washington state and local taxation of nonprofit …...b&o tax & nonprofits – special...
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WashingtonStateandLocalTaxationofNonprofitOrganizations
PresentedbyBobHellerClarkNuberP.S.
November 2, 2017Seattle, Washington
NonprofitsPayStateandLocalTaxesinWashington
• UnliketheFederalGovernment,WashingtonStatehasnogeneraltaxexemptionfornonprofits
• Potentiallyapplicabletaxes:– WashingtonBusinessandOccupation(B&O)tax– CityB&Otaxes– Retailsales/usetaxes– Realandpersonalpropertytaxes– Stateincome/franchisetaxes(otherstates)
• Stateregistrationrequirements– Taxesapplyto“persons”– Awordaboutorganizationalstructure
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Business&OccupationTax• Natureofthetax
– Businessprivilegetax– Imposedonallbusinessactivity– Notanetincometax(nodeductionsforthecostofdoingbusiness)
• Classifications– Determinedbasedonnatureofactivity– Over30classifications– Differentmeasures(taxbase)andtaxrates
Business&OccupationTax
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• Commonclassifications– Retailing
• Grossproceedsofsale/.471%
– Wholesaling• Grossproceedsofsale/.484%
– Manufacturing• ValueofproductsmanufacturedinWashington/.484%
– Service&Other• Grossincomeofthebusiness/1.5%
B&OTaxDeductions,Exemptions,ExclusionsforAllTaxpayers
• Wages• Investmentincome• Smallbusinesscredit• Realestateexemption• Baddebts• Cashandtradediscounts• Advancesandreimbursements
– Agency– Noliabilitytothirdpartyexceptasagent
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NonprofitB&OTaxExemptions
• Exemptionsarestrictlyconstruedinfavoroftaxationandagainstexemption.Theorganizationhastomeetalltherequirementsforexemption.
• Basicconsiderations– Who(entitybased)?– What(revenuebased)?– How(activitybased)?
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NonprofitB&OTaxExemptions
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• Entitybased– AmericanRedCross– Bloodbanksandtissuebanks– Comprehensivecancercenters– Organprocurementorganizations– Shelteredworkshops,adultfamilyhomes– Creditunions– TheWashingtonhealthbenefitexchange– DepartmentsandinstitutionsoftheStateofWashington
NonprofitB&OTaxExemptions
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• Revenuebased– Membershipduesandinitiationfees– Contributionsanddonations– Grantsandsponsorship– Tuitionfees
• Activitybased– Fundraising– Healthorsocialwelfareservices– Legalservicestolowincomepersons– Creditcounseling– Daycareprovidedbychurches
B&OTax&Nonprofits–SpecialProblems
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• Contributions,DonationsandGrants– Aresignificantgoods,servicesorbenefitsprovidedtothe“donor”inexchangeforthegiftorgrant?
– Normalaccountabilityprovisionsareacceptableunlesstheyresultinadirectbenefittothedonor.
• FundraisingActivities– Fundraisingactivitiesareexempt,unlessconductedata“regularplaceofbusiness”thatkeepsregularbusinesshours.
– Definitionofregularbusinesshoursmayvarydependingontypeofbusinessbeingconducted.
SpecialProblems(Cont.)• FormofOrganizationandGovernance
– HealthorSocialWelfareOrganizationsmustbeorganizedunderChap.24.03RCW
– ArtisticorCulturalOrganizationsmustbefor“organizedandoperatedexclusivelyforthepurposeofprovidingartisticorculturalexhibitions,presentations,orperformancesorculturalorarteducationprograms...forviewingorattendancebythegeneralpublic.”
– BoardComposition• HealthorSocialWelfareandArtisticofCulturalOrganizationmustbemanagedbyagoverningboardofnotlessthaneightindividualsnoneofwhomisapaidemployeeoftheorganization.
