less than one thousand watts of electricity.
(b) Beginning on July 1, 2009, through June 30, 2011, the
provisions of this chapter do not apply in respect to the use of
machinery and equipment described in (a) of this subsection that are
used directly in generating electricity or to sales of or charges made
for labor and services rendered in respect to installing such machinery
and equipment.
(c) Beginning on July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2013, the amount of
the exemption under this subsection (1) is equal to seventy-five
percent of the state and local sales tax paid. The consumer is
eligible for an exemption under this subsection (1)(c) in the form of
a remittance.
(2)(a) A person claiming an exemption in the form of a remittance
under subsection (1)(c) of this section must pay the tax imposed by RCW
82.12.020 and all applicable local use taxes imposed under the
authority of chapters 82.14 and 81.104 RCW. The consumer may then
apply to the department for remittance in a form and manner prescribed
by the department. A consumer may not apply for a remittance under
this section more frequently than once per quarter. The consumer must
specify the amount of exempted tax claimed and the qualifying purchases
or acquisitions for which the exemption is claimed. The consumer must
retain, in adequate detail, records to enable the department to
determine whether the consumer is entitled to an exemption under this
section, including: Invoices; proof of tax paid; and documents
describing the machinery and equipment.
(b) The department must determine eligibility under this section
based on the information provided by the consumer, which is subject to
audit verification by the department. The department must on a
quarterly basis remit exempted amounts to qualifying consumers who
submitted applications during the previous quarter.
(3) Purchases exempt under section 101 of this act are also exempt
from the tax imposed under RCW 82.12.020.
(4) The definitions in section 101 of this act apply to this
section.
(5) This section expires June 30, 2013.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 103 A new section is added to chapter 82.08
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of
machinery and equipment used directly in generating electricity using
solar energy, or to sales of or charges made for labor and services
rendered in respect to installing such machinery and equipment, but
only if the purchaser develops with such machinery, equipment, and
labor a facility capable of generating not more than ten kilowatts of
electricity and provides the seller with an exemption certificate in a
form and manner prescribed by the department. The seller must retain
a copy of the certificate for the seller's files.
(2) For purposes of this section and section 104 of this act:
(a) "Machinery and equipment" means industrial fixtures, devices,
and support facilities that are integral and necessary to the
generation of electricity using solar energy;
(b) "Machinery and equipment" does not include: (i) Hand-powered
tools; (ii) property with a useful life of less than one year; (iii)
repair parts required to restore machinery and equipment to normal
working order; (iv) replacement parts that do not increase
productivity, improve efficiency, or extend the useful life of
machinery and equipment; (v) buildings; or (vi) building fixtures that
are not integral and necessary to the generation of electricity that
are permanently affixed to and become a physical part of a building;
and
(c) Machinery and equipment is "used directly" in generating
electricity with solar energy if it provides any part of the process
that captures the energy of the sun, converts that energy to
electricity, and stores, transforms, or transmits that electricity for
entry into or operation in parallel with electric transmission and
distribution systems.
(3) This section expires June 30, 2013.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 104 A new section is added to chapter 82.12
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to
machinery and equipment used directly in generating not more than ten
kilowatts of electricity using solar energy, or to the use of labor and
services rendered in respect to installing such machinery and
equipment.
(2) The definitions in section 103 of this act apply to this
section.
(3) This section expires June 30, 2013.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 105 A new section is added to chapter 82.14
RCW to read as follows:
The exemptions in sections 101 through 104 of this act are for the
state and local sales and use taxes and include the sales and use taxes
imposed under the authority of this chapter.
Sec. 106 RCW 81.104.170 and 1997 c 450 s 5 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Cities that operate transit systems, county transportation
authorities, metropolitan municipal corporations, public transportation
benefit areas, and regional transit authorities may submit an
authorizing proposition to the voters and if approved by a majority of
persons voting, fix and impose a sales and use tax in accordance with
the terms of this chapter, solely for the purpose of providing high
capacity transportation service.
(2) The tax authorized pursuant to this section shall be in
addition to the tax authorized by RCW 82.14.030 and shall be collected
from those persons who are taxable by the state pursuant to chapters
82.08 and 82.12 RCW upon the occurrence of any taxable event within the
taxing district. The maximum rate of such tax shall be approved by the
voters and shall not exceed one percent of the selling price (in the
case of a sales tax) or value of the article used (in the case of a use
tax). The maximum rate of such tax that may be imposed shall not
exceed nine-tenths of one percent in any county that imposes a tax
under RCW 82.14.340, or within a regional transit authority if any
county within the authority imposes a tax under RCW 82.14.340.
(3)(a) The exemptions in RCW 82.08.820 and 82.12.820 are for the
state portion of the sales and use tax and do not extend to the tax
authorized in this section.
(b) The exemptions in sections 101 and 102 of this act are for the
state and local sales and use taxes and include the tax authorized by
this section.
Sec. 107 RCW 82.14.050 and 2005 c 336 s 20 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The counties, cities, and transportation authorities under RCW
82.14.045, public facilities districts under chapters 36.100 and 35.57
RCW, public transportation benefit areas under RCW 82.14.440, regional
transportation investment districts, and transportation benefit
districts under chapter 36.73 RCW shall contract, prior to the
effective date of a resolution or ordinance imposing a sales and use
tax, the administration and collection to the state department of
revenue, which shall deduct a percentage amount, as provided by
contract, not to exceed two percent of the taxes collected for
administration and collection expenses incurred by the department. The
remainder of any portion of any tax authorized by this chapter that is
collected by the department of revenue shall be deposited by the state
department of revenue in the local sales and use tax account hereby
created in the state treasury. Moneys in the local sales and use tax
account may be ((spent)) withdrawn only for:
(a) Distribution to counties, cities, transportation authorities,
public facilities districts, public transportation benefit areas,
regional transportation investment districts, and transportation
benefit districts imposing a sales and use tax; and
(b) Making refunds of taxes imposed under the authority of this
chapter and RCW 81.104.170 and exempted under sections 101 and 102 of
this act.
(2) All administrative provisions in chapters 82.03, 82.08, 82.12,
and 82.32 RCW, as they now exist or may hereafter be amended, shall,
insofar as they are applicable to state sales and use taxes, be
applicable to taxes imposed pursuant to this chapter.
(3) Counties, cities, transportation authorities, public facilities
districts, and regional transportation investment districts may not
conduct independent sales or use tax audits of sellers registered under
the streamlined sales tax agreement.
(4) Except as provided in RCW 43.08.190, all earnings of
investments of balances in the local sales and use tax account shall be
credited to the local sales and use tax account and distributed to the
counties, cities, transportation authorities, public facilities
districts, public transportation benefit areas, regional transportation
investment districts, and transportation benefit districts monthly.
Sec. 108 RCW 82.14.060 and 2005 c 336 s 21 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1)(a) Monthly, the state treasurer ((shall make distribution))
must distribute from the local sales and use tax account to the
counties, cities, transportation authorities, public facilities
districts, and transportation benefit districts the amount of tax
collected on behalf of each taxing authority, less:
(i) The deduction provided for in RCW 82.14.050; and
(ii) The amount of any refunds of local sales and use taxes
exempted under sections 101 and 102 of this act, which must be made
without appropriation.
(b) The state treasurer shall make the distribution under this
section without appropriation.
(2) In the event that any ordinance or resolution imposes a sales
and use tax at a rate in excess of the applicable limits contained
herein, such ordinance or resolution shall not be considered void in
toto, but only with respect to that portion of the rate which is in
excess of the applicable limits contained herein.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 109 A new section is added to chapter 82.12
RCW to read as follows:
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, the
expiration of RCW 82.12.02567 and section 102 of this act do not
require the payment of, or authorize the department to assess, use tax
imposed by or under the authority of RCW 82.12.020, 81.104.170, and
chapter 82.14 RCW, on the use of machinery and equipment, and labor and
services rendered in respect to installing such machinery and
equipment, if such use qualified for the exemption under RCW
82.12.02567 or section 102 of this act immediately preceding the
expiration date of the applicable exemption under RCW 82.12.02567 or
section 102 of this act.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not prohibit the department
from assessing, subject to the limitations period in RCW 82.32.050,
state and local use taxes on the use of machinery and equipment, and
labor and services rendered in respect to installing such machinery and
equipment, if, before the expiration of the applicable exemption
provided in RCW 82.12.02567 or section 102 of this act, the machinery
and equipment was put to a use that is outside of the scope of the
applicable exemption in RCW 82.12.02567 or section 102 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 201 (1) The legislature finds that the
cleaning up of radioactive waste at the Hanford site is crucial to the
environment in this state. The legislature intends to include services
supporting the cleanup within the radioactive waste clean-up business
and occupation tax classification, but it is not the legislature's
intent to extend the radioactive waste clean-up classification to all
business activities conducted at the Hanford site or performed for
persons engaged in the performance of cleanup.
