HOUSE BILL No. 5255

 

September 19, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Meisner, Gillard, Alma Smith, Warren, Wojno, Bieda, Cushingberry, Clack, Angerer, Kathleen Law, Byrnes, Tobocman and Condino and referred to the Committee on Tax Policy.

 

     A bill to amend 1933 PA 167, entitled

 

"General sales tax act,"

 

by amending sections 2, 4a, 4g, 4i, 4m, 4r, 4t, 4x, 4aa, and 6a

 

(MCL 205.52, 205.54a, 205.54g, 205.54i, 205.54m, 205.54r, 205.54t,

 

205.54x, 205.54aa, and 205.56a), sections 2, 4a, 4g, 4i, 4m, 4r,

 

and 4t as amended by 2004 PA 173, section 4x as amended by 2006 PA

 

17, section 4aa as added by 2002 PA 617, and section 6a as amended

 

by 1993 PA 325.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 2. (1) Except as provided in section 2a, there is levied

 

upon and there shall be collected from all persons engaged in the

 

business of making sales at retail, by which ownership of tangible

 

personal property is transferred for consideration, an annual tax

 

for the privilege of engaging in that business equal to 6%, of the


 

gross proceeds of the business, plus the penalty and interest if

 

applicable as provided by law, less deductions allowed by this act.

 

     (2) The tax under subsection (1) also applies to the

 

following:

 

     (a) The transmission and distribution of electricity, whether

 

the electricity is purchased from the delivering utility or from

 

another provider, if the sale is made to the consumer or user of

 

the electricity for consumption or use rather than for resale.

 

     (b) The sale of a prepaid telephone calling card or a prepaid

 

authorization number or code for telephone use, rather than for

 

resale, including the reauthorization of a prepaid telephone

 

calling card or a prepaid authorization number or code.

 

     (c) A conditional sale, installment lease sale, or other

 

transfer of property, if title is retained as security for the

 

purchase but is intended to be transferred later.

 

     (3) Any person engaged in the business of making sales at

 

retail who is at the same time engaged in some other kind of

 

business, occupation, or profession not taxable under this act

 

shall keep books to show separately the transactions used in

 

determining the tax levied by under this act. If the person fails

 

to keep separate books, there shall be levied upon him or her the

 

tax provided for in subsection (1) equal to 6% of the entire gross

 

proceeds of both or all of his or her businesses. The taxes levied

 

by this section are a personal obligation of the taxpayer.

 

     (4) A Before October 1, 2007, a meal provided free of charge

 

or at a reduced rate to an employee during work hours by a food

 

service establishment licensed by the Michigan department of


 

agriculture under the food law of 2000, 2000 PA 92, MCL 289.1101 to

 

289.8111, for the convenience of the employer is not considered

 

transferred for consideration.

 

     Sec. 4a. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the following are

 

exempt from the tax under this act:

 

     (a) A sale of tangible personal property not for resale to a

 

nonprofit school, nonprofit hospital, or nonprofit home for the

 

care and maintenance of children or aged persons operated by an

 

entity of government, a regularly organized church, religious , or

 

fraternal organization, a veterans' organization, or a corporation

 

incorporated under the laws of this state, if the income or benefit

 

from the operation does not inure, in whole or in part, to an

 

individual or private shareholder, directly or indirectly, and if

 

the activities of the entity or agency are carried on exclusively

 

for the benefit of the public at large and are not limited to the

 

advantage, interests, and benefits of its members or any restricted

 

group. A sale of tangible personal property to a parent cooperative

 

preschool is exempt from taxation under this act. As used in this

 

subdivision, "parent cooperative preschool" means a nonprofit,

 

nondiscriminatory educational institution, maintained as a

 

community service and administered by parents of children currently

 

enrolled in the preschool, that provides an educational and

 

developmental program for children younger than compulsory school

 

age, that provides an educational program for parents, including

 

active participation with children in preschool activities, that is

 

directed by qualified preschool personnel, and that is licensed by

 

the department of consumer and industry services pursuant to 1973


 

PA 116, MCL 722.111 to 722.128.

 

     (b) A sale of tangible personal property not for resale to a

 

regularly organized church or house of religious worship, except

 

the following:

 

     (i) Sales in activities that are mainly commercial enterprises.

 

     (ii) Sales of vehicles licensed for use on public highways

 

other than a passenger van or bus with a manufacturer's rated

 

seating capacity of 10 or more that is used primarily for the

 

transportation of persons for religious purposes.

 

     (c) The sale of food to bona fide enrolled students by a

 

school or other educational institution not operated for profit.

