59-12-211.  Definitions — Location of certain transactions — Reports to commission — Direct payment provision for a seller making certain purchases — Exceptions.

(1)  As used in this section:

Terms Used In Utah Code 59-12-211

  • Agreement: means the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement adopted on November 12, 2002, including amendments made to the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement after November 12, 2002. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Agreement combined tax rate: means the sum of the tax rates:
(a) listed under Subsection (7); and
(b) that are imposed within a local taxing jurisdiction. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Aircraft: means the same as that term is defined in Section 72-10-102. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Certified service provider: means an agent certified:
    (a) by the governing board of the agreement; and
    (b) to perform a seller's sales and use tax functions for an agreement sales and use tax, as outlined in the contract between the governing board of the agreement and the certified service provider, other than the seller's obligation under Section 59-12-124 to remit a tax on the seller's own purchases. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Component part: includes :
    (a) poultry, dairy, and other livestock feed, and their components;
    (b) baling ties and twine used in the baling of hay and straw;
    (c) fuel used for providing temperature control of orchards and commercial greenhouses doing a majority of their business in wholesale sales, and for providing power for off-highway type farm machinery; and
    (d) feed, seeds, and seedlings. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Computer: means an electronic device that accepts information:
    (a) 
    (i) in digital form; or
    (ii) in a form similar to digital form; and
    (b) manipulates that information for a result based on a sequence of instructions. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Computer software: means a set of coded instructions designed to cause:
    (a) a computer to perform a task; or
    (b) automatic data processing equipment to perform a task. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Delivered electronically: means delivered to a purchaser by means other than tangible storage media. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Direct mail: includes tangible personal property supplied directly or indirectly by a purchaser to a seller of direct mail for inclusion in a package containing the printed material. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Donee: The recipient of a gift.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Local taxing jurisdiction: means a:
    (a) county that is authorized to impose an agreement sales and use tax;
    (b) city that is authorized to impose an agreement sales and use tax; or
    (c) town that is authorized to impose an agreement sales and use tax. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Manufactured home: means the same as that term is defined in Section 15A-1-302. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Mobile home: means the same as that term is defined in Section 15A-1-302. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Modular home: means a modular unit as defined in Section 15A-1-302. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Motor vehicle: means the same as that term is defined in Section 41-1a-102. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Person: includes any individual, firm, partnership, joint venture, association, corporation, estate, trust, business trust, receiver, syndicate, this state, any county, city, municipality, district, or other local governmental entity of the state, or any group or combination acting as a unit. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Personal property: includes :Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Prepaid calling service: means a telecommunications service:
    (a) that allows a purchaser access to telecommunications service that is exclusively telecommunications service;
    (b) that:
    (i) is paid for in advance; and
    (ii) enables the origination of a call using an:
    (A) access number; or
    (B) authorization code;
    (c) that is dialed:
    (i) manually; or
    (ii) electronically; and
    (d) sold in predetermined units or dollars that decline:
    (i) by a known amount; and
    (ii) with use. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Prepaid wireless calling service: means a telecommunications service:
    (a) that provides the right to utilize:
    (i) mobile wireless service; and
    (ii) other service that is not a telecommunications service, including:
    (A) the download of a product transferred electronically;
    (B) a content service; or
    (C) an ancillary service;
    (b) that:
    (i) is paid for in advance; and
    (ii) enables the origination of a call using an:
    (A) access number; or
    (B) authorization code;
    (c) that is dialed:
    (i) manually; or
    (ii) electronically; and
    (d) sold in predetermined units or dollars that decline:
    (i) by a known amount; and
    (ii) with use. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • product transferred electronically: means a product transferred electronically that would be subject to a tax under this chapter if that product was transferred in a manner other than electronically. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Property: includes both real and personal property. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Purchaser: means a person to whom:
    (a) a sale of tangible personal property is made;
    (b) a product is transferred electronically; or
    (c) a service is furnished. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • rental: includes an agreement covering a motor vehicle and trailer if the amount of consideration may be increased or decreased by reference to the amount realized upon sale or disposition of the property as defined in Section 7701(h)(1), Internal Revenue Code. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Sale: includes :
    (i) installment and credit sales;
    (ii) any closed transaction constituting a sale;
    (iii) any sale of electrical energy, gas, services, or entertainment taxable under this chapter;
    (iv) any transaction if the possession of property is transferred but the seller retains the title as security for the payment of the price; and
    (v) any transaction under which right to possession, operation, or use of any article of tangible personal property is granted under a lease or contract and the transfer of possession would be taxable if an outright sale were made. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Seller: includes a marketplace facilitator. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • State: means the state of Utah, its departments, and agencies. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Tangible personal property: includes :
    (i) electricity;
    (ii) water;
    (iii) gas;
    (iv) steam; or
    (v) prewritten computer software, regardless of the manner in which the prewritten computer software is transferred. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • United States: includes each state, district, and territory of the United States of America. See Utah Code 68-3-12.5
  • Use: means the exercise of any right or power over tangible personal property, a product transferred electronically, or a service under Subsection 59-12-103(1), incident to the ownership or the leasing of that tangible personal property, product transferred electronically, or service. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • vehicle: includes :
    (i) a vehicle described in Subsection (143)(a); or
    (ii) 
    (A) a locomotive;
    (B) a freight car;
    (C) railroad work equipment; or
    (D) other railroad rolling stock. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • Watercraft: means a vessel as defined in Section 73-18-2. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • ZIP Code: means a Zoning Improvement Plan Code assigned to a geographic location by the United States Postal Service. See Utah Code 59-12-102
  • (a) 