(2) It is the legislature's intent in enacting this legislation to
ensure that the radioactive waste clean-up business and occupation tax
classification applies to all services contributing to the performance
of a clean-up project at the Hanford site other than services that are
routinely provided to any business, including businesses that are not
engaged in clean-up activities.
Sec. 202 RCW 82.04.263 and 1996 c 112 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Upon every person engaging within this state in the business of
cleaning up for the United States, or its instrumentalities,
radioactive waste and other by-products of weapons production and
nuclear research and development; as to such persons the amount of the
tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the ((value of
the)) gross income of the business multiplied by the rate of 0.471
percent.
(2) For the purposes of this chapter, "cleaning up radioactive
waste and other by-products of weapons production and nuclear research
and development" means:
(a) The activities of handling, storing, treating, immobilizing,
stabilizing, or disposing of radioactive waste, radioactive tank waste
and capsules, nonradioactive hazardous solid and liquid wastes, or
spent nuclear fuel;
(b) Spent nuclear fuel conditioning;
(c) Removal of contamination in soils and groundwater;
(d) Decontamination and decommissioning of facilities; and
((activities integral and necessary to the direct performance of
cleanup)) (e) Services supporting the performance of cleanup. For the
purposes of this subsection (2)(e), a service supports the performance
of cleanup if it:
(i) Is within the scope of work under a clean-up contract with the
United States department of energy; or
(ii) Assists in the accomplishment of a requirement of a clean-up
project undertaken by the United States department of energy under a
subcontract entered into with the prime contractor or another
subcontractor in furtherance of a clean-up contract between the United
States department of energy and a prime contractor.
(3) A service does not assist in the accomplishment of a
requirement of a clean-up project undertaken by the United States
department of energy if the same services are routinely provided to
businesses not engaged in clean-up activities, except that the
following services are always deemed to contribute to the
accomplishment of a requirement of a clean-up project undertaken by the
United States department of energy:
(a) Information technology and computer support services;
(b) Services rendered in respect to infrastructure; and
(c) Security, safety, and health services.
(4) The legislature intends that the examples provided in this
subsection be used as a guideline when determining whether a service is
"routinely provided to businesses not engaged in clean-up activities"
as that phrase is used in subsection (3) of this section.
(a) The radioactive waste clean-up classification does not apply to
general accounting services but does apply to performance audits
performed for persons cleaning up radioactive waste.
(b) The radioactive waste clean-up classification does not apply to
general legal services but does apply to those legal services that
assist in the accomplishment of a requirement of a clean-up project
undertaken by the United States department of energy. Thus, legal
services provided to contest any local, state, or federal tax liability
or to defend a company against a workers' compensation claim arising
from a worksite injury do not qualify for the radioactive waste clean-up classification. But, legal services related to the resolution of a
contractual dispute between the parties to a clean-up contract between
the United States department of energy and a prime contractor do
qualify.
(c) General office janitorial services do not qualify for the
radioactive waste clean-up classification, but the specialized cleaning
of equipment exposed to radioactive waste does qualify.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 301 A new section is added to chapter 82.08
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of hog
fuel used to produce electricity, steam, heat, or biofuel. This
exemption is available only if the buyer provides the seller with an
exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the
department. The seller must retain a copy of the certificate for the
seller's files.
(2) For the purposes of this section the following definitions
apply:
(a) "Hog fuel" means wood waste and other wood residuals including
forest derived biomass. "Hog fuel" does not include firewood or wood
pellets; and
(b) "Biofuel" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 43.325.010.
(3) This section expires June 30, 2013.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 302 A new section is added to chapter 82.12
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to the
use of hog fuel for production of electricity, steam, heat, or biofuel.
(2) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Hog fuel" has the same meaning as provided in section 301 of
this act; and
(b) "Biofuel" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 43.325.010.
(3) This section expires June 30, 2013.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 401 A new section is added to chapter 82.04
RCW to read as follows:
(1) In computing the tax imposed under this chapter, harvesters are
allowed a credit against the amount of tax otherwise due under this
chapter, as provided in this section. The credit per harvested green
ton of forest derived biomass sold, transferred, or used for production
of electricity, steam, heat, or biofuel is as follows:
(a) For forest derived biomass harvested October 1, 2009, through
June 30, 2010, zero dollars;
(b) For forest derived biomass harvested July 1, 2010, through June
30, 2013, three dollars;
(c) For forest derived biomass harvested July 1, 2013, through June
30, 2015, five dollars.
(2) Credit may not be claimed for forest derived biomass sold,
transferred, or used before the effective date of this section. The
amount of credit allowed for a reporting period may not exceed the tax
otherwise due under this chapter for that reporting period. Any unused
excess credit in a reporting period may be carried forward to future
reporting periods for a maximum of two years.
(3) For the purposes of this section, "harvested" and "harvesters"
are defined in RCW 84.33.035, and "biofuel" is defined in RCW
43.325.010.
(4) This section expires June 30, 2015.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 402 A new section is added to chapter 82.08
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales of
forest derived biomass used to produce electricity, steam, heat, or
biofuel. This exemption is available only if the buyer provides the
seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by
the department. The seller must retain a copy of the certificate for
the seller's files.
(2) For purposes of this section, "biofuel" is defined in RCW
43.325.010.
(3) This section expires June 30, 2013.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 403 A new section is added to chapter 82.12
RCW to read as follows:
(1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to the
use of forest derived biomass for production of electricity, steam,
heat, or biofuel.
(2) For purposes of this section, "biofuel" is defined in RCW
43.325.010.
(3) This section expires June 30, 2013.
Sec. 501 RCW 82.04.294 and 2007 c 54 s 8 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1)(a) Beginning October 1, 2005, upon every person engaging within
this state in the business of manufacturing solar energy systems using
photovoltaic modules, or of manufacturing solar grade silicon to be
used exclusively in components of such systems; as to such persons the
amount of tax with respect to such business shall, in the case of
manufacturers, be equal to the value of the product manufactured, or in
the case of processors for hire, be equal to the gross income of the
business, multiplied by the rate of 0.2904 percent.
(b) Beginning October 1, 2009, upon every person engaging within
this state in the business of manufacturing solar energy systems using
photovoltaic modules, or of manufacturing solar grade silicon, silicon
solar wafers, silicon solar cells, thin film solar devices, or compound
semiconductor solar wafers to be used exclusively in components of such
systems; as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to such
business is, in the case of manufacturers, equal to the value of the
product manufactured, or in the case of processors for hire, equal to
the gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of 0.275
percent.
(2)(a) Beginning October 1, 2005, upon every person engaging within
this state in the business of making sales at wholesale of solar energy
systems using photovoltaic modules, or of solar grade silicon to be
used exclusively in components of such systems, manufactured by that
person; as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to such
business shall be equal to the gross proceeds of sales of the solar
energy systems using photovoltaic modules, or of the solar grade
silicon to be used exclusively in components of such systems,
multiplied by the rate of 0.2904 percent.
(b) Beginning October 1, 2009, upon every person engaging within
this state in the business of making sales at wholesale of solar energy
systems using photovoltaic modules, or of solar grade silicon, silicon
solar wafers, silicon solar cells, thin film solar devices, or compound
semiconductor solar wafers to be used exclusively in components of such
systems, manufactured by that person; as to such persons the amount of
tax with respect to such business is equal to the gross proceeds of
sales of the solar energy systems using photovoltaic modules, or of the
solar grade silicon to be used exclusively in components of such
systems, multiplied by the rate of 0.275 percent.
(3) Beginning October 1, 2009, silicon solar wafers, silicon solar
cells, thin film solar devices, or compound semiconductor solar wafers
are "semiconductor materials" for the purposes of RCW 82.08.9651 and
82.12.9651.
(4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this
section.
(a) "Compound semiconductor solar wafers" means a semiconductor
solar wafer composed of elements from two or more different groups of
the periodic table.
(b) "Module" means the smallest nondivisible self-contained
physical structure housing interconnected photovoltaic cells and
providing a single direct current electrical output.
(((b))) (c) "Photovoltaic cell" means a device that converts light
directly into electricity without moving parts.
(((c))) (d) "Silicon solar cells" means a photovoltaic cell
manufactured from a silicon solar wafer.
(e) "Silicon solar wafers" means a silicon wafer manufactured for
solar conversion purposes.
(f) "Solar energy system" means any device or combination of
devices or elements that rely upon direct sunlight as an energy source
for use in the generation of electricity.
(((d))) (g) "Solar grade silicon" means high-purity silicon used
exclusively in components of solar energy systems using photovoltaic
modules to capture direct sunlight. "Solar grade silicon" does not
include silicon used in semiconductors.
(((4))) (h) "Thin film solar devices" means a nonparticipating
substrate on which various semiconducting materials are deposited to
produce a photovoltaic cell that is used to generate electricity.