 

     (d) The sale of a vessel designated for commercial use of

 

registered tonnage of 500 tons or more, if produced upon special

 

order of the purchaser, and bunker and galley fuel, provisions,

 

supplies, maintenance, and repairs for the exclusive use of the

 

vessel engaged in interstate commerce.

 

     (e) A sale of tangible personal property to persons engaged in

 

a business enterprise and using or consuming the tangible personal

 

property in the tilling, planting, caring for, or harvesting of the

 

things of the soil; in the breeding, raising, or caring for

 

livestock, poultry, or horticultural products, including transfers

 

of livestock, poultry, or horticultural products for further

 

growth; or in the direct gathering of fish, by net, line, or

 

otherwise only by an owner-operator of the business enterprise, not

 

including a charter fishing business enterprise. This exemption

 

includes agricultural land tile, which means fired clay or

 

perforated plastic tubing used as part of a subsurface drainage


 

system for land, and subsurface irrigation pipe, if the land tile

 

or irrigation pipe is used in the production of agricultural

 

products as a business enterprise. This exemption includes a

 

portable grain bin, which means a structure that is used or is to

 

be used to shelter grain and that is designed to be disassembled

 

without significant damage to its component parts. This exemption

 

also includes grain drying equipment and natural or propane gas

 

used to fuel that equipment for agricultural purposes. This

 

exemption does not include transfers of food, fuel, clothing, or

 

any similar tangible personal property for personal living or human

 

consumption. This exemption does not include tangible personal

 

property permanently affixed and becoming a structural part of real

 

estate.

 

     (f) The sale of a copyrighted motion picture film or a

 

newspaper or periodical admitted under federal postal laws and

 

regulations effective September 1, 1985 as second-class mail matter

 

or as a controlled circulation publication or qualified to accept

 

legal notices for publication in this state, as defined by law, or

 

any other newspaper or periodical of general circulation,

 

established not less than 2 years, and published not less than once

 

a week, or, before October 1, 2007, a periodical admitted under

 

federal postal laws and regulations effective September 1, 1985 as

 

second-class mail. Tangible personal property used or consumed in

 

producing a copyrighted motion picture film, a newspaper published

 

more than 14 times per year, or a periodical published more than 14

 

times per year, and not becoming a component part of that film,

 

newspaper, or periodical is subject to the tax. Tangible personal


 

property used or consumed in producing a newspaper published 14

 

times or less per year or a periodical published 14 times or less

 

per year and that portion or percentage of tangible personal

 

property used or consumed in producing an advertising supplement

 

that becomes a component part of a newspaper or periodical is

 

exempt from the tax under this subdivision. A claim for a refund

 

for taxes paid before January 1, 1999, under this subdivision shall

 

be made before June 30, 1999. For purposes of this subdivision,

 

tangible personal property that becomes a component part of a

 

newspaper or periodical and consequently not subject to tax

 

includes an advertising supplement inserted into and circulated

 

with a newspaper or periodical that is otherwise exempt from tax

 

under this subdivision, if the advertising supplement is delivered

 

directly to the newspaper or periodical by a person other than the

 

advertiser, or the advertising supplement is printed by the

 

newspaper or periodical.

 

     (g) A sale of tangible personal property to persons licensed

 

to operate commercial radio or television stations if the property

 

is used in the origination or integration of the various sources of

 

program material for commercial radio or television transmission.

 

This subdivision does not include a vehicle licensed and titled for

 

use on public highways or property used in the transmission to or

 

receiving from an artificial satellite.

 

     (h) The sale of a prosthetic device, durable medical

 

equipment, or mobility enhancing equipment.

 

     (i) The sale of a vehicle not for resale to a Michigan

 

nonprofit corporation organized exclusively to provide a community


 

with ambulance or fire department services.

 

     (j) A sale of tangible personal property to inmates in a penal

 

or correctional institution purchased with scrip or its equivalent

 

issued and redeemed by the institution.

 

     (k) A sale of textbooks sold by a public or nonpublic school

 

to or for the use of students enrolled in any part of a

 

kindergarten through twelfth grade program.

 

     (l) A Before October 1, 2007, a sale of tangible personal

 

property installed as a component part of a water pollution control

 

facility for which a tax exemption certificate is issued pursuant

 

to part 37 of the natural resources and environmental protection

 

act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.3701 to 324.3708, or an air pollution

 

control facility for which a tax exemption certificate is issued

 

pursuant to part 59 of the natural resources and environmental

 

protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.5901 to 324.5908.

 

     (m) The sale or lease of the following to an industrial

 

laundry after December 31, 1997:

 

     (i) Textiles and disposable products including, but not limited

 

to, soap, paper, chemicals, tissues, deodorizers and dispensers,

 

and all related items such as packaging, supplies, hangers, name

 

tags, and identification tags.

