Wash. Admin. Code § 458-20-13501
However, if at that facility the debarking is a part of a broader manufacturing process (e.g., cutting the logs into lumber), the entire process, including the debarking, is a manufacturing activity. In this case, the measure of tax is the gross proceeds of sale of the products manufactured from the logs less transportation costs incurred by the seller from the manufacturing facility to the place of delivery to the customer out-of-state.
Small harvesters, as defined in RCW 84.33.035, are not required to complete an Annual Tax Performance Report with the department.
Example 1. Measure of B&O tax for timber harvester.
Facts: UVW Company (UVW), a timber harvester and a timber manufacturer, enters into a contract with QRS Company (QRS), in which QRS agrees to perform the necessary labor and mechanical services for extracting the timber, and for manufacturing (measuring, delimbing, and bucking of) the felled timber. UVW receives 60 percent of the gross proceeds from sales of the logs, and QRS receives 40 percent. A third-party buyer located in Washington purchases the logs from UVW for $500,000. The buyer pays $300,000 to UVW for the log sales and $200,000 to QRS for performing the harvesting services.
Result: UVW is required to report the entire $500,000 in sales proceeds for B&O tax purposes, regardless of the fact that QRS received $200,000 of the sales proceeds directly from the buyer. In accordance with RCW 82.04.070, there is no deduction for the cost of doing business; therefore, UVW may not deduct the amount UVW paid to QRS for performing harvesting services. As a harvester and manufacturer, UVW must report $500,000 under extracting B&O tax, manufacturing B&O tax, and retailing or wholesaling B&O tax, depending on whether the third-party buyer is buying the logs for resale. UVW is eligible for a multiple activities tax credit (MATC) because UVW is selling the logs it extracted and manufactured in Washington to a Washington customer. See (g) of this subsection for more information on the MATC.
Example 2. Computing the MATC.
Facts: ZYX Tree Company (ZYX) is in the business of manufacturing and selling wood siding products used in building construction. All of ZYX's products are manufactured by ZYX using timber that ZYX harvested. For the month of July 2023, ZYX had $100,000 in gross income from its sales of specialty wood siding products. All of the sales were made at wholesale and occurred in Washington.
Result: ZYX must report $100,000 in gross revenue under each of the following B&O tax classifications: Extracting timber, manufacturing of timber or wood products, and wholesaling of timber or wood products. Additionally, ZYX is eligible to claim the MATC. Because the preferential B&O tax rates are the same for all three of the classifications reported by ZYX, the MATC will fully offset both the extracting timber and manufacturing timber or wood products B&O tax liabilities. ZYX's tax liability after applying the MATC is $290.40 ($100,000 multiplied by the wholesaling of timber or wood products B&O tax rate of 0.2904 percent under RCW 82.04.260 (12)(c)). Note: An additional B&O tax surcharge imposed on those persons who are subject to any of the taxes imposed under RCW 82.04.260(12) may apply. See RCW 82.04.261 for more information.
Until July 1, 2045, persons who extract timber for hire are eligible for a preferential B&O tax rate for timber extracting for hire activities. RCW 82.04.260 (12)(a). Taxpayers reporting under the preferential extracting for hire timber B&O tax classification in the current year are required to complete an Annual Tax Performance Report by May 31st of the following year.
Extracting activities commonly performed by extractors for hire include, but are not limited to the following:
Example 3. Extracting timber for hire.
Facts: Timber Harvester, a harvester and manufacturer, pays Tree Severing Corporation (TSC) $100,000 to fell trees owned by Timber Harvester.
Result: TSC is performing an extracting activity for hire. The $100,000 TSC receives is subject to B&O tax under the preferential extracting for hire timber classification. TSC must timely file an Annual Tax Performance Report as required under RCW 82.04.260(12). This transaction is not subject to retail sales tax because Timber Harvester is not the consumer of the extracted timber.
Example 4. Processing timber for hire.
Facts: TTT Company (TTT), a harvester and a manufacturer, owns a parcel of land comprised of standing timber. TTT fells the timber on its own behalf. Subsequently, TTT pays Tree Services, Inc. (TSI) $300,000 to delimb, measure, and buck the severed trees at TTT's harvest site.