    (i)  “Receipt” and “receive” mean:

    (A)  taking possession of tangible personal property;

    (B)  making first use of a service; or

    (C)  for a product transferred electronically, the earlier of:

    (I)  taking possession of the product transferred electronically; or

    (II)  making first use of the product transferred electronically.

    (ii)  “Receipt” and “receive” do not include possession by a shipping company on behalf of a purchaser.

    (b)  “Transportation equipment” means:

    (i)  a locomotive or rail car that is used to carry a person or property in interstate commerce;

    (ii)  a truck or truck-tractor:

    (A)  with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more;

    (B)  registered under Section 41-1a-301; and

    (C)  operated under the authority of a carrier authorized and certificated:

    (I)  by the United States Department of Transportation or another federal authority; and

    (II)  to engage in carrying a person or property in interstate commerce;

    (iii)  a trailer, semitrailer, or passenger bus that is:

    (A)  registered under Section 41-1a-301; and

    (B)  operated under the authority of a carrier authorized and certificated:

    (I)  by the United States Department of Transportation or another federal authority; and

    (II)  to engage in carrying a person or property in interstate commerce;

    (iv)  an aircraft that is operated by an air carrier authorized and certificated:

    (A)  by the United States Department of Transportation or another federal or foreign authority; and

    (B)  to engage in carrying a person or property in interstate commerce; or

    (v)  a container designed for use on, or a component part attached or secured on, an item of equipment listed in Subsections (1)(b)(i) through (iv).

    (2)  Except as provided in Subsections (8) and (14), if tangible personal property, a product transferred electronically, or a service that is subject to taxation under this chapter is received by a purchaser at a business location of a seller, the location of the transaction is the business location of the seller.

    (3)  Subject to Subsection (10), and except as provided in Subsections (7), (8), (9), (11), and (14), if tangible personal property, a product transferred electronically, or a service that is subject to taxation under this chapter is not received by a purchaser at a business location of a seller, the location of the transaction is the location where the purchaser takes receipt of the tangible personal property or service.

    (4)  Subject to Subsection (10), and except as provided in Subsections (7), (8), (9), (11), and (14), if Subsection (2) or (3) does not apply, the location of the transaction is the location indicated by an address for or other information on the purchaser if:

    (a)  the address or other information is available from the seller’s business records; and

    (b)  use of the address or other information from the seller’s records does not constitute bad faith.

    (5) 

    (a)  Subject to Subsection (10), and except as provided in Subsections (7), (8), (9), (11), and (14), if Subsection (2), (3), or (4) does not apply, the location of the transaction is the location indicated by an address for the purchaser if:

    (i)  the address is obtained during the consummation of the transaction; and

    (ii)  use of the address described in Subsection (5)(a)(i) does not constitute bad faith.

    (b)  An address used under Subsection (5)(a) includes the address of a purchaser’s payment instrument if no other address is available.

    (6)  Subject to Subsection (10), and except as provided in Subsections (7), (8), (9), (11), and (14), if Subsection (2), (3), (4), or (5) does not apply or if a seller does not have sufficient information to apply Subsection (2), (3), (4), or (5), the location of the transaction is the location:

    (a)  indicated by the address from which:

    (i)  except as provided in Subsection (6)(a)(ii), for tangible personal property that is subject to taxation under this chapter, the tangible personal property is shipped;

    (ii)  for computer software delivered electronically or for a product transferred electronically that is subject to taxation under this chapter, the computer software or product transferred electronically is first available for transmission by the seller; or

    (iii)  for a service that is subject to taxation under this chapter, the service is provided; or

    (b)  as determined by the seller with respect to a prepaid wireless calling service:

    (i)  provided in Subsection (6)(a)(iii); or

    (ii)  associated with the mobile telephone number.

    (7) 

    (a)  For purposes of this Subsection (7), “shared ZIP Code” means a nine-digit ZIP Code that is located within two or more local taxing jurisdictions.

    (b)  If the location of a transaction determined under Subsections (3) through (6) is in a shared ZIP Code, the location of the transaction is:

    (i)  if there is only one local taxing jurisdiction that imposes the lowest agreement combined tax rate for the shared ZIP Code, the local taxing jurisdiction that imposes the lowest agreement combined tax rate; or

    (ii)  if two or more local taxing jurisdictions impose the lowest agreement combined tax rate for the shared ZIP Code, the local taxing jurisdiction that:

    (A)  imposes the lowest agreement combined tax rate for the shared ZIP Code; and

    (B)  has located within the local taxing jurisdiction the largest number of street addresses within the shared ZIP Code.