 

     (ii) Equipment, whether owned or leased, used to repair and

 

dispense textiles including, but not limited to, roll towel

 

cabinets, slings, hardware, lockers, mop handles and frames, and

 

carts.

 

     (iii) Machinery, equipment, parts, lubricants, and repair

 

services used to clean, process, and package textiles and related


 

items, whether owned or leased.

 

     (iv) Utilities such as electric, gas, water, or oil.

 

     (v) Production washroom equipment and mending and packaging

 

supplies and equipment.

 

     (vi) Material handling equipment including, but not limited to,

 

conveyors, racks, and elevators and related control equipment.

 

     (vii) Wastewater pretreatment equipment and supplies and

 

related maintenance and repair services.

 

     (n) A sale of tangible personal property to a person holding a

 

direct payment permit under section 8 of the use tax act, 1937 PA

 

94, MCL 205.98.

 

     (2) The tangible personal property under subsection (1) is

 

exempt only to the extent that that property is used for the exempt

 

purpose if one is stated in subsection (1). The exemption is

 

limited to the percentage of exempt use to total use determined by

 

a reasonable formula or method approved by the department.

 

     Sec. 4g. (1) The following are exempt from the tax under this

 

act:

 

     (a) Sales of drugs for human use that can only be legally

 

dispensed by prescription or food or food ingredients, except

 

prepared food intended for immediate human consumption and, after

 

October 1, 2007, food and food ingredients sold from a vending

 

machine.

 

     (b) The deposit on a returnable container for a beverage or

 

the deposit on a carton or case that is used for returnable

 

containers.

 

     (c) Food or tangible personal property purchased under the


 

federal food stamp program or meals eligible to be purchased under

 

the federal food stamp program.

 

     (d) Fruit or vegetable seeds and fruit or vegetable plants if

 

purchased at a place of business authorized to accept food stamps

 

by the food and nutrition service of the United States department

 

of agriculture or a place of business that has made a complete and

 

proper application for authorization to accept food stamps but has

 

been denied authorization and provides proof of denial to the

 

department of treasury.

 

     (e) Live animals purchased with the intent to be slaughtered

 

for human consumption.

 

     (2) Food Before October 1, 2007, food or drink heated or

 

cooled mechanically, electrically, or by other artificial means to

 

an average temperature above 75 degrees Fahrenheit or below 65

 

degrees Fahrenheit before sale and sold from a vending machine,

 

except milk, nonalcoholic beverages in a sealed container, and

 

fresh fruit, is subject to the tax under this act. The tax due

 

under this act on the sale of food or drink from a vending machine

 

selling both taxable items and items exempt under this subsection

 

shall be calculated under this act based on 1 of the following as

 

determined by the taxpayer:

 

     (a) Actual gross proceeds from sales at retail.

 

     (b) Forty-five percent of proceeds from the sale of items

 

subject to tax under this act or exempt from the tax levied under

 

this act, other than from the sale of carbonated beverages.

 

     (3) "Food and food ingredients" means substances, whether in

 

liquid, concentrated, solid, frozen, dried, or dehydrated form,


 

that are sold for ingestion or chewing by humans and are consumed

 

for their taste or nutritional value. Food and food ingredients do

 

not include alcoholic beverages and tobacco.

 

     (4) "Prepared food" means the following:

 

     (a) Food sold in a heated state or that is heated by the

 

seller.

 

     (b) Two or more food ingredients mixed or combined by the

 

seller for sale as a single item.

 

     (c) Food sold with eating utensils provided by the seller,

 

including knives, forks, spoons, glasses, cups, napkins, straws, or

 

plates, but not including a container or packaging used to

 

transport the food.

 

     (5) Prepared food does not include the following:

 

     (a) Food that is only cut, repackaged, or pasteurized by the

 

seller.

 

     (b) Raw eggs, fish, meat, poultry, and foods containing those

 

raw items requiring cooking by the consumer in recommendations

 

contained in section 3-401.11 of part 3-4 of chapter 3 of the 2001

 

food code published by the food and drug administration of the

 

public health service of the department of health and human

 

services, to prevent foodborne illness.

 

     (c) Food sold in an unheated state by weight or volume as a

 

single item, without eating utensils.

 

     (d) Bakery items, including bread, rolls, buns, biscuits,

 

bagels, croissants, pastries, doughnuts, danish, cakes, tortes,

 

pies, tarts, muffins, bars, cookies, and tortillas, sold without

 

eating utensils.


