Original Notice.

Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 98-13-053.

Title of Rule: WAC 458-29A, Leasehold excise tax, WAC 458-29A-100 Overview and definitions, 458-29A-200 Taxable rent and contract rent, 458-29A-400 Exemptions, 458-29A-500 Liability, and 458-29A-600 Collection and administration.

Purpose: Explains administration of the leasehold excise tax.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 82.29A.140.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 82.29A.

Summary: This rule chapter explains administration of the leasehold excise tax imposed on the use and possession of public property by private persons. It provides pertinent definitions, and explains the exemptions and credits available under the program. The chapter also provides direction on how taxable rent is to be computed and under what circumstances and by which methods taxable rent will be established by the department. It provides direction for distinguishing "contract rent" from other kinds of payments between the lessee and the lessor. The rules also address the issues of liability for collection and remittance of the tax.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed rules will enhance the consistent application and administration of the leasehold excise tax program.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Margaret J. Partlow, 711 Capitol Way South, #303, Olympia, WA, (360) 753-6769; Implementation: Claire Hesselholt, 711 Capitol Way South, Suite #303, Olympia, WA, (360) 753-3446; and Enforcement: Russell Brubaker, 711 Capitol Way South, Suite #303, Olympia, WA, (360) 586-0257.

Name of Proponent: Department of Revenue, governmental.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: The proposed chapter is intended to implement the leasehold excise tax chapter. It will provide guidance regarding the specific requirements of the leasehold chapter. The rules provide explicit and descriptive information regarding the application and administration of the tax.

Proposal does not change existing rules. There are no existing rules.

No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under RCW 19.85. A small business economic impact statement is not required because the rule and the proposed amendments do not impose any requirements or burdens upon small businesses that are not already specifically required by statute.

RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption. This is an interpretive rule that sets forth the Department of Revenue's interpretation of RCW 82.29A, which it administers.

Hearing Location: General Administration Building, Conference Room #201, 11th and Columbia, Olympia, Washington, on September 21, 1999, at 9:30 a.m.

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Ginny Dale no later than ten days before the hearing date, TDD 1-800-451-7985, or (360) 586-0721.

Submit Written Comments to: Margaret J. Partlow, Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 47467, Olympia, WA 98504-7467, fax (360) 664-0693, e-mail margaretp@dor.wa.gov, by September 22, 1999.

Date of Intended Adoption: September 24, 1999.

August 17, 1999

Russell W. Brubaker

Assistant Director

Legislation and Policy

OTS-3147.2

NEW SECTION
WAC 458-29A-100
Leasehold excise tax--Overview and definitions.

(1) Introduction. RCW 82.29A establishes an excise tax on the act or privilege of occupying or using publicly owned real or personal property through a leasehold interest. The intent of the law is to ensure that lessees of property owned by public entities bear their fair share of the cost of governmental services when the property is rented to someone who would be subject to property taxes if the lessee were the owner of the property. The tax is an excise tax triggered by the private use and possession of the public property. RCW 82.29A.030.

(2) Definitions. For the purposes of WAC 458-29A, the following definitions apply unless the context requires otherwise.

(a) "Department" means the department of revenue.

(b) "Concession" means the right to operate a business in an area of public property.

(c) "Contract rent" means that portion of the payment made by a lessee (including a sublessee) to a public lessor (or to a third party for the benefit of that lessor) for a leasehold interest in land and improvements or tangible personal property.

(d) "Franchise" means a right granted by a public entity to a person to do certain things that the person could not otherwise do. A franchise is distinguishable from a leasehold interest even when its exercise and value is inherently dependent upon the use and possession of publicly owned property.

(e) "Leasehold interest" means an interest granting the right to possession and use of publicly owned real or personal property as a result of any form of agreement, written or oral, without regard to whether the agreement is labeled a lease, license, or permit.

(i) Regardless of what term is used to label an agreement providing for the use and possession of public property by a private party, it is necessary to look to the actual substantive arrangement between the parties in order to determine whether a leasehold interest has been created.

(ii) Both possession and use are required to create a leasehold interest, and the lessee must have some identifiable dominion and control over a defined area to satisfy the possession element. The defined area does not have to be specified in the agreement but can be determined by the practice of the parties. This requirement distinguishes a taxable leasehold interest from a mere franchise, license, or permit.

