ESB 5843 -
By Committee on Finance
ADOPTED AS AMENDED 04/26/2013
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 A new section is added to chapter 82.32 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, every bill
enacting a new tax preference expires on the first day of the calendar
year that is subsequent to the calendar year that is five years from
the effective date of the bill. With respect to any property tax
exemption, the exemption does not apply to taxes levied for collection
beginning in the calendar year that is subsequent to the calendar year
that is five years from the effective date of the bill.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply if legislation
creating a new tax preference includes an expiration date for the new
tax preference.
(3) Subsection (1) of this section does not apply to any existing
tax preference that is amended to clarify an ambiguity or correct a
technical inconsistency.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions
apply:
(a) "New tax preference" means a tax preference that initially took
effect after August 1, 2013, or a tax preference in effect as of August
1, 2013, that is expanded or extended after August 1, 2013.
(b) "Tax preference" has the same meaning as in RCW 43.136.021 with
respect to any state tax under this title and Title 84 RCW.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 A new section is added to chapter 82.32 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) As provided in this section, every bill enacting a new tax
preference must include a tax preference performance statement.
(2) A tax preference performance statement must state the
legislative purpose for the new tax preference. The tax preference
performance statement must indicate one or more of the following
general categories, by reference to the applicable category specified
in this subsection, as the legislative purpose of the new tax
preference:
(a) Tax preferences intended to induce certain designated behavior
by taxpayers;
(b) Tax preferences intended to improve industry competitiveness;
(c) Tax preferences intended to create or retain jobs;
(d) Tax preferences intended to reduce structural inefficiencies in
the tax structure; or
(e) Tax preferences intended to provide tax relief for certain
businesses or individuals.
(3) In addition to identifying the general legislative purpose of
the tax preference under subsection (2) of this section, the tax
preference performance statement must provide additional detailed
information regarding the legislative purpose of the new tax
preference.
(4) A new tax preference performance statement must specify clear,
relevant, and ascertainable metrics and data requirements that allow
the joint legislative audit and review committee to measure the
effectiveness of the new tax preference in achieving the purpose
designated under subsection (2) of this section.
(5) If the tax preference performance statement for a new tax
preference indicates a legislative purpose described in subsection
(2)(b) or (c) of this section, any taxpayer claiming the new tax
preference must file an annual survey in accordance with RCW 82.32.585.
(6) Taxpayers claiming a new tax preference impacting any tax under
this title must report the amount of the tax preference claimed by the
taxpayer to the department as part of the taxpayer's regular tax
reporting responsibilities under this chapter. For new tax preferences
allowing certain types of gross income of the business to be excluded
from business and occupation taxation, the tax return must explicitly
report the amount of the exclusion, regardless of whether it is
structured as an exemption or deduction. For a new sales and use tax
exemption, the total taxable sales subject to the exemption claimed by
the taxpayer must be reported on an addendum to the taxpayer's tax
return.
(7) The amount claimed by a taxpayer for any new tax preference, as
well as the taxpayer's gross income and taxable income, is subject to
public disclosure and is not considered confidential tax information
under RCW 82.32.330. The department may waive the public disclosure
requirement under this subsection for good cause. Good cause may be
demonstrated by a reasonable showing of economic harm to a taxpayer if
the information specified under this subsection is disclosed.
(8) If a new tax preference does not include the information
required under subsections (2) through (4) of this section, the joint
legislative audit and review committee is not required to perform a tax
preference review under chapter 43.136 RCW, and it is legislatively
presumed that it is the intent of the legislature to allow the new tax
preference to expire upon its scheduled expiration date.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 A new section is added to chapter 43.136 RCW
to read as follows:
By January 1, 2015, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the joint
legislative audit and review committee must provide a report to the
appropriate fiscal committees of the legislature that makes
recommendations on the appropriate data and metrics that should be
included in a tax preference performance statement to evaluate a new
tax preference. The committee must consult with the department of
revenue and legislative fiscal staff in the preparation of the report.
The committee's recommendation must identify the appropriate data and
metrics for each of the general categories provided in section 2(2) of
this act.
Sec. 4 RCW 82.32.585 and 2011 c 23 s 6 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1)(a) Every person claiming a tax preference that requires a
survey under this section must file a complete annual survey with the
department.
