Chapter 3.84
BUSINESS AND OCCUPATION TAX
Sections
3.84.010 Purpose.
3.84.020 Exercise of revenue license power.
3.84.025 Administrative provisions.
3.84.030 Definitions.
3.84.040 Agency – Sales and services by agent, consignee, bailee, factor or auctioneer.
3.84.050 Registration/license requirements.
3.84.060 Imposition of the tax – Tax or fee levied.
3.84.070 Doing business with the city.
3.84.080 Multiple activities credit when activities take place in one or more cities with eligible gross receipt taxes.
3.84.090 Deductions to prevent multiple taxation of manufacturing activities and prior to January 1, 2008, transactions involving more than one city with an eligible gross receipts tax.
3.84.092 Assignment of gross income derived from intangibles.
3.84.095 Allocation and apportionment of income when activities take place in more than one jurisdiction.
3.84.098 Allocation and apportionment of printing and publishing income when activities take place in more than one jurisdiction.
3.84.100 Exemptions.
3.84.110 Deductions.
3.84.120 Tax part of overhead.
3.84.130 Administrative provisions – When due and payable – Reporting periods – Monthly, quarterly, and annual returns – Threshold provisions or relief from filing requirements – Computing time periods – Failure to file returns.
3.84.140 Administration, payment methods – Mailing returns or remittances – Time extension – Deposits – Recording payments – Payment must accompany return – NSF checks.
3.84.150 Administration, records to be preserved – Examination – Estoppel to question assessment.
3.84.160 Administration – Accounting methods.
3.84.170 Public work contracts – Payment of fee and tax before final payment for work.
3.84.180 Administrative provisions – Underpayment of tax, interest, or penalty – Interest.
3.84.190 Time in which assessment may be made.
3.84.200 Administrative provisions – Overpayment of tax, penalty, or interest – Credit or refund – Interest rate – Statute of limitations.
3.84.210 Administrative provisions – Late payment – Disregard of written instructions – Evasion – Penalties.
3.84.220 Administrative provisions – Cancellation of penalties.
3.84.230 Taxpayer quitting business – Liability of successor.
3.84.240 Administrative appeal.
3.84.250 Director to make rules.
3.84.260 Ancillary allocation authority of director.
3.84.270 Mailing of notices.
3.84.280 Tax declared additional.
3.84.290 Tax constitutes debt.
3.84.300 Unlawful actions – Violation – Penalties.
3.84.310 Revocation or denial of business license or registration – Appeals.
3.84.320 Closing agreement provision.
3.84.330 Charge-off of uncollectible taxes.
3.84.340 Petition for referendum.
3.84.350 Administrative provisions – Purpose.
3.84.360 Administrative provisions – Application of section stated.
3.84.370 Administrative provisions – Registration/license certificates.
3.84.380 Administrative provisions – Review of administrative appeal decision.
3.84.390 Public disclosure – Confidentiality – Information sharing.
3.84.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this section is to implement Washington Constitution Article XI, Sec. 12, and RCW 35A.11.020 and 35A.82.020, which give municipalities the authority to license for revenue. In the absence of a legal or constitutional prohibition, the city has the power to define taxation categories as they see fit in order to respond to the unique concerns and responsibilities of local government. [Ord. 1416 § 1, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 1, 2004.]
3.84.020 Exercise of revenue license power.
The provisions of this chapter shall be deemed an exercise of the power of the city to license for revenue. The provisions of this chapter are subject to periodic statutory or administrative rule changes or judicial interpretations of the ordinances or rules. The responsibility rests with the licensee or taxpayer to reconfirm computation procedures and remain in compliance with the Des Moines Municipal Code. [Ord. 1416 § 2, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 2, 2004.]
3.84.025 Administrative provisions.
The administrative provisions contained in Ordinance No. 1417 shall be fully applicable to the provisions of this chapter except as expressly stated to the contrary herein. [Ord. 1416 § 3, 2007.]
3.84.030 Definitions.
(1) Use of Words and Phrases. As used in this chapter, unless the context or subject matter clearly requires otherwise, the words or phrases defined in this section shall have the indicated meanings. Words in the singular number shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular.
(2) Advance, Reimbursement.
(a) “Advance” means money or credits received by a taxpayer from a customer or client with which the taxpayer is to pay costs or fees on behalf of the customer or client.
(b) “Reimbursement” means money or credits received from a customer or client to repay the taxpayer for money or credits expended by the taxpayer in payment of costs or fees of the customer or client.
(3) “Agricultural product” means any product of plant cultivation or animal husbandry including, but not limited to: a product of horticulture, grain cultivation, vermiculture, viticulture, or aquaculture as defined in RCW 15.85.020; plantation Christmas trees; turf; or any animal including but not limited to an animal that is a private sector cultured aquatic product as defined in RCW 15.85.020, or a bird, or insect, or the substances obtained from such an animal. “Agricultural product” does not include animals intended to be pets.
(4) “Business” includes all activities engaged in with the object of gain, benefit, or advantage to the taxpayer or to another person or class, directly or indirectly.
(5) “Business and occupation tax” or “gross receipts tax” means a tax imposed on or measured by the value of products, the gross income of the business, or the gross proceeds of sales, as the case may be, and that is the legal liability of the business.
(6) “Commercial or industrial use” means the following uses of products, including by-products, by the extractor or manufacturer thereof:
(a) Any use as a consumer; and
(b) The manufacturing of articles, substances or commodities.
(7) “Competitive telephone service” means the providing by any person of telecommunications equipment or apparatus, or services related to that equipment or apparatus such as repair or maintenance service, if the equipment or apparatus is of a type which can be provided by persons that are not subject to regulation as telephone companies under Title 80 RCW and for which a separate charge is made.
(8) “Consumer” means the following:
(a) Any person who purchases, acquires, owns, holds, or uses any tangible or intangible personal property irrespective of the nature of the person’s business and including, among others, without limiting the scope hereof, persons who install, repair, clean, alter, improve, construct, or decorate real or personal property of or for a consumer other than for the purpose of:
(i) Resale as tangible or intangible personal property in the regular course of business;
(ii) Incorporating such property as an ingredient or component of real or personal property when installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, imprinting, improving, constructing, or decorating such real or personal property of or for consumers;
(iii) Incorporating such property as an ingredient or component of a new product or as a chemical used in processing a new product when the primary purpose of such chemical is to create a chemical reaction directly through contact with an ingredient of a new product; or
(iv) Consuming the property in producing ferrosilicon which is subsequently used in producing magnesium for sale, if the primary purpose of such property is to create a chemical reaction directly through contact with an ingredient of ferrosilicon;
(b) Any person engaged in any business activity taxable under DMMC 3.84.060, Imposition of the tax – Tax or fee levied;
(c) Any person who purchases, acquires, or uses any competitive telephone service as herein defined, other than for resale in the regular course of business;
(d) Any person who purchases, acquires, or uses any personal, business, or professional service defined as a retail sale or retail service in this section, other than for resale in the regular course of business;
(e) Any person who is an end user of software;
(f) Any person engaged in the business of “public road construction” in respect to tangible personal property when that person incorporates the tangible personal property as an ingredient or component of a publicly owned street, place, road, highway, easement, right-of-way, mass public transportation terminal or parking facility, bridge, tunnel, or trestle by installing, placing or spreading the property in or upon the right-of-way of a publicly owned street, place, road, highway, easement, bridge, tunnel, or trestle or in or upon the site of a publicly owned mass public transportation terminal or parking facility;
(g) Any person who is an owner, lessee or has the right of possession to or an easement in real property which is being constructed, repaired, decorated, improved, or otherwise altered by a person engaged in business;
(h) Any person who is an owner, lessee, or has the right of possession to personal property which is being constructed, repaired, improved, cleaned, imprinted, or otherwise altered by a person engaged in business;
(i) Any person engaged in “government contracting.” Any such person shall be a consumer within the meaning of this subsection in respect to tangible personal property incorporated into, installed in, or attached to such building or other structure by such person;
(j) Nothing contained in this or any other subsection of this section shall be construed to modify any other definition of “consumer.”
(9) “Day care homes in residences” means child and adult day care facilities in residences otherwise occupied as private homes.
(10) “Director” means the finance director of the city or any officer, agent or employee of the city designated by the city manager to act on the director’s behalf.
(11) “Delivery” means the transfer of possession of tangible personal property between the seller and the buyer or the buyer’s representative. Delivery to an employee of a buyer is considered delivery to the buyer. Transfer of possession of tangible personal property occurs when the buyer or the buyer’s representative first takes physical control of the property or exercises dominion and control over the property. “Dominion and control” means the buyer has the ability to put the property to the buyer’s own purposes. It means the buyer or the buyer’s representative has made the final decision to accept or reject the property, and the seller has no further right to possession of the property and the buyer has no right to return the property to the seller, other than under a warranty contract. A buyer does not exercise domain and control over tangible personal property merely by arranging for shipment of the property from the seller to itself. A buyer’s representative is a person, other than an employee of the buyer, who is authorized in writing by the buyer to receive tangible personal property and take dominion and control by making the final decision to accept or reject the property. Neither a shipping company nor a seller can serve as a buyer’s representative. It is immaterial where the contract of sale is negotiated or where the buyer obtains title to the property. Delivery terms and other provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code (Title 62A RCW) do not determine when or where delivery of tangible personal property occurs for purposes of taxation.
(12) “Eligible gross receipts tax” means a tax which:
(a) Is imposed on the act or privilege of engaging in business activities within DMMC 3.84.060, Imposition of the tax – Tax or fee levied; and
(b) Is measured by the gross volume of business, in terms of gross receipts and is not an income tax or value added tax; and
(c) Is not, pursuant to law or custom, separately stated from the sales price; and
(d) Is not a sales or use tax, business license fee, franchise fee, royalty or severance tax measured by volume or weight, or concession charge, or payment for the use and enjoyment of property, property right or a privilege; and
(e) Is a tax imposed by a local jurisdiction, whether within or without the state of Washington, and not by a country, state, province, or any other nonlocal jurisdiction above the county level.
(13) Engaging in Business.
(a) The term “engaging in business” means commencing, conducting, or continuing in business, and also the exercise of corporate or franchise powers, as well as liquidating a business when the liquidators thereof hold themselves out to the public as conducting such business.