For example, Sam sells hot dogs from his own trailer at varying sites within a county fairgrounds during events. Sam is not assigned a particular place to set up his trailer nor does he store his trailer on the fairground between events. Sam's right to sell and his use of the property is considered a franchise and not a leasehold interest. The necessary element of possession, involving a greater degree of dominion and control over a more defined area, is lacking.

(iii) The use or occupancy of public property where the purpose of such use or occupancy is to render services to the public owner does not create a leasehold interest. The lessee's possession and use of the property is in furtherance of the public owner's purposes, and it is the public owner who benefits from the governmental services rendered in respect to the property.

For example, Contractor A operates a snack bar at a publicly owned facility where food and beverages are sold to members of the public, and derives a profit from the proceeds of the snack bar sales. Contractor B operates a cafeteria where food is provided at no charge to persons with appropriate I.D., and is reimbursed on a cost-plus basis. Contractor A is engaged in a business enterprise the same as any other restaurateur. Contractor A is using the public property for a private purpose, and has a taxable leasehold interest on the premises. Contractor B is merely providing a service to government personnel that the government agency would otherwise provide. Contractor B is using public property for a public purpose, and does not have a taxable leasehold interest.

(iv) "Leasehold interest" includes the use and occupancy by a private party of property that is owned in fee simple, held in trust, or controlled by a public corporation, commission, or authority created under RCW 35.21.730 or 35.21.660 if:

(A) The property is within a special review district established by ordinance after January 1, 1976; or

(B) The property is listed on, or is within a district listed on, any federal or state register of historical sites in existence after January 1, 1987.

(v) "Leasehold interest" does not include:

(A) Road or utility easements;

(B) Rights of access, occupancy, or use granted solely for the purpose of removing materials or products purchased from a public owner or the lessee of a public owner, including permits to graze livestock, cut brush, pick wild mushrooms, or mine ore; and

(C) Any right to use personal property (excluding land or buildings) owned by the United States (as a trustee or otherwise), or by a foreign government, when the right to use the property is granted by a contract solely to manufacture or produce articles for sale to the United States or the foreign government.

(f) "Lessee" means a private person or entity with a leasehold interest in public property who would be subject to property tax if the person or entity owned the property in fee.

(g) "Lessor" or "public lessor" means an entity exempted from property tax obligations pursuant to Article 7, section 1 of the state Constitution that grants a leasehold interest in public property to a private person or entity.

(h) "License" means permission to enter on land for some purpose, without conferring any rights to the land upon the person granted the permission. For example, a permit to enter federal lands to launch rafts into the water for the purpose of conducting whitewater river rafting tours is a license, not a leasehold interest.

(i) "Management agreement" means a written agency agreement between a public property owner and a private person or entity for the use and possession of public property under the following circumstances:

(i) The public property owner retains all liability for payment of business operating costs and business related damages (other than costs and damages attributable to the activities of the private party);

(ii) The public property owner has title and ownership of all receipts from sales of services or products relating to the management agreement (whether such amounts are collected by the private party on behalf of the public owner or whether the public owner permits the private party to retain a portion of the receipts as payment for services rendered by the private party), and the full discretion of whether to eliminate, reduce or expand the business activity conducted on the property; and

(iii) The public property owner has full control of the prices to be charged for the goods or services provided in the course of use of the property.

If each of these criteria is met, the arrangement between the parties is considered a "true" management agreement which does not, by itself, create a taxable leasehold interest in the property.

(j) "Permit" means a written document creating a license to enter land for a specific purpose.

(k) "Product lease" means a lease of public property which will be used to produce agricultural or marine products (aquaculture) wherein the lease or agreement requires that:

(i) The leasehold payment be made by delivering a stated percentage of the agricultural or marine products to the credit of the lessor; or

(ii) The lessor be paid a stated percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the agricultural or marine products.

(l) "Public property" means all property owned by an entity exempted from property tax obligations pursuant to Article 7, section 1 of the state Constitution (and, in some instances, property held in trust by the United States).

(m) "Renegotiated" means a change in the leasehold agreement, other than one specifically required by the terms of the agreement itself, which alters:

(i) The agreed time of possession and use of the property;

(ii) The restrictions on the manner in which the property may be used; or

(iii) The rate of cash rental or other consideration paid by the lessee to or for the benefit of the lessor.