 

     (6) "Prepared food intended for immediate human consumption"

 

means prepared food and, after October 1, 2007, food and food

 

ingredients sold from a vending machine.

 

     Sec. 4i. (1) As used in this section, "bad debt" means any

 

portion of a debt that is related to a sale at retail taxable under

 

this act for which gross proceeds are not otherwise deductible or

 

excludable and that is eligible to be claimed, or could be eligible

 

to be claimed if the taxpayer kept accounts on an accrual basis, as

 

a deduction pursuant to section 166 of the internal revenue code,

 

26 USC 166. A bad debt shall not include any finance charge,

 

interest, or sales tax on the purchase price, uncollectible amounts

 

on property that remains in the possession of the taxpayer until

 

the full purchase price is paid, expenses incurred in attempting to

 

collect any account receivable or any portion of the debt

 

recovered, any accounts receivable that have been sold to and

 

remain in the possession of a third party for collection, and

 

repossessed property.

 

     (2) In computing the amount of tax levied under this act for

 

any month, before October 1, 2007, a taxpayer may deduct the amount

 

of bad debts from his or her gross proceeds used for the

 

computation of the tax. The amount of gross proceeds deducted must

 

be charged off as uncollectible on the books and records of the

 

taxpayer at the time the debt becomes worthless and deducted on the

 

return for the period during which the bad debt is written off as

 

uncollectible in the claimant's books and records and must be

 

eligible to be deducted for federal income tax purposes. For

 

purposes of this section, before October 1, 2007, a claimant who is


 

not required to file a federal income tax return may deduct a bad

 

debt on a return filed for the period in which the bad debt becomes

 

worthless and is written off as uncollectible in the claimant's

 

books and records and would be eligible for a bad debt deduction

 

for federal income tax purposes if the claimant was required to

 

file a federal income tax return. If a consumer or other person

 

pays all or part of a bad debt with respect to which a taxpayer

 

claimed a deduction under this section, the taxpayer is liable for

 

the amount of taxes deducted in connection with that portion of the

 

debt for which payment is received and shall remit these taxes in

 

his or her next payment to the department. Any payments made on a

 

bad debt shall be applied proportionally first to the taxable price

 

of the property and the tax on the property and second to any

 

interest, service, or other charge.

 

     (3) Any claim for a bad debt deduction under this section

 

shall be supported by that evidence required by the department. The

 

department shall review any change in the rate of taxation

 

applicable to any taxable sales by a taxpayer claiming a deduction

 

pursuant to this section and shall ensure that the deduction on any

 

bad debt does not result in the taxpayer claiming the deduction

 

recovering any more or less than the taxes imposed on the sale that

 

constitutes the bad debt.

 

     (4) If a certified service provider assumed filing

 

responsibility under the streamlined sales and use tax

 

administration act, 2004 PA 174, MCL 205.801 to 205.833, the

 

certified service provider may, before October 1, 2007, claim, on

 

behalf of the taxpayer, any bad debt allowable to the taxpayer and


 

shall credit or refund that amount of bad debt allowed or refunded

 

to the taxpayer.

 

     (5) If the books and records of a taxpayer under the

 

streamlined sales and use tax agreement under the streamlined sales

 

and use tax administration act, 2004 PA 174, MCL 205.801 to

 

205.833, that claims a bad debt allowance support an allocation of

 

the bad debts among member states of that agreement, the taxpayer

 

may allocate the bad debts.

 

     Sec. 4m. A Before October 1, 2007, a sale of rail freight or

 

passenger cars, locomotives or other rolling stock, roadway

 

machines and work equipment primarily of a flanged wheel nature,

 

accessories, attachments including parts and materials used for

 

repair, lubricants, or fuel, used in rail operations is exempt from

 

the tax under this act. This exemption does not include vehicles

 

licensed and titled for use on public highways.

 

     Sec. 4r. (1) All of the following are exempt from the tax

 

under this act:

 

     (a) The Before October 1, 2007, the product of the out-of-

 

state usage percentage and the gross proceeds otherwise taxable

 

under this act from the sale of a qualified truck or a trailer

 

designed to be drawn behind a qualified truck, purchased after

 

December 31, 1996 and before May 1, 1999 by an interstate motor

 

carrier and used in interstate commerce.

 

     (b) A Before October 1, 2007, a sale of rolling stock

 

purchased by an interstate motor carrier or for rental or lease to

 

an interstate motor carrier and used in interstate commerce.

 

     (2) As used in this section:


 

     (a) "Interstate motor carrier" means a person engaged in the

 

business of carrying persons or property, other than themselves,

 

their employees, or their own property, for hire across state

 

lines, whose fleet mileage was driven at least 10% outside of this

 

state in the immediately preceding tax year.