(b) This section sets forth examples of activities that constitute engaging in business in the city, and establishes safe harbors for certain of those activities so that a person who meets the criteria may engage in de minimus business activities in the city without having to register and obtain a business license or pay city business and occupation taxes. The activities listed in this section are illustrative only and are not intended to narrow the definition of “engaging in business” in subsection (13)(a) of this section. If an activity is not listed, whether it constitutes engaging in business in the city shall be determined by considering all the facts and circumstances and applicable law.
(c) Without being all-inclusive, any one of the following activities conducted within the city by a person, or its employee, agent, representative, independent contractor, broker or another acting on its behalf constitutes engaging in business and requires a person to register and obtain a business license:
(i) Owning, renting, leasing, maintaining, or having the right to use, or using, tangible personal property, intangible personal property, or real property permanently or temporarily located in the city.
(ii) Owning, renting, leasing, using, or maintaining an office, place of business, or other establishment in the city.
(iii) Soliciting sales.
(iv) Making repairs or providing maintenance or service to real or tangible personal property, including warranty work and property maintenance.
(v) Providing technical assistance or service, including quality control, product inspections, warranty work, or similar services on or in connection with tangible personal property sold by the person or on its behalf.
(vi) Installing, constructing, or supervising installation or construction of real or tangible personal property.
(vii) Soliciting, negotiating, or approving franchise, license, or other similar agreements.
(viii) Collecting current or delinquent accounts.
(ix) Picking up and transporting tangible personal property, solid waste, construction debris, or excavated materials.
(x) Providing disinfecting and pest control services, employment and labor pool services, home nursing care, janitorial services, appraising, landscape architectural services, security system services, surveying, and real estate services including the listing of homes and managing real property.
(xi) Rendering professional services such as those provided by accountants, architects, attorneys, auctioneers, consultants, engineers, professional athletes, barbers, baseball clubs and other sports organizations, chemists, consultants, psychologists, court reporters, dentists, doctors, detectives, laboratory operators, teachers, and veterinarians.
(xii) Meeting with customers or potential customers, even when no sales or orders are solicited at the meetings.
(xiii) Training or recruiting agents, representatives, independent contractors, brokers or others, domiciled or operating on a job in the city, acting on its behalf, or for customers or potential customers.
(xiv) Investigating, resolving, or otherwise assisting in resolving customer complaints.
(xv) In-store stocking or manipulating products or goods, sold to and owned by a customer, regardless of where sale and delivery of the goods took place.
(xvi) Delivering goods in vehicles owned, rented, leased, used, or maintained by the person or another acting on its behalf.
(xvii) Accepting or executing a contract with the city, irrespective of whether goods or services are delivered within or without the city, or whether the person’s office or place of business is within or without the city.
(d) If a person, or its employee, agent, representative, independent contractor, broker or another acting on the person’s behalf, engages in no other activities in or with the city but the following, it need not register and obtain a business license and pay tax.
(i) Meeting with suppliers of goods and services as a customer.
(ii) Meeting with government representatives in their official capacity, other than those performing contracting or purchasing functions.
(iii) Attending meetings, such as board meetings, retreats, seminars, and conferences, or other meetings wherein the person does not provide training in connection with tangible personal property sold by the person or on its behalf.
(iv) Renting tangible or intangible property as a customer when the property is not used in the city.
(v) Attending, but not participating in, a “trade show” or “multiple vendor events.” Persons participating at a trade show shall review the city’s trade show or multiple vendor event ordinances.
(vi) Conducting advertising through the mail.
(vii) Soliciting sales by phone from a location outside the city.
(e) A seller located outside the city merely delivering goods into the city by means of common carrier is not required to register and obtain a business license; provided, that it engages in no other business activities in the city. Such activities do not include those in subsection (13)(d) of this section. The city expressly intends that engaging in business include any activity sufficient to establish nexus for purposes of applying the tax under the law and the Constitutions of the United States and the state of Washington. Nexus is presumed to continue as long as the taxpayer benefits from the activity that constituted the original nexus generating contact or subsequent contacts.
(14) “Extracting” is the activity engaged in by an extractor and is reportable under the extracting classification.
(15) “Extractor” means every person who from the person’s own land or from the land of another under a right or license granted by lease or contract, either directly or by contracting with others for the necessary labor or mechanical services, for sale or for commercial or industrial use, mines, quarries, takes or produces coal, oil, natural gas, ore, stone, sand, gravel, clay, mineral or other natural resource product; or fells, cuts or takes timber, Christmas trees, other than plantation Christmas trees, or other natural products; or takes fish, shellfish, or other sea or inland water foods or products. “Extractor” does not include persons performing under contract the necessary labor or mechanical services for others, or persons meeting the definition of farmer.
(16) “Extractor for hire” means a person who performs under contract necessary labor or mechanical services for an extractor.
(17) “Farmer” means any person engaged in the business of growing or producing, upon the person’s own lands or upon the lands in which the person has a present right of possession, any agricultural product whatsoever for sale. “Farmer” does not include a person using such products as ingredients in a manufacturing process, or a person growing or producing such products for the person’s own consumption. “Farmer” does not include a person selling any animal or substance obtained therefrom in connection with the person’s business of operating a stockyard or a slaughter or packing house. “Farmer” does not include any person in respect to the business of taking, cultivating, or raising timber.
(18) “Gross income of the business” means the value proceeding or accruing by reason of the transaction of the business engaged in and includes gross proceeds of sales, compensation for the rendition of services, gains realized from trading in stocks, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness, interest, discount, rents, royalties, fees, commissions, dividends, and other emoluments however designated, all without any deduction on account of the cost of tangible property sold, the cost of materials used, labor costs, interest, discount, delivery costs, taxes, or any other expense whatsoever paid or accrued and without any deduction on account of losses.
(19) “Gross proceeds of sales” means the value proceeding or accruing from the sale of tangible personal property or for services rendered, without any deduction on account of the cost of property sold, the cost of materials used, labor costs, interest, discount paid, delivery costs, taxes, or any other expense whatsoever paid or accrued and without any deduction on account of losses.
(20) “In this city” or “within this city” includes all federal areas lying within the corporate city limits of the city of Des Moines.
(21) “Manufacturing” means the activity conducted by a manufacturer and is reported under the manufacturing classification.
(22) Manufacturer, To Manufacture.
(a) “Manufacturer” means every person who, either directly or by contracting with others for the necessary labor or mechanical services, manufactures for sale or for commercial or industrial use from the person’s own materials or ingredients any products. When the owner of equipment or facilities furnishes, or sells to the customer prior to manufacture, materials or ingredients equal to less than 20 percent of the total value of all materials or ingredients that become a part of the finished product, the owner of the equipment or facilities will be deemed to be a processor for hire, and not a manufacturer. A business not located in this city that is the owner of materials or ingredients processed for it in this city by a processor for hire shall be deemed to be engaged in business as a manufacturer in this city.
(b) “To manufacture” means all activities of a commercial or industrial nature wherein labor or skill is applied, by hand or machinery, to materials or ingredients so that as a result thereof a new, different or useful product is produced for sale or commercial or industrial use, and shall include:
(i) The production of special-made or custom-made articles;
(ii) The production of dental appliances, devices, restorations, substitutes, or other dental laboratory products by a dental laboratory or dental technician;
(iii) Crushing and/or blending of rock, sand, stone, gravel, or ore; and
(iv) The producing of articles for sale, or for commercial or industrial use from raw materials or prepared materials by giving such materials, articles, and substances of trade or commerce new forms, qualities, properties or combinations including, but not limited to, such activities as making, fabricating, processing, refining, mixing, slaughtering, packing, aging, curing, mild curing, preserving, canning, and the preparing and freezing of fresh fruits and vegetables.
“To manufacture” shall not include the production of computer software if the computer software is delivered from the seller to the purchaser by means other than tangible storage media, including the delivery by use of a tangible storage media where the tangible storage media is not physically transferred to the purchaser.
(23) Newspaper, Magazine, Periodical.
(a) “Newspaper” means a publication offered for sale regularly at stated intervals at least once a week and printed on newsprint in tabloid or broadsheet format folded loosely together without stapling, glue, or any other binding of any kind.
(b) “Magazine” or “periodical” mean any printed publication, other than a newspaper, issued and offered for sale regularly at stated intervals at least once every three months, including any supplement or special edition of the publication. Any publication meeting this definition qualifies regardless of its content.
(24) “Office” or “place of business” means a fixed location or permanent facility where the regular business of the person is conducted and which is either owned by the person or over which the person exercises legal dominion and control. The regular business of the person is presumed conducted at a location:
(a) Whose address the person uses as its business mailing address; and
(b) Containing a telephone line listed in a public telephone directory or other similar publication under the business name; and
(c) Where the person holds itself out to the general public as conducting its regular business through signage or other means; and
(d) Where the person is required to obtain any appropriate state and local business license or registration unless they are exempted by law from such requirement.
A vehicle such as a pick-up, van, truck, boat or other motor vehicle is not an office or place of business. A post office box is not an office or place of business. If a person has no office or place of business, the person’s home or apartment within the city will be deemed the place of business. If a person has an office or place of business, the person’s home is not an office or place of business unless it meets the criteria for office or place of business above.
(25) “Person” means any individual, receiver, administrator, executor, assignee, trustee in bankruptcy, trust, estate, firm, co-partnership, joint venture, club, company, joint stock company, business trust, municipal corporation, political subdivision of the state of Washington, corporation, limited liability company, association, society, or any group of individuals acting as a unit, whether mutual, cooperative, fraternal, nonprofit, or otherwise and the United States or any instrumentality thereof.
(26) “Precious metal bullion” means any precious metal which has been put through a process of smelting or refining, including, but not limited to, gold, silver, platinum, rhodium, and palladium, and which is in such state or condition that its value depends upon its contents and not upon its form. For purposes of this section, “monetized bullion” means coins or other forms of money manufactured from gold, silver, or other metals and heretofore, now, or hereafter used as a medium of exchange under the laws of this state, the United States, or any foreign nation, but does not include coins or money sold to be manufactured into jewelry or works of art.
