6.
Retail Tax on Heavy Trucks, Trailers, and Tractors
A tax of 12% of the sales price is imposed on the first retail sale of the following articles, including related parts and
accessories sold on or
in connection with, or with the sale of, the articles.
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Truck chassis and bodies.
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Truck trailer and semitrailer chassis and bodies.
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Tractors of the kind chiefly used for highway transportation in combination with a trailer or semitrailer.
A truck is a highway vehicle primarily designed to transport its load on the same chassis as the engine, even if it is equipped
to tow a vehicle,
such as a trailer or semitrailer.
A tractor is a highway vehicle designed to tow a vehicle, such as a trailer or semitrailer. A tractor may carry incidental
items of cargo when
towing or limited amounts of cargo when not towing.
A sale of a truck, truck trailer, or semitrailer is considered a sale of a chassis and a body.
The seller is liable for the tax.
Chassis or body.
A chassis or body is taxable only if you sell it for use as a component part of a highway vehicle that is a truck,
truck trailer or semitrailer, or
a tractor of the kind chiefly used for highway transportation in combination with a trailer or semitrailer.
Highway vehicle.
A highway vehicle is any self-propelled vehicle designed to carry a load over public highways, whether or not it is
also designed to perform other
functions. Examples of vehicles designed to carry a load over public highways are passenger automobiles, motorcycles, buses,
and highway-type trucks
and truck tractors. A vehicle is a highway vehicle even though the vehicle's design allows it to perform a highway transportation
function for only
one of the following.
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A particular type of load, such as passengers, furnishings, and personal effects (as in a house, office, or utility trailer).
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A special kind of cargo, goods, supplies, or materials.
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Some off-highway task unrelated to highway transportation, except as discussed next.
Vehicles not considered highway vehicles.
Generally, the following kinds of vehicles are not considered highway vehicles for purposes of the retail tax.
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Specially designed mobile machinery for nontransportation functions. A self-propelled vehicle is not a highway vehicle if all the
following apply.
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The chassis has permanently mounted to it machinery or equipment used to perform certain operations (construction, manufacturing,
drilling,
mining, timbering, processing, farming, or similar operations) if the operation of the machinery or equipment is unrelated
to transportation on or off
the public highways.
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The chassis has been specially designed to serve only as a mobile carriage and mount (and power source, if applicable) for
the machinery or
equipment, whether or not the machinery or equipment is in operation.
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The chassis could not, because of its special design and without substantial structural modification, be used as part of a
vehicle designed
to carry any other load.
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Vehicles specially designed for off-highway transportation. A vehicle is not treated as a highway vehicle if the vehicle is
specially designed for the primary function of transporting a particular type of load other than over the public highway and
because of this special
design, the vehicles's capability to transport a load over a public highway is substantially limited or impaired.
To make this determination, you can take into account the vehicle's size, whether the vehicle is subject to licensing, safety,
or other
requirements, and whether the vehicle can transport a load at a sustained speed of at least 25 miles per hour. It does not
matter that the vehicle can
carry heavier loads off highway than it is allowed to carry over the highway.
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Nontransportation trailers and semitrailers. A trailer or semi-trailer is not treated as a highway vehicle if it is specially
designed to function only as an enclosed stationary shelter for carrying on a nontransportation function at an off-highway
site. For example, a
trailer that is capable only of functioning as an office for an off-highway construction operation is not a highway vehicle.
Gross vehicle weight.
The tax does not apply to truck chassis and bodies suitable for use with a vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight
(defined below) of 33,000 pounds
or less. It also does not apply to truck trailer and semitrailer chassis and bodies suitable for use with a trailer or semitrailer
that has a gross
vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less. Tractors that have a gross vehicle weight of 19,500 pounds or less and a gross combined
weight of 33,000
pounds or less are excluded from the 12% retail tax.
The following four classifications of truck body types meet the
suitable for use standard and will be excluded from the retail excise
tax.
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Platform truck bodies 21 feet or less in length.
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Dry freight and refrigerated truck van bodies 24 feet or less in length.