 

     (b) "Out-of-state usage percentage" is a fraction, the

 

numerator of which is the number of miles driven outside of this

 

state in the immediately preceding tax year by qualified trucks

 

used by the interstate motor carrier and the denominator of which

 

is the total miles driven in the immediately preceding tax year by

 

qualified trucks used by the interstate motor carrier. Miles driven

 

by qualified trucks used solely in intrastate commerce shall not be

 

included in calculating the out-of-state usage percentage.

 

     (c) "Qualified truck" means a commercial motor vehicle power

 

unit that has 2 axles and a gross vehicle weight rating in excess

 

of 10,000 pounds or a commercial motor vehicle power unit that has

 

3 or more axles.

 

     (d) "Rolling stock" means a qualified truck, a trailer

 

designed to be drawn behind a qualified truck, and parts affixed to

 

either a qualified truck or a trailer designed to be drawn behind a

 

qualified truck.

 

     Sec. 4t. (1) The sale of tangible personal property to the

 

following after March 30, 1999, subject to subsection (2) are

 

exempt from the tax under this act:

 

     (a) An industrial processor for use or consumption in

 

industrial processing.

 

     (b) A person, whether or not the person is an industrial


 

processor, if the tangible personal property is intended for

 

ultimate use in and is used in industrial processing by an

 

industrial processor.

 

     (c) A person, whether or not the person is an industrial

 

processor, if the tangible personal property is used by that person

 

to perform an industrial processing activity for or on behalf of an

 

industrial processor.

 

     (d) A Before October 1, 2007, a person, whether or not the

 

person is an industrial processor, if the tangible personal

 

property is 1 of the following:

 

     (i) A computer used in operating industrial processing

 

equipment.

 

     (ii) Equipment used in a computer assisted manufacturing

 

system.

 

     (iii) Equipment used in a computer assisted design or

 

engineering system integral to an industrial process.

 

     (iv) A subunit or electronic assembly comprising a component in

 

a computer integrated industrial processing system.

 

     (v) Computer equipment used in connection with the computer

 

assisted production, storage, and transmission of data if the

 

equipment would have been exempt had the data transfer been made

 

using tapes, disks, CD-ROMs, or similar media by a company whose

 

business includes publishing doctoral dissertations and information

 

archiving, and that sells the majority of the company's products to

 

nonprofit organizations exempt under section 4q.

 

     (vi) Equipment used in the production of prewritten computer

 

software or software modified or adapted to the user's needs or


 

equipment by the seller, only if the software is available for sale

 

from a seller of software on an as-is basis or as an end product

 

without modification or adaptation.

 

     (2) The property under subsection (1) is exempt only to the

 

extent that the property is used for the exempt purpose stated in

 

this section. The exemption is limited to the percentage of exempt

 

use to total use determined by a reasonable formula or method

 

approved by the department.

 

     (3) Industrial processing includes the following activities:

 

     (a) Production or assembly.

 

     (b) Research or experimental activities.

 

     (c) Engineering related to industrial processing.

 

     (d) Inspection, quality control, or testing to determine

 

whether particular units of materials or products or processes

 

conform to specified parameters at any time before materials or

 

products first come to rest in finished goods inventory storage.

 

     (e) Planning, scheduling, supervision, or control of

 

production or other exempt activities.

 

     (f) Design, construction, or maintenance of production or

 

other exempt machinery, equipment, and tooling.

 

     (g) Remanufacturing.

 

     (h) Processing of production scrap and waste up to the point

 

it is stored for removal from the plant of origin.

 

     (i) Recycling of used materials for ultimate sale at retail or

 

reuse.

 

     (j) Production material handling.

 

     (k) Storage of in-process materials.


 

     (4) Property that is eligible for an industrial processing

 

exemption includes the following:

 

     (a) Property that becomes an ingredient or component part of

 

the finished product to be sold ultimately at retail.

 

     (b) Machinery, equipment, tools, dies, patterns, foundations

 

for machinery or equipment, or other processing equipment used in

 

an industrial processing activity and in their repair and

 

maintenance.

 

     (c) Property that is consumed or destroyed or that loses its

 

identity in an industrial processing activity.

 

     (d) Tangible personal property, not permanently affixed and

 

not becoming a structural part of real estate, that becomes a part

 

of, or is used and consumed in installation and maintenance of,

 

systems used for an industrial processing activity.

 

     (e) Fuel or energy used or consumed for an industrial

 

processing activity.

 

     (f) Machinery, equipment, or materials used within a plant

 

site or between plant sites operated by the same person for

 

movement of tangible personal property in the process of

 

production.

