WAC 458-20-267   Annual reports for certain tax adjustments.  (1) Introduction. In order to take certain tax exemptions, credits, and rates ("tax adjustments"), taxpayers must file an annual report with the department of revenue (the "department") detailing employment, wages, and employer-provided health and retirement benefits. This section explains the reporting requirements for tax adjustments provided to computer data centers, the aerospace manufacturing, aluminum manufacturing, electrolytic processing, solar electric manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturing, and newspaper industries. This section explains who is required to file annual reports, how to file reports, and what information must be included in the reports.

     This section contains a number of examples. These examples identify a number of facts and then state a conclusion. These examples should be used only as a general guide. The results of other situations must be determined after a review of all of the facts and circumstances.

     (2) Who is required to file the report? A recipient of the benefit of the following tax adjustments must complete and file an annual report with the department:

     (a) Tax adjustments for the aerospace manufacturing industry:

     (i) The business and occupation ("B&O") tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.260(11) for manufacturers and processors for hire of commercial airplanes, component parts, and tooling specially designed for use in manufacturing commercial airplanes or components of such airplanes;

     (ii) The B&O tax credit provided by RCW 82.04.4461 for qualified development aerospace product expenditures;

     (iii) The B&O tax rate for FAR 145 Part certified repair stations under RCW 82.04.250(3);

     (iv) The retail sales and use tax exemption provided by RCW 82.08.980 and 82.12.980 for constructing new buildings used for manufacturing superefficient airplanes;

     (v) The leasehold excise tax exemption provided by RCW 82.29A.137 for facilities used for manufacturing superefficient airplanes;

     (vi) The property tax exemption provided by RCW 84.36.655 for property used for manufacturing superefficient airplanes; and

     (vii) The B&O tax credit for property taxes and leasehold excise taxes paid on property used for manufacturing of commercial airplanes as provided by RCW 82.04.4463.

     (viii) An annual report must be filed with the department for any person who takes any of the above tax adjustments of this subsection for employment positions in Washington; however, persons engaged in manufacturing commercial airplanes or components of such airplanes may report per manufacturing job site.

     (b) Tax adjustments for the aluminum smelter industry:

     (i) The B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.2909 for aluminum smelters;

     (ii) The B&O tax credit for property taxes provided by RCW 82.04.4481 for aluminum smelter property;

     (iii) The retail sales and use tax exemption provided by RCW 82.08.805 and 82.12.805 for property used at aluminum smelters; and

     (iv) The use tax exemption provided by RCW 82.12.022(5) for the use of natural or manufactured gas;

     (c) Tax adjustment for the electrolytic processing industry. The public utility tax exemption provided by RCW 82.16.0421 for sales of electricity to electrolytic processing businesses.

     (d) Tax adjustment for the solar electric manufacturing industry. The B&O tax rate for manufacturers of solar energy systems using photovoltaic modules, or silicon components of such systems provided by RCW 82.04.294.

     (e) Tax adjustments for the semiconductor manufacturing and processing industry.

     (i) The B&O tax rate for manufacturers or processors for hire of semiconductor materials provided by RCW 82.04.2404.

     (ii) The sales and use tax exemptions for sales of gases and chemicals used by a manufacturer or processor for hire in the production of semiconductor materials provided by RCW 82.08.9651, 82.12.9651, and 82.12.970.

     (f) Tax adjustments for various industries.

     (i) The B&O tax rate for printing a newspaper, publishing a newspaper, or both provided by RCW 82.04.260(14).

     (ii) The sales tax exemption for sales of eligible server equipment to be installed without intervening use in an eligible computer data center as provided by chapters 1 and 23, Laws of 2010 sp. sess.

     (3) How to file annual reports.

     (a) Required form. The department has developed a report form that must be used to complete the annual report unless a person obtains prior written approval from the department to file the annual report in an alternative format.

     (b) Electronic filing. Reports must be filed electronically unless the department waives this requirement upon a showing of good cause. A report is filed electronically when the department receives the report in an electronic format.

     (c) How to obtain the form. Persons who have received a waiver of the electronic filing requirement from the department or who otherwise would like a paper copy of the report may obtain the report from the department's web site (www.dor.wa.gov). It may also be obtained from the department's district offices, by telephoning the telephone information center (800-647-7706), or by contacting the department's special programs division at:


     Department of Revenue

     Special Programs Division

     Post Office Box 47477

     Olympia, WA 98504-7477

     Fax: 360-586-2163


     (d) Special requirement for persons who did not file an annual report during the previous calendar year. If a person is a first-time filer or otherwise did not file an annual report with the department during the previous calendar year, the report must include information on employment, wages, and employer-provided health and retirement benefits for the two calendar years immediately preceding the due date of the report.

     (e) Due date.

     (i) For reports due 2011 or later. For persons claiming any B&O tax credit, tax exemption, or tax rate listed under subsection (2) of this section, the report must be filed or postmarked by April 30th following any calendar year in which the person becomes eligible to claim the tax credit, tax exemption, or tax rate.

     (ii) For reports due prior to 2010 or earlier. For persons claiming any B&O tax credit, tax exemption, or tax rate listed under subsection (2) of this section, with the exception of the tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.2404, the report must be filed or postmarked by March 31st following any calendar year in which the tax credit, tax exemption, or tax rate is claimed. For persons claiming the tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.2404 the report must be filed or postmarked by April 30th following any calendar year in which the tax rate is claimed.

     (iii) Due date extensions. The department may extend the due date for timely filing annual reports as provided in subsection (18) of this section.

     (f) Examples.

