(1) The tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to sales to
nonresidents of this state of tangible personal property, digital
goods, and digital codes, when:
(a) The property is for use outside this state;
(b) The purchaser is a bona fide resident of a province or
territory of Canada or a state, territory, or possession of the
United States, other than the state of Washington; and
(i) Such state, possession, territory, or province does not
impose, or have imposed on its behalf, a generally applicable
retail sales tax, use tax, value added tax, gross receipts tax on
retailing activities, or similar generally applicable tax, of
three percent or more; or
(ii) If imposing a tax described in (b)(i) of this
subsection, provides an exemption for sales to Washington
residents by reason of their residence; and
(c) The purchaser agrees, when requested, to grant the
department of revenue access to such records and other forms of
verification at his or her place of residence to assure that such
purchases are not first used substantially in the state of
Washington.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
chapter, if parts or other tangible personal property are
installed by the seller during the course of repairing, cleaning,
altering, or improving motor vehicles, trailers, or campers and
the seller makes a separate charge for the tangible personal
property, the tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to the
separately stated charge to a nonresident purchaser for the
tangible personal property but only if the separately stated
charge does not exceed either the seller's current publicly
stated retail price for the tangible personal property or, if no
publicly stated retail price is available, the seller's cost for
the tangible personal property. However, the exemption provided
by this section does not apply if tangible personal property is
installed by the seller during the course of repairing, cleaning,
altering, or improving motor vehicles, trailers, or campers and
the seller makes a single nonitemized charge for providing the
tangible personal property and service. All of the requirements
in subsections (1) and (3) through (6) of this section apply to
this subsection.
(3)(a) Any person claiming exemption from retail sales tax
under the provisions of this section must display proof of his or
her current nonresident status as provided in this section.
(b) Acceptable proof of a nonresident person's status
includes one piece of identification such as a valid driver's
license from the jurisdiction in which the out-of-state residency
is claimed or a valid identification card which has a photograph
of the holder and is issued by the out-of-state jurisdiction.
Identification under this subsection (3)(b) must show the
holder's residential address and have as one of its legal
purposes the establishment of residency in that out-of-state
jurisdiction.
(c) In lieu of furnishing proof of a person's nonresident
status under (b) of this subsection (3), a person claiming
exemption from retail sales tax under the provisions of this
section may provide the seller with an exemption certificate in
compliance with subsection (4)(b) of this section.
(4)(a) Nothing in this section requires the vendor to make
tax exempt retail sales to nonresidents. A vendor may choose to
make sales to nonresidents, collect the sales tax, and remit the
amount of sales tax collected to the state as otherwise provided
by law. If the vendor chooses to make a sale to a nonresident
without collecting the sales tax, the vendor must examine the
purchaser's proof of nonresidence, determine whether the proof is
acceptable under subsection (3)(b) of this section, and maintain
records for each nontaxable sale which shall show the type of
proof accepted, including any identification numbers where
appropriate, and the expiration date, if any.
(b) In lieu of using the method provided in (a) of this
subsection to document an exempt sale to a nonresident, a seller
may accept from the purchaser a properly completed uniform
exemption certificate approved by the streamlined sales and use
tax agreement governing board or any other exemption certificate
as may be authorized by the department and properly completed by
the purchaser. A nonresident purchaser who uses an exemption
certificate authorized in this subsection (4)(b) must include the
purchaser's driver's license number or other state-issued
identification number and the state of issuance.
(c) In lieu of using the methods provided in (a) and (b) of
this subsection to document an exempt sale to a nonresident, a
seller may capture the relevant data elements as allowed under
the streamlined sales and use tax agreement.
(5)(a) Any person making fraudulent statements, which
includes the offer of fraudulent identification or fraudulently
procured identification to a vendor, in order to purchase goods
without paying retail sales tax is guilty of perjury under
chapter 9A.72 RCW.
(b) Any person making tax exempt purchases under this
section by displaying proof of identification not his or her own,
or counterfeit identification, with intent to violate the
provisions of this section, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, in
addition, is liable for the tax and subject to a penalty equal to
the greater of one hundred dollars or the tax due on such
purchases.
(6)(a) Any vendor who makes sales without collecting the tax
and who fails to maintain records of sales to nonresidents as
provided in this section is personally liable for the amount of
tax due.
(b) Any vendor who makes sales without collecting the retail
sales tax under this section and who has actual knowledge that
the purchaser's proof of identification establishing out-of-state
residency is fraudulent is guilty of a misdemeanor and, in
addition, is liable for the tax and subject to a penalty equal to
the greater of one thousand dollars or the tax due on such sales.
In addition, both the purchaser and the vendor are liable for any
penalties and interest assessable under chapter 82.32 RCW.
[2011 c 7 § 1; 2010 c 106 § 215; 2009 c 535 § 512; 2007 c 135 § 2; 2003 c 53 § 399; 1993 c 444 § 1; 1988 c 96 § 1; 1982 1st ex.s. c 5 § 1; 1980 c 37 § 39. Formerly RCW 82.08.030(21).]
NOTES:
Effective date -- 2011 c 7: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect July 1, 2011." [2011 c 7 § 2.]
Effective date -- 2010 c 106: See note following RCW 35.102.145.
Intent -- Construction -- 2009 c 535: See notes following RCW 82.04.192.
Intent -- Effective date -- 2003 c 53: See notes following RCW 2.48.180.
Effective date -- 1988 c 96: "This act shall take effect July 1, 1989." [1988 c 96 § 2.]
Intent -- 1980 c 37: See note following RCW 82.04.4281.