 

     (g) Office equipment, including data processing equipment,

 

used for an industrial processing activity.

 

     (5) Property that is not eligible for an industrial processing

 

exemption includes the following:

 

     (a) Tangible personal property permanently affixed and

 

becoming a structural part of real estate including building

 

utility systems such as heating, air conditioning, ventilating,


 

plumbing, lighting, and electrical distribution, to the point of

 

the last transformer, switch, valve, or other device at which point

 

usable power, water, gas, steam, or air is diverted from

 

distribution circuits for use in industrial processing.

 

     (b) Office equipment, including data processing equipment used

 

for nonindustrial processing purposes.

 

     (c) Office furniture or office supplies.

 

     (d) An industrial processor's own product or finished good

 

that it uses or consumes for purposes other than industrial

 

processing.

 

     (e) Tangible personal property used for receiving and storage

 

of materials, supplies, parts, or components purchased by the user

 

or consumer.

 

     (f) Tangible personal property used for receiving or storage

 

of natural resources extracted by the user or consumer.

 

     (g) Vehicles, including special bodies or attachments,

 

required to display a vehicle permit or license plate to operate on

 

public highways, except for a vehicle bearing a manufacturer's

 

plate or a specially designed vehicle, together with parts, used to

 

mix and agitate materials at a plant or job site in the concrete

 

manufacturing process.

 

     (h) Tangible personal property used for the preparation of

 

food or beverages by a retailer for ultimate sale at retail through

 

its own locations.

 

     (i) Tangible personal property used or consumed for the

 

preservation or maintenance of a finished good once it first comes

 

to rest in finished goods inventory storage.


 

     (j) Returnable shipping containers or materials, except as

 

provided in subsection (4)(f).

 

     (k) Tangible personal property used in the production of

 

computer software originally designed for the exclusive use and

 

special needs of the purchaser.

 

     (6) Industrial processing does not include the following

 

activities:

 

     (a) Purchasing, receiving, or storage of raw materials.

 

     (b) Sales, distribution, warehousing, shipping, or advertising

 

activities.

 

     (c) Administrative, accounting, or personnel services.

 

     (d) Design, engineering, construction, or maintenance of real

 

property and nonprocessing equipment.

 

     (e) Plant security, fire prevention, or medical or hospital

 

services.

 

     (7) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Industrial processing" means the activity of converting

 

or conditioning tangible personal property by changing the form,

 

composition, quality, combination, or character of the property for

 

ultimate sale at retail or for use in the manufacturing of a

 

product to be ultimately sold at retail. Industrial processing

 

begins when tangible personal property begins movement from raw

 

materials storage to begin industrial processing and ends when

 

finished goods first come to rest in finished goods inventory

 

storage.

 

     (b) "Industrial processor" means a person who performs the

 

activity of converting or conditioning tangible personal property


 

for ultimate sale at retail or use in the manufacturing of a

 

product to be ultimately sold at retail.

 

     (c) "Product", as used in subdivision (e), includes, but is

 

not limited to, a prototype, pilot model, process, formula,

 

invention, technique, patent, or similar property, whether intended

 

to be used in a trade or business or to be sold, transferred,

 

leased, or licensed.

 

     (d) "Remanufacturing" means the activity of overhauling,

 

retrofitting, fabricating, or repairing a product or its component

 

parts for ultimate sale at retail.

 

     (e) "Research or experimental activity" means activity

 

incident to the development, discovery, or modification of a

 

product or a product related process. Research or experimental

 

activity also includes activity necessary for a product to satisfy

 

a government standard or to receive government approval. Research

 

or experimental activity does not include the following:

 

     (i) Ordinary testing or inspection of materials or products for

 

quality control purposes.

 

     (ii) Efficiency surveys.

 

     (iii) Management surveys.

 

     (iv) Market or consumer surveys.

 

     (v) Advertising or promotions.

 

     (vi) Research in connection with literacy, historical, or

 

similar projects.

 

     Sec. 4x. (1) A sale to a domestic air carrier of 1 or more of

 

the following is exempt from the tax under this act:

 

     (a) An aircraft that has a maximum certificated takeoff weight


 

of at least 6,000 pounds for use solely in the transport of air

 

cargo, passengers, or a combination of air cargo and passengers.

 

     (b) Parts Before October 1, 2007, parts and materials,

 

excluding shop equipment or fuel, affixed or to be affixed to an

 

aircraft that has a maximum certificated takeoff weight of at least

 

6,000 pounds for use solely in the transport of air cargo,

 

passengers, or a combination of air cargo and passengers.

