(1)(a) Where tobacco products upon which the tax imposed by this chapter has been reported and paid are shipped or transported outside this state by the distributor to a person engaged in the business of selling tobacco products, to be sold by that person, or are returned to the manufacturer by the distributor or destroyed by the distributor, or are sold by the distributor to the United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or are sold by the distributor to any Indian tribal organization, credit of such tax may be made to the distributor in accordance with rules prescribed by the department.

(b) For purposes of this subsection, the following definitions apply:

(i) “Indian distributor” means a federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal entity that would otherwise meet the definition of distributor under RCW 82.26.010, if federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal entities were not excluded from the definition of person in RCW 82.26.010.

(ii) “Indian retailer” means a federally recognized Indian tribe or tribal entity that would otherwise meet the definition of retailer under RCW 82.26.010, if federally recognized Indian tribes and tribal entities were not excluded from the definition of person in RCW 82.26.010.

(iii) “Indian tribal organization” means a federally recognized Indian tribe, or tribal entity, and includes an Indian distributor or retailer that is owned by an Indian who is an enrolled tribal member conducting business under tribal license or similar tribal approval within Indian country.

(2) Credit allowed under this section shall be determined based on the tax rate in effect for the period for which the tax imposed by this chapter, for which a credit is sought, was paid.

Effective date—2005 c 180: See note following RCW 82.26.105.

Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.