The term also includes the continued possession of the property by the lessee beyond the original date when, according to the terms of the agreement, the lessee had the right to vacate the premises without incurring further liability to the lessor.

(n) "Taxable rent" means the amount of rent upon which the measure of leasehold excise tax is based. It is either the contract rent or an amount established by the department in accordance with the procedures set forth in RCW 82.29A.020(2). (See also WAC 458-29A-200.)

(o) "Utility easement" means the right to use publicly owned land for the purpose of providing access or installation of publicly regulated utilities.

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(1) Introduction. Ordinarily, the amount of taxable rent is the amount of contract rent paid by a lessor for a taxable leasehold interest. The law does authorize the department to establish a taxable rent different from the contract rent in certain cases. This rule explains the exclusions of certain moneys and other property received by or on behalf of a lessor from the measure of contract rent. It also explains the conditions under which the department is authorized to establish a taxable rent different from the contract rent.

(2) Contract rent exclusions. Even when a leasehold interest is present, not all payments made to a lessor constitute taxable contract rent. For example, payments made to or on behalf of the lessor for actual utility charges, janitorial services, security services, and for special assessments such as storm water impact fees attributable to the lessee's space or prorated among multiple lessees, are not included in the measure of contract rent, if the actual charges are separately stated and billed to the lessee(s). "Utility charges" means charges for services provided by a public service business subject to the public utility tax under RCW 82.16, and, for the purpose of this section only, also includes water, sewer, and garbage services and cable television services. However, if such deductions are determined by the department to reduce the amount of contract rent to a level below market value, the department may establish a taxable rent in accordance with section (6) below.

For example, Dan leases retail space in a building owned by the Port of Whistler. He pays $800 per month for the space, which includes building security services. Additionally, he is assessed monthly for his pro rata share of actual janitorial and utility services provided by the Port. The Port determines Dan's share of these charges in the following manner: The average annual amount actually paid by the Port for utilities in the prior year is divided by 12. Dan's space within the building is approximately ten percent of the total space in the building, so the averaged monthly charge is multiplied by .10 (Dan's pro rata share based upon the amount of space he leases), and that amount is added to Dan's monthly statement as a line item charge for utilities, separate from the lease payment. The charges for janitorial services are treated in the same manner. In this case, Dan's payment for utilities and janitorial services are not included in the measure of contract rent. His payments for security services are included in the measure of contract rent, and subject to the leasehold excise tax, because they are not calculated and charged separately from the lease payments.

Contract rent also does not include:

(a) Expenditures made by the lessee for which the lease agreement requires the lessor to reimburse the lessee;

(b) Expenditures made by the lessee for improvements and protection if the lease or agreement requires the improved property to be open to the general public (e.g., a public boat launch) and prohibits the lessee from enjoying any profit directly from the lease;

(c) Expenditures made by the lessee to replace or repair the facilities due to fire or other catastrophic event including, but not necessarily limited to, payments:

(i) For insurance to reimburse losses;

(ii) To a public or private entity to protect the property from damage or loss; or

(iii) To a public or private entity for alterations or additions made necessary by an action of government which occurred after the date the lease agreement was executed.

(d) Improvements added to public property if the improvements are taxed as any person's personal property.

(3) Combined payments. When the payment for a leasehold interest is made in combination with payment for concession, franchise or other rights granted by the public lessor, only that part of the payment which represents consideration for the leasehold interest is considered part of the contract rent. For example, if the payment made by the lessee to the public lessor exceeds the fair market rental value for comparable property with similar use, the excess is generally attributable to payment for a concession or other right.

(4) Lease payments based on a percentage of sales. The measure of contract rent subject to the leasehold excise tax may be based upon a lease which provides that the rent shall be a percentage of business proceeds. The manner in which the rent is calculated does not, in itself, determine the character of the underlying right or interest for which the payment is made.

(5) Expenditures for improvements. Expenditures by the lessee for nonexcludable improvements (see WAC 458-29A-200(2)) with a useful life of more than one year will be treated as prepaid contract rent if the expenditures were intended by the parties to be included as part of the contract rent. Such intention may be demonstrated by a contract provision granting ownership or possession and use to the public owner of the underlying property and/or by the conduct of the parties. These expenditures should be prorated over the useful life of the improvement, or over the remaining term of the lease or agreement if the useful life of the improvement exceeds that term.