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Dump truck bodies with load capacities of 8 cubic yards or less.
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Refuse packer truck bodies with load capacities of 20 cubic yards or less.
For more information on these classifications, see Revenue Procedure 2005-19, which is on page 832 of Internal Revenue Bulletin
2005-14 at
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb05-14.pdf.
The gross vehicle weight means the maximum total weight of a loaded vehicle. Generally, this maximum total weight
is the gross vehicle weight
rating provided by the manufacturer or determined by the seller of the completed article. The seller's gross vehicle weight
rating is determined
solely on the basis of the strength of the chassis frame and the axle capacity and placement. The seller may not take into
account any readily
attachable components (such as tires or rim assemblies) in determining the gross vehicle weight. See Regulations section 145.4051-1(e)(3)
for more
information.
Parts or accessories.
The tax applies to parts or accessories sold on or in connection with, or with the sale of, a taxable article. For
example, if at the time of the
sale by the retailer, the part or accessory has been ordered from the retailer, the part or accessory will be considered as
sold in connection with
the sale of the vehicle. The tax applies in this case whether or not the retailer bills the parts or accessories separately.
If the retailer sells a taxable chassis, body, or tractor without parts or accessories considered essential for the
operation or appearance of the
taxable article, the sale of the parts or accessories by the retailer to the purchaser is considered made in connection with
the sale of the taxable
article even though they are shipped separately, at the same time, or on a different date. The tax applies unless there is
evidence to the contrary.
For example, if a retailer sells to any person a chassis and the bumpers for the chassis, or sells a taxable tractor and the
fifth wheel and
attachments, the tax applies to the parts or accessories regardless of the method of billing or the time at which the shipments
were made. The tax
does not apply to parts and accessories that are spares or replacements.
Separate purchase.
The tax generally applies to the price of a part or accessory and its installation if the following conditions are
met.
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The owner, lessee, or operator of any vehicle that contains a taxable article installs any part or accessory on the vehicle.
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The installation occurs within 6 months after the vehicle is first placed in service.
The owners of the trade or business installing the parts or accessories are secondarily liable for the tax.
A vehicle is placed in service on the date the owner takes actual possession of the vehicle. This date is established
by a signed delivery ticket
or other comparable document indicating delivery to and acceptance by the owner.
The tax does not apply if the installed part or accessory is a replacement part or accessory. The tax also does not
apply if the total price of the
parts and accessories, including installation charges, during the 6-month period is $1,000 or less. However, if the total
price is more than $1,000,
the tax applies to the cost of all parts and accessories (and installation charges) during that period.
Example.
You bought a taxable vehicle and placed it in service on April 8. On May 3, you bought and installed parts and accessories
at a cost of $850. On
July 15, you bought and installed parts and accessories for $300. Tax of $138 (12% of $1,150) applies on July 15. Also, tax
will apply to any costs of
additional parts and accessories installed on the vehicle before October 8.
First retail sale defined.
The sale of an article is treated as the first retail sale, and the seller will be liable for the tax imposed on the
sale unless one of the
following exceptions applies.
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There has been a prior taxable sale, lease, or use of the article (however, see Tax on resale of tax-paid trailers and semitrailers,
later).
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The sale qualifies as a tax-free sale under Internal Revenue Code section 4221 (see Sales exempt from tax, later).
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The seller in good faith accepts from the purchaser a statement signed under penalties of perjury and executed in good faith
that the
purchaser intends to resell the article or lease it on a long-term basis. There is no registration requirement.
Leases.
A long-term lease (a lease with a term of 1 year or more, taking into account options to renew) before a first retail
sale is treated as a taxable
sale. The tax is imposed on the lessor at the time of the lease.
A short-term lease (a lease with a term of less than 1 year, taking into account options to renew) before a first
retail sale is treated as a
taxable use. The tax is imposed on the lessor at the time of the lease.
Exported vehicle.
A vehicle exported before its first retail sale, used in a foreign country, and then returned to the United States
is subject to the retail tax on
its first domestic use or retail sale after importation.
