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Introduced Version Senate Bill 600 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

FISCAL NOTEWEST virginia legislature

2021 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 600

By Senators Blair (Mr. President) and Baldwin
[By Request of the Executive]

[Introduced March 9, 2021; referred
to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL to amend and reenact §11-13A-3 and §11-13A-3a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §11-13A-3f; to amend and reenact §11-15-2, §11-15-3, §11-15-8, §11-15-9, and §11-15-9h of said code; to amend and reenact §11-15A-2 of said code; to amend and reenact §11-16-13 of said code; to amend and reenact §11-17-3 and §11-17-4b of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §11-18-1, §11-18-2, §11-18-3, §11-18-4, §11-18-5, §11-18-6, §11-18-7, and §11-18-8; to amend and reenact §11-19-2 of said code; to amend and reenact §11-21-77 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §11-21-4g and §11-21-25; to amend and reenact §60-3A-17 of said code; and to amend and reenact §60-8-4 of said code, all relating to optimizing  economic efficiency and revenue efficiency of the West Virginia tax structure, across multiple facets of the tax system, and to modernize state taxation to reflect best practices, and standards for an integrated tax system; relating to the severance tax imposed on the privilege of severing coal, oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, for sale, profit, or commercial use; specifying classifications of certain natural resources; specifying tiered rates for certain classifications of natural resources; imposing tax on natural gas liquids; specifying tax rate on severance of natural gas liquids; increasing the excise tax on bottled soft drinks and dry mixtures; changing the rate of the consumers sales and service tax and use tax; relating to the imposition of the consumers sales and service and the use tax upon the provision of professional services; exempting from tax the provision of professional medical services and professional veterinary services; relating to the imposition of the consumers sales and service and use tax on advertising services, lottery tickets, electronic data processing, personalized fitness services, and certain high technology services and equipment; relating to increasing the rate of the beer barrel tax; relating to increasing the excise tax on cigarettes, other tobacco products, and e-cigarette liquid; relating to imposition of a tax on luxury items sold, used, or delivered into West Virginia; imposing tax on certain luxury items; specifying rates; specifying aggregation of sales; specifying incidence of tax; specifying economic nexus; specifying tax in addition to other taxes; specifying tax returns and payment and combined return; specifying application of West Virginia Tax Procedure and Administration Act; specifying application of West Virginia Tax Crimes and Penalties Act; providing an increase in the rate of the wine liter tax; reducing the personal income tax rates on nonbusiness income beginning after December 31, 2021; similar rate reductions are provided for married taxpayers filing separately; providing for separate rates, modifications, credits, and method for calculation personal income tax for certain types of unearned and business income; providing a tax credit for low income households to offset the sales tax increase; providing for early payment of the credit; setting a minimum wholesale markup percentage for liquor sales; making technical corrections; specifying effective dates; authorizing promulgation of rules; and defining terms.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:


CHAPTER 11. TAXATION.


ARTICLE 13A. SEVERANCE AND BUSINESS PRIVILEGE TAX ACT.

§11-13A-3. Imposition of tax on privilege of severing coal, limestone or sandstone, or furnishing certain health care services, effective dates therefor; reduction of severance rate for coal mined by underground methods based on seam thickness.


(a) Imposition of tax. — Upon every person exercising the privilege of engaging or continuing within this state in the business of severing, extracting, reducing to possession and producing for sale, profit or commercial use coal, limestone or sandstone, or in the business of furnishing certain health care services, there is hereby levied and shall be collected from every person exercising such privilege an annual privilege tax.

(b) Rate and measure of tax. —

(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (h) of this section, the tax imposed in subsection (a) of this section is five percent of the gross value of the natural resource produced or the health care service provided, as shown by the gross income derived from the sale or furnishing thereof by the producer or the provider of the health care service, except as otherwise provided in this article: Provided, That effective July 1, 2019, the tax rate imposed by this subsection on the gross value of thermal or steam coal produced shall be reduced incrementally over the next three tax years for a total reduction of two percent by July 1, 2021. That on July 1, 2019, the reduction shall occur at the rate of 35 percent of the two percent reduction, on July 1, 2020, the reduction shall occur at the rate of 65 percent of the two percent reduction, and on July 1, 2021, at the rate of 100 percent of the two percent reduction. In the case of coal, the rate of tax includes the thirty-five one hundredths of one percent additional severance tax on coal imposed by the state for the benefit of counties and municipalities as provided in §11-13A-6 of this code and the additional severance tax on coal imposed by the state for the benefit of coal-producing counties as provided in §11-13A-6a of this code.

(2) On and after January 1, 2022, and notwithstanding any other provision of this article, or this code, the rate of tax on the privilege of engaging or continuing within this state in the business of severing, extracting, reducing to possession and producing for sale, profit or commercial use coal, shall be imposed and paid as follows. In the case of coal, the rate of tax includes the thirty-five one hundredths of one percent additional severance tax on coal imposed by the state for the benefit of counties and municipalities as provided in §11-13A-6 of this code and the additional severance tax on coal imposed by the state for the benefit of coal-producing counties as provided in §11-13A-6a of this code.

(A) For Metallurgical Coal and Coal not elsewhere classified:

When the annualized gross                              The rate of tax on the gross value

value of coal per ton is:                                     of the coal is:

Less than $65 ……………………………………………4.0%

$65 to $84.99 ……………………………….………..…..5.0%

$85 to $104.99 …………………………………..………5.5%

$105 to $124.99 ……………………………...….………6.0%

$125 to $175 ….…………………………….……………6.5%

Above $175 ……………………………………….………7.0%

(B) For Steam Coal:

When the annualized gross                              The rate of tax on the gross value

value of coal per ton is:                                     of the coal is:

Less than $35 ……………………………………………2.0%

$35 to $52.99 ………………………………………..…..3.0%

$53 to $59.99 ………………………………..…..………3.5%

$60 to $69.99 …………………….…………..….………4.0%

$70 to $79.99 .………………………..….………………5.0%

$80 to $90 …..……………………………………………6.0%

Above $90 ………………………………………..………7.0%

(C) For  coal mined by underground methods from seams with an average thickness of 37 inches to 45 inches:

When the annualized gross                              The rate of tax on the gross value

value of coal per ton is:                                     of the coal is:

Less than $65 ……………………………………………1.5%

$65 to $84.99 ………………………………………..…..2.0%

$85 to $104.99 ………………………………..…...……2.5%

$105 to $124.99 ……………………………..…..………3.0%

$125 to $175 ….…………………………………………4.0%

Above $175 ……………………………………...………5.0%

(D) For  coal mined by underground methods from seams with an average thickness of less than 37 inches:

When the annualized gross                              The rate of tax on the gross value

value of coal per ton is:                                     of the coal is:

Less than $65 ……………………………………………0.75%

$65 to $84.99 ………………………………………..…..1.0%

$85 to $104.99 ……………………………….…..………1.5%

$105 to $124.99 ……………………………..…..………2.0%

$125 to $175 ….………………………….………………3.0%

Above $175 ……………………………………....………4.0%

(c) “Metallurgical coal” means bituminous coal suitable for the manufacture of coke used or useable for the manufacture of iron or steel, or both.

(d) “Thermal or steam coal” defined. - For purposes of this section the term “thermal or steam coal” means coal sold for the purpose of generating electricity.

(d) (e) “Certain health care services” defined. — For purposes of this section, the term “certain health care services” means, and is limited to, behavioral health services.

(f) “Annualized gross value” defined. – For purposes of this section, the term “annualized gross value” means, and is limited to, the average price of coal for a particular category provided in subdivision (2), subsection (b) of this section for the taxable year of the taxpayer derived by dividing the gross proceeds for the particular category by the amount of tons produced within that category.

(e) (g) Tax in addition to other taxes. — The tax imposed by this section applies to all persons severing or processing, or both severing and processing, in this state natural resources enumerated in subsection (a) of this section and to all persons providing certain health care services in this state as enumerated in subsection (d) of this section and shall be in addition to all other taxes imposed by law.

(f) (h) Effective date. — This section, as amended in 1993, shall apply to gross proceeds derived after May 31, 1993. The language of this section, as in effect on January 1, 1993, shall apply to gross proceeds derived prior to June 1, 1993, and, with respect to such gross proceeds, shall be fully and completely preserved.

(g) (i) Reduction of severance tax rate. — For tax years beginning after the effective date of this subsection, any person exercising the privilege of engaging within this state in the business of severing coal for the purposes provided in subsection (a) of this section shall be allowed a reduced rate of tax on coal mined by underground methods in accordance with the following:

(1) For coal mined by underground methods from seams with an average thickness of 37 inches to 45 inches, the tax imposed in subsection (a) of this section shall be two percent of the gross value of the coal produced. For coal mined by underground methods from seams with an average thickness of less than 37 inches, the tax imposed in subsection (a) of this section shall be one percent of the gross value of the coal produced. Gross value is determined from the sale of the mined coal by the producer. This rate of tax includes the thirty-five one hundredths of one percent additional severance tax imposed by the state for the benefit of counties and municipalities as provided in §11-13A-6 of this code.

(2) This reduced rate of tax applies to any new underground mine producing coal after the effective date of this subsection, from seams of less than 45 inches in average thickness or any existing mine that has not produced coal from seams 45 inches or less in thickness in the 180 days immediately preceding the effective date of this subsection.

(3) The seam thickness shall be based on the weighted average isopach mapping of actual coal thickness by mine as certified by a professional engineer.

(h) (j)(1) Termination and expiration of the behavioral health severance and business privilege tax. — The tax imposed upon providers of health care services under the provisions of this article shall expire, terminate and cease to be imposed with respect to privileges exercised on or after July 1, 2016. Expiration of the tax as provided in this subsection does not relieve any person from payment of any tax imposed with respect to privileges exercised before the expiration date.

(2) Refunds made. — The Tax Commissioner shall issue a requisition on the Treasury for any amount finally, administratively or judicially determined to be an overpayment of the tax terminated under this subsection. The Auditor shall issue a warrant on the Treasurer for any refund requisitioned under this subsection payable to the taxpayer entitled to the refund, and the Treasurer shall pay the warrant out of the fund into which the amount refunded was originally paid.

(i) (k) Termination and expiration of the privilege tax on limestone or sandstone. — The taxes imposed under this section for persons exercising the privilege of engaging or continuing within this state in the business of severing, extracting, reducing to possession and producing for sale, profit or commercial use limestone or sandstone shall cease, terminate and be of no further force or effect on and after July 1, 2019. Termination of the taxes imposed under this section do not relieve any person of any liability or duty to pay tax imposed under this article with respect to privileges exercised before the effective date of the termination.

§11-13A-3a. Imposition of tax on privilege of severing natural gas or oil; Tax Commissioner to develop a uniform reporting form.


(a) Imposition of tax. — For the privilege of engaging or continuing within this state in the business of severing natural gas or oil for sale, profit or commercial use, there is  levied and shall be collected from every person exercising  the privilege an annual privilege tax at the rate and measure provided in subsection (b) of this section: Provided, That effective for all taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2000, there is an exemption from the imposition of the tax provided in this article on the following: (1) Free natural gas provided to any surface owner; (2) natural gas produced from any well which produced an average of less than 5,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day during the calendar year immediately preceding a given taxable period; (3) oil produced from any oil well which produced an average of less than one-half barrel of oil per day during the calendar year immediately preceding a given taxable period; and (4) for a maximum period of 10 years, all natural gas or oil produced from any well which has not produced marketable quantities of natural gas or oil for five consecutive years immediately preceding the year in which a well is placed back into production and thereafter produces marketable quantities of natural gas or oil.

(b) Rate and measure of tax. — The tax imposed in subsection (a) of this section is five percent of the gross value of the natural gas or oil produced by the producer as shown by the gross proceeds derived from the sale thereof by the producer, except as otherwise provided in this article: Provided, That effective for taxable periods beginning on or after January 1, 2020:

(1) For all natural gas produced from any well which produced an average in excess of 60,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day during the calendar year immediately preceding a given taxable year, and for oil produced from any well which produced an average in excess of 10 barrels of oil per day, during the calendar year immediately preceding the beginning date of a given taxable year, the rate of tax is five percent of the gross value of the natural gas or oil produced as shown by the gross proceeds derived from the sale thereof by the producer: Provided, That beginning on and after January 1, 2022, and notwithstanding any other provision of this article or this code:

(A) All natural gas produced from any well which produced an average in excess of 60,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day, and all natural gas produced from any well utilizing horizontal drilling techniques targeting shale formations which produced an average between 5,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day and 60,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day, during the calendar year immediately preceding a given taxable year, shall be subject to the following rate of tax on the privilege of severing natural gas for sale, profit, or commercial use on wells:

When the annualized gross                              The rate of tax on the gross value

value of natural gas per MCF is:                      of the natural gas produced is:

Less than $0.85 …………………………………………4.0%

$0.85 to $1.29 ……………………………….…………..5.0%

$1.30 to $1.79 ……………………………………………6.0%

$1.80 to $2.50 ……………………………………………6.5%

Above $2.50 ………………………………………………7.0%

(B) All oil produced from any well which produced an average in excess of 10 barrels of oil per day, and all oil produced from any well utilizing horizontal drilling techniques targeting shale formations which produced an average between one-half barrel per day and 10 barrels per day, during the calendar year immediately preceding a given taxable year, shall be subject to the following rate of tax on the privilege of severing oil for sale, profit, or commercial use on wells:

When the annualized gross                              The rate of tax on the gross value

value of oil per barrel is:                                   of the oil produced is:

Less than $35 ……………………………………………4.0%

$35 to $54.99 …… ………………………….…………..5.0%

$55 to $67.99 ………………………………………….…5.5%

$68 to $89.99…. …………………………………..…..…6.0%

$90.00 and above ……………………………………. …7.0%

(2) For all natural gas produced from any well, excluding wells utilizing horizontal drilling techniques targeting shale formations, which produced an average between 5,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day and 60,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day during the calendar year immediately preceding the beginning date of a given taxable year, and for oil produced from any well, excluding wells utilizing horizontal drilling techniques targeting shale formations, which produced an average between one-half barrel per day and 10 barrels per day, during the calendar year immediately preceding the beginning date of a given taxable year, the rate of tax is two and five tenths percent of the gross value of the natural gas or oil produced as shown by the gross proceeds derived from the sale thereof by the producer. and

(3) For all natural gas produced from wells utilizing horizontal drilling techniques targeting shale formations, which produced an average between 5,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day and 60,000 cubic feet of natural gas per day during the calendar year immediately preceding the beginning date of a given taxable year, and for oil produced from wells utilizing horizontal drilling techniques targeting shale formations, which produced an average between one-half barrel per day and 10 barrels per day, during the calendar year immediately preceding the beginning date of a given taxable year, the rate of tax is five percent of the gross value of the natural gas or oil produced as shown by the gross proceeds derived from the sale thereof by the producer

(c) Tax in addition to other taxes. — The tax imposed by this section applies to all persons severing gas or oil in this state, and is in addition to all other taxes imposed by law.