• Executivedirectorasboardmembernotpermitted(maybeanon-memberadvisor)
• Employeesofaffiliateentitiesmaybeaproblem
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SpecialProblems(Cont.)• CostSharing
– Eachlegallyrecognizedentityisaseparatetaxable“person”underWashingtontaxlaw
– Inter-entitychargesaretaxable– Advances/reimbursementsareproblematicandrequirea
particularformtobenontaxable
• Purchases– Software– Digitalgoodsandservices– Telecommunicationsservices
SpecialProblems(Cont.)• MembershipOrganizations
– Membershipdues– Conferencesandseminars
CityTaxes
• CityB&Otaxes:Seattle,Bellevue,Tacoma,Everett,36othercities
• B&Otaxapportionmentrules• Squarefootagetax:largerB&Otaxcities• Headtax:variousnon-B&Otaxcities• Seattleparkingtax• Admissiontax
SalesTax• Taxonsales/rentalsoftangiblepersonalpropertyandspecificservices
• Paidbytheconsumer
• Collectedbytheseller
• Purchasesforresale– mustobtainresellerpermitfromDepartmentofRevenueinadvanceofmakingpurchases
SalesTaxExemptions• AmericanRedCross• Foodandfoodingredients• Salestoartisticorculturalorganizations• Salesofmedicalsuppliestobloodbanks,tissuebanks,organprocurementorganizationsandcomprehensivecancercenters
• Amusementandrecreationservicesprovidedbyyouthorganizations
• Manufacturingmachineryandequipment• Fundraisingsales
UseTaxandNonprofits
• Companiontosalestax– samerate• Everyoneowesusetaxonpropertypurchasedforuseinthestatewhennosalestaxiscollectedbytheseller
• Generallyparallelexemptionsfromsalestaxandusetax
• Usetaxisnotdueondonateditems– Donoralsoexempt
PropertyTaxOverview
• Allpropertyisassumedtobetaxableunlessaspecificexemptionexists
• Exemptionsareconstruednarrowlyinfavoroftaxation
• TheDepartmentofRevenueischargedwithadministeringpropertytaxexemptions,includingdisseminatinginformationtotaxpayers
WhatisaPropertyTaxExemption?
• Exemptionscoverrealandpersonalpropertytaxandleaseholdexcisetax
• Doesnotexemptanorganizationfromothercountyimposedfees
• Notautomatic,exemptionsrequireanapplicationandannualrenewal
GeneralConditionsWAC458-16-165
• Exemptpropertymustbeusedexclusively fortheactualoperationoftheactivityforwhichtheexemptionwasgranted
• Theexemptareamustnotexceedtheareareasonablynecessarytofacilitatetheexemptpurpose
• Generallythenot-for-profitmustowntheproperty,butinsomecasesleasedpropertyqualifies
• Loanorrentaloftheexemptpropertytoothersislimitedtospecifiedthresholds,dependingontheuser
GeneralConditionsWAC458-16-165(con’t)
• Propertymustbeirrevocablydedicatedtotheexemptpurpose(exceptionforleasedproperty)
• Discriminationnotallowed,propertyandservicesmustnotbediscriminatory
• Organizationmustcomplywithalllicensingandcertificationrequirementsimposedbylaw
• Dutytoproducerecords,reasonableaccess
QualifyingExemptActivity• Publicproperty(governmentagenciesandinstitutions)
• Churches,conventsandcemeteries• Propertyusedtoprovidecertainsocialservices• Hospitals,blood/bone/tissuebanks,cancercenters,andpropertyusedinmedicalresearch
• Schoolsandcolleges• Museumsandperformingartsfacilities• Publicassemblyhallsandmeetingplaces,ifavailabletoallorganizationsandpersons
LoanorRentalofExemptPropertyAlwayssubjecttouselimitations:• Byanotherqualifyingorganization,generallynotlimitedifusedbyanorganizationthatwouldbeexemptifitownedtheproperty
• Byotherusers(non-commercialactivities),can’texceed50daysineachcalendaryear
• Forcommercialactivitiesortoproduceincome,can’texceed15daysineachcalendaryear
• And… rentorfeescan’texceedmaintenanceandoverheadcosts
ImportantDates
• Applicationsforexemptionshouldbefiledwithin60daysofthestartoftheexemptactivity
• Generallyexemptioniseffectivefortheassessmentyearfollowingtheyearwhentheexemptactivitybegins
• AnnualrenewalsmustbefiledannuallybyMarch31st
• Lastsforever,withmaintenanceandnodisqualifyinguse
Questions?
BobHellerbheller@clarknuber.com
(425)635-7424
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