(5) This section expires June 30, 2014.
Sec. 502 RCW 82.08.9651 and 2006 c 84 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 ((shall)) does not apply to
sales of gases and chemicals used by a manufacturer or processor for
hire in the production of semiconductor materials. This exemption is
limited to gases and chemicals used in the production process to grow
the product, deposit or grow permanent or sacrificial layers on the
product, to etch or remove material from the product, to anneal the
product, to immerse the product, to clean the product, and other such
uses whereby the gases and chemicals come into direct contact with the
product during the production process, or uses of gases and chemicals
to clean the chambers and other like equipment in which such processing
takes place. For the purposes of this section, "semiconductor
materials" has the meaning provided in RCW 82.04.2404 and 82.04.294(3).
(2) A person taking the exemption under this section must report
under RCW 82.32.5351. No application is necessary for the tax
exemption. The person is subject to all of the requirements of chapter
82.32 RCW.
(3) This section expires twelve years after December 1, 2006.
Sec. 503 RCW 82.12.9651 and 2006 c 84 s 4 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to the
use of gases and chemicals used by a manufacturer or processor for hire
in the production of semiconductor materials. This exemption is
limited to gases and chemicals used in the production process to grow
the product, deposit or grow permanent or sacrificial layers on the
product, to etch or remove material from the product, to anneal the
product, to immerse the product, to clean the product, and other such
uses whereby the gases and chemicals come into direct contact with the
product during the production process, or uses of gases and chemicals
to clean the chambers and other like equipment in which such processing
takes place. For purposes of this section, "semiconductor materials"
has the meaning provided in RCW 82.04.2404 and 82.04.294(3).
(2) A person taking the exemption under this section must report
under RCW 82.32.5351. No application is necessary for the tax
exemption. The person is subject to all of the requirements of chapter
82.32 RCW.
(3) This section expires twelve years after December 1, 2006.
Sec. 504 RCW 82.16.110 and 2005 c 300 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1)(a) "Community solar project" means:
(i) A solar energy system owned by local individuals, households,
nonprofit organizations, or nonutility businesses that is placed on the
property owned by a cooperating local governmental entity that is not
in the light and power business or in the gas distribution business; or
(ii) A utility-owned solar energy system that is voluntarily funded
by the utility's ratepayers where, in exchange for their financial
support, the utility gives contributors a payment or credit on their
utility bill for the value of the electricity produced by the project.
(b) For the purposes of "community solar project" as defined in (a)
of this subsection:
(i) "Nonprofit organization" means an organization exempt from
taxation under Title 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(3) of the federal internal
revenue code of 1986, as amended, as of January 1, 2009; and
(ii) "Utility" means a light and power business, an electric
cooperative, or a mutual corporation that provides electricity service.
(2) "Customer-generated electricity" means a community solar
project or the alternating current electricity that is generated from
a renewable energy system located on an individual's, businesses', or
local government's real property that is also provided electricity
generated by a light and power business. Except for community solar
projects, a system located on a leasehold interest does not qualify
under this definition. "Customer-generated electricity" does not
include electricity generated by a light and power business with
greater than one thousand megawatt hours of annual sales or a gas
distribution business.
(((2))) (3) "Economic development kilowatt-hour" means the actual
kilowatt-hour measurement of customer-generated electricity multiplied
by the appropriate economic development factor.
(((3))) (4) "Local governmental entity" means any unit of local
government of this state including, but not limited to, counties,
cities, towns, municipal corporations, quasi-municipal corporations,
special purpose districts, and school districts.
(5) "Photovoltaic cell" means a device that converts light directly
into electricity without moving parts.
(((4))) (6) "Renewable energy system" means a solar energy system,
an anaerobic digester as defined in RCW 82.08.900, or a wind generator
used for producing electricity.
(((5))) (7) "Solar energy system" means any device or combination
of devices or elements that rely upon direct sunlight as an energy
source for use in the generation of electricity.
(((6))) (8) "Solar inverter" means the device used to convert
direct current to alternating current in a photovoltaic cell system.
(((7))) (9) "Solar module" means the smallest nondivisible self-contained physical structure housing interconnected photovoltaic cells
and providing a single direct current electrical output.
(((8) "Standards for interconnection to the electric distribution
system" means technical, engineering, operational, safety, and
procedural requirements for interconnection to the electric
distribution system of a light and power business.))
Sec. 505 RCW 82.16.120 and 2007 c 111 s 101 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Any individual, business, ((or)) local governmental entity, not
in the light and power business or in the gas distribution business, or
a participant in a community solar project may apply to the light and
power business serving the situs of the system, each fiscal year
beginning on July 1, 2005, for an investment cost recovery incentive
for each kilowatt-hour from a customer-generated electricity renewable
energy system ((installed on its property that is not interconnected to
the electric distribution system)). No incentive may be paid for
kilowatt-hours generated before July 1, 2005, or after June 30,
((2014)) 2020.
(2) ((When light and power businesses serving eighty percent of the
total customer load in the state adopt uniform standards for
interconnection to the electric distribution system, any individual,
business, or local governmental entity, not in the light and power
business or in the gas distribution business, may apply to the light
and power business serving the situs of the system, each fiscal year,
for an investment cost recovery incentive for each kilowatt-hour from
a customer-generated electricity renewable energy system installed on
its property that is not interconnected to the electric distribution
system and from a customer-generated electricity renewable energy
system installed on its property that is interconnected to the electric
distribution system. Uniform standards for interconnection to the
electric distribution system means those standards established by light
and power businesses that have ninety percent of total requirements the
same. No incentive may be paid for kilowatt-hours generated before
July 1, 2005, or after June 30, 2014.))(a) Before submitting for the first time the application for
the incentive allowed under subsection (4) of this section, the
applicant ((
(3)shall)) must submit to the department of revenue and to the
climate and rural energy development center at the Washington State
University, established under RCW 28B.30.642, a certification in a form
and manner prescribed by the department that includes, but is not
limited to, the following information:
(i) The name and address of the applicant and location of the
renewable energy system;
(ii) The applicant's tax registration number;
(iii) That the electricity produced by the applicant meets the
definition of "customer-generated electricity" and that the renewable
energy system produces electricity with:
(A) Any solar inverters and solar modules manufactured in
Washington state;
(B) A wind generator powered by blades manufactured in Washington
state;
(C) A solar inverter manufactured in Washington state;
(D) A solar module manufactured in Washington state; or
(E) Solar or wind equipment manufactured outside of Washington
state;
(iv) That the electricity can be transformed or transmitted for
entry into or operation in parallel with electricity transmission and
distribution systems;
(v) The date that the renewable energy system received its final
electrical permit from the applicable local jurisdiction.
(b) Within thirty days of receipt of the certification the
department of revenue ((shall)) must notify the applicant by mail, or
electronically as provided in RCW 82.32.135, whether the renewable
energy system qualifies for an incentive under this section. The
department may consult with the climate and rural energy development
center to determine eligibility for the incentive. System
certifications and the information contained therein are subject to
disclosure under RCW 82.32.330(3)(m).
(((4))) (3)(a) By August 1st of each year application for the
incentive shall be made to the light and power business serving the
situs of the system by certification in a form and manner prescribed by
the department that includes, but is not limited to, the following
information:
(i) The name and address of the applicant and location of the
renewable energy system;
(ii) The applicant's tax registration number;
(iii) The date of the notification from the department of revenue
stating that the renewable energy system is eligible for the incentives
under this section;
(iv) A statement of the amount of kilowatt-hours generated by the
renewable energy system in the prior fiscal year.
(b) Within sixty days of receipt of the incentive certification the
light and power business serving the situs of the system shall notify
the applicant in writing whether the incentive payment will be
authorized or denied. The business may consult with the climate and
rural energy development center to determine eligibility for the
incentive payment. Incentive certifications and the information
contained therein are subject to disclosure under RCW 82.32.330(3)(m).
(c)(i) Persons receiving incentive payments shall keep and
preserve, for a period of five years, suitable records as may be
necessary to determine the amount of incentive applied for and
received. Such records shall be open for examination at any time upon
notice by the light and power business that made the payment or by the
department. If upon examination of any records or from other
information obtained by the business or department it appears that an
incentive has been paid in an amount that exceeds the correct amount of
incentive payable, the business may assess against the person for the
amount found to have been paid in excess of the correct amount of
incentive payable and shall add thereto interest on the amount.
Interest shall be assessed in the manner that the department assesses
interest upon delinquent tax under RCW 82.32.050.
(ii) If it appears that the amount of incentive paid is less than
the correct amount of incentive payable the business may authorize
additional payment.