(27) “Processing for hire” means the performance of labor and mechanical services upon materials or ingredients belonging to others so that as a result a new, different or useful product is produced for sale, or commercial or industrial use. A processor for hire is any person who would be a manufacturer if that person were performing the labor and mechanical services upon that person’s own materials or ingredients. If a person furnishes, or sells to the customer prior to manufacture, materials or ingredients equal to 20 percent or more of the total value of all materials or ingredients that become a part of the finished product the person will be deemed to be a manufacturer and not a processor for hire.
(28) Product, By-product.
(a) “Product” means a tangible personal property, including articles, substances, or commodities created, brought forth, extracted, or manufactured by human or mechanical effort.
(b) “By-product” means any additional product, other than the principal or intended product, which results from extracting or manufacturing activities and which has a market value, without regard to whether or not such additional product was an expected or intended result of the extracting or manufacturing activities.
(29) “Reporting period” means:
(a) A one-month period beginning the first day of each calendar month (monthly); or
(b) A three-month period beginning the first day of January, April, July or October of each year (quarterly); or
(c) A 12-month period beginning the first day of January of each year (annual).
(30) “Retailing” means the activity of engaging in making sales at retail and is reported under the retailing classification.
(31) “Retail service” shall include the sale of or charge made for personal, business, or professional services including amounts designated as interest, rents, fees, admission, and other service emoluments however designated, received by persons engaging in the following business activities:
(a) Amusement and recreation services including but not limited to golf, pool, billiards, skating, bowling, swimming, bungee jumping, ski lifts and tows, basketball, racquet ball, handball, squash, tennis, batting cages, day trips for sight-seeing purposes, and others, when provided to consumers. “Amusement and recreation services” also include the provision of related facilities such as basketball courts, tennis courts, handball courts, swimming pools, and charges made for providing the opportunity to dance. The term “amusement and recreation services” does not include instructional lessons to learn a particular activity such as tennis lessons, swimming lessons, or archery lessons;
(b) Abstract, title insurance, and escrow services;
(c) Credit bureau services;
(d) Automobile parking and storage garage services;
(e) Landscape maintenance and horticultural services but excluding (i) horticultural services provided to farmers and (ii) pruning, trimming, repairing, removing, and clearing of trees and brush near electric transmission or distribution lines or equipment, if performed by or at the direction of an electric utility;
(f) Service charges associated with tickets to professional sporting events; and
(g) The following personal services: Physical fitness services, tanning salon services, tattoo parlor services, steam bath services, Turkish bath services, escort services, and dating services.
(h) The term shall also include the renting or leasing of tangible personal property to consumers and the rental of equipment with an operator.
(32) “Return” means any document a person is required by the city to file to satisfy or establish a tax or fee obligation that is administered or collected by the city and that has a statutorily defined due date.
(33) “Royalties” means compensation for the use of intangible property, such as copyrights, patents, licenses, franchises, trademarks, tradenames, and similar items.
(34) Sale, Casual or Isolated Sale.
(a) “Sale” means any transfer of the ownership of, title to, or possession of, property for a valuable consideration and includes any activity classified as a “sale at retail,” “retail sale,” or “retail service.” It includes renting or leasing, conditional sale contracts, leases with option to purchase, and any contract under which possession of the property is given to the purchaser but title is retained by the vendor as security for the payment of the purchase price. It also includes the furnishing of food, drink, or meals for compensation whether consumed upon the premises or not.
(b) “Casual or Isolated Sale” means a sale made by a person who is not engaged in the business of selling the type of property involved on a routine or continuous basis.
(35) Sale at Retail, Retail Sale.
(a) “Sale at retail” or “retail sale” means every sale of tangible personal property (including articles produced, fabricated, or imprinted) to all persons irrespective of the nature of their business and including, among others, without limiting the scope hereof, persons who install, repair, clean, alter, improve, construct, or decorate real or personal property of or for consumers, other than a sale to a person who presents a resale certificate under RCW 82.04.470 and who:
(i) Purchases for the purpose of resale as tangible personal property in the regular course of business without intervening use by such person; or
(ii) Installs, repairs, cleans, alters, imprints, improves, constructs, or decorates real or personal property of or for consumers, if such tangible personal property becomes an ingredient or component of such real or personal property without intervening use by such person; or
(iii) Purchases for the purpose of consuming the property purchased in producing for sale a new article of tangible personal property or substance, of which such property becomes an ingredient or component or is a chemical used in processing, when the primary purpose of such chemical is to create a chemical reaction directly through contact with an ingredient of a new article being produced for sale; or
(iv) Purchases for the purpose of consuming the property purchased in producing ferrosilicon which is subsequently used in producing magnesium for sale, if the primary purpose of such property is to create a chemical reaction directly through contact with an ingredient of ferrosilicon; or
(v) Purchases for the purpose of providing the property to consumers as part of competitive telephone service, as defined in RCW 82.04.065.
The term shall include every sale of tangible personal property which is used or consumed or to be used or consumed in the performance of any activity classified as a “sale at retail” or “retail sale” even though such property is resold or utilized as provided in subsection (35)(a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) of this section following such use.
(vi) Purchases for the purpose of satisfying the person’s obligations under an extended warranty as defined in subsection (35)(g) of this section, if such tangible personal property replaces or becomes an ingredient or component of property covered by the extended warranty without intervening use by such person.
(b) “Sale at retail” or “retail sale” also means every sale of tangible personal property to persons engaged in any business activity which is taxable under DMMC 3.84.060(1)(g).
(c) “Sale at retail” or “retail sale” shall include the sale of or charge made for tangible personal property consumed and/or for labor and services rendered in respect to the following:
(i) The installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, imprinting, or improving of tangible personal property of or for consumers, including charges made for the mere use of facilities in respect thereto, but excluding charges made for the use of coin-operated laundry facilities when such facilities are situated in an apartment house, rooming house, or mobile home park for the exclusive use of the tenants thereof, and also excluding sales of laundry service to nonprofit health care facilities, and excluding services rendered in respect to live animals, birds and insects;
(ii) The constructing, repairing, decorating, or improving of new or existing buildings or other structures under, upon, or above real property of or for consumers, including the installing or attaching of any article of tangible personal property therein or thereto, whether or not such personal property becomes a part of the realty by virtue of installation, and shall also include the sale of services or charges made for the clearing of land and the moving of earth excepting the mere leveling of land used in commercial farming or agriculture;
(iii) The charge for labor and services rendered in respect to constructing, repairing, or improving any structure upon, above, or under any real property owned by an owner who conveys the property by title, possession, or any other means to the person performing such construction, repair, or improvement for the purpose of performing such construction, repair, or improvement and the property is then reconveyed by title, possession, or any other means to the original owner;
(iv) The sale of or charge made for labor and services rendered in respect to the cleaning, fumigating, razing or moving of existing buildings or structures, but shall not include the charge made for janitorial services; and for purposes of this section the term “janitorial services” shall mean those cleaning and caretaking services ordinarily performed by commercial janitor service businesses including, but not limited to, wall and window washing, floor cleaning and waxing, and the cleaning in place of rugs, drapes and upholstery. The term “janitorial services” does not include painting, papering, repairing, furnace or septic tank cleaning, snow removal or sandblasting;
(v) The sale of or charge made for labor and services rendered in respect to automobile towing and similar automotive transportation services, but not in respect to those required to report and pay taxes under chapter 82.16 RCW;
(vi) The sale of and charge made for the furnishing of lodging and all other services, except telephone business and cable service, by a hotel, rooming house, tourist court, motel, trailer camp, and the granting of any similar license to use real property, as distinguished from the renting or leasing of real property, and it shall be presumed that the occupancy of real property for a continuous period of one month or more constitutes a rental or lease of real property and not a mere license to use or enjoy the same. For the purposes of this subsection, it shall be presumed that the sale of and charge made for the furnishing of lodging for a continuous period of one month or more to a person is a rental or lease of real property and not a mere license to enjoy the same;
(vii) The sale of or charge made for tangible personal property, labor and services to persons taxable under subsections (35)(c)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of this section when such sales or charges are for property, labor and services which are used or consumed in whole or in part by such persons in the performance of any activity defined as a “sale at retail” or “retail sale” even though such property, labor and services may be resold after such use or consumption. Nothing contained in this subsection shall be construed to modify subsection (34)(a) of this section and nothing contained in subsection (33)(a) of this section shall be construed to modify this subsection.
(d) “Sale at retail” or “retail sale” shall also include the providing of competitive telephone service to consumers.
(e) “Sale at retail” or “retail sale” shall also include the sale of canned software other than a sale to a person who presents a resale certificate under RCW 82.04.470, regardless of the method of delivery to the end user, but shall not include custom software or the customization of canned software.
(f) “Sale at retail” or “retail sale” shall also include the sale of or charge made for labor and services rendered in respect to the building, repairing, or improving of any street, place, road, highway, easement, right-of-way, mass public transportation terminal or parking facility, bridge, tunnel, or trestle which is owned by a municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state, the state of Washington, or by the United States and which is used or to be used primarily for foot or vehicular traffic including mass transportation vehicles of any kind (public road construction).
(g) “Sale at retail” or “retail sale” shall also include the sale of or charge made for an extended warranty to a consumer. For purposes of this subsection, “extended warranty” means an agreement for a specified duration to perform the replacement or repair of tangible personal property at no additional charge or a reduced charge for tangible personal property, labor, or both, or to provide indemnification for the replacement or repair of tangible personal property, based on the occurrence of specified events. The term “extended warranty” does not include an agreement, otherwise meeting the definition of extended warranty in this subsection, if no separate charge is made for the agreement and the value of the agreement is included in the sales price of the tangible personal property covered by the agreement.
(h) “Sale at retail” or “retail sale” shall also include the sale of or charge made for labor and services rendered in respect to the constructing, repairing, decorating, or improving of new or existing buildings or other structures under, upon, or above real property of or for the United States, any instrumentality thereof, or a county or city housing authority created pursuant to chapter 35.82 RCW, including the installing, or attaching of any article of tangible personal property therein or thereto, whether or not such personal property becomes a part of the realty by virtue of installation (government contracting).
(i) “Sale at retail” or “retail sale” shall not include the sale of services or charges made for the clearing of land and the moving of earth of or for the United States, any instrumentality thereof, or a county or city housing authority. Nor shall the term include the sale of services or charges made for cleaning up for the United States, or its instrumentalities, radioactive waste and other by-products of weapons production and nuclear research and development.