Result: TSI is a processor for hire. The $300,000 TSI received is subject to B&O tax under the preferential processing for hire timber products classification. TSI must timely file an Annual Tax Performance Report as required under RCW 82.04.260(12). This transaction is not subject to retail sales tax because TTT is not the consumer of the harvested timber, assuming TTT will resell the logs it extracted and manufactured.
Example 5. Tax treatment of services related to the manufacturing portion of a timber harvest operation.
Facts: With the same facts from Example 4, TTT pays Chopper Services Inc. (CS) $200,000 to transport severed timber by helicopter from the location within the harvest site where the timber was felled to a staging location where the severed timber can be delimbed, measured, and bucked (manufactured into logs) by TSI, prior to being loaded into trucks by TTT and transported to a mill for further processing.
Result: CS's provision of helicopter transportation services for transporting severed timber to a staging area within the manufacturing (harvest) site where the severed timber will be processed (measured, delimbed, and bucked) into logs are part of the manufacturing operation (which began after the timber was felled), and are themselves manufacturing activities. See RCW 82.08.02565 (2)(c)(ii). The $200,000 CS received from TTT is subject to B&O tax under the processing for hire timber products classification. CS must timely file an Annual Tax Performance Report as required under RCW 82.04.260(12).
Example 6. Tax consequences of hauling logs (private roads, public roads, or both).
Facts: Bob's Logging Company (Bob's Logging) pays HHH Log Hauling Company (HHH) $4,000 to haul logs over private roads from Bob's harvest site to a transfer site located 10 miles away, where Bob's Logging will unload, sort, and reload the logs for further distribution. Separately, Bob's Logging pays JJJ Log Hauling Ltd (JJJ) $6,000 to haul logs from the transfer site to a mill located 30 miles away. JJJ will transport the logs over both private and public roads. The harvest site, transfer site, and mill site are all located in unincorporated parts of Mason County.
Result: HHH is subject to B&O tax under the service and other activities classification because the haul of the logs performed by HHH is exclusively on private roads. HHH must report $4,000 in gross income under the service and other activities B&O tax classification.
JJJ is subject to PUT under the motor transportation classification because the haul occurs on both private and public roads. JJJ must report $6,000 in gross income under the motor transportation PUT classification.
Example 7. Hauling services jointly provided.
Facts: Assume the facts from Example 6, except that JJJ contracts with Bob's Logging to perform all necessary hauling services from the harvest site to the transfer site, then from the transfer site to the mill. The portion of the haul from the harvest site to the transfer site will be performed over private and public roads. JJJ receives $10,000 from Bob's Logging in exchange for the contracted services. After entering into the contract with Bob's Logging, JJJ enters into a contract with HHH, in which HHH will perform the first portion of the haul from the harvest site to the transfer site. HHH receives $4,000 from JJJ in exchange for its portion of the jointly provided services.
Result: JJJ must report $10,000 in gross income under the log hauling over public highways PUT classification. Additionally, JJJ may take a $4,000 deduction for "Amounts Paid to Another for Services Jointly Provided" from the amount reported.
HHH must report $4,000 in gross income under the log hauling over public highways PUT classification. HHH is not eligible for a deduction.
Example 8. Hauling services jointly provided.
Facts: Assume the facts from Example 6, except that JJJ contracts with Bob's Logging to perform all necessary hauling services from the harvest site to the transfer site, then from the transfer site to the mill. The portion of the haul from the harvest site to the transfer site will be performed entirely over private roads. JJJ receives $10,000 from Bob's Logging in exchange for the contracted services. After entering into the contract with Bob's Logging, JJJ enters into a contract with HHH, in which HHH will perform the first portion of the haul from the harvest site to the transfer site. HHH receives $4,000 from JJJ in exchange for its portion of the jointly provided services.
Result: JJJ must report $10,000 in gross income under the log hauling over public highways PUT classification. JJJ may not claim a deduction for "Amount Paid to Another for Services Jointly Provided," as HHH's hauling services are not performed over a public road and are therefore not subject to PUT.
HHH must report $4,000 in gross income under the service and other activities B&O tax classification. HHH is not subject to PUT, as the log hauling services were provided entirely over private roads.
Example 9. Sale of standing timber (stumpage sales).