     (i) An aerospace firm begins taking the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.260(10) for manufacturers and processors for hire of commercial airplanes and component parts on October 1, 2010. By April 30, 2011, the aerospace firm must provide an annual report covering calendar years 2009 and 2010. If the aerospace firm continues to take the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.260(10) during calendar year 2011, a single annual report is due on April 30, 2012, covering calendar year 2011.

     (ii) An aluminum smelter begins taking the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.2909 for aluminum smelters on July 31, 2010. By April 30, 2011, the aluminum smelter must provide an annual report covering calendar years 2009 and 2010. If the aluminum smelter continues to take the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.2909 during calendar year 2011, a single annual report is due on April 30, 2012, covering calendar year 2011.

     (4) What employment positions are included in the annual report?

     (a) General rule. Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the report must include information detailing employment positions in the state of Washington.

     (b) Alternative method. Persons engaged in manufacturing commercial airplanes or their components may report employment positions per job at the manufacturing site.

     (i) What is a "manufacturing site"? For purposes of the annual report, a "manufacturing site" is one or more immediately adjacent parcels of real property located in Washington state on which manufacturing occurs that support activities qualifying for a tax adjustment. Adjacent parcels of real property separated only by a public road comprise a single site. A manufacturing site may include real property that supports nonqualifying activities such as administration offices, test facilities, warehouses, design facilities, and shipping and receiving facilities.

     (ii)(A) If the person files per job at the manufacturing site, which manufacturing site is included in the annual report for the aerospace manufacturing industry tax adjustments? The location(s) where a person is manufacturing commercial airplanes or components of such airplanes within this state is the manufacturing site(s) included in the annual report. A "commercial airplane" has its ordinary meaning, which is an airplane certified by the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA") for transporting persons or property, and any military derivative of such an airplane. A "component" means a part or system certified by the FAA for installation or assembly into a commercial airplane.

     (B) Are there alternative methods for reporting separately for each manufacturing site? For purposes of completing the annual report, the department may agree to allow a person whose manufacturing sites are within close geographic proximity to consolidate its manufacturing sites onto a single annual report provided that the jobs located at the manufacturing sites have equivalent employment positions, wages, and employer-provided health and retirement benefits. A person may request written approval to consolidate manufacturing sites by contacting the department's special programs division at:


     Department of Revenue

     Special Programs Division

     Post Office Box 47477

     Olympia, WA 98504-7477

     Fax: 360-586-2163


     (c) Examples.

     (i) ABC Airplanes, a company manufacturing FAA certified airplane landing gear, conducts activities at three locations in Washington state. ABC Airplanes is reporting tax under the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.260(10) for manufacturers and processors for hire of commercial airplanes and component parts. In Seattle, WA, ABC Airplanes maintains its corporate headquarters and administrative offices. In Spokane, WA, ABC Airplanes manufactures the brake systems for the landing gear. In Vancouver, WA, ABC Airplanes assembles the landing gear using the components manufactured in Spokane, WA. If filing per manufacturing site, ABC Airplanes must file separate annual reports for employment positions at its manufacturing sites in Spokane and Vancouver because these are the Washington state locations in which manufacturing occurs that supports activities qualifying for a tax adjustment.

     (ii) Acme Engines, a company manufacturing engine parts, conducts manufacturing in five locations in Washington state. Acme Engines is reporting tax under the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.260(10) for manufacturers and processors for hire of commercial airplanes and component parts. It manufactures FAA certified engine parts at its Puyallup, WA location. Acme Engines' four other locations manufacture non-FAA certified engine parts. If filing per manufacturing site, Acme Engines must file an annual report for employment positions at its manufacturing site in Puyallup because it is the only location in Washington state in which manufacturing occurs that supports activities qualifying for a tax adjustment.

     (iii) Tacoma Rivets, located in Tacoma, WA, manufactures rivets used in manufacturing airplanes. Half of the rivets Tacoma Rivets manufactures are FAA certified to be used on commercial airplanes. The remaining rivets Tacoma Rivets manufactures are not FAA certified and are used on military airplanes. Tacoma Rivets is reporting tax on its sales of FAA certified rivets under the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.260(10) for manufacturers and processors for hire of commercial airplanes and component parts. If filing per manufacturing site, Tacoma Rivets must file an annual report for employment positions at its manufacturing site in Tacoma because it is the location in Washington state in which manufacturing occurs that supports activities qualifying for a tax adjustment.

     (iv) Dynamic Aerospace Composites is a company that only manufactures FAA certified airplane fuselage materials. Dynamic Aerospace Composites conducts activities at three separate locations within Kent, WA. Dynamic Aerospace Composites is reporting tax under the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.260(10) for manufacturers and processors for hire of commercial airplanes and component parts. If filing per manufacturing site, Dynamic Aerospace Composites must file separate annual reports for each of its three manufacturing sites.

     (v) Worldwide Aerospace, an aerospace company, manufactures wing systems for commercial airplanes in twenty locations around the world, but none located in Washington state. Worldwide Aerospace manufactures wing surfaces in San Diego, CA. Worldwide Aerospace sells the wing systems to an airplane manufacturer located in Moses Lake, WA and is reporting tax on these sales under the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.260(10) for sales, at retail or wholesale, of commercial airplanes, or components of such airplanes, manufactured by that person. Worldwide Aerospace is required to complete the annual report for any employment positions in Washington that are directly related to the qualifying activity.

     (5) What jobs are included in the annual report?