 (d) For purposes of this section, in determining the average amount of production of gas and oil in any given calendar year, a taxpayer must calculate the actual production of such well in the calendar year and divide the same by the number of days the well was in operation and producing gas or oil in such calendar year.

(e) “Annualized gross value” defined. – For purposes of this section, the term “annualized gross value” means, and is limited to:

(1) For natural gas, the total gross proceeds for sales of natural gas in the taxable year divided by the number of MCF produced for the taxable year, taking into account all wells from which natural gas was produced.

(2) For oil, the total gross proceeds for sales of oil in the taxable year divided by the number of barrels produced for the taxable year, taking into account all wells from which oil was produced.

(e) (f) After the dedication in §11-13A-5a is made, the remaining proceeds collected from the tax imposed at the rate prescribed under subdivision (2), subsection (b) of this section are dedicated to the Oil and Gas Abandoned Well Plugging Fund created under §22-6-29a of this code: Provided, That if on June 1, 2023, or on June 1 of any year thereafter, there exists in the Oil and Gas Abandoned Well Plugging Fund an amount equal to or exceeding the sum of $6 million then the special rate of tax imposed under subdivision (2), subsection (b) of this section is reduced to zero for the taxable year beginning on and after the next succeeding January 1. The Tax Commissioner shall issue an Administrative Notice by July 1 of each year indicating the balance in the fund as of the immediately preceding June 1 and the rate of tax on wells pursuant to this subsection.

(g) That beginning on and after January 1, 2022, and notwithstanding any other provision of this article or this code, the provisions of this section shall apply to dry natural gas. “Dry natural gas” means raw natural gas that is not wet natural gas as defined in §11-13A-3f of this code.

§11-13A-3f. Imposition of tax on privilege of severing natural gas liquids.


(a) Prior to January 1, 2022, tax is imposed on the privilege of severing natural gas liquids as part of the tax imposed under §11-13A-3a of this code hereof.

(b) On and after January 1, 2022, and notwithstanding any other provision of this article, or this code, for the privilege of engaging or continuing within this state in the business of severing natural gas liquids for sale, profit or commercial use, there is hereby levied and shall be collected from every person exercising such privilege an annual privilege tax. The rate of tax on the privilege of severing natural gas liquids for sale, profit, or commercial use shall be 6.5 percent on the gross value of the natural gas liquids produced. For purposes of this article, severance of wet gas, as herein defined, is classified as severing natural gas liquids.

(c) “Natural gas liquids” or “NGLs” means hydrocarbons removed or removable from a hydrocarbon stream consisting primarily of natural gas (methane) by condensation, cryogenic cooling or other method and maintained in a liquid state for storage, transportation, use in manufacturing or consumption, including, but not limited to, ethane, propane, butane, isobutane and pentanes, and derivatives thereof including, but not limited to, ethylene and propylene.

(d) “Wet gas” means raw natural gas that contains a relatively high proportion of condensable hydrocarbon fractions in a given quantity of raw natural gas produced. Such fractions may include, but are not limited to ethane, butane, iso-butane and propane. Natural gas containing more than 0.1 U.S. gallons of total condensable hydrocarbon fractions per mcf at a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees F) and a pressure of 750 millimeters of mercury, is classified as wet gas for purposes of this article. For purposes of this definition, methane, water, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and helium do not constitute condensable hydrocarbon fractions.

(e) “Natural gasmeans a gaseous fossil energy source that formed deep beneath the earth’s surface that is a combustible mixture of methane and other hydrocarbons.

ARTICLE 15. CONSUMERS SALES AND SERVICE TAX.

§11-15-2.  Definitions.


(a) General. -– When used in this article and article 15A of this chapter, words defined in subsection (b) of this section have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except in those instances where a different meaning is provided in this article or the context in which the word is used clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended by the Legislature.

(b) Definitions. --

(1) “Business” includes all activities engaged in or caused to be engaged in with the object of gain or economic benefit, direct or indirect, and all activities of the state and its political subdivisions which involve sales of tangible personal property or the rendering of services when those service activities compete with or may compete with the activities of other persons.

(2) “Communication” means all telephone, radio, light, light wave, radio telephone, telegraph and other communication or means of communication, whether used for voice communication, computer data transmission or other encoded symbolic information transfers and includes commercial broadcast radio, commercial broadcast television and cable television.

(3) “Contracting”:

(A) In general. – “Contracting” means and includes the furnishing of work, or both materials and work, for another (by a sole contractor, general contractor, prime contractor, subcontractor or construction manager) in fulfillment of a contract for the construction, alteration, repair, decoration or improvement of a new or existing building or structure, or any part thereof, or for removal or demolition of a building or structure, or any part thereof, or for the alteration, improvement or development of real property. Contracting also includes services provided by a construction manager so long as the project for which the construction manager provides the services results in a capital improvement to a building or structure or to real property.

(B) Form of contract not controlling. -- An activity that falls within the scope of the definition of contracting constitutes contracting regardless of whether the contract governing the activity is written or verbal and regardless of whether it is in substance or form a lump sum contract, a cost-plus contract, a time and materials contract, whether or not open-ended, or any other kind of construction contract.

(C) Special rules. -- For purposes of this definition:

(i) The term “structure” includes, but is not limited to, everything built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner and attached or affixed to real property or which adds utility to real property or any part thereof or which adds utility to a particular parcel of property and is intended to remain there for an indefinite period of time;

(ii) The term “alteration” means, and is limited to, alterations which are capital improvements to a building or structure or to real property;

(iii) The term “repair” means, and is limited to, repairs which are capital improvements to a building or structure or to real property;

(iv) The term “decoration” means, and is limited to, decorations which are capital improvements to a building or structure or to real property;

(v) The term “improvement” means, and is limited to, improvements which are capital improvements to a building or structure or to real property;

(vi) The term “capital improvement” means improvements that are affixed to or attached to and become a part of a building or structure or the real property or which add utility to real property, or any part thereof, and that last or are intended to be relatively permanent. As used herein, “relatively permanent” means lasting at least a year in duration without the necessity for regularly scheduled recurring service to maintain the capital improvement. “Regular recurring service” means regularly scheduled service intervals of less than one year;

(vii) Contracting does not include the furnishing of work, or both materials and work, in the nature of hookup, connection, installation or other services if the service is incidental to the retail sale of tangible personal property from the service provider’s inventory: Provided, That the hookup, connection or installation of the foregoing is incidental to the sale of the same and performed by the seller thereof or performed in accordance with arrangements made by the seller thereof. Examples of transactions that are excluded from the definition of contracting pursuant to this subdivision include, but are not limited to, the sale of wall-to-wall carpeting and the installation of wall-to-wall carpeting, the sale, hookup and connection of mobile homes, window air conditioning units, dishwashers, clothing washing machines or dryers, other household appliances, drapery rods, window shades, venetian blinds, canvas awnings, free-standing industrial or commercial equipment and other similar items of tangible personal property. Repairs made to the foregoing are within the definition of contracting if the repairs involve permanently affixing to or improving real property or something attached thereto which extends the life of the real property or something affixed thereto or allows or intends to allow the real property or thing permanently attached thereto to remain in service for a year or longer; and

(viii) The term “construction manager” means a person who enters into an agreement to employ, direct, coordinate or manage design professionals and contractors who are hired and paid directly by the owner or the construction manager. The business activities of a “construction manager” as defined in this subdivision constitute contracting, so long as the project for which the construction manager provides the services results in a capital improvement to a building or structure or to real property.

(4) “Directly used or consumed” in the activities of manufacturing, transportation, transmission, communication or the production of natural resources means used or consumed in those activities or operations which constitute an integral and essential part of the activities, as contrasted with and distinguished from those activities or operations which are simply incidental, convenient or remote to the activities.

(A) Uses of property or consumption of services which constitute direct use or consumption in the activities of manufacturing, transportation, transmission, communication or the production of natural resources include only:

(i) In the case of tangible personal property, physical incorporation of property into a finished product resulting from manufacturing production or the production of natural resources;

(ii) Causing a direct physical, chemical or other change upon property undergoing manufacturing production or production of natural resources;

(iii) Transporting or storing property undergoing transportation, communication, transmission, manufacturing production or production of natural resources;

(iv) Measuring or verifying a change in property directly used in transportation, communication, transmission, manufacturing production or production of natural resources;

(v) Physically controlling or directing the physical movement or operation of property directly used in transportation, communication, transmission, manufacturing production or production of natural resources;

(vi) Directly and physically recording the flow of property undergoing transportation, communication, transmission, manufacturing production or production of natural resources;

(vii) Producing energy for property directly used in transportation, communication, transmission, manufacturing production or production of natural resources;

(viii) Facilitating the transmission of gas, water, steam or electricity from the point of their diversion to property directly used in transportation, communication, transmission, manufacturing production or production of natural resources;

(ix) Controlling or otherwise regulating atmospheric conditions required for transportation, communication, transmission, manufacturing production or production of natural resources;

(x) Serving as an operating supply for property undergoing transmission, manufacturing production or production of natural resources, or for property directly used in transportation, communication, transmission, manufacturing production or production of natural resources;

(xi) Maintaining or repairing of property, including maintenance equipment, directly used in transportation, communication, transmission, manufacturing production or production of natural resources;

(xii) Storing, removal or transportation of economic waste resulting from the activities of manufacturing, transportation, communication, transmission or the production of natural resources;

(xiii) Engaging in pollution control or environmental quality or protection activity directly relating to the activities of manufacturing, transportation, communication, transmission or the production of natural resources and personnel, plant, product or community safety or security activity directly relating to the activities of manufacturing, transportation, communication, transmission or the production of natural resources; or

(xiv) Otherwise using as an integral and essential part of transportation, communication, transmission, manufacturing production or production of natural resources.

(B) Uses of property or services which do not constitute direct use or consumption in the activities of manufacturing, transportation, transmission, communication or the production of natural resources include, but are not limited to:

(i) Heating and illumination of office buildings;

(ii) Janitorial or general cleaning activities;

(iii) Personal comfort of personnel;

(iv) Production planning, scheduling of work or inventory control;

(v) Marketing, general management, supervision, finance, training, accounting and administration; or

(vi) An activity or function incidental or convenient to transportation, communication, transmission, manufacturing production or production of natural resources, rather than an integral and essential part of these activities.

(5) “Directly used or consumed” in the activities of gas storage, the generation or production or sale of electric power, the provision of a public utility service or the operation of a utility business means used or consumed in those activities or operations which constitute an integral and essential part of those activities or operation, as contrasted with and distinguished from activities or operations which are simply incidental, convenient or remote to those activities.

(A) Uses of property or consumption of services which constitute direct use or consumption in the activities of gas storage, the generation or production or sale of electric power, the provision of a public utility service or the operation of a utility business include only:

(i) Tangible personal property, custom software or services, including equipment, machinery, apparatus, supplies, fuel and power and appliances, which are used immediately in production or generation activities and equipment, machinery, supplies, tools and repair parts used to keep in operation exempt production or generation devices. For purposes of this subsection, production or generation activities shall commence from the intake, receipt or storage of raw materials at the production plant site;

(ii) Tangible personal property, custom software or services, including equipment, machinery, apparatus, supplies, fuel and power, appliances, pipes, wires and mains, which are used immediately in the transmission or distribution of gas, water and electricity to the public, and equipment, machinery, tools, repair parts and supplies used to keep in operation exempt transmission or distribution devices, and these vehicles and their equipment as are specifically designed and equipped for those purposes are exempt from the tax when used to keep a transmission or distribution system in operation or repair. For purposes of this subsection, transmission or distribution activities shall commence from the close of production at a production plant or wellhead when a product is ready for transmission or distribution to the public and shall conclude at the point where the product is received by the public;

(iii) Tangible personal property, custom software or services, including equipment, machinery, apparatus, supplies, fuel and power, appliances, pipes, wires and mains, which are used immediately in the storage of gas or water, and equipment, machinery, tools, supplies and repair parts used to keep in operation exempt storage devices;

(iv) Tangible personal property, custom software or services used immediately in the storage, removal or transportation of economic waste resulting from the activities of gas storage, the generation or production or sale of electric power, the provision of a public utility service or the operation of a utility business;

(v) Tangible personal property, custom software or services used immediately in pollution control or environmental quality or protection activity or community safety or security directly relating to the activities of gas storage, generation or production or sale of electric power, the provision of a public utility service or the operation of a utility business.

(B) Uses of property or services which would not constitute direct use or consumption in the activities of gas storage, generation or production or sale of electric power, the provision of a public utility service or the operation of a utility business include, but are not limited to:

(i) Heating and illumination of office buildings;

(ii) Janitorial or general cleaning activities;

(iii) Personal comfort of personnel;

(iv) Production planning, scheduling of work or inventory control;

(v) Marketing, general management, supervision, finance, training, accounting and administration; or

(vi) An activity or function incidental or convenient to the activities of gas storage, generation or production or sale of electric power, the provision of public utility service or the operation of a utility business.

(6) “Gas storage” means the injection of gas into a storage reservoir or the storage of gas for any period of time in a storage reservoir or the withdrawal of gas from a storage reservoir engaged in by businesses subject to the business and occupation tax imposed by sections two and two-e, article thirteen of this chapter.

(7) “Generating or producing or selling of electric power” means the generation, production or sale of electric power engaged in by businesses subject to the business and occupation tax imposed by section two, two-d, two-m or two-n, article thirteen of this chapter.

(8) “Gross proceeds” means the amount received in money, credits, property or other consideration from sales and services within this state, without deduction on account of the cost of property sold, amounts paid for interest or discounts or other expenses whatsoever. Losses may not be deducted, but any credit or refund made for goods returned may be deducted.

(9) “Includes” and “including”, when used in a definition contained in this article, does not exclude other things otherwise within the meaning of the term being defined.

(10) “Manufacturing” means a systematic operation or integrated series of systematic operations engaged in as a business or segment of a business which transforms or converts tangible personal property by physical, chemical or other means into a different form, composition or character from that in which it originally existed.

(11) “Person” means any individual, partnership, association, corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership or any other legal entity, including this state or its political subdivisions or an agency of either, or the guardian, trustee, committee, executor or administrator of any person.

