Wednesday, December 28, 2011

When Construction Contractors Install Tangible Personal Property

I got a new project

This is part of a series of articles on construction contractors

In virtually every state, contractors pay tax on the equipment and supplies that they use to build a structure.  As with any business, they're using those items.  But what about building materials?  These are the ingredients that become a part of the structure.  They are tangible personal property when purchased by the contractor and, after being affixed to the building, become real property.  Examples would be structural steel, bricks, shingles, millwork, concrete, etc.  That's what contractors do: they turn tangible personal property into real property.

In most states, the contractor pays tax on the building materials as well as equipment and supplies and he (or she) doesn't charge his customers tax - either on the materials or his services*.  The materials transferred as part of the sale aren't taxable for two reasons:

1.  The materials were used by the contractor to provide the construction contracting service.  Therefore they are consumed by the contractor and he pays the sales or use tax.

2.  The materials, when transferred to the buyer, are no longer tangible personal property - they're now real property.  And sales and use taxes generally only apply to sales of tangible personal property.  The contractor is the last person to buy the building materials as TPP and therefore he pays the tax.

Now the customer isn't getting something for nothing here.  She (or he) does pay the tax; it's just buried in the overall price of contract as another cost of the contractor.  Note that there's a danger when the contractor shows the tax separately on his invoice. 

Sometimes a contractor does a job that doesn't involve major construction (eg. new or expanded building, or major remodel).  What if they do a minor remodel or repair, or a smaller project like install flooring, fences, signs, communications equipment, appliances or other machinery and fixtures?

The question then becomes: is the contractor still doing construction contracting, or are they selling tangible personal property, with installation?

If they're still performing a construction contract, they they don't charge tax to the customer - they pay tax on the building materials, as described above.

But if they're selling TPP with installation, they should be charging their customers tax and buying the building materials for resale.

Easy, right?  But how do you tell?  When, for example, does a minor remodel become a major project? 

In the absence of any specific rules, here's the general idea. If the contractor is installing something that is permanently affixed to the structure and integrated into the value or use of the structure, then the contractor has done construction contracting.  In that case, he pays tax on the building materials and doesn't charge tax to his customers.  But if he hasn't done all of those things, then it is considered a sale of TPP with installation and he buys the materials for resale and charges the customer tax.

White Building, Green Shutters, Red LeavesExamples:

1.  A telecommunications rack is installed in the wiring closet.  The installation is not permanent - everyone knows that it'll be replaced in a few years.  It's not affixed since permanent damage wouldn't occur if it was removed (it's just bolted to the floor).  And it doesn't have any affect on the value or purpose of the building.

One way of telling if an item has any affect on the value or purpose of the building is to ask, "if the building were sold, would the new owner care about the addition?" Other examples of this kind of thing would be signs, satellite dishes, draperies and blinds.

2.  A landscaping contractor plants a nice tree in the front of the building.  In this case, it is intended to be permanent, and damage would be caused if it was removed after a few months.  And the value of the building is enhanced by the landscaping.  So it's construction contracting and the contractor would pay tax on the tree when he purchased it and would not charge the customer tax.

Except it doesn't always work that way.

Many states will override the logic, or help it along, by simply declaring that certain types of contracting are sales of TPP with installation, and are taxable to the customer and purchased for resale for the contractor.  A typical project that is handled this way is carpeting and sometimes other flooring.  Why?

Well, the cynical Sales Tax Guy notes that the state gets more money.  Remember, if the contractor pays tax on his purchase of building materials (as a construction contractor) the state will get less money because the tax is based on his cost.  But if the state can figure out a way to call it the sale of TPP with installation, then the tax is on what the contractor sells it for, which would typically be higher - more money for the state.

The other reason is that, with certain purchases, the true object of the customer is to buy a specific type of TPP, paying attention to things like the brand, model, features, capabilities, and price.  They are really buying the TPP and the contractor is merely the installer.  So it would be appropriate to treat as the sale of TPP with installation.

In a normal construction contract, the customer is more concerned about the capabilities and service of the contractor than the materials they use.  I'm guessing that most customers don't really care about the brand of furnace (as long as it's a name brand) or the manufacturer of the bricks or shingles.  Color and appearance?  Yeah.  But they'll let the contractor worry about the details.

k110613pDSC_1977corrpspperHere's a stumper.  What about window installation?  In this case, appearance, features, brand and other attributes are very important to the buyer, probably as much as the ability of the contractor.  So wouldn't it be the sale of TPP with installation?  I'd say no, it would probably be construction contracting.  Why?  Because the windows are permanently affixed to the structure and integrated into the value or use of the structure.

