§ 82.08.010. Definitions
For the purposes of this chapter:
(1)(a) "Selling price" includes "sales price." "Sales price" means the total amount of consideration, except separately stated trade-in property of like kind, including cash, credit, property, and services, for which tangible personal property, extended warranties, or services defined as a "retail sale" under RCW 82.04.050 are sold, leased, or rented, valued in money, whether received in money or otherwise. No deduction from the total amount of consideration is allowed for the following: (i) The seller's cost of the property sold; (ii) the cost of materials used, labor or service cost, interest, losses, all costs of transportation to the seller, all taxes imposed on the seller, and any other expense of the seller; (iii) charges by the seller for any services necessary to complete the sale, other than delivery and installation charges; (iv) delivery charges; and (v) installation charges.
When tangible personal property is rented or leased under circumstances that the consideration paid does not represent a reasonable rental for the use of the articles so rented or leased, the "selling price" shall be 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 as the department may prescribe;
(b) "Selling price" or "sales price" does not include: Discounts, including cash, term, or coupons that are not reimbursed by a third party that are allowed by a seller and taken by a purchaser on a sale; interest, financing, and carrying charges from credit extended on the sale of tangible personal property, extended warranties, or services, if the amount is separately stated on the invoice, bill of sale, or similar document given to the purchaser; and any taxes legally imposed directly on the consumer that are separately stated on the invoice, bill of sale, or similar document given to the purchaser;
(c) "Selling price" or "sales price" includes consideration received by the seller from a third party if:
(i) The seller actually receives consideration from a party other than the purchaser, and the consideration is directly related to a price reduction or discount on the sale;
(ii) The seller has an obligation to pass the price reduction or discount through to the purchaser;
(iii) The amount of the consideration attributable to the sale is fixed and determinable by the seller at the time of the sale of the item to the purchaser; and
(iv) One of the criteria in this subsection (1)(c)(iv) is met:
(A) The purchaser presents a coupon, certificate, or other documentation to the seller to claim a price reduction or discount where the coupon, certificate, or documentation is authorized, distributed, or granted by a third party with the understanding that the third party will reimburse any seller to whom the coupon, certificate, or documentation is presented;
(B) The purchaser identifies himself or herself to the seller as a member of a group or organization entitled to a price reduction or discount, however a "preferred customer" card that is available to any patron does not constitute membership in such a group; or
(C) The price reduction or discount is identified as a third party price reduction or discount on the invoice received by the purchaser or on a coupon, certificate, or other documentation presented by the purchaser;
(2)(a) "Seller" means every person, including the state and its departments and institutions, making sales at retail or retail sales to a buyer, purchaser, or consumer, whether as agent, broker, or principal, except "seller" does not mean:
(i) The state and its departments and institutions when making sales to the state and its departments and institutions; or
(ii) A professional employer organization when a covered employee coemployed with the client under the terms of a professional employer agreement engages in activities that constitute a sale at retail that is subject to the tax imposed by this chapter. In such cases, the client, and not the professional employer organization, is deemed to be the seller and is responsible for collecting and remitting the tax imposed by this chapter.