(12) “Personal service” includes those: (A) Compensated by the payment of wages in the ordinary course of employment; and (B) rendered to the person of an individual without, at the same time, selling tangible personal property, such as nursing, barbering, shoe shining, manicuring and similar services.

(13) “Prepaid wireless calling service” means a telecommunications service that provides the right to utilize mobile wireless service as well as other non-telecommunications services, including the download of digital products delivered electronically, content and ancillary services, which must be paid for in advance that is sold in predetermined units or dollars of which the number decline with use in a known amount.

(14) Production of natural resources.

(A) “Production of natural resources” means, except for oil and gas, the performance, by either the owner of the natural resources or another, of the act or process of exploring, developing, severing, extracting, reducing to possession and loading for shipment and shipment for sale, profit or commercial use of any natural resource products and any reclamation, waste disposal or environmental activities associated therewith and the construction, installation or fabrication of ventilation structures, mine shafts, slopes, boreholes, dewatering structures, including associated facilities and apparatus, by the producer or others, including contractors and subcontractors, at a coal mine or coal production facility.

(B) For the natural resources oil and gas, “production of natural resources” means the performance, by either the owner of the natural resources, a contractor or a subcontractor, of the act or process of exploring, developing, drilling, well-stimulation activities such as logging, perforating or fracturing, well-completion activities such as the installation of the casing, tubing and other machinery and equipment and any reclamation, waste disposal or environmental activities associated therewith, including the installation of the gathering system or other pipeline to transport the oil and gas produced or environmental activities associated therewith and any service work performed on the well or well site after production of the well has initially commenced.

(C) All work performed to install or maintain facilities up to the point of sale for severance tax purposes is included in the “production of natural resources” and subject to the direct use concept.

(D) “Production of natural resources” does not include the performance or furnishing of work or materials or work in fulfillment of a contract for the construction, alteration, repair, decoration or improvement of a new or existing building or structure, or any part thereof, or for the alteration, improvement or development of real property, by persons other than those otherwise directly engaged in the activities specifically set forth in this subdivision as “production of natural resources”.

(15) “Professional medical services” means and includes any activity or service described in §11-27-1 et seq. of this code relating to the imposition of health care provider taxes, without regard to whether such services are currently subject to the tax imposed by that article;

(16) “Professional veterinary services” means those services described in §30-10-9 of this code relating to the scope of practice for a licensed veterinarian.

(17) “Professional services” means and includes any service not included under the definition of “service” or “selected service” which involve the rendering of a service as distinguished from the sale of tangible personal property or custom software, but does not include contracting, personal services or the services rendered by an employee to his or her employer or any service rendered for resale: Provided, That the term “professional service” does not include payments received by a vendor of tangible personal property as an incentive to sell a greater volume of such tangible personal property under a manufacturer’s, distributor’s or other third party’s marketing support program, sales incentive program, cooperative advertising agreement or similar type of program or agreement, and these payments are not considered to be payments for a “service” or “selected service” rendered, even though the vendor may engage in attendant or ancillary activities associated with the sales of tangible personal property as required under the programs or agreements.

(15) (18) “Providing a public service or the operating of a utility business” means the providing of a public service or the operating of a utility by businesses subject to the business and occupation tax imposed by sections two and two-d, article thirteen of this chapter.

(16) (19) “Purchaser” means a person who purchases tangible personal property, custom software or a service taxed by this article.

(17) (20) “Sale”, “sales” or “selling” includes any transfer of the possession or ownership of tangible personal property or custom software for a consideration, including a lease or rental, when the transfer or delivery is made in the ordinary course of the transferor’s business and is made to the transferee or his or her agent for consumption or use or any other purpose. “Sale” also includes the furnishing of a service for consideration. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this code, effective after June 30, 2008, “sale” also includes the furnishing of prepaid wireless calling service for consideration.

(18) (21) “Service” or “selected service” includes all nonprofessional activities engaged in for other persons for a consideration, which involve the rendering of a service as distinguished from the sale of tangible personal property or custom software, but does not include contracting, personal services or the services rendered by an employee to his or her employer or any service rendered for resale: Provided, That the term “service” or “selected service” does not include payments received by a vendor of tangible personal property as an incentive to sell a greater volume of such tangible personal property under a manufacturer’s, distributor’s or other third party’s marketing support program, sales incentive program, cooperative advertising agreement or similar type of program or agreement, and these payments are not considered to be payments for a “service” or “selected service” rendered, even though the vendor may engage in attendant or ancillary activities associated with the sales of tangible personal property as required under the programs or agreements.

(19) (22) “Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement” or “agreement”, when used in this article, has the same meaning as when used in article 15B of this chapter, except when the context in which the word “agreement” is used clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended by the Legislature.

(20) (23) “Tax” includes all taxes, additions to tax, interest and penalties levied under this article or article 10 of this chapter.

(21) (24) “Tax Commissioner” means the State Tax Commissioner or his or her delegate. The term “delegate” in the phrase “or his or her delegate”, when used in reference to the Tax Commissioner, means any officer or employee of the State Tax Division duly authorized by the Tax Commissioner directly, or indirectly by one or more redelegations of authority, to perform the functions mentioned or described in this article or rules promulgated for this article.

(22) (25) “Taxpayer” means any person liable for the tax imposed by this article or additions to tax, penalties and interest imposed by article 10 of this chapter.

(23) (26) “Transmission” means the act or process of causing liquid, natural gas or electricity to pass or be conveyed from one place or geographical location to another place or geographical location through a pipeline or other medium for commercial purposes.

(24) (27) “Transportation” means the act or process of conveying, as a commercial enterprise, passengers or goods from one place or geographical location to another place or geographical location.

(25) (28) “Ultimate consumer” or “consumer” means a person who uses or consumes services or personal property.

(26) (29) “Vendor” means any person engaged in this state in furnishing services taxed by this article or making sales of tangible personal property or custom software. “Vendor” and “seller” are used interchangeably in this article.

(c) Additional definitions. -– Other terms used in this article are defined in article 15B of this chapter, which definitions are incorporated by reference into article 15 of this chapter. Additionally, other sections of this article may define terms primarily used in the section in which the term is defined.

§11-15-3. Amount of tax; allocation of tax and transfers.


(a) Vendor to collect. -- For the privilege of selling tangible personal property or custom software and for the privilege of furnishing certain selected services defined in sections two and eight of this article, the vendor shall collect from the purchaser the tax as provided under this article and article 15B of this chapter, and shall pay the amount of tax to the Tax Commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this article or article 15B of this chapter.

(b) Amount of tax. -- The general consumer sales and service tax imposed by this article shall be at the rate of $0.06 on the dollar of sales or services, excluding gasoline and special fuel sales, which remain taxable at the rate of $0.05 on the dollar of sales: Provided, That beginning on and after January 1, 2022, the general consumer sales and service tax imposed by this article shall be at the rate of  $0.079 on the dollar of sales or services, excluding gasoline and special fuel sales, which remain taxable at the rate of  $0.05 on the dollar of sales.

(c) Calculation tax on fractional parts of a dollar until January 1, 2004. -- There shall be no tax on sales where the monetary consideration is $0.05 or less. The amount of the tax shall be computed as follows:

(1) On each sale, where the monetary consideration is from $0.06 to $0.16, both inclusive, $0.01.

(2) On each sale, where the monetary consideration is from $0.17 to $0.33, both inclusive, $0.02.

(3) On each sale, where the monetary consideration is from $0.34 to $0.50, both inclusive, $0.03.

(4) On each sale, where the monetary consideration is from $0.51 to $0.67, both inclusive, $0.04.

(5) On each sale, where the monetary consideration is from $0.68 to $0.84, both inclusive, $0.05.

(6) On each sale, where the monetary consideration is from $0.85 to $1, both inclusive, $0.06.

(7) If the sale price is in excess of $1, $0.06 on each whole dollar of sale price, and upon any fractional part of a dollar in excess of whole dollars as follows: $0.01 on the fractional part of the dollar if less than  $0.17; $0.02 on the fractional part of the dollar if in excess of $0.16 but less than $0.34; $0.03 on the fractional part of the dollar if in excess of $0.33 but less than $0.51; $0.04 on the fractional part of the dollar if in excess of $0.50 but less than $0.68; $0.05 on the fractional part of the dollar if in excess of $0.67 but less than $0.85; and $0.06 on the fractional part of the dollar if in excess of $0.84. For example, the tax on sales from $1.01 to $1.16, both inclusive, $0.07; on sales from $1.17 to $1.33, both inclusive, $0.08; on sales from $1.34 to $1.50, both inclusive, $0.09; on sales from $1.51 to $1.67, both inclusive, $0.10; on sales from $1.68 to $1.84, both inclusive, $0.11 and on sales from $1.85 to $2, both inclusive, $0.12: Provided, That beginning January 1, 2004, tax due under this article shall be calculated as provided in subsection (d) of this subsection and this subsection (c) does not apply to sales made after December 31, 2003.

(d) Calculation of tax on fractional parts of a dollar after December 31, 2003. -- Beginning January 1, 2004, the tax computation under subsection (b) of this section shall be carried to the third decimal place, and the tax rounded up to the next whole cent whenever the third decimal place is greater than four and rounded down to the lower whole cent whenever the third decimal place is four or less. The vendor may elect to compute the tax due on a transaction on a per item basis or on an invoice basis provided the method used is consistently used during the reporting period.

(e) No aggregation of separate sales transactions, exception for coin-operated devices. -- Separate sales, such as daily or weekly deliveries, shall not be aggregated for the purpose of computation of the tax even though the sales are aggregated in the billing or payment therefor. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, coin-operated amusement and vending machine sales shall be aggregated for the purpose of computation of this tax.

(f) Rate of tax on certain mobile homes. -- Notwithstanding any provision of this article to the contrary, after December 31, 2003, the tax levied on sales of mobile homes to be used by the owner thereof as his or her principal year-round residence and dwelling shall be an amount equal to six percent of 50 percent of the sales price: Provided, That beginning on and after January 1, 2022, the tax levied on sales of mobile homes to be used by the owner thereof as his or her principal year-round residence and dwelling shall be an amount equal to 7.9 percent of 50 percent of the sales price.

(g) Construction; custom software. -- After December 31, 2003, whenever the words “tangible personal property” or “property” appear in this article, the same shall also include the words “custom software”.

(h) Computation of tax on sales of gasoline and special fuel. -- The method of computation of tax provided in this section does not apply to sales of gasoline and special fuel.

§11-15-8.  Furnishing of services included; exceptions.


The provisions of this article apply not only to selling tangible personal property and custom software, but also to the furnishing of all services, except professional and personal services, and except those services furnished by businesses subject to the control of the Public Service Commission when the service or the manner in which it is delivered is subject to regulation by the Public Service Commission: Provided, That on and after January 1, 2022, the provisions of this article also apply to the furnishing of professional services, except professional medical services and professional veterinary services.

§11-15-9. Exemptions.


(a) Exemptions for which exemption certificate may be issued. — A person having a right or claim to any exemption set forth in this subsection may, in lieu of paying the tax imposed by this article and filing a claim for refund, execute a certificate of exemption, in the form required by the Tax Commissioner, and deliver it to the vendor of the property or service in the manner required by the Tax Commissioner. However, the Tax Commissioner may, by rule, specify those exemptions authorized in this subsection for which exemption certificates are not required. The following sales of tangible personal property and services are exempt as provided in this subsection:

(1) Sales of gas, steam, and water delivered to consumers through mains or pipes and sales of electricity;

(2) Sales of textbooks required to be used in any of the schools of this state or in any institution in this state which qualifies as a nonprofit or educational institution subject to the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, the Higher Education Policy Commission, or the Council for Community and Technical College Education for universities and colleges located in this state;

(3) Sales of property or services to this state, its institutions or subdivisions, governmental units, institutions, or subdivisions of other states: Provided, That the law of the other state provides the same exemption to governmental units or subdivisions of this state and to the United States, including agencies of federal, state, or local governments for distribution in public welfare or relief work;

(4) Sales of vehicles which are titled by the Division of Motor Vehicles and which are subject to the tax imposed by §11-15-3c of this code or like tax;

(5) Sales of property or services to churches which make no charge whatsoever for the services they render: Provided, That the exemption granted in this subdivision applies only to services, equipment, supplies, food for meals, and materials directly used or consumed by these organizations and does not apply to purchases of gasoline or special fuel;

(6) Sales of tangible personal property or services to a corporation or organization which has a current registration certificate issued under §11-12-1 et seq. of this code, which is exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) or (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and which is:

(A) A church or a convention or association of churches as defined in Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

(B) An elementary or secondary school which maintains a regular faculty and curriculum and has a regularly enrolled body of pupils or students in attendance at the place in this state where its educational activities are regularly carried on;

(C) A corporation or organization which annually receives more than one half of its support from any combination of gifts, grants, direct or indirect charitable contributions, or membership fees;

(D) An organization which has no paid employees and its gross income from fundraisers, less reasonable and necessary expenses incurred to raise the gross income (or the tangible personal property or services purchased with the net income), is donated to an organization which is exempt from income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) or (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

(E) A youth organization, such as the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, the Boy Scouts of America, or the YMCA Indian Guide/Princess Program and the local affiliates thereof, which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes and has as its primary purpose the nonsectarian character development and citizenship training of its members;

(F) For purposes of this subsection:

(i) The term “support” includes, but is not limited to:

(I) Gifts, grants, contributions, or membership fees;

(II) Gross receipts from fundraisers which include receipts from admissions, sales of merchandise, performance of services, or furnishing of facilities in any activity which is not an unrelated trade or business within the meaning of Section 513 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

(III) Net income from unrelated business activities, whether or not the activities are carried on regularly as a trade or business;

(IV) Gross investment income as defined in Section 509(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

(V) Tax revenues levied for the benefit of a corporation or organization either paid to or expended on behalf of the organization; and

(VI) The value of services or facilities (exclusive of services or facilities generally furnished to the public without charge) furnished by a governmental unit referred to in Section 170(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to an organization without charge. This term does not include any gain from the sale or other disposition of property which would be considered as gain from the sale or exchange of a capital asset or the value of an exemption from any federal, state, or local tax or any similar benefit;

(ii) The term “charitable contribution” means a contribution or gift to or for the use of a corporation or organization, described in Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; and

(iii) The term “membership fee” does not include any amounts paid for tangible personal property or specific services rendered to members by the corporation or organization;

(G) The exemption allowed by this subdivision does not apply to sales of gasoline or special fuel or to sales of tangible personal property or services to be used or consumed in the generation of unrelated business income as defined in Section 513 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The exemption granted in this subdivision applies only to services, equipment, supplies, and materials used or consumed in the activities for which the organizations qualify as tax-exempt organizations under the Internal Revenue Code and does not apply to purchases of gasoline or special fuel which are taxable as provided in §11-14C-1 et seq. of this code;