     (a) The annual report covers all full-time, part-time, and temporary jobs in this state or, for persons filing as provided in subsection (4)(b) of this section, at the manufacturing site as of December 31st of the calendar year for which an applicable tax adjustment is claimed. Jobs that support nonqualifying activities or support both nonqualifying and qualifying activities for a tax adjustment are included in the report if the job is located in the state of Washington or, for persons filing as provided in subsection (4)(b) of this section, at the manufacturing site.

     (b) Examples.

     (i) XYZ Aluminum, an aluminum smelter company, manufactures aluminum in Tacoma, WA. The company is reporting tax under the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.2909 for aluminum smelters. XYZ Aluminum's annual report for its Tacoma, WA location will include all of its employment positions in this state, including its nonmanufacturing employment positions.

     (ii) AAA Tire Company manufactures tires at one manufacturing site located in Centralia, WA. The company is reporting tax under the B&O tax rate provided by RCW 82.04.260(10) for manufacturers and processors for hire of commercial airplanes and component parts. FAA certified tires comprise only 20% of the products it manufactures and are manufactured in a separate building at the manufacturing site. If filing under the method described in subsection (4)(b) of this section, AAA Tire Company must report all jobs at the manufacturing site, including the jobs engaged in the nonqualifying activities of manufacturing non-FAA certified tires.

     (6) How is employment detailed in the annual report? The annual report is organized by employee occupational groups, consistent with the United States Department of Labor's Standard Occupation Codes (SOC) System. The SOC System is a universal occupational classification system used by government agencies and private industries to produce comparable occupational data. The SOC classifies occupations at four levels of aggregation:

     (a) Major group;

     (b) Minor group;

     (c) Broad occupation; and

     (d) Detailed occupation.

     All occupations are clustered into one of twenty-three major groups. The annual report uses the SOC major groups to detail the levels of employment, wages, and employer-provided health and retirement benefits at the manufacturing site. A detailed description of the SOC System is available by contacting the department's special programs division or by consulting the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics online at www.bls.gov/soc. The annual report does not require names of employees.

     (7) What is total employment? The annual report must state the total number of employees for each SOC major group that are currently employed on December 31st of the calendar year for which an applicable tax adjustment is taken. Total employment includes employees who are on authorized leaves of absences such as sick leave, vacation, disability leave, jury duty, military leave, regardless of whether those employees are receiving wages. Leaves of absences do not include separations of employment such as layoffs or reductions in force. Vacant positions are not included in total employment.

     (8) What are full-time, part-time and temporary employment positions? An employer must provide information on the number of employees, as a percentage of total employment in the SOC major group, that are employed in full-time, part-time or temporary employment positions on December 31st of the calendar year for which an applicable tax adjustment is claimed. Percentages should be rounded to the nearest 1/10th of 1% (XX.X%).

     (a) Full-time and part-time employment positions. In order for a position to be treated as full time or part time, the employer must intend for the position to be filled for at least fifty-two consecutive weeks or twelve consecutive months. A full-time position is a position that satisfies any one of the following minimum thresholds:

     (i) Works thirty-five hours per week for fifty-two consecutive weeks;

     (ii) Works four hundred fifty-five hours, excluding overtime, each quarter for four consecutive quarters; or

     (iii) Works one thousand eight hundred twenty hours, excluding overtime, during a period of twelve consecutive months.

     A part-time position is a position in which the employee works less than the hours required for a full-time position. In some instances, an employee may not be required to work the hours required for full-time employment because of paid rest and meal breaks, health and safety laws, disability laws, shift differentials, or collective bargaining agreements, but receives wages equivalent to a full-time job. If, in the absence of these factors, the employee would be required to work the number of hours for a full-time position to receive full-time wages, the position should be reported as a full-time employment position.

     (b) Temporary positions. A temporary position is a position that is intended to be filled for period of less than twelve consecutive months. Positions in seasonal employment are temporary positions. Temporary positions include workers furnished by staffing companies regardless of the duration of the placement with the person required to file the annual report.

     (c) Examples. Assume these facts for the following examples. National Airplane Inc. manufactures FAA certified navigation systems at a manufacturing site located in Tacoma, WA. National Airplane Inc. is claiming all the tax adjustments available for manufacturers and processors for hire of commercial airplanes and component parts. National Airplane Inc. employs one hundred people. Seventy-five of the employees work directly in the manufacturing operation and are classified as SOC Production Occupations. Five employees work in the engineering and design division and are classified as SOC Architect and Engineering Occupations. Five employees are sales representatives and are classified as SOC Sales and Related Occupations. Five employees are service technicians and are classified as SOC Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Five employees are administrative assistants and are classified as SOC Office and Administrative Support. Five executives are classified as SOC Management Occupations.

     (i) Through a college work-study program, National Airplane Inc. employs six interns from September through June in its engineering department. The interns work twenty hours a week. The six interns are reported as temporary employees, and not as part-time employees, because the intern positions are intended to be filled for a period of less than twelve consecutive months. Assuming the five employees classified as SOC Architect and Engineering Occupations are full-time employees, National Airplane Inc. will report a total of eleven employment positions in SOC Architect and Engineering Occupations with 45% in full-time employment positions and 55% in temporary employment positions.

     (ii) National Airplane Inc. manufactures navigation systems in two shifts of production. The first shift works eight hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday. The second shift works six hours from 6:00 p.m. to midnight Monday thru Friday. The second shift works fewer hours per week (thirty hours) than the first shift (forty hours) as a pay differential for working in the evening. If a second shift employee transferred to the first shift, the employee would be required to work forty hours with no overall increase in wages. The second shift employees should be reported as full-time employment positions, rather than part-time employment positions.