(6) Department's authority to establish taxable rent. RCW 82.29A.020(2) authorizes the department to establish a "taxable rent" that is different from contract rent in some situations.

(a) If the department determines that a lessee has a leasehold interest in publicly owned property and that such leasehold interest has not been established through competitive bidding, or negotiated in accordance with statutory requirements regarding the rent payable, or negotiated under circumstances, established by public record, clearly showing that the contract rent was the maximum attainable by the lessor, the department may establish a taxable rent computation for use in determining the tax payable under authority granted under RCW 82.29A. The department shall base its computation on the following criteria:

(i) Consideration shall be given to rent being paid to other lessors by lessees of similar property for similar purposes over similar periods of time; or

(ii) Consideration shall be given to what would be considered a fair rate of return on the market value of the property leased less reasonable deductions for any restrictions on use, special operating requirements or provisions for concurrent use by the lessor, another person or the general public.

(b) If the department establishes taxable rent pursuant to subsection (a) and RCW 82.29A.020 (2)(b), and the contract rent was established in accordance with the procedures set forth in that section, but the lease is ten or more years old and has not been renegotiated, the taxable rent for leasehold excise tax purposes shall be prospective only. However, if upon examination the department determines that the contract rent was not set in accordance with the statutory provisions of RCW 82.29A.020(2) and the rent is below fair market rate, the department may, in its discretion (and in most instances, will) apply the taxable rental rate retroactively for purposes of determining the leasehold excise tax, subject to the provisions of RCW 82.32.050(3).

(c) The department will not establish taxable rent if one of the following four situations apply:

(i) The leasehold interest has been established or renegotiated through competitive bidding;

(ii) The rent was set or renegotiated according to statutory requirements;

(iii) Public records demonstrate that the rent was the maximum attainable; or

(iv) A lease properly established or renegotiated in compliance with (6)(a)(i), (ii), or (iii) has been in effect for ten years or less without renegotiation.

(d) Where the contract rent has been established in accordance with one of the first three criteria set forth above, and the lease agreement has not been in effect for ten years or more, or has been properly renegotiated within the past ten years, the taxable rent is deemed to be the stated contract rent.

(e) If land on the Hanford reservation is subleased to a private or public entity by the state of Washington, "taxable rent" means only the annual cash rental payment made by the sublessee to the state and specifically referred to as rent in the sublease agreement.

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(1) Introduction. RCW 82.29A.130 establishes a number of exemptions from the leasehold excise tax. To be exempt from the leasehold excise tax, the property subject to the leasehold interest must be used exclusively for the purposes for which the exemption is granted.

(2) Operating properties of a public utility. All leasehold interests that are part of the operating properties of a public utility are exempt from leasehold excise tax if the leasehold interest is assessed and taxed as part of the operating property of a public utility under RCW 84.12. For example, tracks leased to a railroad company at the Port of Seaside are exempt from leasehold excise tax because the railroad is a public utility assessed and taxed under RCW 84.12 and the tracks are part of the railroad's operating properties.

(3) Nonprofit schools and colleges. All leasehold interests in facilities owned or used by a public school, college, or university to provide housing to students are exempt from leasehold excise tax if the student housing is exempt from property tax under RCW 84.36.010 and 84.36.050. For example, the leasehold interest associated with a building used as a dormitory for Public University students is exempt from the leasehold excise tax.

(4) Subsidized housing. All leasehold interests of subsidized housing are exempt from leasehold excise tax if the United States, the state of Washington, or any political subdivision owns the property in fee simple and residents of the housing are subject to specific income qualification requirements. For example, a leasehold interest in an apartment house that is subsidized by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development is exempt from leasehold excise tax if the property is owned by the state of Washington and residents are subject to income qualification requirements.

(5) Nonprofit fair associations. All leasehold interests used for fair purposes of a nonprofit fair association are exempt from leasehold tax if the fair association sponsors or conducts a fair or fairs supported by revenues collected under RCW 67.16.100 and allocated by the director of the department of agriculture. The property must be owned in fee simple by the United States, the state of Washington, or any public political subdivision. However, if a nonprofit association subleases exempt property to a third party, the sublease is a taxable leasehold interest. For example, a leasehold interest held by the Local Nonprofit Fair Association is considered exempt from leasehold excise tax. However, if buildings on the fairgrounds are rented to private parties for storage during the winter, these rentals may be subject to the leasehold excise tax.