So, when you're trying to figure out if it's a sale of TPP with installation; as opposed to a contruction contract, you can use logic, as I've described above.  But check to make sure that the state doesn't have their own ideas.  These are usually shown in the regulations, and sometimes, if you're lucky, in a publication on the state web site.

There are other ways that some states will determine if the sale is treated as the sale of TPP with installation.  One is if the deal is billed as a time and materials contract where the labor is separated from the materials.  Another is if the customer takes title and possession of the materials before the actual work is done (eg. a roll of carpet delivered a week before the installers arrive).

To summarize:

When contractors do construction contracting (eg. new or expanded building or major remodeling) they typically pay tax on the building materials and do not charge their customers tax. 

But when the contractor does a job that is more of a sale of tangible personal property with installation, then it's likely that the materials will be taxable to the customer and the contractor will be able to buy for resale.

*Remember, the rules are different in your state.  Probably.



The Sales Tax Guy
http://salestaxguy.blogspot.com

See the disclaimer - this is for education only.  Research these issues thoroughly before making decisions.  Remember: there are details that haven't been discussed, and every state is different.  Here's more information

Get these articles in your inbox - subscribe at http://salestaxguy.blogspot.com

Don't forget our upcoming seminars and webinars.
http://www.salestax-usetax.com/
Picture note: any images above are hosted on Flickr. If you'd like to see more, click on the photo. 

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Restaurant Container Exemptions (or the Sales Tax Guy talks McRibs)

Lunch

It's time to talk about containers again, for several reasons.  First, this article gave me an excuse to take the above picture.  Second, I therefore had a reason to visit McDonald's for a McRib.  Third, how often do you get to write off a McRib as a business expense?

Most importantly, in my previous articles about containers, I didn't really talk about restaurants.  But lately, I've started using McDonald's in the container section of my Taxing Policy webinars, so I thought it was time for a picture to illustrate the PowerPoint presentation.  And, well, I haven't written an article in a while.

I put my crosshairs on the target, took careful aim, fired the shot and hit the bullseye.  It was a satisfying shoot.Most states have container exemptions.  These allow the vendor to be able to purchase containers tax free if the containers will be sold, with the product, to the customer. Basically it's an extension of the resale exemption.  The seller is essentially buying the containers for resale.  Even though they're not billing the customer separately, they are billing them for the containers as part of the cost of the actual merchandise sold.  In other words, Target didn't have to pay tax on the bag.  Just like the socks inside the bag, they bought the bag for "resale."

So let's take the top picture apart and talk about each item.

1.  The bag for the delicious fries, cup (and lid) for my iced tea, the box for the holiday pie, and the clam-shell for the wondrous McRib are all clearly containers.  McDonald's doesn't expect them back from you.  You bought them with the food.  Therefore, they are containers that generally qualify for the exemption.

2.  What about the napkins and straw?  In most states, disposable items like these that are available for the customer to take, are also exempt.  They obviously aren't containers, but they are clearly part of the selling price of the food and, once you've taken a straw, the restaurant would really prefer you not put it back.  This kind of "free for the taking" rule is only for restaurants.

3.  What about the brown tray?  Did you buy it with the food?  Can you take it with you?  No.  They didn't sell you the tray with the food.  That tray was purchased by McDonald's to use over and over again (after they've cleaned it, of course).  Unlike the above items, it was not sold to you with your food.  It is a "returnable container."  Therefore the restaurant paid sales tax for the tray.

4.  Finally, what about the "place mat" on the tray?  That's a stumper and I can see it going both ways.  It is certainly something that has value to the customer providing a clean place for your fries to spill out of the bag.  But it's also usually a marketing piece for the restaurant.  I personally would take the position that it meets the test for a disposable item and therefore is not taxable.  But the auditor might argue that one.

So there you go.  Containers for restaurants. Remember, every state is different.  Some states have broader rules, some are stricter.  Do your research and don't take my word for it.  See the disclaimer.  And it's almost lunch time as I write this.  Hmmm.  Wonder if they still have McRibs at my McDonald's?

Merry Christmas and/or Seasons Greetings.  May all your holidays be glad and let there be McRibs available at your McDonald's. 




The Sales Tax Guy
http://salestaxguy.blogspot.com

See the disclaimer - this is for education only.  Research these issues thoroughly before making decisions.  Remember: there are details that haven't been discussed, and every state is different.  Here's more information

Get these articles in your inbox - subscribe at http://salestaxguy.blogspot.com

Don't forget our upcoming seminars and webinars.
http://www.salestax-usetax.com/
Picture note: the image above is hosted on Flickr. If you'd like to see more, click on the photo.