(((5))) (4) Except for community solar projects, the investment
cost recovery incentive may be paid fifteen cents per economic
development kilowatt-hour unless requests exceed the amount authorized
for credit to the participating light and power business. For
community solar projects, the investment cost recovery incentive may be
paid thirty cents per economic development kilowatt-hour unless
requests exceed the amount authorized for credit to the participating
light and power business. For the purposes of this section, the rate
paid for the investment cost recovery incentive may be multiplied by
the following factors:
(a) For customer-generated electricity produced using solar modules
manufactured in Washington state, two and four-tenths;
(b) For customer-generated electricity produced using a solar or a
wind generator equipped with an inverter manufactured in Washington
state, one and two-tenths;
(c) For customer-generated electricity produced using an anaerobic
digester, or by other solar equipment or using a wind generator
equipped with blades manufactured in Washington state, one; and
(d) For all other customer-generated electricity produced by wind,
eight-tenths.
(((6))) (5) No individual, household, business, or local
governmental entity is eligible for incentives provided under
subsection (4) of this section for more than ((two)) five thousand
dollars per year. Each applicant in a community solar project is
eligible for up to five thousand dollars per year.
(((7))) (6) If requests for the investment cost recovery incentive
exceed the amount of funds available for credit to the participating
light and power business, the incentive payments shall be reduced
proportionately.
(((8))) (7) The climate and rural energy development center at
Washington State University energy program may establish guidelines and
standards for technologies that are identified as Washington
manufactured and therefore most beneficial to the state's environment.
(((9))) (8) The environmental attributes of the renewable energy
system belong to the applicant, and do not transfer to the state or the
light and power business upon receipt of the investment cost recovery
incentive.
Sec. 506 RCW 82.16.130 and 2005 c 300 s 4 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) A light and power business shall be allowed a credit against
taxes due under this chapter in an amount equal to investment cost
recovery incentive payments made in any fiscal year under RCW
82.16.120. The credit shall be taken in a form and manner as required
by the department. The credit under this section for the fiscal year
((shall)) may not exceed ((twenty-five one-hundredths of)) one percent
of the businesses' taxable power sales due under RCW 82.16.020(1)(b) or
((twenty-five)) one hundred thousand dollars, whichever is greater.
Incentive payments to participants in a utility-owned community solar
project as defined in RCW 82.16.110(1)(a)(ii) may only account for up
to twenty-five percent of the total allowable credit. The credit may
not exceed the tax that would otherwise be due under this chapter.
Refunds shall not be granted in the place of credits. Expenditures not
used to earn a credit in one fiscal year may not be used to earn a
credit in subsequent years.
(2) For any business that has claimed credit for amounts that
exceed the correct amount of the incentive payable under RCW 82.16.120,
the amount of tax against which credit was claimed for the excess
payments shall be immediately due and payable. The department shall
assess interest but not penalties on the taxes against which the credit
was claimed. Interest shall be assessed at the rate provided for
delinquent excise taxes under chapter 82.32 RCW, retroactively to the
date the credit was claimed, and shall accrue until the taxes against
which the credit was claimed are repaid.
(3) The right to earn tax credits under this section expires June
30, ((2015)) 2020. Credits may not be claimed after June 30, ((2016))
2021.
Sec. 601 RCW 82.08.890 and 2006 c 151 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales to
eligible persons of:
(a) Qualifying livestock nutrient management equipment;
(b) Labor and services rendered in respect to installing,
repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving qualifying livestock
nutrient management equipment; and
(c)(i) Labor and services rendered in respect to ((operating,))
repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving of qualifying livestock
nutrient management ((equipment and)) facilities, or to ((sales of))
tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient or component of
((the equipment and)) qualifying livestock nutrient management
facilities in the course of repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving
of such facilities.
(ii) The exemption provided in this subsection (1)(c) does not
apply to the sale of or charge made for: (A) Labor and services
rendered in respect to the constructing of new, or replacing previously
existing, qualifying livestock nutrient management facilities; or (B)
tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient or component of
qualifying livestock nutrient management facilities during the course
of constructing new, or replacing previously existing, qualifying
livestock nutrient management facilities.
(2)(((a) To be eligible, the equipment and facilities must be used
exclusively for activities necessary to maintain a livestock nutrient
management plan.)) The exemption provided in subsection (1) of this section
applies to sales made after the livestock nutrient management plan is:
((
(b)(i))) (a) Certified under chapter 90.64 RCW; (((ii))) (b) approved as
part of the permit issued under chapter 90.48 RCW; or (((iii))) (c)
approved as required under subsection (4)(c)(iii) of this section.
(3)(a) The department of revenue must provide an exemption
certificate to an eligible person upon application by that person. The
department of agriculture must provide a list of eligible persons, as
defined in subsection (4)(c)(i) and (ii) of this section, to the
department of revenue. Conservation districts must maintain lists of
eligible persons as defined in subsection (4)(c)(iii) of this section
to allow the department of revenue to verify eligibility. The
application must be in a form and manner prescribed by the department
and must contain information regarding the location of the dairy or
animal feeding operation and other information the department may
require.
(b) A person claiming an exemption under this section must keep
records necessary for the department to verify eligibility under this
section. The exemption is available only when the buyer provides the
seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by
the department. The seller must retain a copy of the certificate for
the seller's files.
(4) The definitions in this subsection apply to this section and
RCW 82.12.890 unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(a) "Animal feeding operation" means a lot or facility, other than
an aquatic animal production facility, where the following conditions
are met:
(i) Animals, other than aquatic animals, have been, are, or will be
stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a total of forty-five
days or more in any twelve-month period; and
(ii) Crops, vegetation, forage growth, or postharvest residues are
not sustained in the normal growing season over any portion of the lot
or facility.
(b) "Conservation district" means a subdivision of state government
organized under chapter 89.08 RCW.
(c) "Eligible person" means a person: (i) Licensed to produce milk
under chapter 15.36 RCW who has a certified dairy nutrient management
plan, as required by chapter 90.64 RCW; (ii) who owns an animal feeding
operation and has a permit issued under chapter 90.48 RCW; or (iii) who
owns an animal feeding operation and has a nutrient management plan
approved by a conservation district as meeting natural resource
conservation service field office technical guide standards and who
possesses an exemption certificate under RCW 82.08.855.
(d) (("Livestock nutrient management equipment and facilities"
means machinery, equipment, and structures used in the handling and
treatment of livestock manure, such as aerators, agitators, alley
scrapers, augers, dams, gutter cleaners, loaders, lagoons, pipes,
pumps, separators, and tanks. The term also includes tangible personal
property that becomes an ingredient or component of the equipment and
facilities, including repair and replacement parts)) "Handling and
treatment of livestock manure" means the activities of collecting,
storing, moving, or transporting livestock manure, separating livestock
manure solids from liquids, or applying livestock manure to the
agricultural lands of an eligible person other than through the use of
pivot or linear type traveling irrigation systems.
(e) "Permit" means either a state waste discharge permit or a
national pollutant discharge elimination system permit, or both.
(f) "Qualifying livestock nutrient management equipment" means the
following tangible personal property for exclusive use in the handling
and treatment of livestock manure, including repair and replacement
parts for such equipment: (i) Aerators; (ii) agitators; (iii) augers;
(iv) conveyers; (v) gutter cleaners; (vi) hard-hose reel traveler
irrigation systems; (vii) lagoon and pond liners and floating covers;
(viii) loaders; (ix) manure composting devices; (x) manure spreaders;
(xi) manure tank wagons; (xii) manure vacuum tanks; (xiii) poultry
house cleaners; (xiv) poultry house flame sterilizers; (xv) poultry
house washers; (xvi) poultry litter saver machines; (xvii) pipes;
(xviii) pumps; (xix) scrapers; (xx) separators; (xxi) slurry injectors
and hoses; and (xxii) wheelbarrows, shovels, and pitchforks.
(g) "Qualifying livestock nutrient management facilities" means the
following structures and facilities for exclusive use in the handling
and treatment of livestock manure: (i) Flush systems; (ii) lagoons;
(iii) liquid livestock manure storage structures, such as concrete
tanks or glass-lined steel tanks; and (iv) structures used solely for
the dry storage of manure, including roofed stacking facilities.
Sec. 602 RCW 82.12.890 and 2006 c 151 s 3 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) The provisions of this chapter do not apply with respect to the
use by an eligible person of ((tangible personal property that becomes
an ingredient or component of livestock nutrient management equipment
and facilities, as defined in RCW 82.08.890, or to labor and services
rendered in respect to repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving
eligible tangible personal property)):
(a) Qualifying livestock nutrient management equipment;
(b) Labor and services rendered in respect to installing,
repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving qualifying livestock
nutrient management equipment; and
(c)(i) Tangible personal property that becomes an ingredient or
component of qualifying livestock nutrient management facilities in the
course of repairing, cleaning, altering, or improving of such
facilities.
