AN ACT Relating to the application of the use tax to the distribution of tangible personal property; amending RCW 82.12.020; and reenacting and amending RCW 82.12.010.

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

Sec. 1. Section 82.12.010, chapter 15, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 1, chapter 132, Laws of 1985 and by section 1, chapter 222, Laws of 1985 and RCW 82.12.010 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

For the purposes of this chapter:

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

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

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

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

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

(2) "Use," "used," "using," or "put to use" shall have their ordinary meaning, and shall mean the ((~~first act within this state by which the taxpayer takes or assumes dominion or control over the article of~~)) exercise of any right or power over tangible personal property incident to the ownership of the tangible personal property (as a consumer), and include installation, storage, distribution or display, withdrawal from storage, or any other act preparatory to subsequent actual use or consumption within this state. With respect to property distributed to persons within this state by a consumer, the use of the property shall be deemed to be by the consumer;

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

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

(5) The meaning ascribed to words and phrases in chapters 82.04 and 82.08 RCW, insofar as applicable, shall have full force and effect with respect to taxes imposed under the provisions of this chapter. "Consumer," in addition to the meaning ascribed to it in chapters 82.04 and 82.08 RCW insofar as applicable, shall also mean any person who distributes or displays, or causes to be distributed or displayed, any article of tangible personal property, except newspapers, the primary purpose of which is to promote the sale of products or services.

Sec. 2. Section 82.12.020, chapter 15, Laws of 1961 as last amended by section 7, chapter 7, Laws of 1983 and RCW 82.12.020 are each amended to read as follows:

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