(i) Except as provided in (a)(ii) of this subsection, 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.
(ii) If the tax preference is a deferral of tax, the first survey
must be filed by April 30th of the calendar year following the calendar
year in which the investment project is certified by the department as
operationally complete, and a survey must be filed by April 30th of
each of the seven succeeding calendar years.
(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. For a person that
claimed an exemption provided in RCW 82.08.025651 or 82.12.025651, the
survey must include the amount of tax exempted under those sections in
the prior calendar year for each general area or category of research
and development for which exempt machinery and equipment and labor and
services were acquired in the prior calendar year.
(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) For persons claiming the tax preference provided under chapter
82.60 or 82.63 RCW, the survey must also include the number of new
products or research projects by general classification, and the number
of trademarks, patents, and copyrights associated with activities at
the investment project.
(d) For persons claiming the credit provided under RCW 82.04.4452,
the survey must also include the qualified research and development
expenditures during the calendar year for which the credit was claimed,
the taxable amount during the calendar year for which the credit was
claimed, the number of new products or research projects by general
classification, the number of trademarks, patents, and copyrights
associated with the research and development activities for which the
credit was claimed, and whether the tax preference has been assigned,
and who assigned the credit. The definitions in RCW 82.04.4452 apply
to this subsection (2)(d).
(e) For persons claiming the tax exemption in RCW 82.08.025651 or
82.12.025651, the survey must also include the general areas or
categories of research and development for which machinery and
equipment and labor and services were acquired, exempt from tax under
RCW 82.08.025651 or 82.12.025651, in the prior calendar year.
(f) 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 and include additional
information necessary for the joint legislative audit and review
committee to evaluate a new tax preference, as defined in section 1 of
this section.
(4) All information collected under this section, except the
information required in subsection (2)(a) of this section, is deemed
taxpayer information under RCW 82.32.330. Information required in
subsection (2)(a) of this section 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. For any new tax preference, as defined in
section 1 of this act, all information collected under this section may
be disclosed to the public upon request and is not subject to the
confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330.
(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)) all information collected under this section 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. 5 A new section is added to chapter 82.04 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6 A new section is added to chapter 82.08 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7 A new section is added to chapter 82.12 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8 A new section is added to chapter 82.14B RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 9 A new section is added to chapter 82.18 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 10 A new section is added to chapter 82.19 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 11 A new section is added to chapter 82.21 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 12 A new section is added to chapter 82.23A
RCW to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 13 A new section is added to chapter 82.23B
RCW to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 14 A new section is added to chapter 82.24 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 15 A new section is added to chapter 82.26 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 16 A new section is added to chapter 82.27 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 17 A new section is added to chapter 82.29A
RCW to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 18 A new section is added to chapter 82.36 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 19 A new section is added to chapter 82.38 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 20 A new section is added to chapter 82.42 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 21 A new section is added to chapter 82.45 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 22 A new section is added to chapter 82.48 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 23 A new section is added to chapter 82.49 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 24 A new section is added to chapter 82.64 RCW
to read as follows:
See section 1 of this act for the expiration date of new tax
preferences for the tax imposed under this chapter."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Creates a 5-year expiration date for new tax preferences
that do not separately specify an expiration date.
Requires all new tax preferences to contain a tax preference
performance statement, which requires the following elements: (1) The
statement must designate a general purpose of the tax preference, as
provided in the statute; (2) the statement must provide additional
detailed information about the legislative purpose of the new tax
preference; and (3) the statement must provide metrics and data
requirements that allow JLARC and the legislature to evaluate how
effectively the tax preference is achieving its intended purpose.
Requires taxpayers claiming a new tax preference with a designated
purpose of creating jobs or improving industry competitiveness to file
an annual survey. Requires taxpayers claiming new tax preferences to
report the amount claimed to the DOR and makes the information subject
to public disclosure. Allows the DOR to waive the public disclosure
requirement for good cause, which may be demonstrated by a reasonable
showing of economic harm if the information is publicly released.
Requires JLARC, by January 1, 2015, to make recommendations on the
types of metrics and data that should be required for the various
general designated purposes for tax preferences.