(ii) The exemption provided in this subsection (1)(c) does not
apply to the use of tangible personal property that becomes an
ingredient or component of qualifying livestock nutrient management
facilities during the course of constructing new, or replacing
previously existing, qualifying livestock nutrient management
facilities.
(2)(a) To be eligible, the equipment and facilities must be used
exclusively for activities necessary to maintain a livestock nutrient
management plan.
(b) The exemption applies to the use of tangible personal property
((or)) and labor and services made after the livestock nutrient
management plan is: (i) Certified under chapter 90.64 RCW; (ii)
approved as part of the permit issued under chapter 90.48 RCW; or (iii)
approved as required under RCW 82.08.890(4)(c)(iii).
(3) The exemption certificate and recordkeeping requirements of RCW
82.08.890 apply to this section. The definitions in RCW 82.08.890
apply to this section.
Sec. 701 RCW 82.16.010 and 2007 c 6 s 1023 are each amended to
read as follows:
For the purposes of this chapter, unless otherwise required by the
context:
(1) "Railroad business" means the business of operating any
railroad, by whatever power operated, for public use in the conveyance
of persons or property for hire. It shall not, however, include any
business herein defined as an urban transportation business.
(2) "Express business" means the business of carrying property for
public hire on the line of any common carrier operated in this state,
when such common carrier is not owned or leased by the person engaging
in such business.
(3) "Railroad car business" means the business of operating stock
cars, furniture cars, refrigerator cars, fruit cars, poultry cars, tank
cars, sleeping cars, parlor cars, buffet cars, tourist cars, or any
other kinds of cars used for transportation of property or persons upon
the line of any railroad operated in this state when such railroad is
not owned or leased by the person engaging in such business.
(4) "Water distribution business" means the business of operating
a plant or system for the distribution of water for hire or sale.
(5) "Light and power business" means the business of operating a
plant or system for the generation, production or distribution of
electrical energy for hire or sale and/or for the wheeling of
electricity for others.
(6) "Telegraph business" means the business of affording
telegraphic communication for hire.
(7) "Gas distribution business" means the business of operating a
plant or system for the production or distribution for hire or sale of
gas, whether manufactured or natural.
(8) "Motor transportation business" means the business (except
urban transportation business) of operating any motor propelled vehicle
by which persons or property of others are conveyed for hire, and
includes, but is not limited to, the operation of any motor propelled
vehicle as an auto transportation company (except urban transportation
business), common carrier or contract carrier as defined by RCW
81.68.010 and 81.80.010((: PROVIDED, That)). However, "motor
transportation business" shall not mean or include: (a) A log
transportation business; or (b) the transportation of logs or other
forest products exclusively upon private roads or private highways.
(9) "Urban transportation business" means the business of operating
any vehicle for public use in the conveyance of persons or property for
hire, insofar as (a) operating entirely within the corporate limits of
any city or town, or within five miles of the corporate limits thereof,
or (b) operating entirely within and between cities and towns whose
corporate limits are not more than five miles apart or within five
miles of the corporate limits of either thereof. Included herein, but
without limiting the scope hereof, is the business of operating
passenger vehicles of every type and also the business of operating
cartage, pickup, or delivery services, including in such services the
collection and distribution of property arriving from or destined to a
point within or without the state, whether or not such collection or
distribution be made by the person performing a local or interstate
line-haul of such property.
(10) "Log transportation business" means the business of
transporting logs by truck, other than exclusively upon private roads.
(11)(a) "Public service business" means any of the businesses
defined in subsections (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), and (9)
of this section or any business subject to control by the state, or
having the powers of eminent domain and the duties incident thereto, or
any business hereafter declared by the legislature to be of a public
service nature, except telephone business and low-level radioactive
waste site operating companies as redefined in RCW 81.04.010. It
includes, among others, without limiting the scope hereof: Airplane
transportation, boom, dock, ferry, pipe line, toll bridge, toll logging
road, water transportation and wharf businesses.
(b) The definitions in this subsection (((10))) (11)(b) apply
throughout this subsection (((10))) (11).
(i) "Competitive telephone service" has the same meaning as in RCW
82.04.065.
(ii) "Network telephone service" means the providing by any person
of access to a telephone network, telephone network switching service,
toll service, or coin telephone services, or the providing of
telephonic, video, data, or similar communication or transmission for
hire, via a telephone network, toll line or channel, cable, microwave,
or similar communication or transmission system. "Network telephone
service" includes the provision of transmission to and from the site of
an internet provider via a telephone network, toll line or channel,
cable, microwave, or similar communication or transmission system.
"Network telephone service" does not include the providing of
competitive telephone service, the providing of cable television
service, the providing of broadcast services by radio or television
stations, nor the provision of internet service as defined in RCW
82.04.297, including the reception of dial-in connection, provided at
the site of the internet service provider.
(iii) "Telephone business" means the business of providing network
telephone service. It includes cooperative or farmer line telephone
companies or associations operating an exchange.
(iv) "Telephone service" means competitive telephone service or
network telephone service, or both, as defined in (b)(i) and (ii) of
this subsection.
(((11))) (12) "Tugboat business" means the business of operating
tugboats, towboats, wharf boats or similar vessels in the towing or
pushing of vessels, barges or rafts for hire.
(((12))) (13) "Gross income" means the value proceeding or accruing
from the performance of the particular public service or transportation
business involved, including operations incidental thereto, but without
any deduction on account of the cost of the commodity furnished or
sold, the cost of materials used, labor costs, interest, discount,
delivery costs, taxes, or any other expense whatsoever paid or accrued
and without any deduction on account of losses.
(((13))) (14) The meaning attributed, in chapter 82.04 RCW, to the
term "tax year," "person," "value proceeding or accruing," "business,"
"engaging in business," "in this state," "within this state," "cash
discount" and "successor" shall apply equally in the provisions of this
chapter.
Sec. 702 RCW 82.16.020 and 1996 c 150 s 2 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) There is levied and there shall be collected from every person
a tax for the act or privilege of engaging within this state in any one
or more of the businesses herein mentioned. The tax shall be equal to
the gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate set out after
the business, as follows:
(a) Express, sewerage collection, and telegraph businesses: Three
and six-tenths percent;
(b) Light and power business: Three and sixty-two one-hundredths
percent;
(c) Gas distribution business: Three and six-tenths percent;
(d) Urban transportation business: Six-tenths of one percent;
(e) Vessels under sixty-five feet in length, except tugboats,
operating upon the waters within the state: Six-tenths of one percent;
(f) Motor transportation, railroad, railroad car, and tugboat
businesses, and all public service businesses other than ones mentioned
above: One and eight-tenths of one percent;
(g) Water distribution business: Four and seven-tenths percent;
(h) Log transportation business: One and twenty-eight one-hundredths percent.
(2) An additional tax is imposed equal to the rate specified in RCW
82.02.030 multiplied by the tax payable under subsection (1) of this
section.
(3) Twenty percent of the moneys collected under subsection (1) of
this section on water distribution businesses and sixty percent of the
moneys collected under subsection (1) of this section on sewerage
collection businesses shall be deposited in the public works assistance
account created in RCW 43.155.050.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 801 The following acts or parts of acts are
each repealed:
(1) RCW 82.08.813 (Exemptions -- High gas mileage vehicles) and 2005
c 296 s 2; and
(2) RCW 82.12.813 (Exemptions -- High gas mileage vehicles) and 2005
c 296 s 4.
Sec. 802 RCW 82.08.020 and 2006 c 1 s 3 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) There is levied and there shall be collected an additional tax
on each retail car rental, regardless of whether the vehicle is
licensed in this state, equal to five and nine-tenths percent of the
selling price. The revenue collected under this subsection shall be
deposited in the multimodal transportation account created in RCW
47.66.070.
(3) Beginning July 1, 2003, there is levied and collected an
additional tax of three-tenths of one percent of the selling price on
each retail sale of a motor vehicle in this state, other than retail
car rentals taxed under subsection (2) of this section. The revenue
collected under this subsection shall be deposited in the multimodal
transportation account created in RCW 47.66.070.
(4) For purposes of subsection (3) of this section, "motor vehicle"
has the meaning provided in RCW 46.04.320, but does not include farm
tractors or farm vehicles as defined in RCW 46.04.180 and 46.04.181,
off-road and nonhighway vehicles as defined in RCW 46.09.020, and
snowmobiles as defined in RCW 46.10.010.
(5) Beginning on December 8, 2005, 0.16 percent of the taxes
collected under subsection (1) of this section shall be dedicated to
funding comprehensive performance audits required under RCW 43.09.470.
The revenue identified in this subsection shall be deposited in the
performance audits of government account created in RCW 43.09.475.
(6) The taxes imposed under this chapter shall apply to successive
retail sales of the same property.