     (iii) On December 1st, ten National Airplane Inc. full-time employees classified as SOC Production Occupations take family and medical leave for twelve weeks. National Airplane Inc. hires five people to perform the work of the employees on leave. Because the ten employees classified as SOC Production Occupations are on authorized leave, National Airplane Inc. will include those employees in the annual report as full-time employment positions. The five people hired to replace the absent employees classified as SOC Production Occupations will be included in the report as temporary employees. National Airplane Inc. will report a total of eighty employment positions in SOC Production Occupations with 93.8% in full-time employment positions and 6.2% in temporary employment positions.

     (iv) On December 1st, one full-time employee classified as SOC Sales and Related Occupations resigns from her position. National Airplane Inc. contracts with Jane Smith d/b/a Creative Enterprises, Inc. to finish an advertising project assigned to the employee who resigned. Because Jane Smith is an independent contractor, National Airplane Inc. will not include her employment in the annual report. Because the resignation has resulted in a vacant position, the total number of employment positions National Airplane Inc. will report in SOC Sales and Related Occupations is reduced to four employment positions.

     (v) All National Airplane Inc. employees classified as SOC Office and Administrative Support Occupations work forty hours a week, fifty-two weeks a year. On November 1st, one employee must limit the number of hours worked to thirty hours each week to accommodate a disability. The employee receives wages based on the actual hours worked each week. Because the employee works less than thirty-five hours a week and is not paid a wage equivalent to a full-time position, the employee's position is a part-time employment position. National Airplane Inc. will report a total of five employment positions in SOC Office and Administrative Support Occupations with 80% in full-time employment positions and 20% in part-time employment positions.

     (9) What are wages? For the purposes of the annual report, "wages" means the base compensation paid to an individual for personal services rendered to an employer, whether denominated as wages, salary, commission, or otherwise. Compensation in the form of overtime, tips, bonuses, benefits (insurance, paid leave, meals, etc.), stock options, and severance pay are not "wages." For employees that earn an annual salary, hourly wages are determined by dividing annual salary by 2080. If an employee is paid by commission, hourly wages are determined by dividing the total amount of commissions paid during the calendar year by 2080.

     (10) How are wages detailed for the annual report?

     (a) An employer must provide information on the number of employees, as a percentage of the total employment in the SOC major group, paid a wage within the following five hourly wage bands:

     Up to $10.00 an hour;

     $10.01 an hour to $15.00 an hour;

     $15.01 an hour to $20.00 an hour;

     $20.01 an hour to $30.00 an hour; and

     $30.01 an hour or more.

Percentages should be rounded to the nearest 1/10th of 1% (XX.X%). For purposes of the annual report, wages are measured on December 31st of the calendar year for which an applicable tax adjustment is claimed.

     (b) Examples. Assume these facts for the following examples. Washington Airplane Inc. manufactures FAA certified navigation systems at a manufacturing site located in Tacoma, WA. Washington Airplane Inc. is claiming all the tax adjustments available for manufacturers and processors for hire of commercial airplanes and component parts. Washington Airplane Inc. employs five hundred people at the manufacturing site, which constitutes its entire work force in this state. Four hundred employees engage in activities that are classified as SOC Production Occupations. Fifty employees engage in activities that are classified as SOC Architect and Engineer Occupations. Twenty-five employees are engaged in activities classified as SOC Management Occupations. Twenty employees are engaged in activities classified as SOC Office and Administrative Support Occupations. Five employees are engaged in activities classified as SOC Sales and Related Occupations.

     (i) One hundred employees classified as SOC Production Occupations are paid $12.00 an hour. Two hundred employees classified as SOC Production Occupations are paid $17.00 an hour. One hundred employees classified as SOC Production Occupations are paid $25.00 an hour. For SOC Production Occupations, Washington Airplane Inc. will report 25% of employment positions are paid $10.01 an hour to $15.00 an hour; 50% are paid $15.01 an hour to $20.00 an hour; and 25% are paid $20.01 an hour to $30.00 an hour.

     (ii) Ten employees classified as SOC Architect and Engineering Occupations are paid an annual salary of $42,000; another ten employees are paid $50,000 annually; and the remaining employees are all paid over $70,000 annually. In order to report wages, the annual salaries must be converted to hourly amounts by dividing the annual salary by 2080 hours. For SOC Architect and Engineering Occupations, Washington Airplane Inc. will report 40% of employment positions are paid $20.01 an hour to $30.00 an hour and 60% are paid $30.00 an hour or more.

     (iii) All the employees classified as SOC Sales and Related Occupations are sales representatives that are paid on commission. They receive $10.00 commission for each navigation system sold. Three sales representatives sell 2,500 navigation systems during the calendar year. Two sales representatives sell 3,500 navigation systems during the calendar year and receive a $10,000 bonus for exceeding company's sales goals. In order to report wages, the employee's commissions must be converted to hourly amounts by dividing the total commissions by 2080 hours. Washington Airplane Inc. will report that 60% of employment positions classified as SOC Sales and Related Occupations are paid $10.01 an hour to $15.00 an hour. Because bonuses are not included in wages, Washington Airplane Inc. will report 40% of employment positions classified as SOC Sales and Related Occupations are paid $15.01 an hour to $20.00 an hour.

     (iv) Ten of the employees classified as SOC Office and Administrative Support Occupations earn $9.50 an hour. The remaining ten employees classified as SOC Office and Administrative Support Occupations earn wages between $10.01 an hour to $15.00 an hour. On December 1st, Washington Airplane Inc. announces that effective December 15th, all employees classified as SOC Office and Administrative Support Occupations will earn wages of at least $10.50 an hour, but no more than $15.00 an hour. Because wages are measured on December 31st, Washington Airplane Inc. will report 100% of employment positions classified as SOC Office and Administrative Support Occupations Sales and Related Occupations are paid $10.01 an hour to $15.00 an hour.

