Sec. 4. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), a tax imposed under section 3 of this chapter applies to any transaction in which food or beverage is furnished, prepared, or served:

(1) for consumption at a location, or on equipment, provided by a retail merchant;

(2) in the county in which the tax is imposed; and

(3) by a retail merchant for consideration.

     (b) Transactions described in subsection (a)(1) include, but are not limited to, transactions in which food or beverage is:

(1) served by a retail merchant off the merchant’s premises;

(2) food sold in a heated state or heated by a retail merchant;

(3) two (2) or more food ingredients mixed or combined by a retail merchant for sale as a single item (other than food that is only cut, repackaged, or pasteurized by the seller, and eggs, fish, meat, poultry, and foods containing these raw animal foods requiring cooking by the consumer as recommended by the federal Food and Drug Administration in chapter 3, subpart 3-401.11 of its Food Code so as to prevent food borne illnesses); or

(4) food sold with eating utensils provided by a retail merchant, including plates, knives, forks, spoons, glasses, cups, napkins, or straws (for purposes of this subdivision, a plate does not include a container or packaging used to transport the food).

     (c) The county food and beverage tax does not apply to the furnishing, preparing, or serving of any food or beverage in a transaction that is exempt, or to the extent exempt, from the state gross retail tax imposed by IC 6-2.5.

As added by P.L.83-1985, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.257-2003, SEC.34.