 

     (2) The Before October 1, 2007, the tax levied under this act

 

does not apply to the sale of parts or materials, excluding shop

 

equipment or fuel, affixed or to be affixed to an aircraft that

 

meets all of the following conditions:

 

     (a) The aircraft leaves this state within 15 days after the

 

sooner of the issuance of the final billing or authorized approval

 

for final return to service, completion of the maintenance record

 

entry, and completion of the test flight and ground test for

 

inspection as required under 14 CFR 91.407.

 

     (b) The aircraft was not based in this state or registered in

 

this state before the parts or materials are affixed to the

 

aircraft and the aircraft is not based in this state or registered

 

in this state after the parts or materials are affixed to the

 

aircraft.

 

     (3) The tax levied under this act does not apply to the sale

 

of an aircraft temporarily located in this state for the purpose of

 

prepurchase evaluation or the purpose of prepurchase evaluation and

 

postsale customization if all of the following conditions are

 

satisfied:

 

     (a) The aircraft leaves this state within 15 days after


 

authorized approval for final return to service, completion of the

 

maintenance record entry, and completion of the test flight and

 

ground test for inspection as required under 14 CFR 91.407.

 

     (b) The aircraft was not based in this state or registered in

 

this state before the prepurchase evaluation or prepurchase

 

evaluation and postsale customization are completed and the

 

aircraft is not based in this state or registered in this state

 

after the prepurchase evaluation or prepurchase evaluation and

 

postsale customization are completed.

 

     (4) A sale of an aircraft to a person for subsequent lease to

 

a domestic air carrier operating under a certificate issued by the

 

federal aviation administration under 14 CFR 121, for use solely in

 

the regularly scheduled transport of passengers is exempt from the

 

tax under this act.

 

     (5) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Based in this state" means hangared or stored in this

 

state for not less than 10 days in not less than 3 nonconsecutive

 

months during the immediately preceding 12-month period.

 

     (b) "Domestic air carrier" is limited to entities engaged

 

primarily in the commercial transport for hire of air cargo,

 

passengers, or a combination of air cargo and passengers as a

 

business activity.

 

     (c) "Prepurchase evaluation" means an examination of an

 

aircraft to provide a potential purchaser with information relevant

 

to the potential purchase.

 

     (d) "Postsale customization" means any improvement,

 

maintenance, or repair that is performed on an aircraft following a


 

transfer of ownership of the aircraft.

 

     (e) "Registered in this state" means an aircraft registered

 

with the state transportation department, bureau of aeronautics or

 

registered with the federal aviation administration to an address

 

located in this state.

 

     Sec. 4aa. (1) The Before October 1, 2007, the tax under this

 

act does not apply to the sale of a motor vehicle, recreational

 

watercraft, snowmobile, or all terrain vehicle, not for resale, to

 

a resident tribal member if the motor vehicle, recreational

 

watercraft, snowmobile, or all terrain vehicle is for personal use

 

and is principally garaged, berthed, or stored within that resident

 

tribal member's tribe agreement area.

 

     (2) The tax under this act does not apply to the sale of a

 

mobile home, not for resale, to a resident tribal member if the

 

mobile home is to be used as that resident tribal member's

 

principal residence and the mobile home is located within that

 

resident tribal member's tribe agreement area.

 

     (3) As used in this section, "resident tribal member" means an

 

individual who meets all of the following criteria:

 

     (a) Is an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.

 

     (b) The individual's tribe has an agreement with this state

 

pursuant to section 30c of 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.30c, that is in

 

full force and effect.

 

     (c) The individual's principal place of residence is located

 

within the agreement area as designated in the agreement under

 

subdivision (b).

 

     Sec. 6a. (1) At the time of purchase or shipment from a


 

refiner, pipeline terminal operator, or marine terminal operator, a

 

purchaser or receiver of gasoline shall prepay a portion of the tax

 

imposed by this act at the rate provided in this section to the

 

refiner, pipeline terminal operator, or marine terminal operator

 

for the purchase or receipt of gasoline. If the purchase or receipt

 

of gasoline is made outside this state for shipment into and

 

subsequent sale within this state, the purchaser or receiver, other

 

than a refiner, pipeline terminal operator, or marine terminal

 

operator, shall make the prepayment required by this section

 

directly to the department. Prepayments shall be made at a cents

 

per gallon rate determined by the department and shall be based on

 

6% of the statewide average retail price of a gallon of self-serve

 

unleaded regular gasoline as determined and certified by the

 

department rounded up to the nearest 1/10 of 1 cent. A person who

 

makes prepayments direct to the department shall make those

 

prepayments according to the schedule in subsection (5).