     (11) Reporting workers furnished by staffing companies. For temporary positions filled by workers that are furnished by staffing companies, the person filling out the annual report must provide the following information:

     (a) Total number of staffing company employees furnished by staffing companies;

     (b) Top three occupational codes of all staffing company employees; and

     (c) Average duration of all staffing company employees.

     (12) What are employer-provided health benefits? For purposes of the annual report, "health benefits" means compensation, not paid as wages, in the form of a health plan offered by an employer to its employees. A health plan that is equally available to employees and the general public is not an "employer-provided" health benefit.

     (a) "Dental care services" means services offered or provided by health care facilities and health care providers relating to the prevention, cure, or treatment of illness, injury, or disease of human teeth, alveolar process, gums, or jaw.

     (b) "Dental care plan" means a health plan for the purpose of providing for its employees or their beneficiaries' dental care services.

     (c) "Health plan" means any plan, fund, or program established, maintained, or funded by an employer for the purpose of providing for its employees or their beneficiaries, through the purchase of insurance or otherwise, medical care and dental care services. Health plans include any "employee welfare benefit plan" as defined by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), any "health plan" or "health benefit plan" as defined in RCW 48.43.005, any self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangement as defined in RCW 48.125.010, any "qualified health insurance" as defined in Section 35 of the Internal Revenue Code, an "Archer MSA" as defined in Section 220 of the Internal Revenue Code, a "health savings plan" as defined in Section 223 of the Internal Revenue Code, any "health plan" qualifying under Section 213 of the Internal Revenue Code, governmental plans, and church plans.

     (d) "Medical care services" means services offered or provided by health care facilities and health care providers relating to the prevention, cure, or treatment of illness, injury, or disease.

     (e) "Medical care plan" means a health plan for the purpose of providing for its employees or their beneficiaries' medical care services.

     (13) How are employer-provided health benefits detailed in the annual report? The annual report is organized by SOC major group and by type of health plan offered to or with enrolled employees on December 31st of the calendar year for which an applicable tax adjustment is claimed.

     (a) Detail by SOC major group. For each SOC major group, report the number of employees, as a percentage of total employment in the SOC major group, eligible to participate in an employer-provided medical care plan. An employee is "eligible" if the employee can currently participate in a medical care plan provided by the employer. Waiting periods, tenure requirements, minimum work hour requirements, preexisting conditions, and other limitations may prevent an employee from being eligible for coverage in an employer's medical care plan. If an employer provides multiple medical care plans, an employee is "eligible" if the employee can currently participate in one of the medical care plans. Percentages should be rounded to the nearest 1/10th of 1% (XX.X%).

     (b) Examples.

     (i) On December 31st, Acme Engines has one hundred employees classified as SOC Production Occupations. It offers these employees two medical care plans. Plan A is available to all employees at the time of hire. Plan B is available to employees after working ninety days. For SOC Production Occupations, Acme Engines will report 100% of its employees are eligible for employer-provided medical benefits because all of its employees are eligible for at least one medical care plan offered by Acme Engines.

     (ii) Apex Aluminum has fifty employees classified as SOC Transportation and Material Moving Occupations, all of whom have worked for Apex Aluminum for over five years. Apex Aluminum offers one medical care plan to its employees. Employees must work for Apex Aluminum for six months to participate in the medical care plan. On October 1st, Apex Aluminum hires ten new employees classified as SOC Transportation and Material Moving Occupations. For SOC Transportation and Material Moving Occupations, Apex Aluminum will report 83.3% of its employees are eligible for employer-provided medical benefits.

     (c) Detail by type of health plan. The report also requires detailed information about the types of health plans the employer provides. If an employer has more than one type of health plan, it must report each health plan separately. If a person offers more than one of the same type of health plan as described in (c)(i) of this subsection, the person may consolidate the detail required in (c) through (e) of this subsection by using ranges to describe the information. The details include:

     (i) A description of the type of plan in general terms such as self-insured, fee for service, preferred provider organization, health maintenance organization, health savings account, or other general description. The report does not require a person to disclose the name(s) of their health insurance carrier(s).

     (ii) The number of employees eligible to participate in the health plan, as a percentage of total employment at the manufacturing site or as otherwise reported. Percentages should be rounded to the nearest 1/10th of 1% (XX.X%).

     (iii) The number of employees enrolled in the health plan, as a percentage of employees eligible to participate in the health plan at the manufacturing site or as otherwise reported. An employee is "enrolled" if the employee is currently covered by or participating in an employer-provided health plan. Percentages should be rounded to the nearest 1/10th of 1% (XX.X%).

     (iv) The average percentage of premium paid by employees enrolled in the health plan. "Premium" means the cost incurred by the employer to provide a health plan or the continuance of a health plan, such as amounts paid to health carriers or costs incurred by employers to self-insure. Employers are generally legally responsible for payment of the entire cost of the premium for enrolled employees, but may require enrolled employees to share in the cost of the premium to obtain coverage. State the amount of premium, as a percentage, employees must pay to maintain enrollment under the health plan. Percentages should be rounded to the nearest 1/10th of 1% (XX.X%).

     (v) If necessary, the average monthly contribution to enrolled employees. In some instances, employers may make contributions to an employee health plan, but may not be aware of the percentage of premium cost borne by the employee. For example, employers may contribute to a health plan sponsored by an employee organization, or may sponsor a medical savings account or health savings account. In those instances where the employee's contribution to the health plan is unknown, an employer must report its average monthly contribution to the health plan by dividing the employer's total monthly costs for the health plan by the total number of employees enrolled in the health plan.