(6) Public employee housing. All leasehold interests in public property used as a residence by an employee of the public owner are exempt from leasehold tax if the employee is required to live on the public property as a condition of his or her employment. For example, a cabin used as a residence by a forest ranger in the Northwest National Forest is exempt from leasehold excise tax if the cabin is owned by the United States, the ranger is employed by the U.S. Forest Service (an agency of the United States government), and the ranger is required to live in the Northwest National Forest as a condition of his/her employment.

(7) Interests held by enrolled Indians. Leasehold interests held by enrolled Indians are exempt from leasehold excise tax if the lands are owned or held by any Indian or Indian tribe, and the fee ownership of the land is vested in or held in trust by the United States, unless the leasehold interests are subleased to a lessee which would not qualify under RCW 82.29A, RCW 84.36.451 and 84.40.175 and the tax on the lessee is not preempted due to the balancing test (see WAC 458-20-192).

Any leasehold interest held by an enrolled Indian or a tribe, where the leasehold is located within the boundaries of an Indian reservation, on trust land, on Indian country, or is associated with the treaty fishery or some other treaty right, is not subject to leasehold excise tax. For example, if an enrolled member of the Puyallup tribe leases port land at which the member keeps his or her boat, and the boat is used in a treaty fishery, the leasehold interest is exempt from the leasehold tax. For more information on excise tax issues related to enrolled Indians, see WAC 458-20-192 (Indians--Indian reservations).

(8) Leases on Indian lands to non-Indians. Leasehold interests in any real property of any Indian or Indian tribe, band, or community held in trust by the United States or subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States that are held by a non-Indian not otherwise exempt from tax due to the application of the balancing test under WAC 458-20-192 are exempt from leasehold excise tax if the amount of contract rent paid is greater than or equal to ninety percent of fair market rental value. In determining whether the contract rent of such lands meets the required level of ninety percent of market value, the department will use the same criteria used to establish taxable rent under RCW 82.29A.020 (2)(b) ( WAC 458-29A-200).

For example, Harry leases land held in trust by the United States for the Yakima tribe for the sum of $900 per month. The fair market value for similar lands used for similar purposes is $975 per month. The lease is exempt from the leasehold tax because Harry pays at least ninety percent of the fair market value for the qualified lands. For more information on the preemption analysis and other tax issues, see WAC 458-20-192.

(9) Annual taxable rent is less than two hundred fifty dollars. Leasehold interests for which the taxable rent is less than $250 per year are exempt from leasehold tax. For the purposes of this exemption, if the same lessee has a leasehold interest in two or more contiguous parcels of property owned by the same public lessor, the taxable rent for each contiguous parcel will be combined and the combined taxable rent will determine whether the threshold established by this exemption has been met. To be considered contiguous, the parcels must be in closer proximity than merely within the boundaries of one piece of property. When determining the annual leasehold rent, the department will rely upon the actual substantive agreement between the parties. Rent payable pursuant to successive leases between the same parties for the same property within a twelve-month period will be combined to determine annual rent; however, a single lease for a period of less than one year will not be projected on an annual basis.

The following examples identify a number of facts and then state a conclusion. These examples should be used only as a general guide. The status of each situation must be determined after a review of all of the facts and circumstances.

(a) The yacht club rents property from the Port of Bay City for its clubhouse and moorage. It also rents a parking stall for its commodore. The parking stall is separated from the clubhouse only by a common walkway. The parking stall lease is a part of the clubhouse lease because it is contiguous to the clubhouse, separated only by a necessary walkway.

(b) Ace Flying Club rents hangars, tie downs, and ramps from the Port of Desert City. It has separate leases for several parcels. The hangars are separated from the tie down space by a row of other hangars, each of which is leased to a different party. Common ramps and roadways also separate the club's hangars from its tie-downs. The hangars, because they are adjacent to one another, create a single leasehold interest. The tie downs are a separate taxable leasehold interest because they are not contiguous with the hangars used by Ace Flying Club.

(c) Grace leases a lot from the City of Flora, from which she sells crafts at different times throughout the year. She pays $50 per month for the lot, and has a separate lease for each season during which she sells. She has one lease from May through September, and a separate lease for the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, which might run thirty to forty days, depending on the year. The leases will be combined for the purposes of determining the leasehold excise tax. They relate to the same piece of property, for the same activity by the same lessee, and occur within the same year.