(j) “Sale at retail” or “retail sale” shall not include the sale of or charge made for labor and services rendered for environmental remedial action.
(36) “Sale at wholesale” or “wholesale sale” means any sale of tangible personal property which is not a retail sale, and any charge made for labor and services rendered for persons who are not consumers, in respect to real or personal property and retail services, if such charge is expressly defined as a retail sale or retail service when rendered to or for consumers. Sale at wholesale also includes the sale of telephone business to another telecommunications company as defined in RCW 80.04.010 for the purpose of resale, as contemplated by RCW 35.21.715.
(37) “Services.” At such time as chapter 82.04 RCW defines “services,” that definition shall apply. Until such time as chapter 82.04 RCW shall define “services,” “services” means all business activities not defined elsewhere in this section.
(38) Software, Canned Software, Custom Software, Customization of Canned Software, Master Copies, Retained Rights.
(a) “Canned software” means software that is created for sale to more than one person. For purposes of this chapter, canned software is deemed to be tangible personal property regardless of the method of delivery, tangible media (e.g., disk or installed on hardware) or intangible (e.g., electronically over telecommunications paths).
(b) “Custom software” means software created for a single person.
(c) “Customization of canned software” means any alteration, modification, or development of applications using or incorporating canned software to specific individualized requirements of a single person. Customization of canned software includes individualized configuration of software to work with other software and computer hardware, but does not include routine installation. Customization of canned software does not change the underlying character or taxability of the original canned software.
(d) “Master copies” of software means copies of software from which a software developer, author, inventor, publisher, licensor, sublicensor, or distributor makes copies for sale or license. The software encoded on a master copy and the media upon which the software resides are both ingredients of the master copy.
(e) “Retained rights” means any and all rights, including intellectual property rights such as those rights arising from copyrights, patents, and trade secret laws, that are owned or are held under contract or license by a software developer, author, inventor, publisher, licensor, sublicensor, or distributor.
(f) “Software” means any information, program, or routine, or any set of one or more programs, routines, or collections of information used, or intended for use, to convey information that causes one or more computers or pieces of computer-related peripheral equipment, or any combination thereof, to perform a task or set of tasks. “Software” includes the associated documentation, materials, or ingredients regardless of the media upon which that documentation is provided, that describes the code and its use, operation, and maintenance and that typically is delivered with the code to the consumer. All software is classified as either canned or custom.
(39) “Successor” means any person to whom a taxpayer quitting, selling out, exchanging, or disposing of a business sells or otherwise conveys, directly or indirectly, in bulk and not in the ordinary course of the taxpayer’s business, any part of the materials, supplies, merchandise, inventory, fixtures, or equipment of the taxpayer. Any person obligated to fulfill the terms of a contract shall be deemed a successor to any contractor defaulting in the performance of any contract as to which such person is a surety or guarantor.
(40) “Tax year” or “taxable year” means the calendar year.
(41) “Taxpayer” means any “person,” as herein defined, required to have a business license under this chapter or liable for the collection of any tax or fee under this chapter, or who engages in any business or who performs any act for which a tax or fee is imposed by this chapter.
(42) “Tuition fee” includes library, laboratory, health service and other special fees, and amounts charged for room and board by an educational institution when the property or service for which such charges are made is furnished exclusively to the students or faculty of such institution. “Educational institution,” as used in this section, means only those institutions created or generally accredited as such by the state and includes educational programs that such educational institution cosponsors with a nonprofit organization, as defined by the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), as hereafter amended, if such educational institution grants college credit for coursework successfully completed through the educational program, or an approved branch campus of a foreign degree-granting institution in compliance with chapter 28B.90 RCW, and in accordance with RCW 82.04.4332 or defined as a degree-granting institution under RCW 28B.85.010(3) and accredited by an accrediting association recognized by the United States Secretary of Education, and offering to students an educational program of a general academic nature or those institutions which are not operated for profit and which are privately endowed under a deed of trust to offer instruction in trade, industry, and agriculture, but not including specialty schools, business colleges, other trade schools, or similar institutions.
(43) “Value proceeding or accruing” means the consideration, whether money, credits, rights, or other property expressed in terms of money, a person is entitled to receive or which is actually received or accrued. The term shall be applied, in each case, on a cash receipts or accrual basis according to which method of accounting is regularly employed in keeping the books of the taxpayer.
(44) “Value of products.”
(a) The “value of products,” including by-products, extracted or manufactured, shall be determined by the gross proceeds derived from the sale thereof whether such sale is at wholesale or at retail, to which shall be added all subsidies and bonuses received from the purchaser or from any other person with respect to the extraction, manufacture, or sale of such products or by-products by the seller.
(b) Where such products, including by-products, are extracted or manufactured for commercial or industrial use; and where such products, including by-products, are shipped, transported or transferred out of the city, or to another person, without prior sale or are sold under circumstances such that the gross proceeds from the sale are not indicative of the true value of the subject matter of the sale; the value shall correspond as nearly as possible to the gross proceeds from sales in this state of similar products of like quality and character, and in similar quantities by other taxpayers, plus the amount of subsidies or bonuses ordinarily payable by the purchaser or by any third person with respect to the extraction, manufacture, or sale of such products. In the absence of sales of similar products as a guide to value, such value may be determined upon a cost basis. In such cases, there shall be included every item of cost attributable to the particular article or article extracted or manufactured, including direct and indirect overhead costs. The director may prescribe rules for the purpose of ascertaining such values.
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (44)(b) of this section, the value of a product manufactured or produced for purposes of serving as a prototype for the development of a new or improved product shall correspond to (i) the retail selling price of such new or improved product when first offered for sale; or (ii) the value of materials incorporated into the prototype in cases in which the new or improved product is not offered for sale.
(45) “Wholesaling” means engaging in the activity of making sales at wholesale, and is reported under the wholesaling classification.
(46) Chapter 82.32 RCW References. Where provisions of Chapter 82.32 RCW are incorporated in DMMC 3.84.210, “department” as used in chapter 82.32 RCW shall refer to the finance director as defined in this section and “warrant” as used in chapter 82.32 RCW shall mean “citation or criminal complaint.” [Ord. 1417 § 3, 2007: Ord. 1416 § 4, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 3, 2004.]
3.84.040 Agency – Sales and services by agent, consignee, bailee, factor or auctioneer.
(1) Sales in Own Name – Sales or Purchases as Agent. Every person, including agents, consignees, bailees, factors or auctioneers having either actual or constructive possession of tangible personal property or having possession of the documents of title thereto, with power to sell such tangible personal property in the person’s own name and actually so selling shall be deemed the seller of such tangible personal property within the meaning of this chapter.
The burden shall be upon the taxpayer in every case to establish the fact that such taxpayer is not engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property but is acting merely as broker or agent in promoting sales or making purchases for a principal. Such claim will be recognized only when the contract or agreement between such persons clearly establishes the relationship of principal and agent and when the following conditions are complied with:
(a) The books and records of the broker or agent show the transactions were made in the name and for the account of the principal, and show the name of the actual owner of the property for whom the sale was made, or the actual buyer for whom the purchase was made.
(b) The books and records show the amount of the principal’s gross sales, the amount of commissions and any other incidental income derived by the broker or agent from such sales. The principal’s gross sales must not be reflected as the agent’s income on any of the agent’s books and records. Commissions must be computed according to a set percentage or amount, which is agreed upon in the agency agreement.
(c) No ownership rights may be conferred to the agent unless the principal refuses to pay, or refuses to abide by the agency agreement. Sales or purchases of any goods by a person who has any ownership rights in such goods shall be taxed as retail or wholesale sales.
(d) Bulk goods sold or purchased on behalf of a principal must not be co-mingled with goods belonging to another principal or lose their identity as belonging to the particular principal. Sales or purchases of any goods which have been co-mingled or lost their identity as belonging to the principal shall be taxed as retail or wholesale sales.
(2) If the above requirements are not met the consignor, bailor, principal or other shall be deemed a seller of such property to the agent, consignee, bailee, factor or auctioneer.
(3) Services in Own Name – Procuring Services as Agent. For purposes of this subsection, an agent is a person who acts under the direction and control of the principal in procuring services on behalf of the principal that the person could not itself render or supply. Amounts received by an agent for the account of its principal as advances or reimbursements are exempted from the measure of the tax only when the agent is not primarily or secondarily liable to pay for the services procured.
Any person who claims to be acting merely as agent in obtaining services for a principal will have such claim recognized only when the contract or agreement between such persons clearly establishes the relationship of principal and agent and when the following conditions are complied with:
(a) The books and records of the agent show that the services were obtained in the name and for the account of the principal, and show the actual principal for whom the purchase was made.
(b) The books and records show the amount of the service that was obtained for the principal, the amount of commissions and any other income derived by the agent for acting as such. Amounts received from the principal as advances and reimbursements must not be reflected as the agent’s income on any of the agent’s books and records. Commissions must be computed according to a set percentage or amount, which is agreed upon in the agency agreement. [Ord. 1355 § 4, 2004.]
3.84.050 Registration/license requirements.
Every person who engages in business activities within the city shall register for and obtain a business license from the city as required in chapter 5.04 DMMC. [Ord. 1355 § 5, 2004.]
3.84.060 Imposition of the tax – Tax or fee levied.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, there is hereby levied upon and shall be collected from every person a tax for the act or privilege of engaging in business activities within the city, whether the person’s office or place of business be within or without the city. The tax shall be in amounts to be determined by application of rates against gross proceeds of sale, gross income of business, or value of products, including by-products, as the case may be, as follows:
(a) Upon every person engaging within the city in business as an extractor; as to such persons the amount of the tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the value of the products, including by-products, extracted within the city for sale or for commercial or industrial use, multiplied by the rate of two-tenths of one percent. The measure of the tax is the value of the products, including by-products, so extracted, regardless of the place of sale or the fact that deliveries may be made to points outside the city.
(b) Upon every person engaging within the city in business as a manufacturer, as to such persons the amount of the tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the value of the products, including by-products, manufactured within the city, multiplied by the rate of two-tenths of one percent. The measure of the tax is the value of the products, including by-products, so manufactured, regardless of the place of sale or the fact that deliveries may be made to points outside the city.