(7) An isolated transaction in which any taxable service or any tangible personal property is sold, transferred, offered for sale, or delivered by the owner of the property or by his or her representative for the owner’s account, the sale, transfer, offer for sale, or delivery not being made in the ordinary course of repeated and successive transactions of like character by the owner or on his or her account by the representative: Provided, That nothing contained in this subdivision may be construed to prevent an owner who sells, transfers, or offers for sale tangible personal property in an isolated transaction through an auctioneer from availing himself or herself of the exemption provided in this subdivision, regardless of where the isolated sale takes place. The Tax Commissioner may propose a legislative rule for promulgation pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code which he or she considers necessary for the efficient administration of this exemption;

(8) Sales of tangible personal property or of any taxable services rendered for use or consumption in connection with the commercial production of an agricultural product the ultimate sale of which is subject to the tax imposed by this article or which would have been subject to tax under this article: Provided, That sales of tangible personal property and services to be used or consumed in the construction of or permanent improvement to real property and sales of gasoline and special fuel are not exempt: Provided, however, That nails and fencing may not be considered as improvements to real property;

(9) Sales of tangible personal property to a person for the purpose of resale in the form of tangible personal property: Provided, That sales of gasoline and special fuel by distributors and importers is taxable except when the sale is to another distributor for resale: Provided, however, That sales of building materials or building supplies or other property to any person engaging in the activity of contracting, as defined in this article, which is to be installed in, affixed to or incorporated by that person or his or her agent into any real property, building, or structure is not exempt under this subdivision;

(10) Sales of newspapers when delivered to consumers by route carriers;

(11) Sales of drugs, durable medical goods, mobility-enhancing equipment and prosthetic devices dispensed upon prescription and sales of insulin to consumers for medical purposes;

(12) Sales of radio and television broadcasting time, preprinted advertising circulars and newspaper, and outdoor advertising space for the advertisement of goods or services

(13) (12) Sales and services performed by day care centers;

(14) (13) Casual and occasional sales of property or services not conducted in a repeated manner or in the ordinary course of repetitive and successive transactions of like character by a corporation or organization which is exempt from tax under subdivision (6) of this subsection on its purchases of tangible personal property or services. For purposes of this subdivision, the term “casual and occasional sales not conducted in a repeated manner or in the ordinary course of repetitive and successive transactions of like character” means sales of tangible personal property or services at fundraisers sponsored by a corporation or organization which is exempt, under subdivision (6) of this subsection, from payment of the tax imposed by this article on its purchases when the fundraisers are of limited duration and are held no more than six times during any 12-month period and “limited duration” means no more than 84 consecutive hours: Provided, That sales for volunteer fire departments and volunteer school support groups, with duration of events being no more than 84 consecutive hours at a time, which are held no more than 18 times in a 12-month period for the purposes of this subdivision are considered “casual and occasional sales not conducted in a repeated manner or in the ordinary course of repetitive and successive transactions of a like character”;

(15) (14) Sales of property or services to a school which has approval from the Higher Education Policy Commission or the Council for Community and Technical College Education to award degrees, which has its principal campus in this state and which is exempt from federal and state income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended: Provided, That sales of gasoline and special fuel are taxable as provided in §11-15-18, §11-15-18b, and §11-14C-1 et seq. of this code;

(16) Sales of lottery tickets and materials by licensed lottery sales agents and lottery retailers authorized by the State Lottery Commission, under the provisions of §29-22-1 et seq. of this code

(17) (15) Leases of motor vehicles titled pursuant to the provisions of §17A-3-1 et seq. of this code to lessees for a period of 30 or more consecutive days;

(18) (16) Notwithstanding the provisions of §11-15-18 or §11-15-18b of this code or any other provision of this article to the contrary, sales of propane to consumers for poultry house heating purposes, with any seller to the consumer who may have prior paid the tax in his or her price, to not pass on the same to the consumer, but to make application and receive refund of the tax from the Tax Commissioner pursuant to rules which are promulgated after being proposed for legislative approval in accordance with chapter 29A of this code by the Tax Commissioner;

(19) (17) Any sales of tangible personal property or services purchased and lawfully paid for with food stamps pursuant to the federal food stamp program codified in 7 U. S. C. §2011, et seq., as amended, or with drafts issued through the West Virginia special supplement food program for women, infants, and children codified in 42 U.S.C. §1786;

(20) (18) Sales of tickets for activities sponsored by elementary and secondary schools located within this state;

(21) Sales of electronic data processing services and related software: Provided, That, for the purposes of this subdivision, “electronic data processing services” means:

(A) The processing of another’s data, including all processes incident to processing of data such as keypunching, keystroke verification, rearranging, or sorting of previously documented data for the purpose of data entry or automatic processing and changing the medium on which data is sorted, whether these processes are done by the same person or several persons; and

(B) Providing access to computer equipment for the purpose of processing data or examining or acquiring data stored in or accessible to the computer equipment

(22) (19) Tuition charged for attending educational summer camps;

(23) (20) Dispensing of services performed by one corporation, partnership, or limited liability company for another corporation, partnership, or limited liability company when the entities are members of the same controlled group or are related taxpayers as defined in Section 267 of the Internal Revenue Code. “Control” means ownership, directly or indirectly, of stock, equity interests, or membership interests possessing 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of a corporation, equity interests of a partnership or membership interests of a limited liability company entitled to vote or ownership, directly or indirectly, of stock, equity interests or membership interests possessing 50 percent or more of the value of the corporation, partnership, or limited liability company;

(24) (21) Food for the following are exempt:

(A) Food purchased or sold by a public or private school, school-sponsored student organizations, or school-sponsored parent-teacher associations to students enrolled in the school or to employees of the school during normal school hours; but not those sales of food made to the general public;

(B) Food purchased or sold by a public or private college or university or by a student organization officially recognized by the college or university to students enrolled at the college or university when the sales are made on a contract basis so that a fixed price is paid for consumption of food products for a specific period of time without respect to the amount of food product actually consumed by the particular individual contracting for the sale and no money is paid at the time the food product is served or consumed;

(C) Food purchased or sold by a charitable or private nonprofit organization, a nonprofit organization, or a governmental agency under a program to provide food to low-income persons at or below cost;

(D) Food sold by a charitable or private nonprofit organization, a nonprofit organization, or a governmental agency under a program operating in West Virginia for a minimum of five years to provide food at or below cost to individuals who perform a minimum of two hours of community service for each unit of food purchased from the organization;

(E) Food sold in an occasional sale by a charitable or nonprofit organization, including volunteer fire departments and rescue squads, if the purpose of the sale is to obtain revenue for the functions and activities of the organization and the revenue obtained is actually expended for that purpose;

(F) Food sold by any religious organization at a social or other gathering conducted by it or under its auspices, if the purpose in selling the food is to obtain revenue for the functions and activities of the organization and the revenue obtained from selling the food is actually used in carrying out those functions and activities: Provided, That purchases made by the organizations are not exempt as a purchase for resale; or

(G) Food sold by volunteer fire departments and rescue squads that are exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) or (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, when the purpose of the sale is to obtain revenue for the functions and activities of the organization and the revenue obtained is exempt from federal income tax and actually expended for that purpose;

(25) (22) Sales of food by little leagues, midget football leagues, youth football or soccer leagues, band boosters, or other school, or athletic booster organizations supporting activities for grades kindergarten through 12 and similar types of organizations, including scouting groups and church youth groups, if the purpose in selling the food is to obtain revenue for the functions and activities of the organization and the revenues obtained from selling the food is actually used in supporting or carrying on functions and activities of the groups: Provided, That the purchases made by the organizations are not exempt as a purchase for resale;

(26) (23) Charges for room and meals by fraternities and sororities to their members: Provided, That the purchases made by a fraternity or sorority are not exempt as a purchase for resale;

(27) (24) Sales of or charges for the transportation of passengers in interstate commerce;

(28) (25) Sales of tangible personal property or services to any person which this state is prohibited from taxing under the laws of the United States or under the Constitution of this state;

(29) (26) Sales of tangible personal property or services to any person who claims exemption from the tax imposed by this article or §11-15A-1 et seq. of this code, or pursuant to the provision of any other chapter of this code;

(30) (27) Charges for the services of opening and closing a burial lot;

(31) (28) Sales of livestock, poultry, or other farm products in their original state by the producer of the livestock, poultry, or other farm products or a member of the producer’s immediate family who is not otherwise engaged in making retail sales of tangible personal property; and sales of livestock sold at public sales sponsored by breeders or registry associations or livestock auction markets: Provided, That the exemptions allowed by this subdivision may be claimed without presenting or obtaining exemption certificates provided the farmer maintains adequate records;

(32) (29) Sales of motion picture films to motion picture exhibitors for exhibition if the sale of tickets or the charge for admission to the exhibition of the film is subject to the tax imposed by this article and sales of coin-operated video arcade machines or video arcade games to a person engaged in the business of providing the machines to the public for a charge upon which the tax imposed by this article is remitted to the Tax Commissioner: Provided, That the exemption provided in this subdivision may be claimed by presenting to the seller a properly executed exemption certificate;

(33) (30) Sales of aircraft repair, remodeling, and maintenance services when the services are to an aircraft operated by a certified or licensed carrier of persons or property, or by a governmental entity, or to an engine or other component part of an aircraft operated by a certificated or licensed carrier of persons or property, or by a governmental entity and sales of tangible personal property that is permanently affixed or permanently attached as a component part of an aircraft owned or operated by a certificated or licensed carrier of persons or property, or by a governmental entity, as part of the repair, remodeling, or maintenance service and sales of machinery, tools, or equipment directly used or consumed exclusively in the repair, remodeling, or maintenance of aircraft, aircraft engines, or aircraft component parts for a certificated or licensed carrier of persons or property or for a governmental entity;

(34) Charges for memberships or services provided by health and fitness organizations relating to personalized fitness programs

(35) (31) Sales of services by individuals who babysit for a profit: Provided, That the gross receipts of the individual from the performance of baby-sitting services do not exceed $5,000 in a taxable year;

(36) (32) Sales of services by public libraries or by libraries at academic institutions or by libraries at institutions of higher learning;

(37) (33) Commissions received by a manufacturer’s representative;

(38) (34) Sales of primary opinion research services when:

(A) The services are provided to an out-of-state client;

(B) The results of the service activities, including, but not limited to, reports, lists of focus group recruits and compilation of data are transferred to the client across state lines by mail, wire, or other means of interstate commerce, for use by the client outside the state of West Virginia; and

(C) The transfer of the results of the service activities is an indispensable part of the overall service.

For the purpose of this subdivision, the term “primary opinion research” means original research in the form of telephone surveys, mall intercept surveys, focus group research, direct mail surveys, personal interviews, and other data collection methods commonly used for quantitative and qualitative opinion research studies;

(39) (35) Sales of property or services to persons within the state when those sales are for the purposes of the production of value-added products: Provided, That the exemption granted in this subdivision applies only to services, equipment, supplies, and materials directly used or consumed by those persons engaged solely in the production of value-added products: Provided, however, That this exemption may not be claimed by any one purchaser for more than five consecutive years, except as otherwise permitted in this section.

For the purpose of this subdivision, the term “value-added product” means the following products derived from processing a raw agricultural product, whether for human consumption or for other use. For purposes of this subdivision, the following enterprises qualify as processing raw agricultural products into value-added products: Those engaged in the conversion of:

(A) Lumber into furniture, toys, collectibles, and home furnishings;

(B) Fruits into wine;

(C) Honey into wine;

(D) Wool into fabric;

(E) Raw hides into semi-finished or finished leather products;

(F) Milk into cheese;

(G) Fruits or vegetables into a dried, canned, or frozen product;

(H) Feeder cattle into commonly accepted slaughter weights;

(I) Aquatic animals into a dried, canned, cooked, or frozen product; and

(J) Poultry into a dried, canned, cooked, or frozen product;

(40) (36) Sales of music instructional services by a music teacher and artistic services or artistic performances of an entertainer or performing artist pursuant to a contract with the owner or operator of a retail establishment, restaurant, inn, bar, tavern, sports or other entertainment facility, or any other business location in this state in which the public or a limited portion of the public may assemble to hear or see musical works or other artistic works be performed for the enjoyment of the members of the public there assembled when the amount paid by the owner or operator for the artistic service or artistic performance does not exceed $3,000: Provided, That nothing contained herein may be construed to deprive private social gatherings, weddings, or other private parties from asserting the exemption set forth in this subdivision. For the purposes of this exemption, artistic performance or artistic service means and is limited to the conscious use of creative power, imagination, and skill in the creation of aesthetic experience for an audience present and in attendance and includes, and is limited to, stage plays, musical performances, poetry recitations and other readings, dance presentation, circuses and similar presentations, and does not include the showing of any film or moving picture, gallery presentations of sculptural or pictorial art, nude or strip show presentations, video games, video arcades, carnival rides, radio or television shows, or any video or audio taped presentations, or the sale or leasing of video or audio tapes, air shows, or any other public meeting, display or show other than those specified herein: Provided, however, That nothing contained herein may be construed to exempt the sales of tickets from the tax imposed in this article. The State Tax Commissioner shall propose a legislative rule pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code establishing definitions and eligibility criteria for asserting this exemption which is not inconsistent with the provisions set forth herein: Provided further, That nude dancers or strippers may not be considered as entertainers for the purposes of this exemption;

(41) (37) Charges to a member by a membership association or organization which is exempt from paying federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) or (c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for membership in the association or organization, including charges to members for newsletters prepared by the association or organization for distribution primarily to its members, charges to members for continuing education seminars, workshops, conventions, lectures, or courses put on or sponsored by the association or organization, including charges for related course materials prepared by the association or organization or by the speaker or speakers for use during the continuing education seminar, workshop, convention, lecture, or course, but not including any separate charge or separately stated charge for meals, lodging, entertainment, or transportation taxable under this article: Provided, That the association or organization pays the tax imposed by this article on its purchases of meals, lodging, entertainment, or transportation taxable under this article for which a separate or separately stated charge is not made. A membership association or organization which is exempt from paying federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) or (c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, may elect to pay the tax imposed under this article on the purchases for which a separate charge or separately stated charge could apply and not charge its members the tax imposed by this article or the association or organization may avail itself of the exemption set forth in subdivision (9) of this subsection relating to purchases of tangible personal property for resale and then collect the tax imposed by this article on those items from its member;

(42) (38) Sales of governmental services or governmental materials by county assessors, county sheriffs, county clerks, or circuit clerks in the normal course of local government operations;

(43) (39) Direct or subscription sales by the Division of Natural Resources of the magazine currently entitled Wonderful West Virginia and by the Division of Culture and History of the magazine currently entitled Goldenseal and the journal currently entitled West Virginia History;

(44) (40) Sales of soap to be used at car wash facilities;

(45) (41) Commissions received by a travel agency from an out-of-state vendor;

(46) (42) The service of providing technical evaluations for compliance with federal and state environmental standards provided by environmental and industrial consultants who have formal certification through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection or the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, or both. For purposes of this exemption, the service of providing technical evaluations for compliance with federal and state environmental standards includes those costs of tangible personal property directly used in providing such services that are separately billed to the purchaser of such services and on which the tax imposed by this article has previously been paid by the service provider;

(47) (43) Sales of tangible personal property and services by volunteer fire departments and rescue squads that are exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501(c)(3) or (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, if the sole purpose of the sale is to obtain revenue for the functions and activities of the organization and the revenue obtained is exempt from federal income tax and actually expended for that purpose;

(48) (44) Lodging franchise fees, including royalties, marketing fees, reservation system fees, or other fees assessed that have been or may be imposed by a lodging franchiser as a condition of the franchise agreement;

(49) (45) Sales of the regulation size United States flag and the regulation size West Virginia flag for display; and

(50) (46) Sales of an aircraft sold in this state on or after July 1, 2020, as evidenced by a Federal Aviation Administration Bill of Sale AC Form 8050-2 and registered outside of this state as evidenced by Federal Aviation Administration Aircraft Registration AC Form 8050-1 shall be exempt, so long as the aircraft is removed from this state within 60 days of the date of purchase on the bill of sale. The time between the date of purchase and the removal of the aircraft shall not be counted for purposes of determining whether the aircraft is subject to use tax.