(d) Elizabeth owns a Christmas tree farm. Every year she rents a small lot from the Port of Capital City, adjacent to its airport, to sell Christmas trees. She pays $125 to the port to rent the lot for 6 weeks. It is the only time during the year that she rents the lot. Her lease is exempt from the leasehold excise tax, because it does not exceed $250 per year in taxable rent.

(10) Leases for a continuous period of less than thirty days. Leasehold interests that provide use and possession of public property for a continuous period of less than thirty days are exempt from leasehold tax. In determining the duration of the lease, the department will rely upon the actual agreement and/or practice between the parties. If a single lessee is given successive leases or lease renewals of the same property, the arrangement is considered a continuous use and possession of the property by the same lessee. A leasehold interest does not give use and possession for a period of less than thirty days based solely on the fact that the public lessor has reserved the right to use the property or to allow third parties to use the property on an occasional, temporary basis.

(11) Month-to-month leases in residential units to be demolished or removed. Leasehold interests in properties rented for residential purposes on a month-to-month basis pending destruction or removal for construction of a public highway or building are exempt from the leasehold excise tax. For example, if the state or other public entity has acquired private properties for highway expansion, airport expansion, or capitol campus expansion, and rents those residential units pending their removal for construction, these leases do not create taxable leasehold interests. This exemption does not require evidence of imminent removal of the residential units; the term "pending" merely means "while awaiting." The exemption is based upon the purpose for which the public entity holds the units. For example, State University has obtained capital development funding for the construction of new campus buildings, and has purchased a block of residential property adjacent to campus for the sole purpose of expansion. Jim leases these houses from State University pursuant to a month-to-month rental agreement and rents them to students. Construction of the new buildings is not scheduled to begin for two years. Jim is not subject to the leasehold excise tax, because State University is holding the residential properties for the sole purpose of expanding its facilities, and Jim is leasing them pending their certain, if not imminent, destruction.

(12) Public works contracts. Leasehold interests in publicly owned real or personal property held by a contractor solely for the purpose of a public improvements contract or work to be executed under the public works statutes of Washington state or the United States are exempt from leasehold tax. To receive this exemption, the contracting parties must be the public owner of the property and the contractor that performs the work under the public works statutes.

For example, during construction of a second deck on the Nisqually Bridge pursuant to a public works contract between the state of Washington and Tinker Construction, any leasehold interest in real or personal property created for Tinker solely for the purpose of performing the work necessary under the terms of the contract is exempt from leasehold tax.

(13) Correctional industries in state adult correctional facilities. Leasehold interests for the use and possession of state adult correctional facilities for the operation of correctional industries under RCW 72.09.100 are exempt from leasehold tax. For example, a profit or nonprofit organization operating and managing a business within a state prison under an agreement between it and the department of corrections is exempt from leasehold tax for its use and possession of state property.

(14) Camp facilities for disabled persons. Leasehold interests in a camp facility are exempt from leasehold tax if the property is used to provide organized and supervised recreational activities for disabled persons of all ages, and for public recreational purposes, by a nonprofit organization, association, or corporation which would be exempt from property tax under RCW 84.36.030(1) if it owned the property. For example, a county park with camping facilities leased to a nonprofit charitable organization is exempt from leasehold tax if the nonprofit allows the property to be used by the general public for recreational activities throughout the year, and to be used as a camp for disabled persons for two weeks during the summer.

(15) Public or entertainment areas of certain baseball stadiums. Leasehold interests in public or entertainment areas of a baseball stadium with natural turf and a retractable roof or canopy, located in a county with a population of over one million people, with a seating capacity of over forty thousand, and constructed on or after January 1, 1995, are exempt from leasehold excise tax.

"Public or entertainment areas" for the purposes of this exemption include ticket sales areas, ramps and stairs, lobbies and concourses, parking areas, concession areas, restaurants, hospitality and stadium club areas, kitchens or other work areas primarily servicing other public areas, public rest rooms, press and media areas, control booths, broadcast and production areas, retail sales areas, museum and exhibit areas, scoreboards or other public displays, storage areas, loading, staging, and servicing areas, seating areas and suites, the playing field, and any other areas to which the public has access or that are used for the production of the entertainment event or other public usage, and any other personal property used for such purposes. "Public or entertainment areas" does not include locker rooms or private offices used exclusively by the lessee.

