Idaho Admin. Code r. 35.01.02.102 - LOGGING

Section 63-3605C, 63-3622HH, 63-3622JJ, Idaho Code

01. In General. The Sales Tax Act provides an exemption from sales and use taxes for certain tangible personal property used in logging activities. The provisions of this rule are based on the usual methods of doing business in this industry. Specific factual differences in the way a specific taxpayer may conduct his business can result in determinations different from those stated in this rule. Since some equipment may be used for more than one (1) purpose, determinations of taxability will be made based upon the primary use of the equipment. (3-31-22)

02. Real Property. The logging exemption applies only to tangible personal property. It does not apply to real property or to tangible personal property purchased for the purpose of becoming an improvement or fixture to real property. See Rules 010 and 067 of these rules for a definition of real property. (3-31-22)

03. Property Used in Logging Operations. The logging exemption applies to tangible personal property primarily used in a logging activity without regard to the primary business activity of the person performing the logging. For example, a contractor building a road for the Forest Service may claim the logging exemption when purchasing equipment and supplies primarily used to remove the timber from the right-of-way if the timber is resold, even though logging is not the contractor's primary activity. (3-31-22)

04. Logging Process Begins and Ends. The logging process begins when forest trees are first handled by the logger at the site where such an operation occurs. The logging process ends when the product is placed on transportation vehicles at the loading site, ready for shipment. (3-31-22)

05. Equipment and Supplies. Equipment and supplies used or consumed primarily and directly in the logging process and which are necessary or essential to perform the operation. To qualify, the logging use must be the primary use of the equipment and supplies. Examples include: (3-31-22)

a. Chain saws and tree harvesters. (3-31-22)

b. Skidders, tower-skidders, skidding cables, or chokers. (3-31-22)

c. Log loaders and log jammers which are not licensed motor equipment. (3-31-22)

d. Repair parts, lubricants, hydraulic oil, and coolants which become a component part of logging equipment. (3-31-22)

e. Fuel, such as diesel, gasoline, and propane consumed by equipment while performing exempt logging activities. (3-31-22)

06. Directly Used. Directly used, as applied to logging, means the performance of any of the following functions when such functions occur between the point at which the logging operation begins and the point at which the operation ends, as defined in Subsection 102.04 of this rule: (3-31-22)

a. The performance of a function in the logging process that effects a physical change in the property being logged so as to render the property more marketable. (3-31-22)

b. The performance of a function which occurs simultaneously with and which is an integral part of and necessary to a function which effects a physical change in the property being logged rendering it more marketable. (3-31-22)

c. The performance of a function which is an integral and necessary step in a continuous series of functions which effect a physical change in the property being logged rendering it more marketable. (3-31-22)

d. The performance of a quality control function which is an integral and necessary step in maintaining specific product standards. (3-31-22)

07. Not Included in Logging Exemption. Generally, the logging exemption does not include the following activities and equipment: (3-31-22)

a. Road construction equipment and supplies such as tractors, road graders, rollers, water trucks, whether licensed or unlicensed, explosives, gravel, fill material, dust suppression products, culverts, and bridge material. (3-31-22)

b. Slash disposal or brush piling and clearing equipment and supplies, such as brush clearing machines, brush rakes, and tractors, except when part of the operation of a tree farm. (3-31-22)

c. Reforestation equipment and supplies, except when part of the operation of a tree farm. (3-31-22)

d. Safety equipment and supplies, including hard hats and earplugs. (3-31-22)

e. Transportation equipment and supplies including vehicles to transport logs from the loading site to the mill, whether the vehicles are licensed or unlicensed, and cable and tie-downs used to fasten logs to the vehicle. (3-31-22)

f. Machinery, equipment, materials, repair parts, and supplies used in a manner that is incidental to logging such as: office equipment and supplies; selling and distribution equipment and supplies; janitorial equipment and supplies; maintenance equipment and supplies which do not become component parts of logging equipment, such as welders, welding gas, and shop equipment; and paint, plastic coatings, and all other similar products used to protect and maintain equipment, whether applied to logging equipment or other equipment. (3-31-22)

g. Recreation-related vehicles, as defined in Section 63-3622HH, Idaho Code, regardless of use, such as All Terrain Vehicles (ATV), snowmobiles, and off-highway motorbikes. (3-31-22)

h. Aircraft or motor vehicles licensed or required to be licensed by the laws of this state, regardless of the use to which such motor vehicles or aircraft are put. A motor vehicle not required to be licensed is exempt under the logging exemption only if it meets the tests established elsewhere in this rule. (3-31-22)

i. Harvesting timber for firewood. (3-31-22)

08. Election to Pay Sales Tax. The owner of a log loader, log jammer, or similar fixed load motor equipment used in logging, not normally licensed for use on public roads, may elect to license and pay sales tax on the motor equipment rather than placing it on the personal property tax rolls, if the motor equipment may be legally operated on a public road as a commercial vehicle. (3-31-22)

a. Motor equipment licensed at the time of purchase. Sales tax applies to the total purchase price of the motor equipment. (3-31-22)

b. Motor equipment licensed after the date of purchase. Use tax applies to the fair market value of motor equipment on which no sales or use tax has been paid and which was not licensed at the time of purchase, if acquired within the last seven (7) years. See Section 63-3633, Idaho Code. Fair market value may be determined from the personal property tax records of the county assessor. (3-31-22)

Notes

Idaho Admin. Code r. 35.01.02.102