(b) Refundable exemptions. — Any person having a right or claim to any exemption set forth in this subsection shall first pay to the vendor the tax imposed by this article and then apply to the Tax Commissioner for a refund or credit, or as provided in §11-15-9d of this code give to the vendor his or her West Virginia direct pay permit number. The following sales of tangible personal property and services are exempt from tax as provided in this subsection:

(1) Sales of property or services to bona fide charitable organizations who make no charge whatsoever for the services they render: Provided, That the exemption granted in this subdivision applies only to services, equipment, supplies, food, meals, and materials directly used or consumed by these organizations and does not apply to purchases of gasoline or special fuel;

(2) Sales of services, machinery, supplies, and materials directly used or consumed in the activities of manufacturing, transportation, transmission, communication, production of natural resources, gas storage, generation, or production or selling electric power, provision of a public utility service or the operation of a utility service or the operation of a utility business, in the businesses or organizations named in this subdivision and does not apply to purchases of gasoline or special fuel;

(3) Sales of property or services to nationally chartered fraternal or social organizations for the sole purpose of free distribution in public welfare or relief work: Provided, That sales of gasoline and special fuel are taxable;

(4) Sales and services, firefighting or station house equipment, including construction and automotive, made to any volunteer fire department organized and incorporated under the laws of the State of West Virginia: Provided, That sales of gasoline and special fuel are taxable; and

(5) Sales of building materials or building supplies or other property to an organization qualified under Section 501(c)(3) or (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which are to be installed in, affixed to, or incorporated by, the organization or its agent into real property or into a building or structure which is or will be used as permanent low-income housing, transitional housing, an emergency homeless shelter, a domestic violence shelter, or an emergency children and youth shelter if the shelter is owned, managed, developed, or operated by an organization qualified under Section 501(c)(3) or (c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(c) Effective date. –

(1) The amendments to this section made in 2018 shall take effect beginning July 1, 2018, and apply to former sales made on and after that date: Provided, That the amendments to subdivision (6), subsection (b) of this section take effect upon passage of this act of the Legislature and shall be construed to prohibit on and after January 1, 2018, all transfers to the State Road Fund established in the State Treasury pursuant to section 52, article VI of the Constitution of West Virginia, of the taxes imposed by §11-15-1 et seq. and §11-15A-1 et seq. of this code. 

(2) The amendments to this section made in 2021 shall take effect beginning January 1, 2022, and apply to sales made on and after that date.

§11-15-9h. Exemptions for sales of computer hardware and software directly incorporated into manufactured products; certain leases; sales of electronic data processing service; sales of computer hardware and software directly used in communication; sales of educational software; sales of Internet advertising; sales of high-technology business services directly used in fulfillment of a government contract; sales of tangible personal property for direct use in a high-technology business or Internet advertising business; definitions.


(a) In order to modernize the exemptions from tax contained in this article as a result of technological advances in computers and the expanded role of computers, the Internet and global instant communications in business and to encourage computer software developers, computer hardware designers, systems engineering firms, electronic data processing companies and other high-technology companies to locate and expand their businesses in West Virginia, the following sales of tangible personal property and software are exempt:

(1) Sales of computer hardware or software (including custom designed software) to be directly incorporated by a manufacturer into a manufactured product. For purposes of this subsection, the payment of licensing fees for the right to incorporate hardware or software developed by persons other than the manufacturer into a manufactured product is exempt from the tax imposed by this article;

(2) Sales of computer hardware or software (including custom designed software) directly used in communication as defined in this article;

(3) Sales of electronic data processing services;

(4) Sales of educational software required to be used in any of the public schools of this state or in any institution in this state which qualifies as a nonprofit or educational institution subject to administration, regulation, certification or approval of the Department of Education, the Department of Education and the Arts or the Higher Education Policy Commission;

(5) Sales of internet advertising of goods and services;

(6) Sales of high-technology business services to high-technology businesses which enter into contracts with this state, its institutions and subdivisions, governmental units, institutions or subdivisions of other states, or with the United States, including agencies of federal, state or local governments for direct use in fulfilling the government contract; and

(7) Sales of prewritten computer software, computers, computer hardware, servers and building materials and tangible personal property to be installed into a building or facility for direct use in a high-technology business or an Internet advertising business.

(b) Definitions. --

As used in this article, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Computer hardware” means a computer, as defined in article 15B of this chapter, and the directly and immediately connected physical equipment involved in the performance of data processing or communications functions, including data input, data output, data processing, data storage, and data communication apparatus that is directly and immediately connected to the computer. The term “computer hardware” does not include computer software.

(2) “High-technology business” means and is limited to businesses primarily engaged in the following activities: Computer hardware design and development; computer software design, development, customization and upgrade; computer systems design and development; website design and development; network design and development; design and development of new manufactured products which incorporate computer hardware and software; electronic data processing; network management, maintenance, engineering, administration and security services; website management, maintenance, engineering, administration and security services and computer systems management, maintenance, engineering, administration and security services. High-technology business as defined herein is intended to include businesses which engage in the activities enumerated in this definition as their primary business activity, and not as a secondary or incidental activity and not as an activity in support of or incidental to business activity not specifically enumerated in this definition.

(3) “High-technology business services” means and is limited to computer hardware design and development; computer software design, development, customization and upgrade; computer systems design and development; website design and development; network design and development; electronic data processing; computer systems management; computer systems maintenance; computer systems engineering; computer systems administration and computer systems security services.

(4) “Internet advertising business” means a for-profit business that is engaged, for monetary remuneration, in the primary business activity of announcing, or calling public attention to, goods or services in order to induce the public to purchase those goods or services, and which uses the Internet as its sole advertising communications medium. For purposes of this definition, Internet advertising must be the primary business activity of the business and not a secondary or incidental activity and not an activity in support of or incidental to other business activity.

(5) “Network” means a group of two or more computer systems linked together.

(6) “Server” means a computer or device on a network that manages network resources.

(c) The amendments to this section made in the first extraordinary session of the Legislature in 2009 shall apply to purchases made on and after July 1, 2009.

(d) Termination – The provisions of this section shall terminate and not apply to any sales made on or after January 1, 2022.

ARTICLE 15A. USE TAX.

§11-15A-2. Imposition of tax; six 7.9 percent tax rate; inclusion of services as taxable; transition rules; allocation of tax and transfers.


(a) An excise tax is hereby levied and imposed on the use in this state of tangible personal property, custom software or taxable services, to be collected and paid as provided in this article or article 15B of this chapter, at the rate of six percent of the purchase price of the property or taxable services, except as otherwise provided in this article: Provided, That beginning on and after January 1, 2022, the tax is hereby levied and imposed at the rate of 7.9 percent of the purchase price of the property or taxable services, except as otherwise provided in this article.

(b) Calculation of tax on fractional parts of a dollar. -– The tax computation under subsection (a) of this section shall be carried to the third decimal place and the tax rounded up to the next whole cent whenever the third decimal place is greater than four and rounded down to the lower whole cent whenever the third decimal place is four or less. The vendor may elect to compute the tax due on a transaction on a per item basis or on an invoice basis provided the method used is consistently used during the reporting period.

(c) “Taxable services,” for the purposes of this article, means services of the nature that are subject to the tax imposed by article 15 of this chapter. In this article, wherever the words “tangible personal property” or “property” appear, the same shall include the words “or taxable services,” where the context so requires.

(d) Use tax is hereby imposed upon every person using tangible personal property, custom software or taxable service within this state. That person’s liability is not extinguished until the tax has been paid. A receipt with the tax separately stated thereon issued by a retailer engaged in business in this state, or by a foreign retailer who is authorized by the Tax Commissioner to collect the tax imposed by this article, relieves the purchaser from further liability for the tax to which the receipt refers.

(e) Purchases of tangible personal property or taxable services made for the government of the United States or any of its agencies by ultimate consumers is subject to the tax imposed by this section. Industrial materials and equipment owned by the federal government within the State of West Virginia of a character not ordinarily readily obtainable within the state, is not subject to use tax when sold, if the industrial materials and equipment would not be subject to use taxes if sold outside of the state for use in West Virginia.

(f) This article does not apply to purchases made by counties or municipal corporations.

ARTICLE 16. NONINTOXICATING BEER.

§11-16-13. Barrel tax on nonintoxicating beer.


(a) There is hereby levied and imposed, in addition to the license taxes provided for in this article, a tax of $5.50 on each barrel of 31 gallons and in like ratio on each part barrel of nonintoxicating beer manufactured in this state for sale within this state, whether contained or sold in barrels, bottles or other containers, and a like tax is hereby levied and imposed upon all nonintoxicating beer manufactured outside of this state and brought into this state for sale within this state; but no nonintoxicating beer manufactured, sold or distributed in this state is subject to more than one barrel tax: Provided, That beginning on and after January 1, 2022, the tax is hereby levied and imposed at $29.25 on each barrel of 31 gallons and in like ratio on each part barrel of nonintoxicating beer manufactured in this state for sale within this state, whether contained or sold in barrels, bottles or other containers, and a like tax is hereby levied and imposed upon all nonintoxicating beer manufactured outside of this state and brought into this state for sale within this state; but no nonintoxicating beer manufactured, sold or distributed in this state is subject to more than one barrel tax. The brewer manufacturing or producing nonintoxicating beer within this state for sale within this state shall pay the barrel tax on such nonintoxicating beer, and, except as provided otherwise, the distributor who is the original consignee of nonintoxicating beer manufactured or produced outside of this state, or who brings such nonintoxicating beer into this state, shall pay the barrel tax on such nonintoxicating beer manufactured or produced outside of this state: Provided, That the barrel tax imposed by this section shall not apply to nonintoxicating beer manufactured by a brewpub.

(b) On or before the 10th day of each month during the license period, every brewer or operator of a brewpub who manufactures or produces nonintoxicating beer within this state shall file a report in writing, under oath, to the Tax Commissioner, in the form prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, stating its total sales, or in the case of a brewpub, its total estimated production of nonintoxicating beer within this state during that month, and at the same time shall pay the tax levied by this article on such production. On or before the 10th day of each month during the license period, every distributor who is the original consignee of nonintoxicating beer manufactured or produced outside this state or who brings such beer into this state for sale shall file a report in writing, under oath, to the Tax Commissioner, in the form prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, stating its total estimated purchases of such nonintoxicating beer during that month, and at the same time shall pay the tax thereon levied by this article for such estimated monthly purchase: Provided, That the Tax Commissioner may allow, or require, a brewer who manufactures or produces nonintoxicating beer outside this state to file the required report and pay the required tax on behalf of its distributor or distributors. Any brewer or distributor or operator of a brewpub who files a report under this subsection may adjust its monthly estimated sales or purchases or production report or reports by filing amended reports by the 25th day of the reporting month.

(c) Every brewer or distributor or operator of a brewpub who files a report under subsection (b) of this section shall file a final monthly report of said sales or purchases or production, in a form and at a time prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, stating actual nonintoxicating beer sales, purchases, or production and other information which the Tax Commissioner may require, and shall include a remittance for any barrel tax owed for actual sales or purchases or production made in excess of the amount estimated for that month.

(d) Any brewer or distributor or operator of a brewpub who files a report pursuant to subsection (b) of this section reflecting an underestimation of 25 percent or more of actual sales or purchases or production of nonintoxicating beer as shown by the report filed pursuant to subsection (c) of this section shall be assessed a penalty of one percent of the total taxes due in such prior month.

(e) Brewers and distributors and operators of brewpubs shall keep all records which relate to the sale or purchase in this state of nonintoxicating beer for a period of three years unless written approval for earlier disposal is granted by the Tax Commissioner.

(f) Brewpubs shall keep such records as required by the federal government and may, in lieu of the recordkeeping and reporting requirements contained in subsections (a) through (e) of this section, file copies of the federal reports contemporaneously with the Tax Commissioner at the time of such filings with the federal government. The filing of duplicate copies of the federal reports with the State Tax Commissioner shall be deemed as compliance with subsections (a) through (e) of this section.

ARTICLE 17. TOBACCO PRODUCTS EXCISE TAX ACT.

§11-17-3. Levy of tax; ratio; dedication of proceeds.


(a) Tax on cigarettes and tobacco products other than cigarettes. — For the purpose of providing revenue for the General Revenue Fund of the state, an excise tax is hereby levied and imposed on sales of cigarettes and tobacco products other than cigarettes.

(b) Tax rate on cigarettes. — Effective May 1, 2003, the excise tax rate levied and imposed on the sale of cigarettes is 55 cents on each 20 cigarettes or in like ratio on any part thereof: Provided, That on and after July 1, 2016, the excise tax rate levied and imposed on the sale of cigarettes is $1.20 on each 20 cigarettes or in like ratio on any part thereof: Provided, however, That effective January 1, 2022, the excise tax rate levied and imposed on the sale of cigarettes is $2.25 on each 20 cigarettes or in like ratio on any part thereof.­­­­­­­­­­ Only one sale of the same article shall be used in computing the amount of tax due under this subsection.