(c) Upon every person engaging within the city in the business of making sales at wholesale, except persons taxable under subsection (2) of this section; as to such persons, the amount of tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the gross proceeds of such sales of the business without regard to the place of delivery of articles, commodities or merchandise sold, multiplied by the rate of two-tenths of one percent.
(d) Upon every person engaging within the city in the business of making sales at retail, as to such persons, the amount of tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the gross proceeds of such sales of the business, without regard to the place of delivery of articles, commodities or merchandise sold, multiplied by the rate of two-tenths of one percent.
(e) Upon every person engaging within the city in the business of (i) printing, (ii) both printing and publishing newspapers, magazines, periodicals, books, music, and other printed items, (iii) publishing newspapers, magazines and periodicals, (iv) extracting for hire, and (v) processing for hire; as to such persons, the amount of tax on such business shall be equal to the gross income of the business multiplied by the rate of two-tenths of one percent.
(f) Upon every person engaging within the city in the business of making sales of retail services; as to such persons, the amount of tax with respect to such business shall be equal to the gross proceeds of sales multiplied by the rate of two-tenths of one percent.
(g) Upon every other person engaging within the city in any business activity other than or in addition to those enumerated in the above subsections; as to such persons, the amount of tax on account of such activities shall be equal to the gross income of the business multiplied by the rate of two-tenths of one percent. This subsection includes, among others, and without limiting the scope hereof (whether or not title to material used in the performance of such business passes to another by accession, merger or other than by outright sale), persons engaged in the business of developing, or producing custom software or of customizing canned software, producing royalties or commissions, and persons engaged in the business of rendering any type of service which does not constitute a sale at retail, a sale at wholesale, or a retail service.
(2) The gross receipts tax imposed in this section shall not apply to any person whose gross proceeds of sales, gross income of the business, and value of products, including by-products, as the case may be, from all activities conducted within the city during any calendar year is equal to or less than $50,000. [Ord. 1416 § 5, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 6, 2004.]
3.84.070 Doing business with the city.
Except where such a tax is otherwise levied and collected by the city from such person, there is hereby levied a tax on the privilege of accepting or executing a contract with the city. Such tax shall be levied and collected whether goods or services are delivered within or without the city and whether or not such person has an office or place of business within or without the city.
Except as provided in DMMC 3.84.095, as to such persons the amount of tax shall be equal to the gross contract price multiplied by the rate under DMMC 3.84.060 that would otherwise apply if the sale or service were taxable pursuant to that section. [Ord. 1416 § 6, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 7, 2004.]
3.84.080 Multiple activities credit when activities take place in one or more cities with eligible gross receipt taxes.
(1) Persons who engage in business activities that are within the purview of two or more subsections of DMMC 3.84.060 shall be taxable under each applicable subsection.
(2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if imposition of the city’s tax would place an undue burden upon interstate commerce or violate constitutional requirements, a taxpayer shall be allowed a credit to the extent necessary to preserve the validity of the city’s tax, and still apply the city tax to as much of the taxpayer’s activities as may be subject to the city’s taxing authority.
(3) To take the credit authorized by this section, a taxpayer must be able to document that the amount of tax sought to be credited was paid upon the same gross receipts used in computing the tax against which the credit is applied.
(4) Credit for Persons That Sell in the City Products That They Extract or Manufacture. Persons taxable under the retailing or wholesaling classification with respect to selling products in this city shall be allowed a credit against those taxes for any eligible gross receipts taxes paid (a) with respect to the manufacturing of the products sold in the city, and (b) with respect to the extracting of the products, or the ingredients used in the products, sold in the city. The amount of the credit shall not exceed the tax liability arising under this chapter with respect to the sale of those products.
(5) Credit for Persons That Manufacture Products in the City Using Ingredients They Extract. Persons taxable under the manufacturing classification with respect to manufacturing products in this city shall be allowed a credit against those taxes for any eligible gross receipts tax paid with respect to extracting the ingredients of the products manufactured in the city. The amount of the credit shall not exceed the tax liability arising under this chapter with respect to the manufacturing of those products.
(6) Credit for Persons That Sell Within the City Products That They Print, or Publish and Print. Persons taxable under the retailing or wholesaling classification with respect to selling products in this city shall be allowed a credit against those taxes for any eligible gross receipts taxes paid with respect to the printing, or the printing and publishing, of the products sold within the city. The amount of the credit shall not exceed the tax liability arising under this chapter with respect to the sale of those products. [Ord. 1416 § 7, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 8, 2004.]
3.84.090 Deductions to prevent multiple taxation of manufacturing activities and prior to January 1, 2008, transactions involving more than one city with an eligible gross receipts tax.
(1) Amounts Subject to an Eligible Gross Receipts Tax in Another City That Also Maintains Nexus Over the Same Activity. For taxes due prior to January 1, 2008, a taxpayer that is subject to an eligible gross receipts tax on the same activity in more than one jurisdiction may be entitled to a deduction as follows:
(a) A taxpayer that has paid an eligible gross receipts tax, with respect to a sale of goods or services, to a jurisdiction in which the goods are delivered or the services are provided may deduct an amount equal to the gross receipts used to measure that tax from the measure of the tax owed to the city.
(b) Notwithstanding the above, a person that is subject to an eligible gross receipts tax in more than one jurisdiction on the gross income derived from intangibles such as royalties, trademarks, patents, or goodwill shall assign those gross receipts to the jurisdiction where the person is domiciled (its headquarters is located).
(c) A taxpayer that has paid an eligible gross receipts tax on the privilege of accepting or executing a contract with another city may deduct an amount equal to the contract price used to measure the tax due to the other city from the measure of the tax owed to the city.
(2) Person Manufacturing Products Within and Without. A person manufacturing products within the city using products manufactured by the same person outside the city may deduct from the measure of the manufacturing tax the value of products manufactured outside the city and included in the measure of an eligible gross receipts tax paid to the other jurisdiction with respect to manufacturing such products. [Ord. 1416 § 8, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 9, 2004.]
3.84.092 Assignment of gross income derived from intangibles.
Gross income derived from the sale of intangibles such as royalties, trademarks, patents, or goodwill shall be assigned to the jurisdiction where the person is domiciled (its headquarters is located). [Ord. 1416 § 9, 2007.]
3.84.095 Allocation and apportionment of income when activities take place in more than one jurisdiction.
Effective January 1, 2008, gross income, other than persons subject to the provisions of chapter 82.14A RCW, shall be allocated and apportioned as follows:
(1) Gross income derived from all activities other than those taxed as service or royalties under DMMC 3.84.060(1)(g) shall be allocated to the location where the activity takes place.
(2) In the case of sales of tangible personal property, the activity takes place where delivery to the buyer occurs.
(3) Gross income derived from activities taxed as services and other activities taxed under DMMC 3.84.060(1)(g) shall be apportioned to the city by multiplying apportionable income by a fraction, the numerator of which is the payroll factor plus the service-income factor and the denominator of which is two.
(a) The payroll factor is a fraction, the numerator of which is the total amount paid in the city during the tax period by the taxpayer for compensation and the denominator of which is the total compensation paid everywhere during the tax period. Compensation is paid in the city if:
(b) The individual is primarily assigned within the city.
(c) The individual is not primarily assigned to any place of business for the tax period and employee performs 50 percent or more of his or her service for the tax period in the city; or
(d) The individual is not primarily assigned to any place of business for the tax period, the individual does not perform 50 percent or more of his or her service in any city and the employee resides in the city.
(4) The service income factor is a fraction, the numerator of which is the total service income of the taxpayer in the city during the tax period, and the denominator of which is the total service income of the taxpayer everywhere during the tax period. Service income is in the city if:
(a) The customer location is in the city; or
(b) The income-producing activity is performed in more than one location and a greater proportion of the service-income-producing activity is performed in the city than in any other location, based on costs of performance, and the taxpayer is not taxable at the customer location; or
(c) The service-income-producing activity is performed within the city, and the taxpayer is not taxable in the customer location.
(5) If the allocation and apportionment provisions of this subsection do not fairly represent the extent of the taxpayer’s business activity in the city or cities in which the taxpayer does business, the taxpayer may petition for or the tax administrators may jointly require, in respect to all or any part of the taxpayer’s business activity, that one of the following methods be used jointly by the cities to allocate or apportion gross income, if reasonable:
(a) Separate accounting;
(b) The use of a single factor;
(c) The inclusion of one or more additional factors that will fairly represent the taxpayer’s business activity in the city; or
(d) The employment of any other method to effectuate an equitable allocation and apportionment of the taxpayer’s income.
(6) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section.
(a) “Apportionable income” means the gross income of the business taxable under the service classifications of a city’s gross receipts tax, including income received from activities outside the city if the income would be taxable under the service classification if received from activities within the city, less any exemptions or deductions available.
(b) “Compensation” means wages, salaries, commissions, and any other form of remuneration paid to individuals for personal services that are or would be included in the individual’s gross income under the Federal Internal Revenue Code.
(c) “Individual” means any individual who, under the usual common law rules applicable in determining the employer-employee relationship, has the status of an employee of that taxpayer.
(d) “Customer location” means the city or unincorporated area of a county where the majority of the contacts between the taxpayer and the customer take place.
(e) “Primarily assigned” means the business location of the taxpayer where the individual performs his or her duties.
(f) “Service-taxable income” or “service income” means gross income of the business subject to tax under either the service or royalty classification.
(g) “Tax period” means the calendar year during which tax liability is accrued. If taxes are reported by a taxpayer on a basis more frequent than once per year, taxpayers shall calculate the factors for the previous calendar year for reporting in the current calendar year and correct the reporting for the previous year when the factors are calculated for that year, but not later than the end of the first quarter of the following year.
(h) “Taxable in the customer location” means either that a taxpayer is subject to a gross receipts tax in the customer location for the privilege of doing business, or that the government where the customer is located has the authority to subject the taxpayer to gross receipts tax regardless of whether, in fact, the government does so.
(7) Assignment or apportionment of revenue under this section shall be made in accordance with and in full compliance with the provisions of the interstate commerce clause of the United States Constitution where applicable. [Ord. 1416 § 10, 2007.]
3.84.098 Allocation and apportionment of printing and publishing income when activities take place in more than one jurisdiction.