(16) Public or entertainment areas of certain football stadiums and exhibition centers. Leasehold interests in the public or entertainment areas of an open-air stadium suitable for national football league football and for Olympic and world cup soccer, with adjacent exhibition facilities, parking facilities, and other ancillary facilities constructed on or after January 1, 1998, are exempt from leasehold excise tax. For the purpose of this exemption, the term "public and entertainment areas" has the same meaning as set forth in subsection (15) above.

(17) Public facilities districts. All leasehold interests in public facilities districts, as provided in RCW 36.100 or Title 35 RCW are exempt from leasehold excise tax.

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(1) Introduction. The event triggering a leasehold excise tax liability is the use by a private person or entity of publicly owned, tax-exempt property.

Where a lessee is also a tax-exempt government entity, the tax will apply against a private sublessee, even though no contractual arrangement exists between the sublessee and the public lessor.

(2) Lessor's responsibility to collect and remit tax. The public lessor is responsible for collecting and remitting the leasehold excise tax from its private lessees. If the public lessor collects the leasehold excise tax but fails to remit it to the department, the public lessor is liable for the tax.

(a) Where the public lessor has attempted to collect the tax, but has received neither contract rent nor leasehold excise tax from the lessee, the department will proceed directly against the lessee for payment of the tax and the lessee shall be solely liable for the tax, provided, the lessor notifies the department in writing when the lessor is unable to collect rent and/or taxes, and the amount of the leasehold excise tax arrearage is $1000 or greater. If the lessor fails to notify the department, the department may, in its discretion, look to the public lessor for payment of the tax.

(b) If, upon examining all of the facts and circumstances, the department determines that the public lessor in good faith believed the lessee to be exempt from all or part of the leasehold excise tax, the department will look to the public lessor for assistance in collection of the tax due, but will not hold the public lessor personally liable for payment of such tax. To satisfy the requirement of "good faith" the public lessor must have acted with reasonable diligence and prudence to determine whether the leasehold excise tax was due from the lessee.

(3) The following examples, while not exhaustive, illustrate some of the circumstances in which a public lessor may or may not be held liable for the leasehold excise tax. These examples should be used only as a general guide. The status of each situation must be determined after a review of all of the facts and circumstances.

(a) Doug has been newly hired in the accounting department at City Port and is assigned the responsibility for its rental accounts. He is unaware of the leasehold excise tax laws and fails to bill new tenants for the leasehold excise tax. In this situation, City Port does not avoid possible liability for the tax. Accounting errors and lack of knowledge regarding City Port's responsibility to collect and remit the leasehold excise tax do not qualify as reasonable diligence and prudence.

(b) Sybil rents an apartment in a building owned by State University but she is not a student of the University and the building is not used for student housing. She pays $900 per month in rent. The terms of the lease require her to give at least thirty days' notice of intent to vacate. In the month of March, she fails to pay her rent, and State University serves her with a notice to pay or quit the premises. On April 1, she sends a check to State University for $20l6 (two months' rent, plus leasehold excise tax). The bank does not honor the check, and Sybil abandons the premises in mid-April without notice. When State University discovers that she has left, it timely notifies the department of the unpaid rent and leasehold excise tax. State University has acted with reasonable prudence and diligence and will not be held liable for the unpaid leasehold excise tax. In serving Sybil with a notice to pay or quit when she first defaulted, State University attempted to mitigate the amount of rent and taxes which were unpaid, and it complied with all other requirements regarding its duty to report the arrearages to the department.

(c) Sonata City owns several houses on property which may be used in the future for office buildings, a fire station, or perhaps a park, depending on its future needs. The city leases the houses on six-month terms, mainly to students who attend the local college. Over the past four years that the city has rented the properties, it has not collected leasehold excise tax from the tenants, because city officials believed the property to be exempt since they planned someday to use the property for a public purpose. Following an audit, it is determined that there is no definite plan for destruction of the houses nor any funds allocated for construction of public buildings on the site. Further, the houses were not rented on a month-to-month basis. Therefore, leasehold excise tax is due. Most of the prior tenants have left the area, and there is no convenient way for the city to collect the unpaid leasehold tax. Sonata City is liable for the tax because although its managers did not believe the tax was due, the lack of knowledge regarding the city's responsibility to collect and remit the leasehold excise tax does not qualify as reasonable diligence and prudence. Sonata City had a duty to make a good faith effort to determine its obligations under the applicable leasehold excise tax statutes and rules.