(c) Tax on tobacco products other than cigarettes. — Effective January 1, 2002, the excise tax levied and imposed on the sales or use of tobacco products other than cigarettes at the rate equal to seven percent of the wholesale price of each article or item of tobacco products other than cigarettes sold by the wholesaler or subjobber dealer, whether or not sold at wholesale, or if not sold, then at the same rate upon the use by the wholesaler or dealer: Provided, That on and after July 1, 2016, the excise tax rate levied and imposed on the sales or use of tobacco products other than cigarettes is at the rate equal to 12 percent of the wholesale price of each article or item of tobacco products other than cigarettes sold by the wholesaler or subjobber dealer, whether or not sold at wholesale, or if not sold, then at the same rate upon the use by the wholesaler or dealer: Provided, however, That on and after January 1, 2022, the excise tax rate levied and imposed on the sales or use of tobacco products other than cigarettes is at the rate equal to 19.5 percent of the wholesale price of each article or item of tobacco products other than cigarettes sold by the wholesaler or subjobber dealer, whether or not sold at wholesale, or if not sold, then at the same rate upon the use by the wholesaler or dealer.  Only one sale of the same article shall be used in computing the amount of tax due under this subsection.

(d) Effective date of amendments. — Amendments to this section enacted in the year 2003 apply in determining tax imposed under this article from May 1, 2003, through June 30, 2016. Amendments to this section enacted in the year 2016 apply in determining tax imposed under this article effective on and after July 1, 2016.

§11-17-4b. Levy of tax on e-cigarette liquid; definitions; rate; invoice; report; payment; authority of the Tax Commissioner to inspect and examine witnesses; presumption; bond.


(a) Definitions. — When used in this section, words, terms and phrases defined in this subsection, and any variations thereof required by the context, have the meaning ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context indicates a different meaning is intended.

(1) “E-cigarette” means an electrical or electronic device that provides a smoke, vapor, fog, mist, gas or aerosol suspension of nicotine or another substance that, when used or inhaled, simulates the activity of smoking. The term e-cigarette includes, but is not limited to, a device that is composed of a heating element, battery or electrical or electronic circuit, or a combination of heating element, battery and electrical or electronic circuit, which works in combination with e-liquid to produce an inhalable product. The term e-cigarette includes, but is not limited to, any so designed, or similarly designed, product that is manufactured, distributed, marketed or sold as an e-cigarette, e-cigar, e-pipe or under any other name or descriptor. The term “simulates the activity of smoking”, in the context of this definition, means replicating, mimicking or reproducing an experience similar to inhaling, or otherwise drawing into the mouth or nose, or exhaling the smoke or combustion product of burning tobacco or any other product or material that can be used in a similar fashion.

(2) “E-cigarette liquid” means any of the liquids or liquid mixtures used in e-cigarettes and is also known as e-juice, e-fluid, e-liquid or e-liquid product.  E-cigarette liquid includes e-cigarette liquid mixing kits and e-cigarette liquid mixing kit components. When used in, or with, an e-cigarette, e-cigarette liquid is vaporized or otherwise converted into an inhalable product. E-cigarette liquid may or may not include, without limitation, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine from any source or flavorings.

(b) Levy of tax; rate.

(1)  On and after July 1, 2016, an excise tax is levied and imposed on sales of e-cigarette liquid at the rate of 7.5 cents per milliliter or fraction thereof, or if not sold, then at the same rate upon the use by the wholesaler or dealer: Provided, That on and after January 1, 2022, the excise tax levied and imposed on the sales of e-cigarette liquid is at the rate of $0.75 per milliliter or fraction thereof, or if not sold, then at the same rate upon the use by the wholesaler or dealer.   For purposes of this article, any distributor, dealer, subjobber, subjobber dealer, retailer or any other person that imports or transports e-cigarette liquids into this state, or that causes e-cigarette liquids to be imported or transported into this state, is hereby deemed to be a wholesaler for purposes of this section and is liable for the tax imposed under this article. No wholesaler or other person may purchase e-cigarette liquids from any seller not approved by the Tax Commissioner. E-cigarette liquid mixing kits and e-cigarette liquid mixing kit components shall be taxed in accordance with the amount of e-cigarette liquid, in milliliters, that can be produced by or from the kit or components thereof, as determined by the Tax Commissioner.

(2) Only one sale of e-cigarette liquid shall be used in computing the amount of tax due under this section.

(c) How tax paid; invoice required; reports required; due date; records to be kept.

(1) The tax imposed in this section on e-cigarette liquid shall be paid using an invoice method prescribed by the Tax Commissioner.

(2) The tax will be paid on any and all e-cigarette liquid coming into the state for the purpose of sale or use in this state on and after July 1, 2016.

(3) Contents of delivery ticket or invoice. — Unless otherwise permitted in writing by the Tax Commissioner, each delivery ticket or invoice for each purchase or sale of e-cigarette liquid must be recorded upon a serially numbered invoice showing:

(A) The name and address of the seller and the purchaser;

(B) The point of delivery;

(C) The date;

(D) (i) The number of e-cigarette cartridges, apparatus, containers or other devices; (ii) the quantity in milliliters of each cartridge, apparatus, container or other device; (iii) the wholesale price of each e-cigarette cartridge, apparatus, container or other device delivered in this state; or (iv) if sold outside of a cartridge or other device or container, the total quantity in milliliters of e-cigarette liquid not in cartridges, apparatus or other device or container delivered in this state and the wholesale price of the e-cigarette liquid;

(E) The invoice must either set out the amount of tax imposed by this article separately on the invoice or the invoice may instead indicate that the tax imposed under this article is included in the total price; and

(F) Any other information required by the Tax Commissioner.

(4) Reports and payments due date. — On or before the 15th day of each month, manufacturers, importers, every place of business as defined in this article, retail dealers, subjobbers, vending machine operators and wholesale dealers and their agents, shall file a report covering the business transacted in the previous month providing any information the Tax Commissioner determines necessary for the ascertainment or assessment of the taxes imposed by this article. Reports shall be signed under penalty of perjury and be in a form as prescribed by the Tax Commissioner. The amount of tax shown to be due on the monthly report, if any, shall be remitted on or before the due date of the monthly report.  The first report due for e-liquid sales is August 15, 2016, for the sales completed in July 2016.

(5) Reports required. — The reports prescribed in this article are required, although a tax may not be due or no business transacted, for the period covered by the report.  In the case of any failure to file a report on the date prescribed for filing when no tax is due, unless it is shown that the failure was due to reasonable cause, there is hereby imposed a penalty of $25 for each month or fraction of a month that such report is delinquent, until the report is filed, in addition to any penalties imposed under section 19A of this article.

(6) Records. — Each person required to file a report shall make and keep the records necessary to substantiate the accuracy of the reports required by this section including, but not limited to, records of inventories, receipts, disbursements and sales. Records shall be retained for a period of time not less than three years from the time the report is due or the time when the report is filed, whichever is later.

(d) Inspection of records and stocks; examination of witnesses; registration of e-cigarette sellers; presumption of nontax paid.

(1) The Tax Commissioner has the authority to inspect or examine the records, books and papers, and any equipment or e-cigarette apparatus, and any stock of e-cigarette liquid kept in or upon the premises of persons who sell, possess or store e-cigarette liquid, for the purpose of determining the quantity and value of e-cigarette liquid acquired, on hand or disbursed, to verify the truth and accuracy of any statement, return, form or report and to ascertain whether the tax imposed by this article has been properly paid.

(2) In addition to the Tax Commissioner’s powers set forth in article 10 of this chapter, the Tax Commissioner or the Tax Commissioner’s agent may examine witnesses under oath in order to ascertain the amount of taxes and reports due under this article.  If a witness or person fails or refuses to testify or grant access to records, books, papers, equipment or e-cigarette apparatus, or any stock of e-cigarette liquid, necessary or useful to ascertain the amount of taxes and reports due under this article, the Tax Commissioner shall certify the facts and names to the circuit court of the county having jurisdiction of the party and the court shall issue a summons to the party to appear before the Tax Commissioner at a place designated within the jurisdiction of the court, on a day fixed, to be continued as the occasion may require for good cause shown, to testify and give evidence and to produce for inspection any books, records and papers that may be required and to grant access to records, books, papers, equipment or e-cigarette apparatus, or any stock of e-cigarette liquid, for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of tax and reports due, if any.

(3) Each wholesale dealer of e-cigarette liquid must register with the Tax Commissioner and maintain a business registration certificate, showing the wholesale dealer of e-cigarette liquid to be registered as a seller of tobacco products or seller of both cigarettes and tobacco products prior to the sale or delivery of e-cigarette liquid to any retail dealer or subjobber in this state.  A wholesale dealer may sell tax-paid e-cigarette liquid only to another wholesaler or a retail dealer or subjobber in this state. No person may purchase nontaxed e-cigarette liquid from any seller not approved by the Tax Commissioner.

(4) Whenever e-cigarette liquid is found in the place of business of any retail dealer, without evidence that the tax imposed by this section has been paid, it shall be presumed that the e-cigarette liquid is kept on the premises in violation of this article.

(e) Bond. — The Tax Commissioner may require wholesalers, subjobbers or retail dealers to file a continuous surety bond in an amount to be fixed by the Tax Commissioner but no less than $1,000.  The bond shall be conditioned upon faithfully complying with the provisions of this article including the filing of the returns and payment of all taxes prescribed by this article.

(f) Administration and enforcement. — The provisions of this article and articles nine and 10 of this chapter apply to administration and enforcement of the excise tax on e-cigarette liquid in the same manner and to the same extent as they apply to administration and enforcement of the excise tax on tobacco products, as imposed under this article.

(g) Criminal sanctions. — The criminal sanctions imposed in section nineteen-a of this article are hereby imposed with equal force and application with relation to actions, transactions and responsibilities prescribed under this section and under this article. For the purpose of applying and interpreting the provisions of section nineteen-a of this article, the words “container of tobacco products” shall be interpreted to mean and include the words “container of tobacco products or e-cigarette liquid”.

Article 18.  Excise Tax on Luxury Items.

§11-18-1. Excise tax on luxury item sales, purchases and acquisitions.



(a) General. —  When used in this article, words defined in subsection (b) of this section have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except in those instances where a different meaning is provided in this article or the context in which the word is used clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended by the Legislature.

(b) Definitions.

(1) “Alter ego” means, and includes persons, entities, nominees, and instrumentalities that would constitute an alter ego business or entity as defined in § 11-12-5 of this code.

(2) “Collection” means a group of objects or tangible personal property assembled or accumulated, typically in one location, for a purpose typically related to artistic, intellectual, scientific, historical, or aesthetic interest. A collection may include, but not be limited to, stamp collections, book collections, art collections, sculpture collections, collections of historic objects such as military uniforms, ancient weapons or armor, or automobiles or motorcycles.

(3) “Gross proceeds” means the amount received in money, credits, property or other consideration from sales of luxury items within this state, without deduction on account of the cost of property sold, amounts paid for interest or discounts or other expenses whatsoever. Losses may not be deducted, but any credit or refund made for goods returned may be deducted.

(4) “Luxury item” means jewelry, including watches, and timepieces, clothing, including fur garments and millinery items, art work, furniture, including clocks and electronic equipment and appliances, motor boats, yachts, and airplanes, and collections, as herein defined. The term luxury item includes aggregated sales of luxury items.

(5) “Marketplace” includes any means by which any marketplace seller sells or offers for sale tangible personal property, for delivery into this state, regardless of whether the marketplace seller has a physical presence in this state;

(6) “Marketplace facilitator” means a person that contracts with one or more sellers to facilitate for consideration, regardless of whether deducted as fees from the transaction, the sale of the seller’s products through a physical or electronic marketplace operated by the person, and engages:

(A) Directly, or indirectly, through one or more affiliated persons, in any of the following:

(i) Transmitting or otherwise communicating the offer or acceptance between the buyer and seller;

(ii) Owning or operating the infrastructure, electronic or physical, or technology that brings buyers and sellers together;

(iii) Providing a virtual currency that buyers are allowed or required to use to purchase products from the seller; or

(iv) Software development or research and development activities related to any of the activities described in §11-15A-1(b)(7)(B) of this code, if such activities are directly related to a physical or electronic marketplace operated by the person or an affiliated person; and

(B) In any of the following activities with respect to the seller’s products:

(i) Payment processing services;

(ii) Fulfillment or storage services;

(iii) Listing products for sale;

(iv) Setting prices;

(v) Branding sales as those of the marketplace facilitator;

(vi) Order taking;

(vii) Advertising or promotion; or

(viii) Providing customer service or accepting or assisting with returns or exchanges.

(C) This term does not include a payment processor business appointed by a merchant to handle payment transactions from various channels, such as credit cards and debit cards, and whose sole activity with respect to marketplace sales is to handle payment transactions between two parties.

(5) “Marketplace seller” means a seller that makes retail sales through any physical or electronic marketplaces operated by a marketplace facilitator or directly resulting from a referral by a referrer, regardless of whether the seller is required to be registered with the Tax Commissioner as provided in §11-12-1 et seq. of this code.

(6) “Referral” means the transfer by a referrer of a potential customer to a marketplace seller who advertises or lists products for sale on the referrer’s platform.

(7) “Referrer” -- (A) “Referrer” means a person, other than a person engaging in the business of printing a newspaper or publishing a newspaper as defined in §11-15A-1(b)(10) of this code, who contracts or otherwise agrees with a seller to list or advertise for sale one or more items in any medium, including a website or catalog; receives a commission, fee, or other consideration from the seller for the listing or advertisement; transfers, via telephone, internet link, or other means, a purchaser to a seller or an affiliated person to complete the sale; and does not collect receipts from the purchasers for the transaction.

(B) “Referrer” does not include a person that:

(i)  Provides internet advertising services; and

(ii) Does not ever provide either the marketplace seller’s shipping terms or advertise whether a marketplace seller charges sales and use taxes.

(8) “Related person” has the same meaning prescribed by section 267 or 707(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, as defined in §11-21-9 of this code.

(9) “Remote seller” means any seller, other than a marketplace facilitator or referrer, who does not have a physical presence in this state that, through a platform, sells tangible personal property or services to persons in this state, the acquisition or transfer of which is subject to the tax imposed by this article.

(10) “Retailer” means and includes every person engaging in the business of selling, a luxury item or other tangible personal property owned by the person or others for enjoyment, use or possession of the luxury item or tangible personal property by the purchaser or transferee in this state.