     (vi) Whether legal spouses, state registered domestic partners, and unmarried dependent children can obtain coverage under the health plan and if there is an additional premium for such coverage.

     (vii) Whether part-time employees are eligible to participate in the health plan.

     (d) Medical care plans. In addition to the detailed information required for each health plan, report the amount of enrolled employee point of service cost-sharing for hospital services, prescription drug benefits, and primary care physician services for each medical care plan. If differences exist within a medical care plan, the lowest cost option to the enrolled employee must be stated in the report. For example, if employee point of service cost-sharing is less if an enrolled employee uses a network of preferred providers, report the amount of point of service cost-sharing using a preferred provider. Employee point of service cost-sharing is generally stated as a percentage of cost, a specific dollar amount, or both.

     (i) "Employee point of service cost-sharing" means amounts paid to health carriers directly providing medical care services, health care providers, or health care facilities by enrolled employees in the form of copayments, co-insurance, or deductibles. Copayments and co-insurance mean an amount specified in a medical care plan which is an obligation of enrolled employees for a specific medical care service which is not fully prepaid. A deductible means the amount an enrolled employee is responsible to pay before the medical care plan begins to pay the costs associated with treatment.

     (ii) "Hospital services" means covered in-patient medical care services performed in a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW.

     (iii) "Prescription drug benefit" means coverage to purchase a thirty-day or less supply of generic prescription drugs from a retail pharmacy.

     (iv) "Primary care provider services" means nonemergency medical care services provided in an office setting by the employee's primary care provider.

     (e) Dental care plans. In addition to the health plan information required for each dental care plan, the annual maximum benefit for each dental care plan must be stated in the report. Most dental care plans have an annual dollar maximum benefit. This is the maximum dollar amount a dental care plan will pay toward the cost of dental care services within a specific benefit period, generally one year. The enrolled employee is personally responsible for paying costs above the annual maximum.

     (f) Examples.

     (i) Assume the following facts for the following examples. Mosaic Aerospace employs one hundred employees and offers two medical care plans as health benefits to employees at the time of hire. Plan A is a managed care plan (HMO). Plan B is a fee for service medical care plan.

     (A) Forty Mosaic Aerospace employees are enrolled in Plan A. It costs Mosaic Aerospace $750 a month for each employee covered by Plan A. Enrolled employees must pay $150 each month to participate in Plan A. If an enrolled employee uses its network of physicians, Plan A will cover 100% of the cost of primary care provider services with employees paying a $10.00 copayment per visit. If an enrolled employee uses its network of hospitals, Plan A will cover 100% of the cost of hospital services with employees paying a $200 deductible. If an enrolled employee does not use a network provider, Plan A will cover only 50% of the cost of any service with a $500 employee deductible. An enrolled employee must use a network of retail pharmacies to receive any prescription drug benefit. Plan A will cover the cost of prescription drugs with enrolled employees paying a $10.00 copayment. If an enrolled employee uses the mail-order pharmacy option offered by Plan A, copayment for prescription drug benefits is not required.

     Mosaic Aerospace will report Plan A separately as a managed care plan. One hundred percent of its employees are eligible to participate in Plan A. The percentage of eligible employees enrolled in Plan A is 40%. The percentage of premium paid by an employee is 20%. Mosaic Aerospace will also report that employees have a $10.00 copayment for primary care provider services and a $200 deductible for hospital services because this is the lowest cost option within Plan A. Mosaic Aerospace will report that employees have a $10.00 copayment for prescription drug benefit. Mosaic Aerospace cannot report that employees do not have a prescription drug benefit copayment because "prescription drug benefit" is defined as coverage to purchase a thirty-day or less supply of generic prescription drugs from a retail pharmacy, not a mail-order pharmacy.

     (B) Fifty Mosaic Aerospace employees are enrolled in Plan B. It costs Mosaic Aerospace $1,000 a month for each employee covered by Plan B. Enrolled employees must pay $300 a month to participate in Plan B. Plan B covers 100% of the cost of primary care provider services and 100% of the cost of prescription drugs with employees paying a $200 annual deductible for each covered service. Plan B covers 80% of the cost of hospital services with employees paying a $250 annual deductible.

     Mosaic Aerospace will report Plan B separately as a fee for service medical care plan. One hundred percent of its employees are eligible to participate in Plan B. The percentage of eligible employees enrolled in Plan B is 50%. The percentage of premium paid by an employee is 30%. Mosaic Aerospace will also report that employees have a $200 annual deductible for both primary care provider services and prescription drug benefits. Hospital services have a $250 annual deductible and 20% co-insurance obligation.

     (C) On December 1st, Mosaic Aerospace acquires General Aircraft Inc., a company claiming all the tax adjustments available for manufacturers and processors for hire of commercial airplanes and component parts. General Aircraft Inc. had fifty employees, all of whom were retained by Mosaic Aerospace. At General Aircraft Inc., employees were offered one managed care plan (HMO) as a benefit. The former General Aircraft Inc. employees will retain their current managed care plan until the following June when employees would be offered Mosaic Aerospace benefits. On December 31st, Mosaic Aerospace is offering employees two managed care plans. Mosaic Aerospace may report each managed care plan separately or may consolidate the detail required in (c) through (e) of this subsection for this type of medical care plan by using ranges to report the information.