Tax on resale of tax-paid trailers and semitrailers.
The tax applies to a trailer or semitrailer resold within 6 months after having been sold in a taxable sale. The seller
liable for the tax on the
resale can claim a credit equal to the tax paid on the prior taxable sale. The credit cannot exceed the tax on the resale.
See Regulations section
145.4052-1(a)(4) for information on the conditions to allowance for the credit.
Use treated as sale.
If any person uses a taxable article before the first retail sale of the article, that person is liable for the tax
as if the article had been sold
at retail by that person. Figure the tax on the price at which similar articles are sold in the ordinary course of trade by
retailers. The tax
attaches when the use begins.
If the seller of an article regularly sells the articles at retail in arm's-length transactions, figure the tax on
its use on the lowest
established retail price for the articles in effect at the time of the taxable use.
If the seller of an article does not regularly sell the articles at retail in arm's-length transactions, a constructive
price on which the tax is
figured will be determined by the IRS after considering the selling practices and price structures of sellers of similar articles.
If a seller of an article incurs liability for tax on the use of the article and later sells or leases the article
in a transaction that otherwise
would be taxable, liability for tax is not incurred on the later sale or lease.
Presumptive retail sales price.
There are rules to ensure that the tax base of transactions considered to be taxable sales includes either an actual
or presumed markup percentage.
If the person liable for tax is the vehicle's manufacturer, producer, or importer, the following discussions show how you
figure the presumptive
retail sales price depending on the type of transaction and the persons involved in the transaction.
Table 6-1 outlines the appropriate tax
base calculation for various transactions.
The
presumed markup percentage to be used for trucks and truck-tractors is 4%. But for truck trailers and semitrailers and
remanufactured trucks and tractors, the presumed markup percentage is zero.
Sale.
For a taxable sale by a manufacturer, producer, importer, or related person, you generally figure the tax on a tax
base of the sales price plus an
amount equal to the presumed markup percentage times that sales price.
Long-term lease.
In the case of a long-term lease by a manufacturer, producer, importer, or related person, figure the tax on a tax
base of the constructive sales
price plus an amount equal to the presumed markup percentage times the constructive sales price.
Short-term lease.
When a manufacturer, producer, importer, or related person leases an article in a short-term lease considered a taxable
use, figure the tax on a
constructive sales price at which those or similar articles generally are sold in the ordinary course of trade by retailers.
But if the lessor in this situation regularly sells articles at retail in arm's-length transactions, figure the tax
on the lowest established
retail price in effect at the time of the taxable use.
If a person other than the manufacturer, producer, importer, or related person leases an article in a short-term lease
considered a taxable use,
figure the tax on a tax base of the price for which the article was sold to the lessor plus the cost of parts and accessories
installed by the lessor
and a presumed markup percentage.
Related person.
A related person is any member of the same controlled group as the manufacturer, producer, or importer. Do not treat
as a related person a person
that sells the articles through a permanent retail establishment in the normal course of being a retailer if that person has
records to prove the
article was sold for a price that included a markup equal to or greater than the presumed markup percentage.
Table 6-1. Tax Base
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IF the transaction is a...
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THEN figuring the base by using
the...
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Sale by the manufacturer, producer, importer, or related person
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Sales price
plus (presumed markup percentage × sales price)
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Sale by the dealer
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Total consideration paid for the item including any charges incident to placing it in a condition ready for
use
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Long-term lease by the manufacturer, producer, importer, or related person
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Constructive sales price
plus (presumed markup percentage × constructive sales price)
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Short-term lease by the manufacturer, producer, importer, or related person
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Constructive sales price at which such or similar articles are sold
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Short-term lease by a lessor other than the manufacturer, producer, importer, or related person
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Price for which the article was sold to the lessor
plus the cost of parts and accessories installed by the lessor
plus a presumed markup percentage
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Short-term lease where the articles are regularly sold at arm's length
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Lowest established retail price in effect at the time of the taxable use
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General rule for sales by dealers to the consumer.