(11) “Retailer engaging in business in this state” or any like term, unless otherwise limited by federal statute, means and includes, but is not limited to:

(A) Any retailer having or maintaining, occupying or using, within this state, directly or by a subsidiary, an office, distribution house, sales house, warehouse, or other place of business, or any agent (by whatever name called) operating within this state under the authority of the retailer or its subsidiary, irrespective of whether the place of business or agent is located here permanently or temporarily, or whether the retailer or subsidiary is admitted to do business within this state pursuant §31D-15-1 et seq. of this code or §31E-14-1 et seq. of this code; or

(B) Any retailer that is related to, or part of a unitary business with, a person, entity or business that, without regard to whether the retailer is admitted to do business in this state pursuant to §31D-15-1 et seq. of this code or §31E-14-1 et seq. of this code, is a subsidiary of the retailer, or is related to, or unitary with, the retailer as a related entity, a related member or part of a unitary business, all as defined in §11-24-3a of this code;

(i) That, pursuant to an agreement with or in cooperation with the related retailer, maintains an office, distribution house, sales house, warehouse or other place of business in this state;

(ii) That performs services in this state in connection with tangible personal property or services sold by the retailer, or any related entity, related member or part of the unitary business;

(iii) That, by any agent, or representative (by whatever name called), or employee, performs services in this state in connection with tangible personal property or services sold by the retailer, or any related entity, related member or part of the unitary business; or

(iv) That directly, or through or by an agent, representative or employee located in, or present in, this state, solicits business in this state for or on behalf of the retailer, or any related entity, related member or part of the unitary business.

(C) For purposes of paragraph (B) of this subdivision, the term “service” means and includes, but is not limited to, customer support services, help desk services, call center services, repair services, engineering services, installation service, assembly service, delivery service by means other than common carrier or the United States Postal Service, technical assistance services, the service of investigating, handling or otherwise assisting in resolving customer issues or complaints while in this state, the service of operating a mail order business or telephone, Internet or other remote order business from facilities located within this state, the service of operating a website or Internet-based business from a location within the state, or any other service.

(12) “Sale” means any transaction resulting in the purchase or lease of tangible personal property from a retailer;

(13) “Seller” means a retailer, and includes every person selling or leasing tangible personal property in a transaction that is subject to the tax imposed by this article.

§11-18-3. Rate of tax, aggregate sales.  


(a) The tax is imposed upon purchase, acquisition or transfer of any luxury item at the stated percentage rate multiplied by the gross proceeds paid for the luxury item at the following rates.

Gross proceeds:                                           The rate of tax on gross proceeds:

Less than $5,000 …………………………………………0.00%

$5,000 to $10,000 ……………………………..……..…..3.00%

More than $10,000 to $30,000…………………..………2.75%

More than $30,000 to $100,000……….….……….……2.50%

More than $100,000 to $500,000……………….………2.25%

More than $500,000 to $1,000,000 ………………….…1.75%

More than $1,000,000…………………………….………1.00%

(b) Aggregate sales. – The tax imposed by this article applies to sales of a single luxury item based upon the bracketed rates and amounts set forth in subsection (a) of this section. In order to prevent tax evasion or tax avoidance, in the determination of the commissioner, sales of luxury items may be aggregated for purposes of this tax so that sales of multiple items may not be parsed out, separated, separately bill or separately invoiced in such a way as to individually appear to fall under the taxable threshold, but in the aggregate constitute a sale subject to tax. The Tax Commissioner may cause sales of luxury items to be aggregated for purposes of imposing this tax, based upon such criteria as the Tax Commissioner may apply, including, but not limited to, time frame of sales, sales of like items, including but not limited to, items comprising parts of a collection as herein defined, sales between the same seller and the same purchaser, sales by related sellers, purchases by related purchasers, and sales that are in substance comprised of one coherent purchase, but made through different sellers, different remote sellers, or different marketplace facilitators so as to falsely represent a substantive single purchase as having been made from two or more sellers, retailers, brokers or marketplace facilitators, or having been made through multiple transactions.  For purposes of this article, sales to alter ego entities or from alter ego entities may be aggregated; sales to related persons may be aggregated; and sales from related persons may be aggregated.

(c) Leases of luxury items are taxable under this article if annual lease payments equal or exceed the thresholds specified in this article and at the rates specified in this article as applied to each annual rent amount. Periodic leases may be aggregated to determine the taxable annual rent amount.

§11-18-4. Payment of tax, incidence of tax, economic nexus.


(a) Incidence of tax. -- The tax imposed by this article is due and owing and payable at the time of transfer by the seller, retailer, remote seller or marketplace facilitator through or by whom the sale of the luxury item is made. However, if the seller, retailer, remote seller or marketplace facilitator fails to pay the tax imposed, or fails to pay because the seller is not subject to tax nexus with this state, then the tax imposed under this article is due and owing and payable by the purchaser of the luxury item at the time of purchase.  Notwithstanding payment of the tax by the seller, retailer, remote seller or marketplace facilitator, the retailer may include the tax as a separately stated listing on the billing or invoice rendered to the purchaser.

(b) Economic nexus. A marketplace facilitator, referrer, or remote seller shall pay the tax imposed by this article when:

(1)  The marketplace facilitator, referrer, or remote seller makes or facilitates West Virginia sales on its own behalf or on behalf of one or more marketplace sellers equal to or exceeding $100,000 in gross revenue for an immediately preceding calendar year, or a current calendar year; or

(2)  The marketplace facilitator, referrer, or remote seller makes or facilitates West Virginia sales on its own behalf or on behalf of one or more marketplace sellers in 200 or more separate transactions for an immediately preceding calendar year or a current calendar year.

(c) Every person liable for payment of the tax imposed by this article shall file a tax return as required by this article and timely pay the tax due.

§11-18-5. Tax in addition to other taxes.


The tax imposed by this article is separate from and imposed in addition to other excise taxes imposed under this code, including but not limited to, the taxes imposed under §11-15-1 et seq. and §11-15A-1 et seq. of this code, special district excise taxes imposed pursuant to §7-22-1 et seq. and §8-38-1 et seq. of this code and municipal consumers sales and service tax and use tax imposed pursuant to §8-13C-1 et seq. and §8-1-1 et seq. of this code.

§11-18-6. Tax return and payment; combined return.


(a) Payment of tax. —  The taxes levied by this article are due and payable in monthly installments, on or before the 20th day of the month next succeeding the month in which the tax accrued, except as otherwise provided in this article.

(1) Each person required to file a return required by this article, shall complete and file the return required by the Tax Commissioner.

(2) The Tax Commissioner may promulgate rules pursuant to § 29A-3-1 et seq. of this code and otherwise use any combination of notices, forms and instructions he or she determines necessary to implement the administration, collection and payment of the tax imposed by this article.

(b) Tax return. —  The taxpayer shall, on or before the 20th day of each month, make out and mail to the Tax Commissioner a return for the preceding month, in the form prescribed by the Tax Commissioner, showing:

(1) The gross proceeds of the vendor’s business for the preceding month upon which the tax is based;

(2) The amount of the tax for which the vendor is liable; and

(3) Any further information necessary in the computation and collection of the tax which the Tax Commissioner may require.

(c) Remittance to accompany return. —  Except as otherwise provided in this article, a remittance for the amount of the tax shall accompany the return.

(d) Deposit of collected tax. —  Tax collected by the Tax Commissioner shall be deposited as provided by law.

(e) The Tax Commissioner may prescribe electronic digital means for filing or payment of the tax imposed by this article, or both in lieu of paper filings and manual processing.

(f) Return to be signed. —  A return shall be signed by the taxpayer or the taxpayer’s duly authorized agent, when a paper return is prepared and filed. When the return is filed electronically, the return shall include the digital mark or digital signature, as defined in §39A-3-1 et seq. of this code, or the personal identification number of the taxpayer, or the taxpayer’s duly authorized agent, made in accordance with any procedural rule that may be promulgated by the Tax Commissioner.

§11-18-7. Application of West Virginia Tax Procedure and Administration Act.


Every provision of the West Virginia Tax Procedure and Administration Act set forth in §11-10-1 et seq. of this code, and as amended from time to time by the Legislature, applies to the taxes imposed pursuant to this article, except as otherwise expressly provided in this article, with like effect as if that act were applicable only to the taxes imposed by this article and were set forth in extenso in this article or the order entered by the county commission imposing the taxes pursuant to this article.

§ 11-18-8. Application of West Virginia Tax Crimes and Penalties Act.


Each and every provision of the West Virginia Tax Crimes and Penalties Act set forth in §11-9-1 et seq. of this code applies to the tax imposed pursuant to this article, with like effect as if that act were applicable only to the tax imposed by this article and were set forth in extenso in this article.

ARTICLE 19. SOFT DRINKS TAX.

§11-19-2. Excise tax on bottled soft drinks, syrups and dry mixtures; disposition thereof.


(a) Tax on or before December 31, 2021 - For the purpose of providing revenue for the construction, maintenance and operation of a four-year school of medicine, dentistry and nursing of West Virginia University, an excise tax is hereby levied and imposed on and after midnight of June 30, 1951, upon the sale, use, handling or distribution of all bottled soft drinks and all soft drink syrups, whether manufactured within or without this state until December 31, 2021, as follows:

(1) On each bottled soft drink, a tax of $0.01 on each 16.9 fluid ounces, or fraction thereof, or on each one-half liter, or fraction thereof contained therein.

(2) On each gallon of soft drink syrup, a tax of $0.80, and in like ratio on each part gallon thereof, or on each four liters of soft drink syrup a tax of $0.84, and in like ratio on each part four liters thereof.

(3) On each ounce by weight of dry mixture or fraction thereof used for making soft drinks, a tax of $0.01 or on each 28.35 grams, or fraction thereof, a tax of $0.01.

(b) Tax on or after January 1, 2022 - For the purpose of providing general revenue to the State of West Virginia, along with the construction, maintenance and operation of a four-year school of medicine, dentistry and nursing of West Virginia University, an excise tax is hereby levied and imposed on and after January 1, 2022, upon the sale, use, handling or distribution of all bottled soft drinks and all soft drink syrups, whether manufactured within or without this state as follows:

(1) On each bottled soft drink, a tax of $0.06 on each 16.9 fluid ounces, or fraction thereof, or on each one-half liter, or fraction thereof contained therein.

(2) On each gallon of soft drink syrup, a tax of $4.80, and in like ratio on each part gallon thereof, or on each four liters of soft drink syrup a tax of $5.04, and in like ratio on each part four liters thereof.

(3) On each ounce by weight of dry mixture or fraction thereof used for making soft drinks, a tax of $0.06 or on each 28.35 grams, or fraction thereof, a tax of $0.06.

(c) Any person manufacturing or producing within this state any bottled soft drink or soft drink syrup for sale within this state and any distributor, wholesale dealer or retail dealer or any other person who is the original consignee of any bottled soft drink or soft drink syrup manufactured or produced outside this state, or who brings such drinks or syrups into this state, shall be liable for the excise tax hereby imposed. The excise tax hereby imposed shall not be collected more than once in respect to any bottled soft drink or soft drink syrup manufactured, sold, used or distributed in this state.

(d) Dedication of revenue-  All revenue collected by the commissioner under the provisions of this article, less such costs of administration as are hereinafter provided for, shall be paid by him or her into a special medical school fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury, to be used solely for the construction, maintenance and operation of a four-year school of medicine, dentistry and nursing, as otherwise provided by law:  Provided, That, for all periods beginning on and after January 1, 2022:

(1) The proceeds of the tax imposed by this article shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund of the state;

(2) On or about the 15th day of each month following the imposition of the tax at the rates prescribed in subsection (b) of this section, the commissioner shall deposit one-sixth of the revenue collected pursuant to this section, less any lawful refunds, credits, and costs of administration as provided in §11-10-27 of this code, into the special fund provided in this subsection.

ARTICLE 21. PERSONAL INCOME TAX.


§11-21-4g. Rate of tax -- Taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022.


(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, on and after January 1, 2022, the West Virginia taxable income of every individual, estate, and trust will be determined as set forth in this section.  

(b)  West Virginia Taxable Nonbusiness Personal Income:

(1) West Virginia taxable nonbusiness personal income means the West Virginia adjusted gross income from wages, salaries, pensions, retirement benefits, annuities, IRAs, social security benefits and unemployment benefits, less West Virginia personal exemptions.

(2) The tax imposed by §11-21-3 of this code on the West Virginia taxable nonbusiness personal income of every individual (except married individuals filing separate returns); every individual who is a head of a household in the determination of his or her federal income tax for the taxable year; every spouse and spouse who file a joint return under this article; every individual who is entitled to file his or her federal income tax return for the taxable year as a surviving spouse; and every estate and trust shall be determined in accordance with the following table:

If the West Virginia taxable

nonbusiness personal income is:              The tax is:

Not over $10,000                                            1.2% of the taxable income

Over $10,000 but not  over $25,000               $120 plus 1.6% of excess over $10,000

Over $25,000 but not  over $40,000               $360 plus 1.8% of excess over $25,000

Over $40,000 but not  over $60,000               $630 plus 2.4% of excess over $40,000

Over $60,000                                                  $1,110 plus 2.6% of excess over $60,000

(3) Rate of tax on West Virginia taxable nonbusiness personal income on married individuals filing separate returns. -- In the case of husband and wife filing separate returns under this article for the taxable year, the tax imposed §11-21-3 of this code of this article on the West Virginia taxable nonbusiness personal income of each spouse shall be determined in accordance with the following table:

If the West Virginia taxable

nonbusiness personal income is:              The tax is:

Not over $5,000                                              1.2% of the taxable income

Over $5,000 but not over $12,500                  $60 plus 1.6% of excess over $5,000

Over $12,500 but not  over $20,000               $180 plus 1.8% of excess over $12,500

Over $20,000 but not  over $30,000               $315 plus 2.4% of excess over $20,000

Over $30,000                                                  $555 plus 2.6% of excess over $30,000

(c) West Virginia Taxable Unearned and Business Personal Income: 

(1) West Virginia taxable unearned and business personal income is the sum of the federal adjusted gross income from interest, dividends, capital gains, supplemental gains and losses, profit from a business as reported on the federal Schedule C, Form 1040, farm income as reported on federal Schedule F, Form 1040, income related to rental real estate, royalties, partnerships, S Corporations, estates, trusts, and residual interest in Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits that are reported on the federal Schedule E, Form 1040, and any other miscellaneous income not taxed under §11-21-4g(b) of this code.

