The Washington Department of Revenue released a notice providing that effective June 9, 2022, qualifying businesses and tenants may apply for a sales and use tax exemption for purchases of server equipment and infrastructure for computer data centers located in urban areas pursuant to 2022 House Bill 1846. Eligible urban areas are those counties
Washington
Washington Department of Revenue finds sales tax must be collected on sales of renewable energy equipment
The Washington Department of Revenue upheld a retail sales tax assessment on a taxpayer who failed to collect retail sales tax on sales to a renewable energy company. The taxpayer stated that it did not collect tax on certain sales because it believed that the energy company qualified for the exemption provided by Wash. Rev.…
Blame the manager: Company that arranges, manages brand displays is a retailer for Washington B&O and retail sales tax purposes
On April 25, the Washington Court of Appeals held that a company that arranges and manages displays for installation and placement in multiple retail brands’ stores through subcontractors was subject to the state’s retailing business and occupation tax (the “B&O tax”) and retail sales tax as a retailer making retail sales, rather than a provider…
Online account access services taxable in Washington
On April 12, 2022, the Administrative Review and Hearings Division of the Washington Department of Revenue released decision number 41 WTD 118 (originally issued on June 4, 2020), concluding that a company providing online account access services to credit unions was providing taxable digital automated services (DAS) and not data processing services which is excluded…
A look into West Coast tax legislation
In this episode of the SALT Shaker Podcast focused on policy issues, host and Eversheds Sutherland Partner Nikki Dobay hosts a full house for a West Coast legislative update. Nikki welcomes back Rob Gutierrez, President and CEO of the California Taxpayers Association (CalTax), and Jeff Newgard, Principal and Owner of Peak Policy and also…
Washington legislature holds public hearing on banking surcharge
On February 22, the Washington State Legislature Senate Committee on Ways & Means held a public hearing on SB 5967, which was recently amended. If enacted, the proposed amendment would create a new B&O tax surcharge on a new class of “specified financial institutions” and amend the current B&O tax surcharge (enacted in…
Computer storage space subject to Washington B&O tax
On February 6, 2022, the Washington Department of Revenue’s Administrative Review and Hearings Division issued a determination concluding that a company providing a license to use data center space owes business and occupation (B&O) tax on the profits from the service. The taxpayer provides colocation services, which includes renting space in data center facilities for…
Washington finds B&O tax applies to transfer pricing payments
The Washington Administrative Review and Hearings Division (the Division) of the Department of Revenue held that payments between affiliated entities could not be deducted from “gross income” subject to the business and occupation tax (B&O Tax). Each of the taxpayers, three affiliated entities falling under the same parent company umbrella with each providing investment management…
Washington governor delays start of the state’s new long-term care program
On January 27, Washington Governor Inslee signed Washington HB 1732 and HB 1733 into law, which would delay the start of the long-term care program known as the Washington Cares Fund, just one day after the bills passed in the Washington legislature.
As signed, HB 1732 delays the implementation of the program by 18 months.…
Washington state refund claim enters no fly zone
The Washington Court of Appeals recently issued a divided (2-1) decision in a case involving Washington’s “benefits received” test for apportioning service income. The Court ruled that the “benefit” of an airplane design firm’s services were received in Washington, where the taxpayer’s direct customer, Boeing, manufactured the airplanes incorporating the taxpayer’s airplane designs, rather than…