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Chapter 82.21 RCW

HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE TAX — MODEL TOXICS CONTROL ACT

RCW Sections

82.21.010Intent of pollution tax.
82.21.020Definitions.
82.21.030Pollution tax.
82.21.040Exemptions.
82.21.050Credits.
82.21.900Short title -- 1989 c 2.
82.21.905Captions -- 1989 c 2.
82.21.910Construction -- 1989 c 2.
82.21.915Existing agreements -- 1989 c 2.
82.21.920Effective date -- 1989 c 2.
82.21.921Severability -- 1989 c 2.

82.21.010
Intent of pollution tax.

It is the intent of this chapter to impose a tax only once for each hazardous substance possessed in this state and to tax the first possession of all hazardous substances, including substances and products that the department of ecology determines to present a threat to human health or the environment. However, it is not intended to impose a tax on the first possession of small amounts of any hazardous substance (other than petroleum and pesticide products) that is first possessed by a retailer for the purpose of sale to ultimate consumers. This chapter is not intended to exempt any person from tax liability under any other law.

[1989 c 2 § 8 (Initiative Measure No. 97, approved November 8, 1988).]

82.21.020
Definitions.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

     (1) "Hazardous substance" means:

     (a) Any substance that, on March 1, 2002, is a hazardous substance under section 101(14) of the federal comprehensive environmental response, compensation, and liability act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 9601(14), as amended by Public Law 99-499 on October 17, 1986, except that hazardous substance does not include the following noncompound metals when in solid form in a particle larger than one hundred micrometers (0.004 inches) in diameter: Antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium, or zinc;

     (b) Petroleum products;

     (c) Any pesticide product required to be registered under section 136a of the federal insecticide, fungicide and rodenticide act, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 136 et seq., as amended by Public Law 104-170 on August 3, 1996; and

     (d) Any other substance, category of substance, and any product or category of product determined by the director of ecology by rule to present a threat to human health or the environment if released into the environment. The director of ecology shall not add or delete substances from this definition more often than twice during each calendar year. For tax purposes, changes in this definition shall take effect on the first day of the next month that is at least thirty days after the effective date of the rule. The word "product" or "products" as used in this paragraph (d) means an item or items containing both: (i) One or more substances that are hazardous substances under (a), (b), or (c) of this subsection or that are substances or categories of substances determined under this paragraph (d) to present a threat to human health or the environment if released into the environment; and (ii) one or more substances that are not hazardous substances.

     (2) "Petroleum product" means plant condensate, lubricating oil, gasoline, aviation fuel, kerosene, diesel motor fuel, benzol, fuel oil, residual oil, liquefied or liquefiable gases such as butane, ethane, and propane, and every other product derived from the refining of crude oil, but the term does not include crude oil.

     (3) "Possession" means the control of a hazardous substance located within this state and includes both actual and constructive possession. "Actual possession" occurs when the person with control has physical possession. "Constructive possession" occurs when the person with control does not have physical possession. "Control" means the power to sell or use a hazardous substance or to authorize the sale or use by another.

     (4) "Previously taxed hazardous substance" means a hazardous substance in respect to which a tax has been paid under this chapter and which has not been remanufactured or reprocessed in any manner (other than mere repackaging or recycling for beneficial reuse) since the tax was paid.

     (5) "Wholesale value" means fair market wholesale value, determined as nearly as possible according to the wholesale selling price at the place of use of similar substances of like quality and character, in accordance with rules of the department.

     (6) Except for terms defined in this section, the definitions in chapters 82.04, 82.08, and 82.12 RCW apply to this chapter.

[2002 c 105 § 1; 1989 c 2 § 9 (Initiative Measure No. 97, approved November 8, 1988).]

Notes:

     Effective date -- 2002 c 105: "This act takes effect July 1, 2002." [2002 c 105 § 2.]



82.21.030
Pollution tax.

(1) A tax is imposed on the privilege of possession of hazardous substances in this state. The rate of the tax shall be seven-tenths of one percent multiplied by the wholesale value of the substance.

     (2) Moneys collected under this chapter shall be deposited in the toxics control accounts under RCW 70.105D.070.

     (3) Chapter 82.32 RCW applies to the tax imposed in this chapter. The tax due dates, reporting periods, and return requirements applicable to chapter 82.04 RCW apply equally to the tax imposed in this chapter.

[1989 c 2 § 10 (Initiative Measure No. 97, approved November 8, 1988).]

82.21.040
Exemptions.

The following are exempt from the tax imposed in this chapter:

     (1) Any successive possession of a previously taxed hazardous substance. If tax due under this chapter has not been paid with respect to a hazardous substance, the department may collect the tax from any person who has had possession of the hazardous substance. If the tax is paid by any person other than the first person having taxable possession of a hazardous substance, the amount of tax paid shall constitute a debt owed by the first person having taxable possession to the person who paid the tax.

     (2) Any possession of a hazardous substance by a natural person under circumstances where the substance is used, or is to be used, for a personal or domestic purpose (and not for any business purpose) by that person or a relative of, or person residing in the same dwelling as, that person.

     (3) Any possession of a hazardous substance amount which is determined as minimal by the department of ecology and which is possessed by a retailer for the purpose of making sales to ultimate consumers. This exemption does not apply to pesticide or petroleum products.

     (4) Any possession of alumina or natural gas.

     (5) Persons or activities which the state is prohibited from taxing under the United States Constitution.

     (6) Any persons possessing a hazardous substance where such possession first occurred before March 1, 1989.

[1989 c 2 § 11 (Initiative Measure No. 97, approved November 8, 1988).]

82.21.050
Credits.

(1) Credit shall be allowed in accordance with rules of the department of revenue for taxes paid under this chapter with respect to fuel carried from this state in the fuel tank of any airplane, ship, truck, or other vehicle.

     (2) Credit shall be allowed, in accordance with rules of the department, against the taxes imposed in this chapter for any hazardous substance tax paid to another state with respect to the same hazardous substance. The amount of the credit shall not exceed the tax liability arising under this chapter with respect to that hazardous substance. For the purpose of this subsection:

     (a) "Hazardous substance tax" means a tax:

     (i) Which is imposed on the act or privilege of possessing hazardous substances, and which is not generally imposed on other activities or privileges; and

     (ii) Which is measured by the value of the hazardous substance, in terms of wholesale value or other terms, and in the determination of which the deductions allowed would not constitute the tax an income tax or value added tax.

     (b) "State" means (i) the state of Washington, (ii) a state of the United States other than Washington, or any political subdivision of such other state, (iii) the District of Columbia, and (iv) any foreign country or political subdivision thereof.

[1989 c 2 § 12 (Initiative Measure No. 97, approved November 8, 1988).]



82.21.900
Short title — 1989 c 2.

See RCW 70.105D.900.



82.21.905
Captions — 1989 c 2.

See RCW 70.105D.905.



82.21.910
Construction — 1989 c 2.

See RCW 70.105D.910.



82.21.915
Existing agreements — 1989 c 2.

See RCW 70.105D.915.



82.21.920
Effective date — 1989 c 2.

See RCW 70.105D.920.



82.21.921
Severability — 1989 c 2.

See RCW 70.105D.921.