§ 9706. Statutory purposes

(a) The statutory purpose of the exemption for medical products in subdivision 9741(2) of this title is to lower the cost of medical products in order to support the health and welfare of Vermont residents.

(b) The statutory purpose of the exemption for agricultural inputs in subdivision 9741(3) of this title is to promote Vermont’s agricultural economy.

(c) The statutory purpose of the exemption for prescription drugs intended for animal use, durable medical equipment and prosthetics for animal use, and veterinary supplies in subdivision 9741(53) of this title is to lessen the cost of veterinary services in order to support the health and welfare of Vermont animals.

(d) The statutory purpose of the exemption for fuels for railroads and boats, to propel vehicles, and to power machinery used in the timber industry, in subdivision 9741(7) of this title is to avoid the taxation of fuels:

(1) for the types of transportation for which public expenditure on infrastructure is unnecessary;

(2) that are already subject to taxation under 23 Vt. Stat. Ann. chapter 27 or 28 in support of public expenditure on infrastructure or are specifically exempt from taxation under either of those chapters; and

(3) in order to promote Vermont’s commercial timber and forest products economy.

(e) The statutory purpose of the exemption for sales of food in subdivision 9741(13) of this title is to limit the cost of goods that are necessary for the health and welfare of all people in Vermont.

(f) The statutory purpose of the exemption for newspapers in subdivision 9741(15) of this title is to reduce the cost of access to news and community information for people in Vermont.

(g) The statutory purpose of the exemption for rentals of coin-operated washing facilities in subdivision 9741(19) of this title is to exclude from taxation facilities that are still operated with coins.

(h) The statutory purpose of the exemption for admission fees to nonprofit museums in subdivision 9741(20) of this title is to support the missions of certain nonprofit facilities and encourage higher visitation.

(i) The statutory purpose of the exemption for items sold to fire, ambulance, and rescue squads in subdivision 9741(21) of this title is to limit the tax on organizations charged with protecting the safety of the public.

(j) The statutory purpose of the exemption for funeral charges in subdivision 9741(22) of this title is to lessen the costs accumulated by the bereaved.

(k) The statutory purpose of the exemption for commercial, industrial, or agricultural research use of tangible personal property in subdivision 9741(24) of this title is to reduce financial barriers to research and innovation in the commercial, industrial, and agricultural industries.

(l) The statutory purpose of the exemption for agricultural machinery and equipment in subdivision 9741(25) of this title is to promote Vermont’s agricultural economy.

(m) The statutory purpose of the exemption for energy purchases for a residence in subdivision 9741(26) of this title is to limit the cost of goods that are necessary for the health and welfare of Vermonters.

(n) The statutory purpose of the exemption for energy purchases for farming in subdivision 9741(27) of this title is to promote Vermont’s agricultural economy.

(o) The statutory purpose of the exemption for sales of films to movie theaters in subdivision 9741(28) of this title is to avoid double taxation.

(p) The statutory purpose of the exemption for aircraft and depreciable parts for commercial and private use in subdivision 9741(29) of this title is to promote the growth of the aircraft maintenance industry in Vermont by lowering the cost of parts and equipment relative to other states with private airplane maintenance facilities.

(q) The statutory purpose of the exemption for railroad rolling stock and depreciable parts in subdivision 9741(30) of this title is to increase the use of rail for transport.

(r) The statutory purpose of the exemption for ferryboats and depreciable parts in subdivision 9741(31) of this title is to increase the use of ferries for transport.

(s) The statutory purpose of the exemption for sales of mobile homes and modular housing in subdivision 9741(32) of this title is to create equity between mobile and modular housing and traditional residential construction by providing an exemption for the estimated portion of the cost attributable to labor (versus materials).

(t) The statutory purpose of the exemption for the U.S. flag sold to or by exempt veterans’ organizations in subdivision 9741(33) of this title is to support veterans’ organizations in performing their traditional functions.

(u) The statutory purpose of the exemption for property transferred as an incidental part of a personal service transaction or transfer of intangible property rights in subdivision 9741(35) of this title is to forgo taxation when the cost of compliance exceeds the revenues.

(v) The statutory purpose of the exemption for advertising materials in subdivision 9741(36) of this title is to exclude tangible personal property from taxation if it is incidental to a larger service.