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(1) Introduction. Leasehold excise tax is levied by the state under RCW 82.29A.030 and by counties and/or cities under RCW 82.29A.040. The administrative procedures contained in chapters 82.02 and 82.32 RCW apply to the administration and collection of the leasehold excise tax.

(2) Tax imposed. The rates at which leasehold excise tax is levied are contained in RCW 82.29A.030 and 82.29A.040. The department publishes documents containing the applicable rates, credits, and formulas. These documents are updated as necessary and are available upon request.

(3) Separate listing requirement. The amount of leasehold excise tax due must be listed separately from the amount of contract rent on any statement or other document provided to the lessee by the lessor. If the leasehold excise tax is not stated separately from the contract rent, it is assumed that the leasehold excise tax is not included in the amount stated as due.

(4) Credits allowed against leasehold excise tax. Because the leasehold excise tax is intended only to equalize treatment between private property owners and lessees of public entities, the amount of leasehold excise tax should not exceed the amount of property tax that would be due if the leased property was privately owned. Therefore, in calculating the taxes imposed under RCW 82.29A.030 and 82.29A.040, RCW 82.29A.120 authorizes the following credits:

(a) Leasehold interests created after April 1, 1986, or situations where the department has established taxable rent. Where a leasehold interest other than a product lease was created after April 1, 1986, or where the department has established taxable rent in accordance with RCW 82.29A.020 (2)(b), and the amount of leasehold excise tax due is greater than the amount of property tax that would be due if the property was privately owned by the lessee, without regard to any property tax exemption under RCW 84.36.381, a credit equal to the difference between the leasehold excise tax and the comparable property tax will be allowed.

If the property is subleased, the credit must be passed on to the sublessee. Lessees and sublessees of residential property who would qualify for either a partial or total exemption from property tax under RCW 84.36.381 if they owned the property in fee are eligible for a corresponding reduction in the amount of leasehold excise tax due. The leasehold excise tax for the qualifying lessees or sublessees is reduced by the same percentage as the percentage reduction in property that would result from the property tax exemption under RCW 84.36.381.

(b) Product leases. A credit of thirty-three percent of the total leasehold excise tax due is allowed for product leases.

(5) When payment is due. The leasehold excise taxes are due on the same date that the contract rent is due to the lessor. If the contract rent is paid to someone other than the lessor, the leasehold tax is due at the time the payment is made to that other person or entity. Any prepaid contract rent will be deemed to have been paid in the year due and not in the year in which it was actually paid if the prepayment is for more than one year's rent. If contract rent is prepaid, the leasehold tax payment may be prorated over the number of years for which the contract rent is prepaid. The prorated portion of the tax will be due in two installments per year, with no less than one-half due on or before May 31 and the second half due no later than November 30 of each year.

(6) Collection and distribution of tax by the department. The department collects and distributes the leasehold excise taxes authorized by RCW 82.29A.030 and 82.29A.040.

(a) Taxes levied by the state. All money received by the department from leasehold taxes levied under RCW 82.29A.030 is transmitted to the state treasurer for deposit in the general fund.

(b) Taxes levied by counties and cities. Prior to the effective date of the ordinance imposing a leasehold excise tax, the county or city imposing the tax must contract with the department for administration and collection services. The department may deduct a percentage, not to exceed two percent, of the taxes collected as reimbursement for administration and collection expenses. The department deposits the balance of the taxes collected in the local leasehold excise tax account with the state treasury, and the state treasurer bimonthly distributes those moneys to the counties and cities.

County treasurers must proportionately distribute the moneys they receive in the same manner they distribute moneys collected from property tax levies in accordance with RCW 84.56.230, provided that no moneys are to be distributed to the state or any city, and the pro rata calculation for proportionate distribution cannot include any levy rates by the state or any city.

(7) Leasehold interests in federally owned land or federal trust land. Lessees with a leasehold interest in federally owned lands or federal trust lands must report and remit the leasehold tax due directly to the department on an annual reporting basis.

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