(1) The department must issue a sales and use tax deferral certificate for state and local sales and use taxes due under chapters
82.08, 82.12, and
82.14 RCW on each eligible investment project meeting the requirements of this chapter.
(2) No certificate may be issued for an investment project that has already received a deferral under chapter
82.60 or
82.63 RCW or this chapter, except that an investment project for qualified research and development that has already received a deferral may also receive an additional deferral certificate for adapting the investment project for use in pilot scale manufacturing.
(3) The department must keep a running total of all deferrals granted under this chapter during each fiscal biennium.
(4) The number of eligible investment projects for which the benefits of this chapter will be allowed is limited to two per biennium. The department must approve deferral certificates for completed applications on a first-in-time basis. During any biennium, only one deferral certificate may be issued per community empowerment zone.