Facts: ABC Company (ABC) owns a large tract of standing timber. ABC sells the right to cut the standing timber to XYZ Partnership (XYZ) for $100,000 on March 1, 2021. The sale agreement does not require XYZ to harvest (sever) the standing timber within 30 months from the date of the original contract. XYZ receives title to the timber from ABC prior to harvesting it. When the timber is ready for harvest on May 1, 2024, XYZ hires DEF Company (DEF) (third-party timber harvest contractor) to sever the timber on its behalf. XYZ pays DEF $50,000. After the timber is extracted, XYZ sells the harvested timber to UVW Company (an unrelated third-party Washington manufacturer) at wholesale for $250,000. UVW Company will measure, delimb, and buck the severed timber, then haul the logs from the harvest site to its own manufacturing facility, using its own trucks.
Result: ABC is not subject to B&O tax, PUT, or retail sales or use tax. ABC is liable for REET on the sale of standing timber to XYZ, because the transaction is a sale of real property. See RCW 82.45.010(1), 82.45.060, WAC 458-61A-102, and 458-61A-113. ABC is not liable for B&O tax, in this example, because the sale between ABC and XYZ does not meet the definition of "selling standing timber" in RCW 82.04.260 (12)(d). However, if the sale arrangement between ABC and XYZ were to require that XYZ sever or cut the timber within 30 months from the date of the original sale contract, ABC would then be subject to B&O tax on its proceeds from "selling standing timber" as defined in RCW 82.04.260(12), and the transaction would be exempt from REET in accordance with RCW 82.45.195.
XYZ (as the owner of the standing timber) must report $250,000 in gross income under the following B&O tax classifications: Extracting timber and wholesaling of timber or wood products. XYZ is eligible to claim the MATC equal to its extracting timber B&O tax liability. XYZ must timely file an Annual Tax Performance Report as required under RCW 82.04.260(12). XYZ is also subject to timber excise tax. See chapters 84.33 RCW and 458-40 WAC.
DEF must report $50,000 in gross income under the extracting for hire timber B&O tax classification and is not eligible for a credit or deduction. DEF must timely file an Annual Tax Performance Report as required under RCW 82.04.260(12).
Example 10. Sale of harvested timber (logs).
Facts: Assume the facts from Example 9, except that ABC hires DEF to harvest the timber on ABC's behalf, rather than selling the standing timber to XYZ. ABC agrees to pay DEF $50,000 in exchange for DEF's harvesting and manufacturing (measuring, delimbing, and bucking of felled trees) services. After the timber has been severed, measured, delimbed, and bucked into logs by DEF, ABC sells the logs to GHI Lodge, Inc. (GHI) for $250,000. GHI is purchasing the logs to construct a new lodge (for GHI's own use) in unincorporated Skamania County (which is also the location of the harvest site).
Result: ABC (as the owner of the timber) must report $250,000 in gross income under the following B&O tax classifications: Extracting timber, manufacturing of timber products, and retailing. ABC is eligible to claim the MATC equal to its extracting timber B&O tax and manufacturing of timber products B&O tax liabilities. ABC must timely file an Annual Tax Performance Report as required under RCW 82.04.260(12). ABC is required to collect retail sales tax at the current combined state and local rate for unincorporated Skamania County. ABC is also subject to timber excise tax. See chapters 84.33 RCW and 458-40 WAC.
DEF must report $50,000 in gross income under the extracting for hire timber and processing for hire timber products B&O tax classifications. DEF must timely file an Annual Tax Performance Report as required under RCW 82.04.260(12). DEF is not eligible for the MATC.
If a person acquires tangible personal property in a transaction that is not subject to retail sales tax, the person is subject to use tax based on the place of first use of the tangible personal property in Washington. In cases where a person has already paid a retail sales or use tax on the same tangible personal property to another state or foreign country (or political subdivision of either), that person may claim a credit for those taxes against their Washington use tax liability.
Example 11. Retail sales tax exemption for M&E (qualifying and nonqualifying M&E).