     (ii) Aero Turbines employs one hundred employees. It offers employees health savings accounts as a benefit to employees who have worked for the company for six months. Aero Turbines established the employee health savings accounts with a local bank and makes available to employees a high deductible medical care plan to be used in conjunction with the account. Aero Turbines deposits $500 a month into each employee's health savings account. Employees deposit a portion of their pretax earnings into a health savings account to cover the cost of primary care provider services, prescription drug purchases, and the high deductible medical care plan for hospital services. The high deductible medical care plan has an annual deductible of $2,000 and covers 75% of the cost of hospital services. Sixty-six employees open health savings accounts. Four employees have not worked for Aero Turbines for six months.

     Aero Turbines will report the medical care plan as a health savings account. Ninety-six percent of employees are eligible to participate in health savings accounts. The percentage of eligible employees enrolled in health savings accounts is 68.8%. Because the amount of employee deposits into their health savings accounts will vary, Aero Turbines will report the average monthly contribution of $500 rather than the percentage of premium paid by enrolled employees. Because employees are responsible for covering their primary care provider services and prescription drugs costs, Aero Turbines will report that this health plan does not include these services. Because the high deductible medical care plan covers the costs of hospital services, Aero Turbines will report that the medical care plan has an annual deductible of $2,000 and employees have 25% co-insurance obligation.

     (14) What are employer-provided retirement benefits? For purposes of the annual report, "retirement benefits" mean compensation, not paid as wages, in the form of a retirement plan offered by an employer to its employees. A "retirement plan" means any plan, account, deposit, annuity, or benefit, other than a life insurance policy, that provides for retirement income or deferred income to employees for periods extending to the termination of employment or beyond. Retirement plans include pensions, annuities, stock bonus plans, employee stock ownership plans, profit sharing plans, self-employed retirement plans, individual retirement accounts, individual retirement annuities, and retirement bonds, as well as any other plan or program, without regard to its source of funding, and without regard to whether the retirement plan is a qualified plan meeting the guidelines established in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code. A retirement plan that is equally available to employees and the general public is not an "employer-provided" retirement benefit.

     (15) How are employer-provided retirement benefits detailed in the annual report? The annual report is organized by SOC major group and by type of retirement plans offered to employees or with enrolled employees on December 31st of the calendar year for which an applicable tax adjustment is claimed. Inactive or terminated retirement plans are excluded from the annual report. An inactive retirement plan is a plan that is not offered to new employees, but has enrolled employees, and neither enrolled employees nor the employer are making contributions to the retirement plan.

     (a) Detail by SOC major group. For each SOC major group, report the number of employees, as a percentage of total employment in the SOC major group, eligible to participate in an employer-provided retirement plan. An employee is "eligible" if the employee can currently participate in a retirement plan provided by the employer. Waiting periods, tenure requirements, minimum work hour requirements, and other limitations may prevent an employee from being eligible for coverage in an employer's retirement plan. If an employer provides multiple retirement plans, an employee is "eligible" if the employee can currently participate in one of the retirement plans. Percentages should be rounded to the nearest 1/10th of 1% (XX.X%).

     (b) Examples.

     (i) Lincoln Airplane has one hundred employees classified as SOC Production Occupations. Fifty employees were enrolled in defined benefit pension at the time of hire. All employees are eligible to participate in a 401(k) Plan. For SOC Production Occupations, Lincoln Airplane will report 100% of its employees are eligible for employer-provided retirement benefits because all of its employees are eligible for at least one retirement plan offered by Lincoln Airplane.

     (ii) Fly-Rite Airplanes has fifty employees classified in SOC Computer and Mathematical Occupations. Fly-Rite Airplane offers a SIMPLE IRA to its employees after working for the company one year. Forty-five employees classified in SOC Computer and Mathematical Occupations have worked for the company more than one year. For SOC Computer and Mathematical Occupations, Fly-Rite Airplanes will report 90% of its employees are eligible for retirement benefits.

     (c) Detail by retirement plan. The report also requires detailed information about the types of retirement plans an employer offers employees. If an employer offers multiple retirement plans, it must report each type of retirement plan separately. If an employer offers more than one of the same type of retirement plan, but with different levels of employer contributions, it may consolidate the detail required in (i) through (iv) of this subsection by using ranges to describe the information. The report includes:

     (i) The type of plan in general terms such as 401(k) Plan, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, cash balance pension, or defined benefit plan.

     (ii) The number of employees eligible to participate in the retirement plan, as a percentage of total employment at the manufacturing site, or as otherwise reported. Percentages should be rounded to the nearest 1/10th of 1% (XX.X%).

     (iii) The number of employees enrolled in the retirement plan, as a percentage of employees eligible to participate in the retirement plan at the manufacturing site. An employee is "enrolled" if the employee currently participates in an employer-provided retirement plan, regardless of whether the employee has a vested benefit. Percentages should be rounded to the nearest 1/10th of 1% (XX.X%).

     (iv) The maximum benefit the employer will contribute into the retirement plan for enrolled employees. The maximum benefit an employer will contribute is generally stated as a percentage of salary, specific dollar amount, or both. This information is not required for a defined benefit plan meeting the qualification requirements of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) that provides benefits according to a flat benefit, career-average, or final pay formula.

     (d) Examples.

     (i) General Airspace is a manufacturer of airplane components located in Centralia, WA. General Airspace employs one hundred employees. Fifty employees are eligible for and enrolled in a defined benefit pension with a flat benefit at the time of retirement. Twenty-five employees are eligible for and enrolled in a cash balance pension with General Airspace contributing 7% of an employee's annual compensation with a maximum annual contribution of $10,000. All General Airspace employees can participate in a 401(k) Plan. Sixty-five employees are participating in the 401(k) Plan. General Airspace does not make any contributions into the 401(k) Plan. Five employees are former employees of United Skyways, a company General Airspace acquired. United Skyways employees were enrolled in a cash balance pension at the time of hire. When General Airspace acquired United Skyways, it did not terminate or liquidate the United Skyways cash balance plan. Rather, General Airspace maintains cash balance plan only for former United Skyways employees, allowing only interest to accrue to the plan.