(7)(a) Until January 1, 2011, the tax imposed in subsection (3) of
this section and the dedication of revenue provided for in subsection
(5) of this section, do not apply with respect to the sales of new
passenger cars, light duty trucks, and medium duty passenger vehicles,
which utilize hybrid technology and have a United States environmental
protection agency estimated highway gasoline mileage rating of at least
forty miles per gallon.
(b) As used in this subsection, "hybrid technology" means
propulsion units powered by both electricity and gasoline.
(8) The rates provided in this section apply to taxes imposed under
chapter 82.12 RCW as provided in RCW 82.12.020.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 901 Unless the context clearly requires
otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this
chapter.
(1) "Applicant" means a person applying for a tax deferral under
this chapter.
(2) "Department" means the department of revenue.
(3) "Eligible investment project" means an investment project that:
(a) Does not qualify as an eligible investment project under chapter
82.60 RCW; and (b) is located in a county with a population density of
more than five hundred persons per square mile that does not contain a
community empowerment zone designated under RCW 43.31C.020, and that is
not one of the three most populous counties in this state.
(4)(a) "Initiation of construction" means the date that a building
permit is issued under the building code adopted under RCW 19.27.031
for:
(i) Construction of the qualified building, if the underlying
ownership of the building vests exclusively with the person receiving
the economic benefit of the deferral;
(ii) Construction of the qualified building, if the economic
benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as provided in section
902 of this act; or
(iii) Tenant improvements for a qualified building, if the economic
benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee as provided in section
902 of this act.
(b) "Initiation of construction" does not include soil testing,
site clearing and grading, site preparation, or any other related
activities that are initiated before the issuance of a building permit
for the construction of the foundation of the building.
(c) If the investment project is a phased project, "initiation of
construction" applies separately to each phase.
(5) "Investment project" means a minimum investment of twenty-five
million dollars in qualified buildings, qualified machinery and
equipment, or both, including labor and services rendered in the
planning, installation, and construction of the project.
(6) "Manufacturing" has the same meaning as "to manufacture" in RCW
82.04.120 and includes the activities of processors for hire.
(7) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030.
(8)(a) "Qualified buildings" means construction of new structures,
and expansion or renovation of existing structures for the purpose of
increasing floor space or production capacity, used for renewable
energy manufacturing, research and development, or both. "Qualified
buildings" include plant offices, warehouses, or other facilities for
the storage of raw material or finished goods, if such facilities are
an essential or an integral part of a factory, plant, or laboratory
used for renewable energy manufacturing, research and development, or
both.
(b) For purposes of the twenty-five million dollar threshold in
subsection (5) of this section, "qualified buildings" includes: (i)
Existing structures acquired for the purpose of renewable energy
manufacturing, research and development, or both; and (ii) the land
upon which qualified buildings are located.
(9) "Qualified machinery and equipment" means all industrial and
research fixtures, equipment, and support facilities that are an
integral and necessary part of a renewable energy manufacturing or
research and development operation. "Qualified machinery and
equipment" includes: Computers; software; data processing equipment;
laboratory equipment; manufacturing components such as belts, pulleys,
shafts, and moving parts; molds, tools, and dies; operating structures;
and all equipment used to control or operate the machinery.
(10) "Recipient" means a person receiving a tax deferral under this
chapter.
(11) "Renewable energy manufacturing" means the manufacturing of
materials, components, or equipment for solar, wind, bioenergy, or
geothermal energy systems.
(12) "Research and development" means the development, refinement,
testing, marketing, and commercialization of a product, service, or
process related to renewable energy manufacturing before commercial
sales have begun. As used in this subsection, "commercial sales"
excludes sales of prototypes or sales for market testing if the total
gross receipts from such sales of the product, service, or process do
not exceed one million dollars.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 902 (1) The lessor or owner of a qualified
building is not eligible for a deferral under this chapter unless:
(a) The underlying ownership of the buildings, machinery, and
equipment vests exclusively in the same person; or
(b)(i) The lessor by written contract agrees to pass the economic
benefit of the deferral to the lessee in the form of reduced rent
payments; and
(ii) The lessee that receives the economic benefit of the deferral
agrees in writing with the department to complete the annual survey
under section 906 of this act.
(2) The economic benefit of the deferral to the lessee may be
evidenced by any type of payment, credit, or any other financial
arrangement between the lessor or owner of the qualified building and
the lessee.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 903 If a building is used partly for renewable
energy manufacturing or research and development and partly for other
purposes, the applicable tax deferral must be determined by
apportionment of the costs of construction under rules adopted by the
department.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 904 (1) Application for deferral of taxes
under this chapter must be made before initiation of construction of
the investment project or acquisition of machinery and equipment. The
application must be made to the department in a form and manner
prescribed by the department. The application must contain information
regarding the location of the investment project, estimated or actual
costs of the investment project, time schedules for completion and
operation, and other information required by the department.
(2) The department must rule on the application within sixty days.
The department must keep a running total of the estimated tax that will
be deferred under this chapter during the 2009-2011 and 2011-2013
fiscal biennia. The department must disallow any deferral application
or portion of any deferral application that would cause the total
estimated amount of state sales and use taxes deferred statewide under
this chapter to exceed one million five hundred thousand dollars during
the four-year period of the 2009-2011 and 2011-2013 fiscal biennia.
(3) The department must disallow any taxes deferred that would
cause the total amount of taxes deferred under this section by all
recipients to exceed one million five hundred thousand dollars during
the four-year period of the 2009-2011 and 2011-2013 fiscal biennia. If
this limitation is reached, the department must provide notification to
all recipients that the limitation has been met. The notice must
indicate the amount of tax due and must provide that the tax be paid
within thirty days from the date of such notice. The department may
not assess penalties and interest as provided in chapter 82.32 RCW on
the amount due in the initial notice if the amount due is paid by the
due date specified in the notice, or any extension thereof.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 905 (1) The department must issue a sales and
use tax deferral certificate for state and local sales and use taxes
imposed or authorized under chapters 82.08, 82.12, 82.14, and 81.104
RCW on each eligible investment project.
(2) This section expires June 30, 2013.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 906 (1)(a) The legislature finds that
accountability and effectiveness are important aspects of setting tax
policy. In order to make policy choices regarding the best use of
limited state resources the legislature needs information on how a tax
incentive is used.
(b) Each recipient of a deferral granted under this chapter must
complete an annual survey. If the economic benefits of the deferral
are passed to a lessee as provided in section 902 of this act, the
lessee must complete the annual survey and the applicant is not
required to complete the annual survey. The survey is due by April
30th of the year following the calendar year in which the investment
project is certified by the department as having been operationally
complete and each of the seven succeeding calendar years. The
department may extend the due date for timely filing of annual surveys
under this section as provided in RCW 82.32.590. The survey must
include the amount of tax deferred. The survey must also include the
following information for employment positions in Washington:
(i) The number of total employment positions;
(ii) Full-time, part-time, and temporary employment positions as a
percent of total employment;
(iii) The number of employment positions according to the following
wage bands: Less than thirty thousand dollars; thirty thousand dollars
or greater, but less than sixty thousand dollars; and sixty thousand
dollars or greater. A wage band containing fewer than three
individuals may be combined with another wage band; and
(iv) The number of employment positions that have employer-provided
medical, dental, and retirement benefits, by each of the wage bands.
(c) As part of the annual survey, the department may request
additional information necessary to measure the results of, or
determine eligibility for, the deferral program.
(d) If the person filing a survey under this section did not file
a survey with the department in the previous calendar year, the survey
filed under this section must also include the employment, wage, and
benefit information required under (b)(i) through (iv) of this
subsection for the calendar year immediately preceding the preceding
calendar year.
(e)(i) Except as otherwise provided, all information collected
under this subsection, except the amount of the tax deferral taken, is
deemed taxpayer information under RCW 82.32.330. Information on the
amount of tax deferral taken is not subject to the confidentiality
provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the public upon
request, except as otherwise provided in this subsection.
(ii) If the amount of the tax deferral taken as reported on the
survey is different than the amount actually taken or otherwise allowed
by the department based on information known to the department, the
amount actually taken or allowed may be disclosed.
(iii) Recipients for whom the actual amount of the tax deferral
taken is less than ten thousand dollars during the period covered by
the survey may request the department to treat the amount of the tax
savings as confidential under RCW 82.32.330.
(f) The department must use the information from this section to
prepare summary descriptive statistics by category. No fewer than
three taxpayers may be included in any category. The department must
report these statistics to the legislature each year by October 1st.
(2)(a) If a recipient of the deferral fails to complete the annual
survey required under subsection (1) of this section by the date due or
any extension under RCW 82.32.590, twelve and one-half percent of the
deferred tax is immediately due. If the economic benefits of the
deferral are passed to a lessee as provided in section 902 of this act,
the lessee will be responsible for payment to the extent the lessee has
received the economic benefit. The department must assess interest,
but not penalties, on the amounts due under this section. The interest
must be assessed at the rate provided for delinquent taxes under
chapter 82.32 RCW, and accrues until the amounts due are repaid.