Notwithstanding RCW 35.102.130, effective January 1, 2008, gross income from the activities of printing, and of publishing newspapers, periodicals, or magazines, shall be allocated to the principal place in this state from which the taxpayer’s business is directed or managed. As used in this section, the activities of printing, and of publishing newspapers, periodicals, or magazines, have the same meanings as attributed to those terms in RCW 82.04.280(1) by the Department of Revenue. [Ord. 1416 § 11, 2007.]
3.84.100 Exemptions.
(1) Public Utilities. This chapter shall not apply to any person in respect to a business activity with respect to which tax liability is specifically imposed under the provisions of chapter 3.68 DMMC.
(2) Investments – Dividends from Subsidiary Corporations. This chapter shall not apply to amounts derived by persons, other than those engaging in banking, loan, security, or other financial businesses, from investments or the use of money as such, and also amounts derived as dividends by a parent from its subsidiary corporations.
(3) Employees.
(a) This chapter shall not apply to any person in respect to the person’s employment in the capacity as an employee or servant as distinguished from that of an independent contractor. For the purposes of this subsection, the definition of employee shall include those persons that are defined in the Internal Revenue Code, as hereafter amended.
(b) A booth renter is an independent contractor for purposes of this chapter.
(4) Amounts Derived from Sale of Real Estate. This chapter shall not apply to gross proceeds derived from the sale of real estate. This, however, shall not be construed to allow an exemption of amounts received as commissions from the sale of real estate, nor as fees, handling charges, discounts, interest or similar financial charges resulting from, or relating to, real estate transactions. This chapter shall also not apply to amounts received for the rental of real estate if the rental income is derived from a contract to rent for a continuous period of 30 days or longer.
(5) Mortgage Brokers’ Third-Party Provider Services Trust Accounts. This chapter shall not apply to amounts received from trust accounts to mortgage brokers for the payment of third-party costs if the accounts are operated in a manner consistent with RCW 19.146.050 and any rules adopted by the director of financial institutions.
(6) Amounts Derived from Manufacturing, Selling or Distributing Motor Vehicle Fuel. This chapter shall not apply to the manufacturing, selling, or distributing of motor vehicle fuel, as the term “motor vehicle fuel” is defined in RCW 82.36.010 and exempt under RCW 82.36.440; provided, that any fuel not subjected to the state fuel excise tax, or any other applicable deduction or exemption, will be taxable under this chapter.
(7) Amounts Derived from Liquor, and the Sale or Distribution of Liquor. This chapter shall not apply to liquor as defined in RCW 66.04.010 and exempt in RCW 66.08.120.
(8) Casual and Isolated Sales. This chapter shall not apply to the gross proceeds derived from casual or isolated sales.
(9) Accommodation Sales. This chapter shall not apply to sales for resale by persons regularly engaged in the business of making retail sales of the type of property so sold to other persons similarly engaged in the business of selling such property where (a) the amount paid by the buyer does not exceed the amount paid by the seller to the vendor in the acquisition of the article and (b) the sale is made as an accommodation to the buyer to enable the buyer to fill a bona fide existing order of a customer or is made within 14 days to reimburse in kind a previous accommodation sale by the buyer to the seller.
(10) Taxes Collected as Trust Funds. This chapter shall not apply to amounts collected by the taxpayer from third parties to satisfy third party obligations to pay taxes such as the retail sales tax, use tax, and admission tax.
(11) Nonprofit Activities. This chapter shall not apply to the nonprofit activities of religious, charitable, educational, benevolent, fraternal, or social organizations which have been determined by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States to be exempt from the payment of income tax.
(12) Governmental Activities. This section shall not apply to the exercise of governmental functions performed by any instrumentality of the United States, the state of Washington, or any political subdivision thereof. [Ord. 1416 § 12, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 10, 2004.]
3.84.110 Deductions.
In computing the license fee or tax, there may be deducted from the measure of tax the following items:
(1) Receipts from Tangible Personal Property Delivered Outside the State. In computing tax, there may be deducted from the measure of tax under retailing or wholesaling amounts derived from the sale of tangible personal property that is delivered by the seller to the buyer or the buyer’s representative at a location outside the state of Washington.
(2) Cash Discount Taken by Purchaser. In computing tax, there may be deducted from the measure of tax the cash discount amounts actually taken by the purchaser. This deduction is not allowed in arriving at the taxable amount under the extracting or manufacturing classifications with respect to articles produced or manufactured, the reported values of which, for the purposes of this tax, have been computed according to the “value of product” provisions.
(3) Credit Losses of Accrual Basis Taxpayers. In computing tax, there may be deducted from the measure of tax the amount of credit losses actually sustained by taxpayers whose regular books of account are kept upon an accrual basis.
(4) Constitutional Prohibitions. In computing tax, there may be deducted from the measure of the tax amounts derived from business which the city is prohibited from taxing under the Constitution of the State of Washington or the Constitution of the United States.
(5) Receipts from the Sale of Tangible Personal Property and Retail Services Delivered Outside the City but Within Washington. Effective January 1, 2008, amounts included in the gross receipts reported on the tax return derived from the sale of tangible personal property delivered to the buyer or the buyer’s representative outside the City but within the State of Washington may be deducted from the measure of tax under the retailing, retail services, or wholesaling classification.
(6) Professional Employer Services. In computing the tax, a professional employer organization may deduct from the calculation of gross income the gross income of the business derived from performing professional employer services that is equal to the portion of the fee charged to a client that represents the actual cost of wages and salaries, benefits, workers’ compensation, payroll taxes, withholding, or other assessments paid to or on behalf of a covered employee by the professional employer organization under a professional employer agreement.
(7) Sales at Wholesale or Retail of Precious Metal Bullion and Monetized Bullion. In computing tax, there may be deducted from the measure of the tax amounts derived from the sale at wholesale or retail of precious metal bullion and monetized bullion. However, no deduction is allowed on amounts received as commissions upon transactions for the accounts of customers over and above the amount paid to other dealers associated in such transactions, and no deduction or offset is allowed against such commissions on account of salaries or commissions paid to salesmen or other employees.
(8) Other Deductions. All other items allowed by the state of Washington as deductions from the business and occupation tax imposed by the state; provided, that the items being deducted have been included in the remaining income after having subtracted the exemptions in DMMC 3.84.100. [Ord. 1416 § 13, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 11, 2004.]
3.84.120 Tax part of overhead.
It is not the intention of this chapter that the taxes or fees herein levied upon persons engaging in business be construed as taxes or fees upon the purchasers or customers, but that such taxes or fees shall be levied upon, and collectible from, the person engaging in the business activities herein designated and that such taxes or fees shall constitute a part of the cost of doing business of such persons. [Ord. 1355 § 12, 2004.]
3.84.130 Administrative provisions – When due and payable – Reporting periods – Monthly, quarterly, and annual returns – Threshold provisions or relief from filing requirements – Computing time periods – Failure to file returns.
(1) Other than any annual license fee or registration fee assessed this chapter, the tax imposed by this chapter shall be due and payable in quarterly installments. At the director’s discretion, businesses may be assigned to a monthly or annual reporting period depending on the tax amount owing or type of tax. Tax payments are due on or before the last day of the next month following the end of the assigned reporting period covered by the return.
(2) Taxes shall be paid as provided in this section and accompanied by a return on forms as prescribed by the director. The return shall be signed by the taxpayer personally or by a responsible officer or agent of the taxpayer. The individual signing the return shall swear or affirm that the information in the return is complete and true.
(3) Tax returns must be filed and returned by the due date whether or not any tax is owed.
(4) For purposes of the tax imposed by DMMC 3.84.060, Imposition of the tax – Tax or fee levied, and as codified in this chapter, any person whose value of products, gross proceeds of sales, or gross income of the business, subject to tax after all allowable deductions, is equal to or less than $50,000 in the current calendar year, shall file a return, declare no tax due on their return, and submit the return to the director. The gross receipts and deduction amounts shall be entered on the tax return even though no tax may be due.
(5) A taxpayer that commences to engage in business activity shall file a return and pay the tax or fee for the portion of the reporting period during which the taxpayer is engaged in business activity.
(6) Except as otherwise specifically provided by any other provision of this section, in computing any period of days prescribed by this section the day of the act or event from which the designated period of time runs shall not be included. The last day of the period shall be included unless it is a Saturday, Sunday, or city or federal legal holiday, in which case the last day of such period shall be the next succeeding day which is neither a Saturday, Sunday, or city nor federal legal holiday.
(7) If any taxpayer fails, neglects or refuses to make a return as and when required in this section, the director is authorized to determine the amount of the tax or fees payable by obtaining facts and information upon which to base the director’s estimate of the tax or fees due. Such assessment shall be deemed prima facie correct and shall be the amount of tax owed to the city by the taxpayer. The director shall notify the taxpayer by mail of the amount of tax so determined, together with any penalty, interest, and fees due; the total of such amounts shall thereupon become immediately due and payable. [Ord. 1417 § 5, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 13, 2004.]
3.84.140 Administration, payment methods – Mailing returns or remittances – Time extension – Deposits – Recording payments – Payment must accompany return – NSF checks.
(1) Taxes shall be paid to the director in United States currency by bank draft, certified check, cashier’s check, personal check, money order, cash, or by wire transfer or electronic payment if such wire transfer or electronic payment is authorized by the director. If payment so received is not paid by the bank on which it is drawn, the taxpayer, by whom such payment is tendered, shall remain liable for payment of the tax and for all legal penalties, the same as if such payment had not been tendered. Acceptance of any sum by the director shall not discharge the tax or fee due unless the amount paid is the full amount due.
(2) A return or remittance that is transmitted to the city by United States mail shall be deemed filed or received on the date shown by the cancellation mark stamped by the post office upon the envelope containing it. The director may allow electronic filing of returns or remittances from any taxpayer. A return or remittance which is transmitted to the city electronically shall be deemed filed or received according to procedures set forth by the director.
(3) If a written request is received prior to the due date, the director, for good cause, may grant, in writing, additional time within which to make and file returns.
(4) The director shall keep full and accurate records of all funds received or refunded. The director shall apply payments first against all penalties and interest owing, and then upon the tax, without regard to any direction of the taxpayer.
(5) For any return not accompanied by a remittance of the tax shown to be due thereon, the taxpayer shall be deemed to have failed or refused to file a return and shall be subject to the penalties and interest provided in this chapter.