 

     (2) The rate of prepayment applied pursuant to subsection (1)

 

shall be determined every 6 months by the department unless the

 

department certifies that the change in the statewide average

 

retail price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded regular gasoline

 

has been less than 10% during the 6-month period. However, the rate

 

shall be determined not less than annually.

 

     (3) A person subject to tax under this act who makes

 

prepayment to another person as required by this section may claim

 

an estimated prepayment credit on its regular monthly return filed

 

pursuant to section 6. The credit shall be for prepayments made

 

during the month for which the return is required and shall be


 

based upon the difference between prepayments made in the

 

immediately preceding month and collections of prepaid tax received

 

from sales or transfers. A sale or transfer for which collection of

 

prepaid tax is due the taxpayer is subject to a bad debt deduction

 

under section 4i, whether or not the sale or transfer is a sale at

 

retail. The credit shall not be reduced because of actual

 

shrinkage. A taxpayer who does not, in the ordinary course of

 

business sell gasoline in each month of the year, may, with the

 

approval of the department, base the initial prepayment deduction

 

in each tax year on prepayments made in a month other than the

 

immediately preceding month. Estimated prepayment credits claimed

 

with the return due in January 1984 shall be based on the

 

taxpayer's retail sales of gasoline in December 1983. The

 

difference in actual prepayments shall be reconciled on the annual

 

return in accordance with procedures prescribed by the department.

 

     (4) At the option of the taxpayer the estimated prepayment

 

credit may be claimed on the return required to be filed under Act

 

No. 150 of the Public Acts of 1927, being sections 207.101 to

 

207.202 of the Michigan Compiled Laws the motor fuel tax act, 2000

 

PA 403, MCL 207.1001 to 207.1170, instead of a claim for the credit

 

on the return required to be filed under section 6. Prepayments

 

claimed on the motor fuel tax return shall be based on the

 

difference in the prepayments made in the immediately preceding

 

month and collections of prepaid tax received from sales or

 

transfer and shall be for prepayments made in the month in which

 

the return is due. A taxpayer electing an option under this

 

subsection shall be entitled to a deduction under section 4i as


 

permitted by subsection (3). Amounts credited pursuant to this

 

section shall not be deducted from amounts required to be credited

 

to the Michigan transportation fund pursuant to section 18b of Act

 

No. 150 of the Public Acts of 1927, being section 207.118b of the

 

Michigan Compiled Laws 143 of the motor fuel tax act, 2000 PA 403,

 

MCL 207.1143. The department may establish procedures for the

 

election of claims under subsection (3) and this subsection to

 

avoid duplication of claims.

 

     (5) Notwithstanding the other provisions for the payment and

 

remitting of tax due under this act, a refiner, pipeline terminal

 

operator, or marine terminal operator shall account for and remit

 

to the department the prepayments received pursuant to this section

 

in accordance with the following schedule:

 

     (a) On or before the twenty-fifth of each month, prepayments

 

received after the end of the preceding month and before the

 

sixteenth of the month in which the prepayments are made.

 

     (b) On or before the tenth of each month, payments received

 

after the fifteenth and before the end of the preceding month.

 

     (6) A refiner, pipeline terminal operator, or marine terminal

 

operator who fails to remit prepayments made by a purchaser or

 

receiver of gasoline is subject to the penalties provided by Act

 

No. 122 of the Public Acts of 1941, being sections 205.1 to 205.31

 

of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.1 to 205.31.

 

     (7) The refiner, pipeline terminal operator, or marine

 

terminal operator shall not receive a deduction under section 4 for

 

receiving and remitting prepayments from a purchaser or receiver

 

pursuant to this section.


 

     (8) The purchaser or receiver of gasoline who makes

 

prepayments is not subject to further liability for the amount of

 

the prepayment if the refiner, pipeline terminal operator, or

 

marine terminal operator fails to remit the prepayment.

 

     (9) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Marine terminal operator" means a person who stores

 

gasoline at a boat terminal transfer defined as a dock, a tank, or

 

equipment contiguous to a dock or a tank, including equipment used

 

in the unloading of gasoline from a ship and in transferring the

 

gasoline to a tank pending wholesale bulk reshipment.

 

     (b) "Pipeline terminal operator" means a person who stores

 

gasoline in tanks and equipment used in receiving and storing

 

gasoline from interstate and intrastate pipelines pending wholesale

 

bulk reshipment.

 

     (c) "Purchase" or "shipment" does not include an exchange of

 

gasoline, or an exchange transaction, between refiners, pipeline

 

terminal operators, or marine terminal operators.

 

     (d) "Refiner" means a person who manufactures or produces

 

gasoline by any process involving substantially more than the

 

blending of gasoline.