Facts: GHI LLC (GHI) is a timber harvester and a manufacturer, engaged in felling, delimbing, bucking, measuring, cutting, yarding, and loading logs at a logging operation site. GHI specializes in harvesting timber in remote locations with steep and challenging terrain. In performing its business activities, GHI uses a feller buncher to sever (cut) the standing timber. GHI also uses chainsaws to fell snags. After the trees are severed, GHI uses a yarder to create a cable yarding system to yard (transport or drag) the severed trees through the harvest unit to a staging area where they will be processed into logs and loaded onto trucks for transportation to an off-site mill. At the staging area, GHI uses a log processor to delimb, measure, and buck the trees, and a log loader to sort and stack the logs by species and length. The yarder, log processor, and the log loader are exclusively used by GHI as described in this example.
Result: For purposes of the retail sales and use tax exemptions in RCW 82.08.02565 and 82.12.02565, GHI may be eligible to claim an exemption for the yarder, log processor, and the log loader as (a) GHI is a manufacturer; (b) the manufacturing operation process has begun; (c) the three pieces of equipment are used directly in the manufacturing operation; (d) the three pieces of equipment are used a majority of the time in a qualifying manner; and (e) all other requirements under WAC 458-20-13601 are met (including the one year useful life requirement). In general, yarding (the process of transporting or dragging felled trees or logs to a landing area) as a standalone activity is not a manufacturing activity. Thus, whether yarding is a part of a manufacturing operation depends on whether such activity takes place at a manufacturing site. In this example, yarding occurs at the manufacturing (harvest) site.
GHI is not eligible to claim an exemption for the feller buncher or chainsaws as the majority use of both types of equipment are for extracting activities (cutting or severing trees from the land). Had the majority of use of the chainsaws and the feller buncher been for delimbing, measuring, and bucking the felled trees, both pieces of equipment may have been eligible for the M&E exemption if all the other requirements for the M&E exemption in WAC 458-20-13601 are satisfied.
Example 12. Retail sales tax exemption for M&E (majority use test).
Facts: Assume the facts from Example 11. In addition, GHI uses a bulldozer for a variety of purposes in its operations. The bulldozer is used exclusively to (a) support GHI's feller buncher in performing extracting activities (cutting or severing of timber); (b) support GHI's yarder in performing manufacturing activities upon the timber that has already been severed (yarding or transporting the severed trees to the staging area where the severed trees will be processed into logs and loaded onto trucks and transported to an off-site mill); and (c) clear debris and generally assist in the restoration of timber harvest sites. GHI does not separately state charges associated with its use of the bulldozer in its contracts with customers. GHI does maintain detailed time records that document the number of hours the bulldozer is used in the performance of each of the three activities. In its first year of use, the bulldozer was used to support the feller buncher for 200 hours, support the yarder for 400 hours, and clear debris and generally assist in harvest site restoration for 400 hours.
Result: While the use of the bulldozer to support the yarder for manufacturing activities is generally a qualifying use for purposes of the M&E exemption in RCW 82.08.02565 and 82.12.02565, the bulldozer is not eligible for the exemption because the majority of its use is for a nonqualifying purpose (supporting the feller buncher for extracting activities and clearing debris for harvest site restoration). In this case, the proper measure for determining majority use is time. A majority of the bulldozer's use, measured in time, was for nonmanufacturing activities (60 percent, or 600 of 1,000 hours used).
Example 13. Lumber manufactured for commercial use.
Facts: ABC Company (ABC) harvests timber, manufactures the timber into lumber, and then uses the lumber to construct an office building. The harvest site and manufacturing site are both located in unincorporated Clark County. The office building site is in Camas.
Result: ABC's use of the lumber to construct its office building is a commercial or industrial use. ABC is subject to use tax on the value of the lumber incorporated into the office building. Because ABC's first taxable use of the lumber occurred in Camas (the building construction site location), the combined state and local use tax is due based on the location code and rate assigned to the Camas address. ABC is also subject to B&O tax under the extracting timber and manufacturing of timber or wood products classifications and may claim the MATC.
The buyer must provide the seller with an exemption certificate in a form and manner prescribed by the department at the time of purchase. The seller must retain a copy of the buyer's exemption certificate. RCW 82.32.070 requires taxpayers to keep and preserve suitable records as may be necessary to determine the amount of any tax collected by the department for a period of five years.
Example 14. Combined contracts (land clearing and timber harvesting).
