(1) In addition to all other
taxes, licenses, or fees provided by law there is established an
excise tax on the commercial possession of enhanced food fish as
provided in this chapter. The tax is levied upon and shall be
collected from the owner of the enhanced food fish whose
possession constitutes the taxable event. The taxable event is
the first possession in Washington by an owner after the enhanced
food fish has been landed. Processing and handling of enhanced
food fish by a person who is not the owner is not a taxable event
to the processor or handler.
(2) A person in possession of enhanced food fish and liable
to this tax may deduct from the price paid to the person from
which the enhanced food fish (except oysters) are purchased an
amount equal to a tax at one-half the rate levied in this section
upon these products.
(3) The measure of the tax is the value of the enhanced food
fish at the point of landing.
(4) The tax shall be equal to the measure of the tax
multiplied by the rates for enhanced food fish as follows:
(a) Chinook, coho, and chum salmon and anadromous game fish:
Five and twenty-five one-hundredths percent;
(b) Pink and sockeye salmon: Three and fifteen
one-hundredths percent;
(c) Other food fish and shellfish, except oysters, sea
urchins, and sea cucumbers: Two and one-tenth percent;
(d) Oysters: Eight one-hundredths of one percent;
(e) Sea urchins: Four and six-tenths percent through
December 31, 2013, or until the department of fish and wildlife
notifies the department that the number of sea urchin licenses
has been reduced to twenty licenses, whichever occurs first, and
two and one-tenth percent thereafter; and
(f) Sea cucumbers: Four and six-tenths percent through
December 31, 2013, or until the department of fish and wildlife
notifies the department that the number of sea cucumber licenses
has been reduced to twenty licenses, whichever occurs first, and
two and one-tenth percent thereafter.
(5) An additional tax is imposed equal to the rate specified
in RCW 82.02.030 multiplied by the tax payable under subsection
(4) of this section.
[2010 c 193 § 16; 2005 c 110 § 3; 2001 c 320 § 9; 1999 c 126 § 3; 1993 sp.s. c 17 § 12; 1985 c 413 § 2; 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3 § 17; 1983 c 284 § 6; 1982 1st ex.s. c 35 § 10; 1980 c 98 § 2.]
NOTES:
Effective date -- 2001 c 320: See note following RCW 11.02.005.
Effective date -- 1999 c 126 § 3: "Section 3 of this act takes effect January 1, 2000." [1999 c 126 § 5.]
Finding -- Contingent effective date--Severability--1993 sp.s. c 17: See notes following RCW 77.32.520.
Construction -- Severability -- Effective dates -- 1983 2nd ex.s. c 3: See notes following RCW 82.04.255.
Findings -- Intent -- 1983 c 284: "The legislature finds that there are commercial fish buyers benefiting financially from the propagation of game fish in the state. The legislature recognizes that license fees obtained from sports fishermen support the majority of the production of these game fish. The legislature finds that commercial operations which benefit from the commercial harvest of these fish should pay a tax to assist in the funding of these facilities. However, the intent of the legislature is not to support the commercial harvest of steelhead and other game fish." [1983 c 284 § 8.]
Severability -- Effective dates -- 1982 1st ex.s. c 35: See notes following RCW 82.08.020.