(6) Any payment made that is returned for lack of sufficient funds or for any other reason will not be considered received until payment by certified check, money order, or cash of the original amount due, plus a “nonsufficient funds” (NSF) charge of $20.00, is received by the director. Any license issued upon payment with an NSF check will be considered void, and shall be returned to the director. No license shall be reissued until payment (including the $20.00 NSF fee) is received.
(7) The director is authorized, but not required, to mail tax return forms to taxpayers, but failure of the taxpayer to receive any such forms shall not excuse the taxpayer from filing returns and making payment of the taxes or fees, when and as due under this chapter. [Ord. 1355 § 14, 2004.]
3.84.150 Administration, records to be preserved – Examination – Estoppel to question assessment.
Every person liable for any fee or tax imposed by this chapter shall keep and preserve, for a period of five years after filing a tax return, such records as may be necessary to determine the amount of any fee or tax for which the person may be liable; which records shall include copies of all federal income tax and state tax returns and reports made by the person. All books, records, papers, invoices, vendor lists, inventories, stocks of merchandise, and other data including federal income tax and state tax returns and reports shall be open for examination at any time by the director or its duly authorized agent. Every person’s business premises shall be open for inspection or examination by the director or a duly authorized agent.
(1) If a person does not keep the necessary books and records within the city, it shall be sufficient if such person (a) produces within the city such books and records as may be required by the director, or (b) bears the cost of examination by the director’s agent at the place where such books and records are kept; provided, that the person electing to bear such cost shall pay in advance to the director the estimated amount thereof including round-trip fare, lodging, meals and incidental expenses, subject to adjustment upon completion of the examination.
(2) Any person who fails, or refuses the director’s request, to provide or make available records, or to allow inspection or examination of the business premises, shall be forever barred from questioning in any court action the correctness of any assessment of taxes made by the city for any period for which such records have not been provided, made available or kept and preserved, or in respect of which inspection or examination of the business premises has been denied. The director is authorized to determine the amount of the tax or fees payable by obtaining facts and information upon which to base the estimate of the tax or fees due. Such fee or tax assessment shall be deemed prima facie correct and shall be the amount of tax owing the city by the taxpayer. The director shall notify the taxpayer by mail the amount of tax so determined, together with any penalty, interest, and fees due; the total of such amounts shall thereupon become immediately due and payable. [Ord. 1355 § 15, 2004.]
3.84.160 Administration – Accounting methods.
(1) A taxpayer may file tax returns in each reporting period with amounts based upon cash receipts only if the taxpayer’s books of account are kept on a cash receipts basis. A taxpayer that does not regularly keep books of account on a cash receipts basis must file returns with amounts based on the accrual method.
(2) The taxes imposed and the returns required hereunder shall be upon a calendar year basis. [Ord. 1355 § 16, 2004.]
3.84.170 Public work contracts – Payment of fee and tax before final payment for work.
The director may, before issuing any final payment to any person performing any public work contract for the city, require such person to pay in full all license fees or taxes due under this title from such person on account of such contract or otherwise, and may require such taxpayer to file with the director a verified list of all subcontractors supplying labor and/or materials to the person in connection with said public work. [Ord. 1355 § 17, 2004.]
3.84.180 Administrative provisions – Underpayment of tax, interest, or penalty – Interest.
(1) If, upon examination of any returns, or from other information obtained by the director, it appears that a tax or penalty less than that properly due has been paid, the director shall assess the additional amount found to be due and shall add thereto interest on the tax only. The director shall notify the person by mail of the additional amount, which shall become due and shall be paid within 30 days from the date of the notice, or within such time as the director may provide in writing.
(2) Interest computation for shortages or delinquencies.
(a) For tax periods after December 31, 2004, the director shall compute interest in accordance with RCW 82.32.050 as it now exists or as it may be amended.
(b) If subsection (2)(a) of this section is held to be invalid, then the provisions of RCW 82.32.050 existing December 12, 2007, shall apply. [Ord. 1417 § 6, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 18, 2004.]
3.84.190 Time in which assessment may be made.
The director shall not assess, or correct an assessment for, additional taxes, penalties, or interest due more than four years after the close of the calendar year in which they were incurred, except that the director may issue an assessment:
(1) Against a person who is not currently registered or licensed or has not filed a tax return as required by this chapter for taxes due within the period commencing 10 years prior to the close of the calendar year in which the person was contacted in writing by the director;
(2) Against a person that has committed fraud or who misrepresented a material fact; or
(3) Against a person that has executed a written waiver of such limitations. [Ord. 1355 § 19, 2004.]
3.84.200 Administrative provisions – Overpayment of tax, penalty, or interest – Credit or refund – Interest rate – Statute of limitations.
(1) If, upon receipt of an application for a refund, or during an audit or examination of the taxpayer’s records and tax returns, the director determines that the amount of tax, penalty, or interest paid is in excess of that properly due, the excess amount shall be credited to the taxpayer’s account or shall be refunded to the taxpayer. Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, no refund or credit shall be made for taxes, penalties, or interest paid more than four years prior to the beginning of the calendar year in which the refund application is made or examination of records is completed.
(2) The execution of a written waiver shall extend the time for applying for, or making a refund or credit of any taxes paid during, or attributable to, the years covered by the waiver if, prior to the expiration of the waiver period, an application for refund of such taxes is made by the taxpayer or the director discovers that a refund or credit is due.
(3) Refunds shall be made by means of vouchers approved by the director and by the issuance of a city check or warrants drawn upon and payable from such funds as the city may provide.
(4) Any final judgment for which a recovery is granted by any court of competent jurisdiction for tax, penalties, interest, or costs paid by any person shall be paid in the same manner, as provided in subsection (3) of this section, upon the filing with the director a certified copy of the order or judgment of the court.
(5) Interest computation for refunds or credits.
(a) For tax periods after December 31, 2004, the director shall compute interest on refunds or credits of amounts paid or other recovery allowed a taxpayer in accordance with RCW 82.32.060 as it now exists or as it may be amended.
(b) If subsection (5)(a) of this section is held to be invalid, then the provisions of RCW 82.32.060 existing on December 12, 2007, shall apply. [Ord. 1417 § 7, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 20, 2004.]
3.84.210 Administrative provisions – Late payment – Disregard of written instructions – Evasion – Penalties.
(1) If payment of any tax due on a return to be filed by a taxpayer is not received by the director by the due date, the director shall add a penalty in accordance with RCW 82.32.090(1), as it now exists or as it may be amended.
(2) If the director determines that any tax has been substantially underpaid as defined in RCW 82.32.090(2), there shall be added a penalty in accordance with RCW 82.32.090(2), as it now exists or as it may be amended.
(3) If a citation or criminal complaint is issued by the director for the collection of taxes, fees, assessments, interest or penalties, there shall be added thereto a penalty in accordance with RCW 82.32.090(3), as it now exists or as it may be amended.
(4) If the director finds that a person has engaged in any business or performed any act upon which a tax is imposed under this title and that person has not obtained from the director a license as required by chapter 5.04 DMMC, the director shall impose a penalty in accordance with RCW 82.32.090(4), as it now exists or as it may be amended. No penalty shall be imposed under this subsection (4) if the person who has engaged in business without a license obtains a license prior to being notified by the director of the need to be licensed.
(5) If the director determines that all or any part of a deficiency resulted from the taxpayer’s failure to follow specific written tax reporting instructions, there shall be assessed a penalty in accordance with RCW 82.32.090(5), as it now exists or as it may be amended.
(6) If the director finds that all or any part of the deficiency resulted from an intent to evade the tax payable, the director shall assess a penalty in accordance with RCW 82.32.090(6), as it now exists or as it may be amended.
(7) The penalties imposed under subsections (1) through (5) of this section can each be imposed on the same tax found to be due. This subsection does not prohibit or restrict the application of other penalties authorized by law.
(8) The director shall not impose both the evasion penalty and the penalty for disregarding specific written instructions on the same tax found to be due.
(9) For the purposes of this section, “return” means any document a person is required by the city of Des Moines to file to satisfy or establish a tax or fee obligation that is administered or collected by the city, and that has a statutorily defined due date.
(10) If incorporation into the DMMC of future changes to RCW 82.32.090 is deemed invalid, then the provisions of RCW 82.32.090 existing December 12, 2007, shall apply. [Ord. 1417 § 8, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 21, 2004.]
3.84.220 Administrative provisions – Cancellation of penalties.
(1) The director may cancel any penalties imposed under DMMC 3.84.210(1) if the taxpayer shows that its failure to timely file or pay the tax was due to reasonable cause and not wilful neglect. Wilful neglect is presumed unless the taxpayer shows that it exercised ordinary business care and prudence in making arrangements to file the return and pay the tax but was, nevertheless, due to circumstances beyond the taxpayer’s control, unable to file or pay by the due date. The director has no authority to cancel any other penalties or to cancel penalties for any other reason except as provided in subsection (3) of this section.
(2) A request for cancellation of penalties must be received by the director within 30 days after the date the department mails the notice that the penalties are due. The request must be in writing and contain competent proof of all pertinent facts supporting a reasonable cause determination. In all cases the burden of proving the facts rests upon the taxpayer.
(3) The director may cancel the penalties in DMMC 3.84.210(1) one time if a person:
(a) Is not currently licensed and filing returns;
(b) Was unaware of its responsibility to file and pay tax; and
(c) Obtained business licenses and filed past due tax returns within 30 days after being notified by the department.
(4) The director shall not cancel any interest charged upon amounts due. [Ord. 1417 § 9, 2007: Ord. 1355 § 22, 2004.]
3.84.230 Taxpayer quitting business – Liability of successor.
(1) Whenever any taxpayer quits business, sells out, exchanges, or otherwise disposes of his business or his stock of goods, any tax payable hereunder shall become immediately due and payable. Such taxpayer shall, within 10 days thereafter, make a return and pay the tax due.
(2) Any person who becomes a successor shall become liable for the full amount of any tax owing. The successor shall withhold from the purchase price a sum sufficient to pay any tax due to the city from the taxpayer until such time as: (a) the taxpayer shall produce a receipt from the city showing payment in full of any tax due or a certificate that no tax is due, or (b) more than six months has passed since the successor notified the director of the acquisition and the director has not issued and notified the successor of an assessment.
(3) Payment of the tax by the successor shall, to the extent thereof, be deemed a payment upon the purchase price. If such payment is greater in amount than the purchase price, the amount of the difference shall become a debt due such successor from the taxpayer.