(2) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the tax imposed by this subsection on West Virginia taxable unearned and business personal income shall not be entitled to or offset by any tax credits set forth in chapter 11 of this code except for the credit for taxes paid to other states as set forth in §11-21-20 and §11-21-40 of this code, the Economic Opportunity Tax Credit in §11-13Q-1, et seq. of this code, the Environmental Agricultural Equipment Credit in §11-13K-1, et seq. of this code, the Neighborhood Investment Program Credit in §11-13J-1, et seq. of this code, the Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit §11-13W-1 et seq. of this code, the Farm to Food Bank Tax Credit in §11-13DD-1, et seq. of this code, the Downstream Natural Gas Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit in §11-13GG-1, et seq. of this code and the Post Coal Mine Business Credit in §11-28-1, et seq. of this code. 

(3) The tax imposed by §11-21-3 of this code on West Virginia taxable unearned and business personal income of every individual (except married individuals filing separate returns); every individual who is a head of a household in the determination of his or her federal income tax for the taxable year; every spouse and spouse who file a joint return under this article; every individual who is entitled to file his or her federal income tax return for the taxable year as a surviving spouse; and every estate and trust shall be determined in accordance with the following table:

If the West Virginia taxable

unearned and business

personal income is:                                      The tax is:

Not over $10,000                                            3% of the taxable income

Over $10,000 but not  over $25,000               $300 plus 4% of excess over $10,000

Over $25,000 but not  over $40,000               $900 plus 4.5% of excess over $25,000

Over $40,000 but not  over $60,000               $1,575 plus 6% of excess over $40,000

Over $60,000                                                  $2,775 plus 6.5% of excess over $60,000

(4) Rate of tax on married individuals filing separate returns. -- In the case of husband and wife filing separate returns under this article for the taxable year, the tax imposed by §11-21-3 of this code on West Virginia taxable unearned and business personal income of each spouse shall be determined in accordance with the following table:

If the West Virginia taxable

unearned and business

personal income is:                                      The tax is:

Not over $5,000                                              3% of the taxable income

Over $5,000 but not over $12,500                  $150 plus 4% of excess over $5,000

Over $12,500 but not  over $20,000               $450 plus 4.5% of excess over $12,500

Over $20,000 but not  over $30,000               $787.50 plus 6% of excess over $20,000

Over $30,000                                                  $1,387.50 plus 6.5% of excess over $30,000

(d)  Emergency Rules – Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the Commissioner may promulgate legislative rules explaining and implementing this section, which rules may be promulgated under the provisions of §29-3-1 et seq. of this code and may include an explanation as to the methodology under which modifications provided for by this article apply to West Virginia taxable nonbusiness personal income and West Virginia Taxable unearned and business personal income.  In the absence of rules, a taxpayer that has both West Virginia taxable nonbusiness personal income and West Virginia taxable unearned and business personal income on their West Virginia return shall apply all increasing modifications set forth in §11-21-1 et seq. of this code to the West Virginia taxable unearned and business personal income, and all decreasing modifications set forth in §11-21-1 et seq. of this code to the West Virginia taxable nonbusiness personal income. 

(e) Applicability of this section. -- The provisions of this section, as amended by this act, shall be applicable in determining the rate of tax imposed by this article for all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021, and shall be in lieu of the rates of tax specified in §11-21-4e of this code.

§11-21-25. Sales Tax Relief Credit.


(a) Definitions – As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this subsection, unless the context in which the term is used clearly requires a different meaning or a specific different definition is provided:

(1) "Household" means the claimant and his or her spouse, if any, living in the same residence, as well any dependent children that may be claimed on the taxpayer’s federal income tax return.  The household also includes any persons living in the same dwelling as the claimant and sharing its furnishings, facilities, and accommodation, but does not include bona fide lessees, tenants, or roomers and boarders on contract;

(2) “Household income” means all income received by all persons of a household while members of the household;

(3) “Income” means the sum of adjusted gross income as defined in the United States Internal Revenue Code, the modifications in §11-21-12(b), §11-21-12f and §11-21-12g of this code increasing federal adjusted gross income, and all nontaxable income, including the amount of capital gains excluded from adjusted gross income, alimony, support money, nontaxable strike benefits, cash public assistance and relief, not including relief granted under this chapter, the gross amount of any pension or annuity, including Railroad Retirement Act benefits and veterans' disability pensions, all payments received under the federal social security and state reemployment assistance or unemployment insurance laws, nontaxable interest received from the federal government or any of its instrumentalities, workers’ compensation, and the gross amount of loss of time insurance, but not including gifts from nongovernmental sources, food stamps, or surplus foods, or other relief in kind provided by a public agency; and

(4) “Tax year” or “taxable year” means the calendar year used for computing household income under this chapter. A claimant’s tax year is the same period as is covered by his or her federal income tax return.

(b) Refundable Credit – Subject to the requirements and limitations of this section, for tax years beginning on and after January 1, 2022, any resident having a gross household income equal to or less than $35,000 for the tax year, shall be allowed a refundable credit against the taxes imposed by this article equal to the following amounts:

(1) For all residents having a household income of less than $10,000, the amount of refundable credit shall be $350.

(2) For all residents having a household income between $10,001 and $20,000, the amount of refundable credit shall be $200.

(3) For all residents having a household income between $20,001 and $30,000, the amount of refundable credit shall be $100.

(4) For all residents having a household income between $30,001 and $35,000, the amount of refundable credit shall be $50.

(c) One claim per household - Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, only one claimant per household per tax year shall be entitled to relief under this section.

(d) Advance Refunds of Credit – The amount of credit which would (but for this subsection) be allowable under this section shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the aggregate refunds and credits made or allowed to the taxpayer under this subsection.  

(1) In General – Each claimant who would have been an eligible resident based upon their household income in the year preceding the taxable year shall be allowed a prepayment of the credit: Provided, That any claim for prepayment of the credit must be made on or before April 15 of the tax year to which it relates.

(2) Advanced refund amount – For the 2022 calendar year, for purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the advanced refund amount is the amount that would have been allowed as a credit under this section for the 2020 taxable year if this section had applied to such taxable year.

(3) Timing and manner of payments – The Commissioner shall, subject to the provisions of this article, pay any advance refund of credit under the following guidelines:

(i) 25 percent of the amount of prepayment by June 15 of the taxable year;

(ii) 25 percent of the amount of prepayment by September 15 of the taxable year;

(iii) 25 percent of the amount of prepayment by December 15 of the taxable year; and

(iv) 25 percent of the amount of prepayment by March 15 of the year following the taxable year.

(4) Interest not accruable - No interest shall be allowed on any prepayment attributable to this subsection.

(5) Delivery of payments – Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the commissioner may certify and disburse refunds using any reasonable commercial means necessary.

(e) The commissioner may prescribe such rules as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

§11-21-77. Extension of withholding to certain lottery winnings; lottery winnings source income.


(a) Lottery winnings subject to withholding. — Gross prizes, as defined in §29-22-15a of this code, of more than $5,000 from any lottery prize awarded by the West Virginia State Lottery Commission are subject to withholding under §11-21-1 et seq. of this code. The West Virginia State Lottery Commission in making any lump sum payment, annuity payment or installment payment of a lottery prize subject to withholding shall deduct and withhold from the payment a tax in an amount equal to six and one-half percent of the payment.

(b) Statement by recipient. — Every person who is to receive payment of a lottery prize subject to withholding shall furnish to the person making the payment, a statement made under the penalties of perjury, containing the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of the person receiving the payment and each person entitled to any portion of the payment.

(c) Coordination with other sections. — For the purposes of determining liability for payment of taxes and filing of returns, payments of a lottery prize subject to withholding shall be treated as if they were wages paid by an employer to an employee, but shall not be treated as compensation for personal services performed within this state for purposes of §11-21-40 and §11-21-41 of this code unearned income subject to tax under §11-21-4g(c) of this code.

(d) Source Income. — (1) All lottery prizes awarded by the West Virginia State Lottery Commission shall be taxed as West Virginia source income and shall be subject to all state and federal income tax laws and rules and regulations. Pursuant to this section, state income taxes shall be withheld from prizes paid whenever federal income taxes are required to be withheld under the Internal Revenue Code.

(2) All prizes awarded by the West Virginia State Lottery Commission shall be taxed as West Virginia source income and taxable to nonresidents in accordance with §11-21-32 and §11-21-44 of this code and shall be subject to withholding in accordance with this section.

(3) The sourcing provisions of this section shall apply to all prizes awarded by the West Virginia State Lottery Commission, without regard to the form of payment or the period of time over which payments are made. Lump sum payments, installment payments, annuity payments, and winnings payments that are sold, assigned, transferred, or otherwise split, shared, or conveyed to or among parties other than the original prize winner retain their identity as prizes awarded by the West Virginia State Lottery Commission, and retain their character as West Virginia source income.

(e) Backup withholding. — Beginning July 1, 2012, every person who is required to file Internal Revenue Service Form W-2G, and who is subject to backup withholding under federal law, is subject to West Virginia backup withholding. The payor in making any payment of a gambling prize subject to backup withholding shall deduct and withhold from the payment a tax in an amount equal to six and one half percent of the payment.

(f) The changes made to this section during the 2019 regular session of the Legislature shall take effect immediately upon the effective date of this section.

(g) This section as amended in the year 2021 shall apply for all taxable years beginning after December 31, 2021.

CHAPTER 60. STATE CONTROL OF ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS.

ARTICLE 3A. SALES BY RETAIL LIQUOR LICENSEES.


§60-3A-17. Wholesale prices set by commissioner; retail licensees to purchase liquor from state; transportation and storage; method of payment.

(a) The commissioner shall fix wholesale prices for the sale of liquor, other than wine, to retail licensees. The commissioner shall sell liquor, other than wine, to retail licensees according to a uniform pricing schedule. The commissioner shall obtain, if possible, upon request, any liquor requested by a retail licensee and those permitted to manufacture and sell liquor pursuant to §60-4-3 of this code.

(b) Wholesale prices shall be established in order to yield a net profit for the General Revenue Fund of not less than $6,500,000 annually on an annual volume of business equal to the average for the past three years. The net revenue derived from the sale of alcoholic liquors shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund in the manner provided in §60-3-17 of this code.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the commissioner shall specify the maximum wholesale markup percentage which may be applied to the prices paid by the commissioner for all liquor, other than wine, in order to determine the prices at which all liquor, other than wine, will be sold to retail licensees: Provided, That beginning on and after January 1, 2022, and notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, the wholesale markup percentage will be at least 39.25 percent. A retail licensee shall purchase all liquor, other than wine, for resale in this state only from the commissioner, and the provisions of §60-6-12 and §60-6-13 of this code shall not apply to the transportation of the liquor: Provided, however, That a retail licensee shall purchase wine from a wine distributor who is duly licensed under article eight of this chapter. All liquor, other than wine, purchased by retail licensees shall be stored in the state at the retail outlet or outlets operated by the retail licensee: Provided however further, That the commissioner, in his or her discretion, may upon written request permit a retail licensee to store liquor at a site other than the retail outlet or outlets.

(d) The sale of liquor by the commissioner to retail licensees shall be paid by electronic funds transfer which shall be initiated by the commissioner on the business day following the retail licensees order or by money order, certified check or cashier's check which shall be received by the commissioner at least 24 hours prior to the shipping of the alcoholic liquors: Provided, That if a retail licensee posts with the commissioner an irrevocable letter of credit or bond with surety acceptable to the commissioner from a financial institution acceptable to the commissioner guaranteeing payment of checks, then the commissioner may accept the retail licensee's checks in an amount up to the amount of the letter of credit.

(e)(1) A retail licensee may not sell liquor to persons licensed under the provisions of article seven of this chapter at less than 110 percent of the retail licensee's cost as defined in §47-11A-6 of this code.

(2) A retail licensee may not sell liquor to the general public at less than 110 percent of the retail licensee’s cost as defined in §47-11A-6 of this code


ARTICLE 8. SALE OF WINES.


§60-8-4. Liter tax.

There is hereby levied and imposed on all wine sold after July 1, 2007, by suppliers to distributors, and including all wine sold and sent to West Virginia adult residents from direct shippers, except wine sold to the commissioner, a tax of twenty-six and four hundred six-thousandths cents  per liter: Provided, That beginning on and after January 1, 2022, the tax is hereby levied and imposed a rate of $1.0567 per liter on all wine sold by suppliers to distributors, and including all wine sold and sent to West Virginia adult residents from direct shippers, except wine sold to the commissioner.

Before the 16th day of each month thereafter, every supplier, distributor and direct shipper shall make a written report under oath to the Tax Commissioner and the commissioner showing the identity of the purchaser, the quantity, label and alcoholic content of wine sold by the supplier to West Virginia distributors or the direct shipper to West Virginia adult residents during the preceding month and at the same time shall pay the tax imposed by this article on the wine sold to the distributor or the West Virginia adult residents during the preceding month to the Tax Commissioner.

The reports shall contain other information and be in the form the Tax Commissioner may require. For purposes of this article, the reports required by this section shall be considered tax returns covered by the provisions of §11-10-1 et seq. of this code. Failure to timely file the tax returns within five calendar days of the 16th day of each month will also subject a supplier, distributor and direct shipper to penalties under section 18 of this article.

No wine imported, sold or distributed in this state or sold and shipped to this state by a direct shipper shall be subject to more than one liter tax.


 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to optimize economic efficiency and revenue efficiency of the West Virginia tax structure, across multiple facets of the tax system, and to modernize State taxation to reflect best practices, and standards for an integrated tax system. The bill reduces the personal income tax rates on nonbusiness income. The bill also reflects the new personal income tax rates in the withholding rates. The bill provides for separate rates and method for calculation personal income tax for certain types of business income. It also provides a tax credit for low-income households to offset the sales tax increase. The bill imposes tiered severance tax rates on the privilege of producing natural gas, and oil and on the privilege of producing coal based upon certain classifications as to type of coal and imposes the severance tax on the production of natural gas liquids, based on the gross value taxpayer of the severed natural resource. The bill increases the excise tax on bottled soft drinks and dry mixtures. The bill increases the excise tax on cigarettes, other tobacco products, and e-cigarette liquid. The bill increases the sales tax and use tax rate.  The bill imposes the consumers sales and service and use tax onto the provision of professional services, except professional medical services and professional veterinary services. The bill increases the sales tax on mobile homes to be used as principal year-round residences. The bill imposes the consumers sales and service tax on sales of advertising services and lottery tickets. The bill imposes a tax on certain luxury items.  The bill increases the wine liter tax, beer barrel tax, and also sets a minimum wholesale markup percentage for liquor.  

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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