For a taxable sale, other than a long-term lease, by a person other than a manufacturer, producer, importer, or related
person, your tax base is
the retail sales price as discussed next under
Determination of tax base.
When you sell an article to the consumer, generally you do not add a presumed markup to the tax base. However, you
do add a markup if all the
following apply.
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You do not perform any significant activities relating to the processing of the sale of a taxable article.
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The main reason for processing the sale through you is to avoid or evade the presumed markup.
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You do not have records proving that the article was sold for a price that included a markup equal to or greater than the
presumed markup
percentage.
In these situations, your tax base is the sales price plus an amount equal to the presumed markup percentage times that selling
price.
Determination of tax base.
These rules apply to both normal retail sales price and presumptive retail sales price computations. To arrive at
the tax base, the price is the
total consideration paid (including trade-in allowance) for the item and includes any charge incident to placing the article
in a condition ready for
use. However, see
Presumptive retail sales price, earlier.
Exclusions from tax base.
Exclude from the tax base the retail excise tax imposed on the sale. Exclude any state or local retail sales tax if
stated as a separate charge
from the price whether the sales tax is imposed on the seller or purchaser. Also exclude the value of any used component of
the article furnished by
the first user of the article.
Exclude charges for transportation, delivery, insurance, and installation (other than installation charges for parts
and accessories, discussed
earlier) and other expenses incurred in connection with the delivery of an article to a purchaser. These expenses are those
incurred in delivery from
the retail dealer to the customer. In the case of delivery directly from the manufacturer to the dealer's customer, include
the transportation and
delivery charges to the extent the charges do not exceed what it would have cost to ship the article to the dealer.
Exclude amounts charged for machinery or equipment that does not contribute to the highway transportation function
of the vehicle, provided those
charges are supported by adequate records. For example, for an industrial vacuum loader vehicle, exclude amounts charged for
the vacuum pump and hose,
filter system, material separator, silencer or muffler, control cabinet, and ladder. Similarly, for a sewer cleaning vehicle,
exclude amounts charged
for the high pressure water pump, hose components, and the vacuum pipe.
Sales not at arm's length.
For any taxable article sold (not at arm's length) at less than the fair market price, figure the excise tax on the
price for which similar
articles are sold at retail in the ordinary course of trade.
A sale is not at arm's length if either of the following apply.
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One of the parties is controlled (in law or in fact) by the other or there is common control, whether or not the control is
actually
exercised to influence the sales price.
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The sale is made under special arrangements between a seller and a purchaser.
Installment sales.
If the first retail sale is an installment sale, or other form of sale in which the sales price is paid in installments,
tax liability arises at
the time of the sale. The tax is figured on the entire sales price. No part of the tax is deferred because the sales price
is paid in installments.
Repairs and modifications.
The tax does not apply to the sale or use of an article that has been repaired or modified unless the cost of the
repairs and modifications is more
than 75% of the retail price of a comparable new article. This includes modifications that change the transportation function
of an article or restore
a wrecked article to a functional condition. However, this exception generally does not apply to an article that was not subject
to the tax when it
was new.
Further manufacture.
The tax does not apply to the use by a person of a taxable article as material in the manufacture or production of,
or as a component part of,
another article to be manufactured or produced by that person. Do not treat a person as engaged in the manufacture of any
article merely because that
person combines the article with a:
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Coupling device (including any fifth wheel);
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Wrecker crane;
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Loading and unloading equipment (including any crane, hoist, winch, or power liftgate);
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Aerial ladder or tower;
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Ice and snow control equipment;
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Earth moving, excavation, and construction equipment;
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Spreader;
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Sleeper cab;
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Cab shield; or
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Wood or metal floor.
Combining an article with an item in this list does not give rise to taxability. However, see
Parts or accessories, discussed
earlier.
Articles exempt from tax.
The tax on heavy trucks, trailers, and tractors does not apply to sales of the articles described in the following
discussions.
Rail trailers and rail vans.