(4) Notwithstanding the above, if a successor gives written notice to the director of the acquisition, and the department does not within six months of the date it received the notice issue an assessment against the taxpayer and mail a copy of that assessment to the successor, the successor shall not be liable for the tax. [Ord. 1355 § 23, 2004.]
3.84.240 Administrative appeal.
Except to the extent that such appeal may be barred pursuant to DMMC 3.84.150, a person aggrieved by the amount of the fee or tax determined by the director to be required under the provisions of this chapter, or any other determination by the director pursuant to this chapter may, upon paying the fee or tax determined by the director to be due, and the appeal fee as set under DMMC 18.94.330, file an appeal regarding the amount of the fee or tax to the hearing examiner within 10 days of the director’s final decision, under the provisions of the hearing examiner code, chapter 18.94 DMMC. The appeal must be in the form as required under DMMC 18.94.113. [Ord. 1355 § 24, 2004.]
3.84.250 Director to make rules.
The director shall have the power, from time to time, to adopt, publish and enforce rules and regulations not inconsistent with this chapter or with law for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter and it shall be unlawful to violate or fail to comply with any such rule or regulation. [Ord. 1355 § 25, 2004.]
3.84.260 Ancillary allocation authority of director.
The director is authorized to enter into agreements with other Washington cities which impose an “eligible gross receipts tax”:
(1) To conduct an audit or joint audit of a taxpayer by using an auditor employed by the city of Des Moines, another city, or a contract auditor; provided, that such contract auditor’s pay is not in any way based upon the amount of tax assessed;
(2) To allocate or apportion in a manner that fairly reflects the gross receipts earned from activities conducted within the respective cities the gross proceeds of sales, gross receipts, or gross income of the business, or taxes due from any person that is required to pay an eligible gross receipts tax to more than one Washington city;
(3) To apply the city’s tax prospectively where a taxpayer has no office or place of business within the city and has paid tax on all gross income to another Washington city where the taxpayer is located; provided, that the other city maintains an eligible gross receipts tax, and the income was not derived from contracts with the city. [Ord. 1355 § 26, 2004.]
3.84.270 Mailing of notices.
Any notice required by this chapter to be mailed to any taxpayer or licensee shall be sent by ordinary mail, addressed to the address of the taxpayer or licensee as shown by the records of the director. Failure of the taxpayer or licensee to receive any such mailed notice shall not release the taxpayer or licensee from any tax, fee, interest, or any penalties thereon, nor shall such failure operate to extend any time limit set by the provisions of this chapter. It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to inform the director in writing about a change in the taxpayer’s address. [Ord. 1355 § 27, 2004.]
3.84.280 Tax declared additional.
The license fee and tax herein levied shall be additional to any license fee or tax imposed or levied under any law or any other ordinance of the city of Des Moines except as herein otherwise expressly provided. [Ord. 1355 § 28, 2004.]
3.84.290 Tax constitutes debt.
Any license fee or tax due and unpaid under this chapter, and all interest and penalties thereon, shall constitute a debt to the city of Des Moines and may be collected in the same manner as any other debt in like amount, which remedy shall be in addition to all other existing remedies. [Ord. 1355 § 29, 2004.]
3.84.300 Unlawful actions – Violation – Penalties.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person liable for fees under this chapter (or other ordinance as listed):
(a) To violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter or any lawful rule or regulation adopted by the director;
(b) To make any false statement on any license application or tax return;
(c) To aid or abet any person in any attempt to evade payment of a license fee or tax;
(d) To fail to appear or testify in response to a subpoena issued pursuant to applicable federal, state or local law;
(e) To testify falsely in any investigation, audit, or proceeding conducted pursuant to this chapter.
(2) Violation of any of the provisions of this chapter is a gross misdemeanor. Any person convicted of a violation of this chapter may be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000, imprisonment not to exceed one year, or both fine and imprisonment. Penalties or punishments provided in this chapter shall be in addition to all other penalties provided by law.
(3) Any person, or officer of a corporation, convicted of continuing to engage in business after the revocation of a license, shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor and may be punished by a fine not to exceed $5,000, or imprisonment not to exceed one year, or both fine and imprisonment. [Ord. 1355 § 30, 2004.]
3.84.310 Revocation or denial of business license or registration – Appeals.
Violation of any provision of this chapter is a basis for revocation or denial of a business license or registration under the provisions of chapter 5.04 DMMC. Upon notice of revocation or denial of a business license based upon the provisions of this chapter, an aggrieved person may, upon payment of the appeal fee as set under DMMC 18.94.330, appeal to the hearing examiner within 10 days of the city manager’s final decision, under chapter 5.04 DMMC and the provisions of the hearing examiner code, chapter 18.94 DMMC. The appeal must be in the form as required under DMMC 18.94.113. [Ord. 1355 § 31, 2004.]
3.84.320 Closing agreement provision.
The director may enter into an agreement in writing with any person relating to the liability of such person in respect of any tax imposed by any of the chapters within this title and administered by this chapter for any taxable period(s). Upon approval of such agreement, evidenced by execution thereof by the director and the person so agreeing, the agreement shall be final and conclusive as to the tax liability or tax immunity covered thereby, and, except upon a showing of fraud or malfeasance, or misrepresentation of a material fact:
(1) The case shall not be reopened as to the matters agreed upon, or the agreement modified, by the director or the taxpayer, and
(2) In any suit, action or proceeding, such agreement, or any determination, assessment, collection, payment, abatement, refund, or credit made in accordance therewith, shall not be annulled, modified, set aside, or disregarded. [Ord. 1355 § 32, 2004.]
3.84.330 Charge-off of uncollectible taxes.
The director may charge off any tax, penalty, or interest that is owed by a taxpayer, if the director reasonably ascertains that the cost of collecting such amounts would be greater than the total amount that is owed or likely to be collected from the taxpayer. [Ord. 1355 § 33, 2004.]
3.84.340 Petition for referendum.
(1) Referendum Allowed. A referendum procedure is required pursuant to RCW 35.21.706 for cities imposing a business and occupation tax. A petition for referendum may be filed with the city clerk by December 6, 2007. Within 10 days, the city clerk shall confer with the petitioner concerning form and style of the petition, issue the petition an identification number, and secure an accurate, concise, and positive ballot title from the designated local official. The petitioner shall have 30 days in which to secure the signatures of not less than 15 percent of the registered voters of the city, as of the last municipal general election, upon petition forms which contain the ballot title and the full text of the measure to be referred. The city clerk shall verify the sufficiency of the signatures on the petition and, if sufficient valid signatures are properly submitted, shall certify the referendum measure to the next election ballot within the city or at a special election ballot as provided pursuant to RCW 35.17.260(2).
(2) Exclusive Referendum Procedure. The referendum procedure provided for in this section shall be exclusive in all instances for any city ordinance imposing a business and occupation tax or increasing the rate of the tax, and shall supersede the procedures provided under chapter 35A.11 RCW and all other statutory or ordinance provisions for initiative or referendum which might otherwise apply. [Ord. 1416 § 14, 2007.]
3.84.350 Administrative provisions – Purpose.
The purpose of Ordinance No. 1417 is to provide for the administrative procedures for the business and occupation tax as codified in this chapter, setting administrative fees and prescribing penalties for noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter. [Ord. 1417 § 1, 2007.]
3.84.360 Administrative provisions – Application of section stated.
The provisions of this section shall apply with respect to the taxes imposed under this chapter and under other titles, chapters, and sections in such manner and to such extent as indicated in each such title, chapter or section. [Ord. 1417 § 2, 2007.]
3.84.370 Administrative provisions – Registration/license certificates.
See chapter 5.04 DMMC. [Ord. 1417 § 4, 2007.]
3.84.380 Administrative provisions – Review of administrative appeal decision.
The taxpayer or the city may obtain review of the administrative decision as set forth in chapter 18.94 DMMC. [Ord. 1417 § 10, 2007.]
3.84.390 Public disclosure – Confidentiality – Information sharing.
(1) Definitions. For purposes of this section, unless a different meaning is clearly established by context, the following definitions apply:
(a) “Disclose” means to make known to any person in any manner.
(b) “Tax information” means:
(i) A taxpayer’s identity;
(ii) The nature, source, or amount of the taxpayer’s income, payments, receipts, deductions, exemption, credits, assets, liability, net worth, tax liability deficiencies, over assessments, or tax payments, whether taken from the taxpayer’s books and records or any other source;
(iii) Whether the taxpayer’s return was, is being, or will be examined or subject to other investigation or processing; or
(iv) Other data received by, recorded by, prepared by, or provided to the director with respect to a taxpayer;
provided, that tax information shall not include data, material, or documents that do not disclose information related to a specific or identifiable taxpayer.
(2) Tax returns and information may be “public records” as that term is defined in RCW 42.17.020. The director shall not disclose tax information if disclosure would violate chapter 42.17 RCW or any other law prohibiting disclosure.
(3) Tax information may be disclosed to the following:
(a) The mayor, city manager, members of the city council, city attorney, city clerk, or their authorized designees, for official purposes;
(b) Any agency or officer of the United States of America, the state of Washington, or a tax department of any state, county, city or town; provided, that the agency or officer grants substantially similar privileges to the city; and further provided, that the agency or officer shall not further disclose the tax information except as authorized in this section;
(c) The taxpayer to whom it pertains or to such person or persons as the taxpayer may designate in writing as the taxpayer’s designee; except that tax information not received from the taxpayer shall not be so disclosed if the director determines that such disclosure would compromise any investigation or litigation by any federal, state, or local government agency in connection with the civil or criminal liability of the taxpayer or another person, or that such disclosure would identify a confidential informant, or that such disclosure is contrary to any agreement entered into by the director that provides for the reciprocal exchange of information with other government agencies which agreement requires confidentiality with respect to such information unless such information is required to be disclosed to the taxpayer by the order of any court.
(4) Nothing in this section shall prevent the use of tax information by the director or any other agency in any civil or criminal action involving any license, tax, interest, or penalty.
(5) A person disclosing tax information to a person not entitled to receive that information under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor, and if the person violating this privacy requirement is an officer or employee of the city, such person may be required to forfeit their office or employment. [Ord. 1417 § 11, 2007.]