Facts: LCG Land Clearing and Grading Company (LCG) is hired by FFF Corporation (FFF), a commercial property development company, to clear and grade an unimproved parcel of land owned by FFF. Once cleared and graded, FFF intends to construct a commercial warehouse on the property, which it will lease to third-party tenants. The property contains a significant amount of standing timber, which LCG is responsible for extracting and selling the extracted timber on FFF's behalf under the terms of the contract. The contract between FFF and LCG includes a $25,000 charge for the timber extraction services and a $75,000 charge for the land clearing and grading services. LCG hires a subcontractor, HHH Logging Company (HHH) to extract the timber from the property. LCG pays HHH $20,000 for its services. FFF ultimately sells the extracted timber to JJ Mill Company (JJ) for $30,000 at wholesale.
Result: LCG is an extractor for hire with respect to the $25,000 in proceeds from FFF for the harvest of the standing timber. The gross income is subject to B&O tax under the extracting for hire timber classification. LCG is also subject to B&O tax under the retailing classification and must collect retail sales tax from FFF on the $75,000 in proceeds for the clearing and grading of the real property.
HHH is an extractor for hire with respect to the $20,000 in proceeds from LCG for the harvest of the standing timber. The gross income is subject to B&O tax under the extracting for hire timber classification.
FFF is an extractor with respect to the sale of the harvested timber to JJ. FFF must report $30,000 in gross income under the extracting timber and wholesaling of timber or wood products B&O tax classifications. FFF may also be eligible for the MATC, if the sale to JJ occurred in Washington.
Alternatively, the person may take a written statement from the landowner or timber harvester certifying that the landowner or timber harvester has remitted (for past periods) or will remit (for future periods) all applicable retail sales or use taxes due on materials provided without charge. This statement must identify the period of time, not to exceed four years, for which the agreement is effective. The statement must identify the landowner or timber harvester's tax registration number and must be signed by an owner, member, or authorized agent of the timber harvester.
The deduction is available only if both of the following criteria are met:
Exemption certificate for logs delivered to an export facility
The undersigned export facility operator hereby certifies:
That percentage or more of all logs hauled to the storagities at, the same located on tidewater or navigaaries thereto, will be shipped by vessel directly to an out-of-state or foreign destination and the following conditions will be met:
Trucking Firm
Trucking Firm Address
Trucking Firm UBI#
Export Facility Operator
Operator UBI#
Person Giving Statement
Title of Person Giving Statement
Example 16. Qualifying PUT deduction for transportation to an export facility.
Facts: MMM Hauling Company (MMM) is hired to haul logs from a harvest site to an export facility over public roads. The logs will immediately be loaded upon a ship for export at the export facility. As part of its services, MMM will remove bark from 50 percent of the logs; no other processing activities will occur. MMM receives $10,000 in exchange for its services.
Result: MMM must report $10,000 in gross income under the log hauling over public highways PUT classification. MMM may also claim a $10,000 deduction from the measure of its PUT, as the logs will be shipped directly to another country from the export facility, provided the appropriate exemption certificate is obtained.
NOTE: Because the mere removal of bark is not considered a change in the form of the logs, the export facility may provide a certificate in the above form indicating that all logs at this facility will ultimately be shipped to another country.
Additionally, this means that MMM is not engaged in a processing for hire activity.
Example 17. Activities that do not qualify for PUT deduction for transportation to an export facility.
Facts: Assume the facts from Example 16, except that MMM hauls the logs to an export sorting area, approximately one mile from the export facility. At this location further sorting takes place and 80 percent of the logs are hauled approximately one mile over public roads for export to another country. The other 20 percent of the logs are sold and delivered to local sawmills.
Result: MMM must report $10,000 in gross income under the log hauling over public highways PUT classification. MMM may not claim a deduction from the measure of its PUT, as the logs will not be shipped directly to another country from the export facility. It is immaterial that MMM may be paid an "export" rate for its services.
Charges for the haul of the logs from the export sorting area to the export facility may be deductible if the transportation route does not start and end within the corporate limits of the same city or town, and the hauler obtains the appropriate exemption certificate. The haul to the local sawmills is not deductible.
Example 18. Qualifying PUT deduction for transportation to an export facility.
Facts: Assume the facts from Example 16, except that once the logs are delivered by MMM to an export facility, the logs will still need to be transported approximately half of a mile to reach the ship for loading (all within the export facility).