This is any chassis or body of a trailer or semitrailer designed for use both as a highway vehicle and a railroad
car (including any parts and
accessories designed primarily for use on and in connection with it). Do not treat a piggyback trailer or semitrailer as designed
for use as a
railroad car.
Parts and accessories.
This is any part or accessory sold separately from the truck or trailer, except as described earlier under
Parts or accessories and
Separate purchase.
Trash containers.
This is any box, container, receptacle, bin, or similar article that meets all the following conditions.
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It is designed to be used as a trash container.
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It is not designed to carry freight other than trash.
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It is not designed to be permanently mounted on or affixed to a truck chassis or body.
House trailers.
This is any house trailer (regardless of size) suitable for use in connection with either passenger automobiles or
trucks.
Camper coaches or bodies for self-propelled mobile homes.
This is any article designed to be mounted or placed on trucks, truck chassis, or automobile chassis and to be used
primarily as living quarters or
camping accommodations. Further, the tax does not apply to chassis specifically designed and constructed to accommodate and
transport self-propelled
mobile home bodies.
Farm feed, seed, and fertilizer equipment.
This is any body primarily designed to process or prepare, haul, spread, load, or unload feed, seed, or fertilizer
to or on farms. This exemption
applies only to the farm equipment body (and parts and accessories) and not to the chassis upon which the farm equipment is
mounted.
Ambulances and hearses.
This is any ambulance, hearse, or combination ambulance-hearse.
Truck-tractors.
This is any truck-tractor specifically designed for use in shifting semitrailers in and around freight yards and freight
terminals.
Concrete mixers.
This is any article designed to be placed or mounted on a truck, truck trailer, or semitrailer chassis to be used
to process or prepare concrete.
This exemption does not apply to the chassis on which the article is mounted.
Sales exempt from tax.
The following sales are ordinarily exempt from tax.
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Sales to a state or local government for its exclusive use.
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Sales to Indian tribal governments, but only if the transaction involves the exercise of an essential tribal government function.
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Sales to a nonprofit educational organization for its exclusive use.
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Sales to a qualified blood collector organization (as defined under Communications Tax in chapter 4) for its exclusive use in the
collection, storage, or transportation of blood.
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Sales for use by the purchaser for further manufacture of other taxable articles (see below).
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Sales for export or for resale by the purchaser to a second purchaser for export.
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Sales to the United Nations for official use.
Registration requirement.
In general, the seller and buyer must be registered for a sale to be tax free. See the Form 637 instructions for more
information. Certain
registration exceptions apply in the case of sales to state and local governments, sales to foreign purchasers for export,
and sales for resale or
long term leasing.
Further manufacture.
If you buy articles tax free and resell or use them other than in the manufacture of another article, you are liable
for the tax on their resale or
use just as if you had manufactured and made the first retail sale of them.
Credits or refunds.
A credit or refund (without interest) of the retail tax on the taxable articles described earlier may be allowable
if the tax has been paid with
respect to an article and, before any other use, such article is used by any person as a component part of another taxable
article manufactured or
produced. The person using the article as a component part is eligible for the credit or refund.
A credit or refund is allowable if, before any other use, an article is, by any person:
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Exported,
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Used or sold for use as supplies for vessels,
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Sold to a state or local government for its exclusive use,
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Sold to a nonprofit educational organization for its exclusive use, or
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Sold to a qualified blood collector organization (as defined under Communications Tax in chapter 4) for its exclusive use in the
collection, storage, or transportation of blood.
A credit or refund is also allowable if there is a price readjustment by reason of the return or repossession of an article
or by reason of a
bona fide discount, rebate, or allowance.
See also
Conditions to allowance under
Manufacturers Taxes, in chapter 5.
Tire credit.
A credit is allowed against the retail tax on the taxable articles described earlier if taxable tires are sold on
or in connection with the sale of
the article. The credit is equal to the manufacturers excise tax imposed on the taxable tires (discussed earlier). This is
the section 4051(d) taxable
tire credit and is claimed on Schedule C (Form 720) for the same quarter for which the tax on the heavy vehicle is reported.
