DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

(1) Introduction. Leasehold excise tax is levied by the state under RCW 82.29A.030 and by counties and/or cities under RCW 82.29A.040. The administrative procedures contained in chapters 82.02 and 82.32 RCW apply to the administration and collection of the leasehold excise tax.

(2) Tax imposed. The rates at which leasehold excise tax is levied are contained in RCW 82.29A.030 and 82.29A.040. The department publishes documents containing the applicable rates, credits, and formulas. These documents are updated as necessary and are available upon request.

(3) Separate listing requirement. The amount of leasehold excise tax due must be listed separately from the amount of contract rent on any statement or other document provided to the lessee by the lessor. If the leasehold excise tax is not stated separately from the contract rent, it is assumed that the leasehold excise tax is not included in the amount stated as due.

(4) Credits allowed against leasehold excise tax. Because the leasehold excise tax is intended only to equalize treatment between private property owners and lessees of public entities, the amount of leasehold excise tax should not exceed the amount of property tax that would be due if the leased property was privately owned. Therefore, in calculating the taxes imposed under RCW 82.29A.030 and 82.29A.040, RCW 82.29A.120 authorizes the following credits:

(a) Leasehold interests created after April 1, 1986, or situations where the department has established taxable rent. Where a leasehold interest other than a product lease was created after April 1, 1986, or where the department has established taxable rent in accordance with RCW 82.29A.020 (2)(b), and the amount of leasehold excise tax due is greater than the amount of property tax that would be due if the property was privately owned by the lessee, without regard to any property tax exemption under RCW 84.36.381, a credit equal to the difference between the leasehold excise tax and the comparable property tax will be allowed. This credit expires at midnight, July 27, 2013.

If the property is subleased, ((the)) any allowable credit must be passed on to the sublessee. Lessees and sublessees of residential property who would qualify for either a partial or total exemption from property tax under RCW 84.36.381 if they owned the property in fee are eligible for a corresponding reduction in the amount of leasehold excise tax due. The leasehold excise tax for the qualifying lessees or sublessees is reduced by the same percentage as the percentage reduction in property that would result from the property tax exemption under RCW 84.36.381.

(b) Product leases. A credit of thirty-three percent of the total leasehold excise tax due is allowed for product leases.

(5) When payment is due. The leasehold excise taxes are due on the same date that the contract rent is due to the lessor. If the contract rent is paid to someone other than the lessor, the leasehold tax is due at the time the payment is made to that other person or entity. Any prepaid contract rent will be deemed to have been paid in the year due and not in the year in which it was actually paid if the prepayment is for more than one year's rent. If contract rent is prepaid, the leasehold tax payment may be prorated over the number of years for which the contract rent is prepaid. The prorated portion of the tax will be due in two installments per year, with no less than one-half due on or before May 31 and the second half due no later than November 30 of each year.

(6) Collection and distribution of tax by the department. The department collects and distributes the leasehold excise taxes authorized by RCW 82.29A.030 and 82.29A.040.

(a) Taxes levied by the state. All money received by the department from leasehold taxes levied under RCW 82.29A.030 is transmitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the general fund.

(b) Taxes levied by counties and cities. Prior to the effective date of the ordinance imposing a leasehold excise tax, the county or city imposing the tax must contract with the department for administration and collection services. The department may deduct a percentage, not to exceed two percent, of the taxes collected as reimbursement for administration and collection expenses. The department deposits the balance of the taxes collected in the local leasehold excise tax account with the state treasury, and the state treasurer bimonthly distributes those moneys to the counties and cities.

County treasurers must proportionately distribute the moneys they receive in the same manner they distribute moneys collected from property tax levies in accordance with RCW 84.56.230, provided that no moneys are to be distributed to the state or any city, and the pro rata calculation for proportionate distribution cannot include any levy rates by the state or any city.

(7) Leasehold interests in federally owned land or federal trust land. Lessees with a leasehold interest in federally owned lands or federal trust lands must report and remit the leasehold tax due directly to the department on an annual reporting basis.