    (c)  Notwithstanding any provision under this chapter authorizing or requiring the imposition of a sales and use tax, for purposes of Subsection (7)(b), a seller shall collect a sales and use tax imposed under this chapter at the lowest agreement combined tax rate imposed within the local taxing jurisdiction in which the transaction is located under Subsection (7)(b).

    (d)  In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the commission may make rules:

    (i)  providing for the circumstances under which a seller has exercised due diligence in determining the nine-digit ZIP Code for an address; or

    (ii)  notwithstanding Subsection (7)(b), for determining the local taxing jurisdiction within which a transaction is located if a seller is unable to determine the local taxing jurisdiction within which the transaction is located under Subsection (7)(b).

    (8)  The location of a transaction made with a direct payment permit described in Section 59-12-107.1 is the location where receipt of the tangible personal property, product, or service by the purchaser occurs.

    (9)  The location of a purchase of direct mail is the location determined in accordance with Section 59-12-123.

    (10) 

    (a)  Except as provided in Subsection (10)(b), the location of a transaction determined under Subsections (3) through (6), (8), or (9), is the local taxing jurisdiction within which:

    (i)  the nine-digit ZIP Code assigned to the location determined under Subsections (3) through (6), (8), or (9) is located; or

    (ii)  the five-digit ZIP Code assigned to the location determined under Subsections (3) through (6), (8), or (9) is located if:

    (A)  a nine-digit ZIP Code is not available for the location determined under Subsections (3) through (6), (8), or (9); or

    (B)  after exercising due diligence, a seller or certified service provider is unable to determine a nine-digit ZIP Code for the location determined under Subsections (3) through (6), (8), or (9).

    (b)  In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the commission may make rules for determining the local taxing jurisdiction within which a transaction is located if a seller or certified service provider is unable to determine the local taxing jurisdiction within which the transaction is located under Subsection (10)(a).

    (11) 

    (a)  As used in this Subsection (11), “florist delivery transaction” means a transaction commenced by a florist that transmits an order:

    (i)  by:

    (A)  telegraph;

    (B)  telephone; or

    (C)  a means of communication similar to Subsection (11)(a)(i)(A) or (B); and

    (ii)  for delivery to another place:

    (A)  in this state; or

    (B)  outside this state.

    (b)  Notwithstanding Subsections (3) through (6), beginning on January 1, 2009, and ending on December 31, 2009, the location of a florist delivery transaction is the business location of the florist that commences the florist delivery transaction.

    (c)  In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the commission may by rule:

    (i)  define:

    (A)  “business location”; and

    (B)  “florist”;

    (ii)  define what constitutes a means of communication similar to Subsection (11)(a)(i)(A) or (B); and

    (iii)  provide procedures for determining when a transaction is commenced.

    (12) 

    (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section and except as provided in Subsection (12)(b), if a purchaser uses computer software and there is not a transfer of a copy of that software to the purchaser, the location of the transaction is determined in accordance with Subsections (4) and (5).

    (b)  If a purchaser uses computer software described in Subsection (12)(a) at more than one location, the location of the transaction shall be determined in accordance with rules made by the commission in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.

    (13) 

    (a)  A tax collected under this chapter shall be reported to the commission on a form that identifies the location of each transaction that occurs during the return filing period.

    (b)  The form described in Subsection (13)(a) shall be filed with the commission as required under this chapter.

    (14)  This section does not apply to:

    (a)  amounts charged by a seller for:

    (i)  telecommunications service except for a prepaid calling service or a prepaid wireless calling service as provided in Subsection (6)(b) or Section 59-12-215; or

    (ii)  the retail sale or transfer of:

    (A)  a motor vehicle other than a motor vehicle that is transportation equipment;

    (B)  an aircraft other than an aircraft that is transportation equipment;

    (C)  a watercraft;

    (D)  a modular home;

    (E)  a manufactured home; or

    (F)  a mobile home; or

    (iii)  except as provided in Section 59-12-214, the lease or rental of tangible personal property other than tangible personal property that is transportation equipment;

    (b)  a tax a person pays in accordance with Subsection 59-12-107(2)(f); or

    (c)  a retail sale of tangible personal property or a product transferred electronically if:

    (i)  the seller receives the order for the tangible personal property or product transferred electronically in this state;

    (ii)  receipt of the tangible personal property or product transferred electronically by the purchaser or the purchaser’s donee occurs in this state;

    (iii)  the location where receipt of the tangible personal property or product transferred electronically by the purchaser occurs is determined in accordance with Subsections (3) through (5); and

    (iv)  at the time the seller receives the order, the record keeping system that the seller uses to calculate the proper amount of tax imposed under this chapter captures the location where the order is received.

    Amended by Chapter 6, 2018 Special Session 2