     (A) General Airspace will report that it offers three retirement plans - A defined benefit pension, a cash-balance pension, and a 401(k) Plan. General Airspace will not report the inactive cash balance pension it maintains for former United Skyways employees.

     (B) For the defined benefit pension, General Airspace will report 50% of its total employment positions are eligible to participate. Of the employment positions eligible to participate, 100% are enrolled.

     (C) For the cash-balance pension, General Airspace will report 25% of its total employment positions are eligible to participate. Of the employment positions eligible to participate, 100% are enrolled. General Airspace will report a maximum contribution of $10,000 or 7% of an employee's annual compensation.

     (D) For the 401(k) Plan, General Airspace will report 100% of its total employment positions are eligible to participate in the retirement plan. Of the employment positions eligible to participate, 65% are enrolled. General Airspace will report that it does not make any contributions into the 401(k) Plan.

     (ii) Washington Alloys is an aluminum smelter located in Grandview, WA. Washington Alloys employs two hundred employees. Washington Alloys offers a 401(k) Plan to its employees after one year of hire. One hundred seventy-five employees have worked for Washington Alloys for one year or more. Of that amount, seventy-five have worked more than five years. Washington Alloys will match employee contributions up to a maximum 3% of annual compensation. If an employee has worked for Washington Alloys for more than five years, Washington Alloys will contribute 5% of annual compensation regardless of the employee's contribution. One hundred employees receive a 3% matching contribution from Washington Alloys. Fifty employees receive a contribution of 5% of annual compensation.

     (A) Washington Alloys can report each 401(k) Plan separately - A 401(k) Plan with a maximum employer contribution of 3% of annual compensation and a 401(k) Plan with a maximum employer contribution to 5% of annual compensation. Alternatively, Washington Alloys can report that it offers a 401(k) Plan with a maximum employer contribution ranging from 3% to 5% of annual compensation.

     (B)(I) If Washington Alloys reports each 401(k) Plan separately, for the 401(k) Plan with a maximum employer contribution of 3% of annual compensation, Washington Alloys will report 50% of its total employment positions are eligible to participate. Of the employment positions eligible to participate, 100% are enrolled.

     For the 401(k) Plan with a maximum employer contribution of 5% of annual compensation, Washington Alloys will report 37.5% of its total employment positions are eligible to participate. Of the employment positions eligible to participate, 66.6% are enrolled.

     (II) If Washington Alloys consolidates its detailed information about its 401(k) Plans, it will report that 87.5% of its total employment positions are eligible to participate in 401(k) Plans. Of the employment positions eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plans, 85.7% are enrolled.

     (16) Additional reporting for aluminum smelters and electrolytic processing businesses. For an aluminum smelter or electrolytic processing business, the annual report must indicate the quantity of product produced in this state during the time period covered by the report.

     (17) Are annual reports confidential? Except for the additional information that the department may request which it deems necessary to measure the results of, or to determine eligibility for the tax preference, annual reports are not subject to the confidentiality provisions of RCW 82.32.330 and may be disclosed to the public upon request.

     (18) What are the consequences for failing to file a complete annual report?

     (a) If a person claims a tax adjustment that requires an annual report under this section but fails to submit a complete report by the due date or any extension under RCW 82.32.590 the amount of the tax adjustment claimed for the previous calendar year becomes immediately due and payable. Interest, but not penalties, will be assessed on these amounts due. The interest will be assessed at the rate provided for delinquent taxes provided for in RCW 82.32.050, retroactively to the date the tax preference was claimed, and accrues until the taxes for which the tax preference was claimed are repaid.

     (b) Complete annual report. An annual report is complete if:

     (i) The annual report is filed on the form required by this section; and

     (ii) The person makes a good faith effort to substantially respond to all report questions required by this section.

     The answer "varied," "various," or "please contact for information" is not a good faith response to a question.

     (c) Extension for circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer. If the department finds that the failure of a taxpayer to file an annual report by the due date was the result of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer, the department will extend the time for filing the report. The extension will be for a period of thirty days from the date the department issues its written notification to the taxpayer that it qualifies for an extension under this section. The department may grant additional extensions as it deems proper.

     In making a determination whether the failure of a taxpayer to file an annual report by the due date was the result of circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer, the department will apply the provisions adopted by the department in WAC 458-20-228 for the waiver or cancellation of penalties when the underpayment of untimely payment of any tax was due to circumstances beyond the control of the taxpayer.

     (d) One-time only extension. A taxpayer who fails to file an annual report required under this section by the due date of the report is entitled to an extension of the due date. A request for an extension under this subsection must be made in writing to the department.

     (i) To qualify for an extension, a taxpayer must have filed all annual reports and surveys, if any, due in prior years by their respective due dates, beginning with annual reports and surveys due in the calendar year 2010.

     (ii) An extension is for ninety days from the original due date of the annual report.

     (iii) No taxpayer may be granted more than one ninety-day extension.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 82.32.300 and 82.01.060(2). 10-22-087, § 458-20-267, filed 11/1/10, effective 12/2/10; 10-10-037, § 458-20-267, filed 4/27/10, effective 5/28/10; 06-20-004, § 458-20-267, filed 9/21/06, effective 10/22/06.]