(b) A recipient who must repay deferred taxes under section 907(2)
of this act because the department has found that an investment project
is used for purposes other than renewable energy manufacturing or
research and development is no longer required to file annual surveys
under this section beginning on the date an investment project is used
for nonqualifying purposes.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 907 (1) Except as provided in subsection (2)
of this section, taxes deferred under this chapter need not be repaid.
(2) If, on the basis of the survey under section 906 of this act or
other information, the department finds that an investment project is
used for purposes other than renewable energy manufacturing or research
and development at any time during the calendar year in which the
investment project is certified by the department as having been
operationally completed, or at any time during any of the seven
succeeding calendar years, a portion of deferred taxes are immediately
due according to the following schedule:
Year in which nonqualifying use occurs | % of deferred taxes due |
1 | 100% |
2 | 87.5% |
3 | 75% |
4 | 62.5% |
5 | 50% |
6 | 37.5% |
7 | 25% |
8 | 12.5% |
NEW SECTION. Sec. 908 Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the
administration of this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 909 Applications approved by the department
under this chapter are not confidential and are subject to disclosure.
Sec. 910 RCW 82.32.590 and 2008 c 81 s 13 and 2008 c 15 s 7 are
each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
(1) If the department finds that the failure of a taxpayer to file
an annual survey or annual report under section 906 of this act or RCW
82.04.4452, 82.32.5351, 82.32.650, 82.32.630, 82.32.610, 82.82.020, or
82.74.040 by the due date was the result of circumstances beyond the
control of the taxpayer, the department shall extend the time for
filing the survey or report. Such extension shall be for a period of
thirty days from the date the department issues its written
notification to the taxpayer that it qualifies for an extension under
this section. The department may grant additional extensions as it
deems proper.
(2) In making a determination whether the failure of a taxpayer to
file an annual survey or annual report by the due date was the result
of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer, the department
shall be guided by rules adopted by the department for the waiver or
cancellation of penalties when the underpayment or untimely payment of
any tax was due to circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer.
Sec. 911 RCW 82.32.600 and 2008 c 81 s 14 and 2008 c 15 s 8 are
each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
(1) Persons required to file annual surveys or annual reports under
section 906 of this act or RCW 82.04.4452, 82.32.5351, 82.32.545,
82.32.610, 82.32.630, 82.82.020, or 82.74.040 must electronically file
with the department all surveys, reports, returns, and any other forms
or information the department requires in an electronic format as
provided or approved by the department. As used in this section,
"returns" has the same meaning as "return" in RCW 82.32.050.
(2) Any survey, report, return, or any other form or information
required to be filed in an electronic format under subsection (1) of
this section is not filed until received by the department in an
electronic format.
(3) The department may waive the electronic filing requirement in
subsection (1) of this section for good cause shown.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 912 A new section is added to chapter 82.04
RCW to read as follows:
(1) In computing the tax imposed under this chapter, a renewable
energy manufacturer may claim a credit for its eligible investment
project expenditures occurring after the effective date of this act
through June 30, 2014.
(2) Any credits earned under this section must be accrued and
carried forward and may not be used until July 1, 2011. The credit is
equal to the amount of eligible investment project expenditures,
multiplied by the rate of twenty-five percent. Credit may be carried
over and used until June 30, 2024. The credit claimed against taxes
due for each calendar year must not exceed the amount of tax otherwise
due under this chapter for the calendar year. Refunds may not be
granted in the place of a credit.
(3) Credits are available on a first in-time basis. The department
must disallow any credits, or portion thereof, that would cause the
total amount of credits claimed statewide under this section in any
fiscal year to exceed the following limits: Two million five hundred
thousand dollars for fiscal year 2012, two million five hundred
thousand dollars for fiscal year 2013, five million dollars for fiscal
year 2014, and five million dollars for each fiscal year thereafter
until the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. If the fiscal year
limitation is reached, the department shall provide notification to
persons claiming credits that the annual statewide limit has been met.
The notice must indicate the amount of tax due and shall provide that
the tax be paid within thirty days from the date of such notice. The
department may not assess penalties and interest as provided in chapter
82.32 RCW on the amount due in the initial notice if the amount due is
paid by the due date specified in the notice, or any extension thereof.
(4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this
section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(a) "Eligible investment project" means an investment project that:
(i) Does not qualify as an eligible investment project under chapter
82.60 RCW; and (ii) is located in a county with a population density of
more than five hundred persons per square mile that does not contain a
community empowerment zone designated under RCW 43.31C.020, and that is
not one of the three most populous counties in this state.
(b) "Eligible investment project expenditures" means actual
expenditures for an eligible investment project, including labor and
services rendered in the planning, installation, and construction of
the project.
(c) "Investment project" means a twenty-five million dollar minimum
investment in qualified buildings, qualified machinery and equipment,
or both.
(d) "Manufacturing" has the same meaning as "to manufacture" in RCW
82.04.120 and includes the activities of processors for hire.
(e) "Person" has the meaning given in RCW 82.04.030.
(f)(i) "Qualified buildings" means construction of new structures,
and expansion or renovation of existing structures for the purpose of
increasing floor space or production capacity, used for renewable
energy manufacturing, research and development, or both. "Qualified
buildings" include plant offices, warehouses, or other facilities for
the storage of raw material or finished goods, if such facilities are
an essential or an integral part of a factory, plant, or laboratory
used for renewable energy manufacturing, research and development, or
both.
(ii) For purposes of the twenty-five million dollar threshold in
(c) of this subsection (4), "qualified buildings" includes: (A)
Existing structures acquired for the purpose of renewable energy
manufacturing, research and development, or both; and (B) the land upon
which qualified buildings are located.
(g) "Qualified machinery and equipment" means all industrial and
research fixtures, equipment, and support facilities that are an
integral and necessary part of a renewable energy manufacturing or
research and development operation. "Qualified machinery and
equipment" includes: Computers; software; data processing equipment;
laboratory equipment; manufacturing components such as belts, pulleys,
shafts, and moving parts; molds, tools, and dies; operating structures;
and all equipment used to control or operate the machinery.
(h) "Renewable energy manufacturing" means the manufacturing of
materials, components, or equipment for solar, wind, bioenergy, or
geothermal energy systems.
(i) "Research and development" means the development, refinement,
testing, marketing, and commercialization of a product, service, or
process related to renewable energy manufacturing before commercial
sales have begun. As used in this subsection, "commercial sales"
excludes sales of prototypes or sales for market testing if the total
gross receipts from such sales of the product, service, or process do
not exceed one million dollars.
(5) Credit may not be claimed for expenditures for which a credit
is claimed under RCW 82.04.4452.
(6) This section expires June 30, 2024.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 913 A new section is added to chapter 82.04
RCW to read as follows:
In addition to all other requirements under this title, a person
claiming the credit under section 912 of this act must file a complete
annual report with the department under section 915 of this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 914 A new section is added to chapter 82.04
RCW to read as follows:
In addition to all other requirements under this title, a person
claiming the credit under section 912 of this act must file a complete
annual report with the department under section 102, chapter ..., Laws
of 2009 (Substitute House Bill No. 1597).
NEW SECTION. Sec. 915 A new section is added to chapter 82.32
RCW to read as follows:
(1)(a) Every person claiming a tax preference in section 912 of
this act must file a complete annual survey with the department.
The survey is due by April 30th of the year following any calendar
year in which a person becomes eligible to claim the tax preference
that requires a survey under this section.
(b) The department may extend the due date for timely filing of
annual surveys under this section as provided in RCW 82.32.590.
(2)(a) The survey must include the amount of the tax preference
claimed for the calendar year covered by the survey.
(b) The survey must also include the following information for
employment positions in Washington, not to include names of employees,
for the year that the tax preference was claimed:
(i) The number of total employment positions;
(ii) Full-time, part-time, and temporary employment positions as a
percent of total employment;
(iii) The number of employment positions according to the following
wage bands: Less than thirty thousand dollars; thirty thousand dollars
or greater, but less than sixty thousand dollars; and sixty thousand
dollars or greater. A wage band containing fewer than three
individuals may be combined with another wage band; and
(iv) The number of employment positions that have employer-provided
medical, dental, and retirement benefits, by each of the wage bands.
(c) If the person filing a survey under this section did not file
a survey with the department in the previous calendar year, the survey
filed under this section must also include the employment, wage, and
benefit information required under (b)(i) through (iv) of this
subsection for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar
year for which a tax preference was claimed.
(3) As part of the annual survey, the department may request
additional information necessary to measure the results of, or
determine eligibility for, the tax preference.
