(a)        Refund. – The following taxpayers are allowed an annual refund of sales and use taxes paid under this Article:

(1)        Repealed pursuant to its own terms, effective for purchases made on or after January 1, 2016.

(2)        Major recycling facility. – An owner of a major recycling facility is allowed a refund of the sales and use tax paid by it on building materials, building supplies, fixtures, and equipment that become a part of the real property of the recycling facility. Liability incurred indirectly by the owner for sales and use taxes on these items is considered tax paid by the owner.

(3)        Repealed by Session Laws 2016-5, s. 3.14, effective May 11, 2016.

(4)        (Repealed for purchases made on or after January 1, 2024) Motorsports team or sanctioning body. – A professional motorsports racing team, a motorsports sanctioning body, or a related member of such a team or body is allowed a refund of the sales and use tax paid by it in this State on aviation gasoline or jet fuel that is used to travel to or from a motorsports event in this State, to travel to a motorsports event in another state from a location in this State, or to travel to this State from a motorsports event in another state. For purposes of this subdivision, a “motorsports event” includes a motorsports race, a motorsports sponsor event, and motorsports testing. This subdivision is repealed for purchases made on or after January 1, 2024.

(5)        (Repealed for purchases made on or after January 1, 2024) Professional motorsports team. – A professional motorsports racing team or a related member of a team is allowed a refund of fifty percent (50%) of the sales and use tax paid by it in this State on tangible personal property, other than tires or accessories, that comprises any part of a professional motorsports vehicle. For purposes of this subdivision, “motorsports accessories” includes instrumentation, telemetry, consumables, and paint. This subdivision is repealed for purchases made on or after January 1, 2024.

(6)        Repealed pursuant to its own terms, effective for purchases made on or after January 1, 2014.

(7)        (Repealed for purchases made on or after January 1, 2038) Railroad intermodal facility. – The owner or lessee of an eligible railroad intermodal facility is allowed a refund of sales and use tax paid by it under this Article on building materials, building supplies, fixtures, and equipment that become a part of the real property of the facility. Liability incurred indirectly by the owner or lessee of the facility for sales and use taxes on these items is considered tax paid by the owner or lessee. This subdivision is repealed for purchases made on or after January 1, 2038.

(8)        Transformative projects. – An owner or lessee of a business that is the recipient of a grant under the Job Development Investment Grant Program on or before June 30, 2019, for a transformative project as defined in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-437.51(9a) is allowed a refund of the sales and use tax paid by it on building materials, building supplies, fixtures, and equipment that become a part of the real property of the facility. Liability incurred indirectly by the owner for sales and use taxes on these items is considered tax paid by the owner.

(b)        Administration. – A request for a refund must be in writing and must include any information and documentation required by the Secretary. A request for a refund is due within six months after the end of the State’s fiscal year. Refunds applied for after the due date are barred.

(c)        Report. – The Department must include in the economic incentives report required by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-256 the following information itemized by refund and by taxpayer:

(1)        The number of taxpayers claiming a refund allowed in this section.

(2)        The total amount of purchases with respect to which refunds were claimed.

(3)        The total cost to the General Fund of the refunds claimed.

(d)       Not an Overpayment. – Taxes for which a refund is allowed under this section are not an overpayment of tax and do not accrue interest as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 105-241.21 ?(2010-166, s. 1.18; 2011-330, ss. 15(c), 20(a), 26(b); 2012-36, s. 11(a); 2013-316, s. 3.5(a); 2015-259, s. 6(d); 2016-5, s. 3.14; 2017-39, s. 7; 2017-57, s. 38.9A(a); 2019-237, s. 5(b).)