Result: MMM must report $10,000 in gross income under the log hauling over public highways PUT classification. MMM may also claim a $10,000 deduction from the measure of its PUT, as the logs will be shipped directly to another country from the export facility, provided the appropriate exemption certificate is obtained. Movement of the logs within the export facility is not an intervening haul.
Example 19. Unregistered small harvester.
Facts: A small harvester, not currently registered with the department for B&O tax purposes, harvests timber in June 2023 and again in August 2023, receiving $10,000 for the June 2023 sale and $200,000 for the August 2023 sale of the harvested logs. Each sale is made to a lumber mill who presents the small harvester with a reseller permit.
Result: The small harvester must register with the department in August when the receipts from the timber harvesting business exceed the gross revenue threshold in WAC 458-20-101, assuming the other registration conditions in that rule have not otherwise been met prior to August.
An excise tax return must be filed according to the tax reporting frequency assigned by the department (e.g., monthly, quarterly, or annually). The small harvester must report $210,000 in gross revenue under extracting timber, manufacturing of timber or wood products, and wholesaling of timber or wood products B&O tax classifications. The small harvester taxpayer is eligible to report a $100,000 "small harvester" B&O tax deduction from the measure of all three B&O tax classifications. In addition, the taxpayer is eligible to take the MATC for both the extracting timber and manufacturing of timber or wood products. As a result, the wholesaling of timber or wood products B&O tax is due.
Example 20. Registered small harvester.
Facts: RRR Construction Company (RRR) is primarily in the business of commercial building construction and is currently registered with the department. In July 2023, RRR generates $250,000 in gross wholesaling income from its construction activities. RRR is also a small harvester as defined in RCW 84.33.035. RRR's timber harvesting operation includes extracting standing timber from its own land and processing the extracted timber into logs before wholesaling the logs to third-party mills. In July 2023, RRR receives $60,000 from the sale of logs from its timber harvesting operation to a local mill for resale. Year to date, RRR has not had any other sales of harvested timber or wood products.
Results: RRR is required to report $250,000 in gross revenue under the wholesaling B&O tax classification for its construction activities.
RRR (as a smaller harvester and a manufacturer) is required to report $60,000 in proceeds from the sale of logs under three B&O tax classifications: Extracting timber, manufacturing of timber or wood products, and wholesaling of timber or wood products. RRR is eligible for a $60,000 "small harvester" B&O tax deduction from all three B&O tax classifications. RRR is eligible for additional "small harvester" B&O tax deductions up to $40,000 ($100,000-$60,000) for the remainder of the reporting calendar year.
Example 21. Unregistered small harvester (deduction carryover).
Facts: Don Janson, a small harvester not otherwise registered with the department for B&O tax purposes contracts with NNN Logging Company (NNN) to extract standing timber from real property owned by Mr. Janson and process the extracted timber into logs. Mr. Janson retains ownership of the timber until it is sold. Under the agreement, Mr. Janson receives 60 percent and the logging company receives 40 percent of the log sale proceeds.
In September 2021, the harvested timber is sold at wholesale for $250,000, $150,000 (60 percent of $250,000) of which is received by Mr. Janson.
Result: Mr. Janson (as a smaller harvester and a manufacturer) is required to register with the department for B&O tax purposes and must report the entire $250,000 in sales proceeds under the following B&O tax classifications: Extracting timber, manufacturing of timber or wood products, and wholesaling of timber or wood products. Mr. Janson is not allowed to deduct the $100,000 (40 percent of $250,000) Mr. Janson paid to NNN. However, Mr. Janson is eligible to take a $100,000 "small harvester" B&O tax deduction from the measure of the B&O tax classifications reported, reducing the B&O taxable income to $150,000. Assuming the sale occurred in Washington, Mr. Janson is also eligible to claim the MATC for both the extracting timber and manufacturing of timber or wood products. Mr. Janson is subject to B&O tax under the wholesaling of timber or wood products classification.
NNN (as a logging contractor for Mr. Janson) must report the $100,000 gross income received from its extracting standing timber and processing for hire activities under the following B&O tax classifications: Extracting for hire timber and processing for hire timber products. NNN may also be subject to other taxes, depending on the activities NNN conducted.
Wash. Admin. Code § 458-20-13501
Statutory Authority: RCW 82.32.300. 01-13-042, § 458-20-13501, filed 6/14/01, effective 7/15/01.