(4) All information collected under this section, except the amount
of the tax preference claimed, is deemed taxpayer information under RCW
82.32.330. Information on the amount of tax preference claimed is not
subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be
disclosed to the public upon request, except as provided in subsection
(5) of this section. If the amount of the tax preference claimed as
reported on the survey is different than the amount actually claimed or
otherwise allowed by the department based on the taxpayer's excise tax
returns or other information known to the department, the amount
actually claimed or allowed may be disclosed.
(5) Persons for whom the actual amount of the tax reduced or saved
is less than ten thousand dollars during the period covered by the
survey may request the department to treat the amount of the tax
reduction or savings as confidential under RCW 82.32.330.
(6)(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, if a person claims a
tax preference that requires an annual survey under this section but
fails to submit a complete annual survey by the due date of the survey
or any extension under RCW 82.32.590, the department must declare the
amount of the tax preference claimed for the previous calendar year to
be immediately due. If the tax preference is a deferral of tax, twelve
and one-half percent of the deferred tax is immediately due. If the
economic benefits of the deferral are passed to a lessee, the lessee is
responsible for payment to the extent the lessee has received the
economic benefit.
(b) The department must assess interest, but not penalties, on the
amounts due under this subsection. The interest must be assessed at
the rate provided for delinquent taxes under this chapter,
retroactively to the date the tax preference was claimed, and accrues
until the taxes for which the tax preference was claimed are repaid.
Amounts due under this subsection are not subject to the
confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the
public upon request.
(7) The department must use the information from this section to
prepare summary descriptive statistics by category. No fewer than
three taxpayers may be included in any category. The department must
report these statistics to the legislature each year by October 1st.
(8) For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Person" has the meaning provided in RCW 82.04.030 and also
includes the state and its departments and institutions.
(b) "Tax preference" has the meaning provided in RCW 43.136.021 and
includes only the tax preferences requiring a survey under this
section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 916 Sections 901 through 909 of this act
constitute a new chapter in Title
NEW SECTION. Sec. 917 Sections 913 and 915 of this act take
effect, unless section 102, chapter . . ., Laws of 2009 (Substitute
House Bill No. 1597) is enacted by the legislature.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 918 Section 914 of this act takes effect only
if section 102, chapter . . ., Laws of 2009 (Substitute House Bill No.
1597) is enacted by the legislature.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1001 Part headings used in this act are not
any part of the law.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1002 Except for sections 801 and 802 of this
act, 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 takes effect July 1, 2009.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1003 Sections 801 and 802 of this act take
effect August 1, 2009.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1004 Section 802 of this act expires January
1, 2011.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1005 Sections 701 and 702 of this act expire
June 30, 2013."
2SHB 2130 -
By Senators Hobbs, Honeyford
ADOPTED 04/26/2009
On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "incentives;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 81.104.170, 82.14.050, 82.14.060, 82.04.263, 82.04.294, 82.08.9651, 82.12.9651, 82.16.110, 82.16.120, 82.16.130, 82.08.890, 82.12.890, 82.16.010, 82.16.020, and 82.08.020; reenacting and amending RCW 82.32.590 and 82.32.600; adding new sections to chapter 82.08 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 82.12 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.14 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 82.04 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.32 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 82 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW 82.08.813 and 82.12.813; providing effective dates; providing contingent effective dates; providing expiration dates; and declaring an emergency."
EFFECT: Part I: Renewable Energy.
A sales and use tax exemption in the form of a refund is allowed
for 100 percent of the sales tax paid on machinery and equipment used
to create energy from fuel cells, sun, wind, biomass energy, tidal and
wave energy, geothermal resources, anaerobic digestion, and technology
that converts otherwise lost energy from exhaust or landfill gas from
July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2011. The sales tax exemption is reduced to
75 percent from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2013. The exemption expires
June 30, 2013.
Part II: Radioactive Waste Cleanup.
Persons providing certain support services which are either within
the scope of work under a clean-up contract with the United States
Department of Energy, or which assist in the requirement of a clean-up
subcontract are qualified for the reduced B&O tax rate of 0.471 percent
for radioactive waste cleanup.
Part III: Hog Fuel Incentives.
A sales tax exemption is provided for hog fuel used to produce
electricity, steam, heat, or biofuel. Hog fuel is defined as wood
waste and other wood residuals including forest derived biomass.
Part IV: Biomass Energy Incentives.
(1) A B&O credit is provided for harvesters of harvested green ton
of forest derived biomass sold or used for production of electricity,
steam, heat, or biofuel as follows:
(a) From July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2013, $3 per harvested
green ton; and
(b) From July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2015, $5 per harvested
green ton.
(2) The credit expires June 30, 2015.
(3) A sales tax exemption is provided for the sale of forest
derived biomass used to produce electricity, steam, heat, or biofuel.
The exemption expires June 30, 2013.
Part V: Solar Energy and Semiconductor Incentives.
(1) Beginning October 1, 2009, the B&O tax for businesses that
manufacture or sell at wholesale either: (a) Solar energy systems
using photovoltaic modules; or (b) solar grade silicon and an expanded
list of materials to be used exclusively in the components solar
systems or semiconductors is set at a reduced rate of 0.275 percent.
The lower B&O tax rate expires June 30, 2014. A sales tax exemption is
provided for gases and chemicals used in the production of solar energy
equipment. The exemption expires December 1, 2018.
(2) The cost-recovery incentive program for renewable energy
systems is extended to "community solar projects," which are either:
(a) A solar energy system owned by local individuals, households, or
nonutility businesses that is placed on the property owned by their
cooperating local governmental entity; or (b) a utility-owned solar
energy system that is voluntarily funded by the utility's ratepayers
where, in exchange for their financial support, the utility gives
contributors a payment or credit on their utility bill for the value of
the electricity produced by the project. Community solar projects are
eligible for incentives of 30 cents for each kilowatt-hour of energy
produced. Each applicant in a community solar project is eligible for
annual incentives of $5,000 per year.
(3) The credit for a utility providing cost-recovery incentive
payments is increased to $100,000 or 1 percent of the utility's taxable
power sales, whichever is greater. Incentive payments to participants
in a utility-owned community solar project may only account for up to
25 percent of the total allowable credit. The expiration date of the
cost-recovery program is extended from 2015 to 2020.
(4) The following routinely provided services are considered to
contribute to the accomplishment of a requirement of a clean-up project
and thus subject to the reduced B&O tax rate: Information technology
and computer support; services rendered in respect to infrastructure;
and security, safety, and health services.
Part VI: Livestock Nutrient Incentives.
The nutrient management sales and use tax exemption is expressed as
a fixed list of equipment and facilities. Labor and services related
to the construction of a new livestock nutrient management facility or
the replacing of such a facility are explicitly excluded from the sales
and use tax exemption. A statutory definition of "handling and
treatment of livestock manure" is provided.
Part VII: Log Hauling.
The public utility tax on log hauling is reduced from 1.926 percent
to 1.37 percent.
Part VIII: Hybrid Vehicles.
On August 1, 2009, the sales tax exemption on hybrid vehicles is
repealed. Hybrid vehicles are not subject to the 0.3 percent sales tax
on vehicles through January 1, 2011.
Part IX: Renewable Energy Manufacturing Projects.
(1) Provides 4-year sales/use tax deferral for eligible investment
projects in a county that is not qualified for the rural county
investment project incentives under chapter 82.60 RCW, does not have a
community empowerment zone (CEZ), is not one of the 3 most populous
counties in the state, and meets population density requirements.
(a) Projects must have a minimum investment of $25 million.
(b) Projects must be for renewable energy manufacturing, which
includes solar, wind, bioenergy, or geothermal energy systems.
(c) Applications for the 4-year deferral must be made prior to
initiation of construction.
(d) The statewide cap on all deferred taxes for the 4-year period
is $1.5 million.
(e) Taxes need not be repaid if the project continues to be used
for renewable energy manufacturing.
(f) Deferral certificates expire June 30, 2013.
(g) Persons claiming the deferral must complete an annual survey
reporting data.
(2) Provides a credit against the B&O tax for renewable energy
manufacturers for eligible investment projects in a county that is not
qualified for the rural county investment project incentives under
chapter 82.60 RCW, does not have a community empowerment zone (CEZ), is
not one of the 3 most populous counties in the state, and meets
population density requirements.
(a) Projects must have a minimum investment of $25 million.
(b) Projects must be for renewable energy manufacturing, which
includes solar, wind, bioenergy, or geothermal energy systems.
(c) Credits are based on 25 percent of eligible investment project
expenditures.
(d) Credits accrue for expenditures occurring after the effective
date of the bill and June 30, 2014.
(e) Credits may not be used before July 1, 2011.
(f) Credits have an annual statewide cap: $2.5M for FY12, $2.5M
for FY13, $5M for FY14 and thereafter.
(g) Credits may be carried forward and used until June 30, 2024.
(h) Credits may not exceed the amount of tax due and are not
refundable.
(i) Persons claiming the credit must file a complete annual survey.