(b) For the purposes of (a) of this subsection, the terms "client," "covered employee," "professional employer agreement," and "professional employer organization" have the same meanings as in RCW 82.04.540;
(3) "Buyer," "purchaser," and "consumer" include, without limiting the scope hereof, every individual, receiver, assignee, trustee in bankruptcy, trust, estate, firm, copartnership, joint venture, club, company, joint stock company, business trust, corporation, association, society, or any group of individuals acting as a unit, whether mutual, cooperative, fraternal, nonprofit, or otherwise, municipal corporation, quasi municipal corporation, and also the state, its departments and institutions and all political subdivisions thereof, irrespective of the nature of the activities engaged in or functions performed, and also the United States or any instrumentality thereof;
(4) "Delivery charges" means charges by the seller of personal property or services for preparation and delivery to a location designated by the purchaser of personal property or services including, but not limited to, transportation, shipping, postage, handling, crating, and packing;
(5) "Direct mail" means printed material delivered or distributed by United States mail or other delivery service to a mass audience or to addressees on a mailing list provided by the purchaser or at the direction of the purchaser when the cost of the items are not billed directly to the recipients. "Direct mail" includes tangible personal property supplied directly or indirectly by the purchaser to the direct mail seller for inclusion in the package containing the printed material. "Direct mail" does not include multiple items of printed material delivered to a single address;
(6) The meaning attributed in chapter 82.04 RCW to the terms "tax year," "taxable year," "person," "company," "sale," "sale at retail," "retail sale," "sale at wholesale," "wholesale," "business," "engaging in business," "cash discount," "successor," "consumer," "in this state" and "within this state" shall apply equally to the provisions of this chapter;
(7) For the purposes of the taxes imposed under this chapter and under chapter 82.12 RCW, "tangible personal property" means personal property that can be seen, weighed, measured, felt, or touched, or that is in any other manner perceptible to the senses. Tangible personal property includes electricity, water, gas, steam, and prewritten computer software;
(8) "Extended warranty" has the same meaning as in RCW 82.04.050(7).
[2007 c 6 § 1302; (2007 c 6 § 1301 expired July 1, 2008); 2006 c 301 § 2; 2005 c 514 § 110; 2004 c 153 § 406; 2003 c 168 § 101; 1985 c 38 § 3; 1985 c 2 § 2 (Initiative Measure No. 464, approved November 6, 1984); 1983 1st ex.s. c 55 § 1; 1967 ex.s. c 149 § 18; 1963 c 244 § 1; 1961 c 15 § 82.08.010. Prior: (i) 1945 c 249 § 4; 1943 c 156 § 6; 1941 c 178 § 8; 1939 c 225 § 7; 1935 c 180 § 17; Rem. Supp. 1945 § 8370-17. (ii) 1935 c 180 § 20; RRS § 8370-20.]
Notes:
Part headings not law -- Savings -- Effective date -- Severability -- 2007 c 6: See notes following RCW 82.32.020.
Findings -- Intent -- 2007 c 6: See note following RCW 82.14.495.
Expiration date -- 2007 c 6 § 1301: "Section 1301 of this act expires July 1, 2008." [2007 c 6 § 1706.]
Effective date -- Act does not affect application of Title 50 or 51 RCW -- 2006 c 301: See notes following RCW 82.32.710.
Effective date -- 2005 c 514: See note following RCW 82.04.4272.
Part headings not law -- Severability -- 2005 c 514: See notes following RCW 82.12.808.
Retroactive effective date -- Effective date -- 2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Effective dates -- 2003 c 168: "Sections 101 through 104, 201 through 216, 401 through 412, 501, 502, 601 through 604, 701 through 704, 801, 901, and 902 of this act take effect July 1, 2004. Sections 301 through 305 of this act take effect January 1, 2004." [2003 c 168 § 903.]
Part headings not law -- 2003 c 168: "Part headings used in this act are not any part of the law." [2003 c 168 § 901.]
Purpose -- 1985 c 2: "The purpose of this initiative is to reduce the amount on which sales tax is paid by excluding the trade-in value of certain property from the amount taxable." [1985 c 2 § 1 (Initiative Measure No. 464, approved November 6, 1984).]
Effective dates -- 1983 1st ex.s. c 55: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, the support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1983, except that section 12 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1984, and shall be effective for property taxes levied in 1983, and due in 1984, and thereafter." [1983 1st ex.s. c 55 § 13.]
Sections: 82.08.010 82.08.011 82.08.020 82.08.0201 82.08.0202 82.08.0203 82.08.0204 82.08.0205 82.08.0206 82.08.02061 82.08.0251 82.08.0252 82.08.02525 82.08.0253 82.08.02535 Next
Last modified: April 7, 2009