(w) The statutory purpose of the exemption for documents that record a professional service in subdivision 9741(37) of this title is to exclude tangible personal property from taxation if it is incidental to a service package.

(x) The statutory purpose of the tracked vehicles cap in subdivision 9741(38) of this title is to lessen the cost of capital investments.

(y) The statutory purpose of the exemption for sales of building materials in subdivision 9741(39) of this title is to provide incentives to restore and revitalize downtown districts.

(z) The statutory purpose of the exemption for third-party scrap construction materials in subdivision 9741(43) of this title is to promote the reuse and recycling of scrap construction materials.

(aa) The statutory purpose of the exemption for property incorporated in a railroad line in subdivision 9741(44) of this title is to increase the use of rail for transport by lowering the costs of materials.

(bb) The statutory purpose of the exemption for clothing and footwear in subdivision 9741(45) of this title is to limit the tax burden on the purchase of goods that are necessary for the health and welfare of all people in Vermont.

(cc) The statutory purpose of the exemptions for property incorporated into a net metering system, on-premise energy systems not connected to the electric distribution system, and solar hot water heating systems in subdivision 9741(46) of this title are to increase the deployment of solar technologies until the price of solar materials and installation decreases to the point it does not need State subsidization.

(dd) The statutory purpose of the exemption for purchases by and limited purchases from 501(c)(3) organizations in subdivision 9743(3) of this title is to reduce costs for certain nonprofit organizations in order to allow them to dedicate more of their financial resources to furthering the public-service missions of the organizations.

(ee) The statutory purpose of the exemption for building materials and supplies used in construction or repair of buildings by governmental bodies, 501(c)(3) organizations, or development corporations in subdivision 9743(4) of this title is to reduce the costs of construction for certain nonprofit organizations in order to allow them to dedicate more financial resources to their public-service missions.

(ff) The statutory purpose of the exemption for amusement charges for four events per year for 501(c)(4)-(13) and (19) organizations and political organizations in subdivision 9743(5) of this title is to reduce the costs for and encourage participation in a limited number of events organized by certain nonprofit organizations in order to allow these organizations to dedicate more financial resources to their public-service missions.

(gg) The statutory purpose of the exemption for amusement charges for events presented by 501(c)(3) organizations in subdivision 9743(7) of this title is to reduce the costs for and encourage participation in fundraising events organized by certain nonprofit organizations in order to allow these organizations to dedicate more financial resources to their public-service missions.

(hh) The statutory purpose of the reallocation of receipts from tax imposed on sales of construction materials in section 9819 of this title is to provide incentives to restore and revitalize certain properties in designated downtown districts.

(ii) The statutory purpose of the exemption for sales by licensed auctioneers in subdivision 9741(48) of this title is to extend the casual sale exemption to sales involving an auctioneer selling on behalf of a third party.

(jj) The statutory purpose of the exemptions for composting materials, compost, animal manure, manipulated animal manure, and planting mix in subdivisions 9741(49) and (50) of this title is to support the composting industry and to further the goals of 2012 Acts and Resolves No. 148.

(kk) The statutory purpose of the exemption for timber cutting, removal, and processing machinery in subdivision 9741(51) of this title is to promote Vermont’s commercial timber and forest products economy.

[Subsection (ll) repealed effective July 1, 2024.]

(ll) The statutory purpose of the exemption for advanced wood boilers in subdivision 9741(52) of this title is to promote the forest products industry in Vermont by encouraging the purchase of modern wood heating systems.

(mm) The statutory purpose of the exemption for cannabis and cannabis products in subdivision 9741(55) of this title is to lower the cost of medical products sold by any dispensary as authorized under 7 Vt. Stat. Ann. chapter 37 in order to support the health and welfare of Vermont residents.

(nn) The statutory purpose of the exemption for sales of recyclable paper carryout bags in subdivision 9741(54) of this title is to lessen the cost of recyclable paper carryout bags incidental to other retail purchases made by customers in Vermont.

(oo) The statutory purpose of the exemption for menstrual products in subdivision 9741(56) of this title is to limit the cost of goods that are necessary for the health and welfare of Vermonters. (Added 2013, No. 200 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; amended 2013, No. 174 (Adj. Sess.), § 45; 2017, No. 75, § 18a; 2017, No. 77, § 10; 2017, No. 194 (Adj. Sess.), § 27; 2019, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 17, eff. March 1, 2022; 2021, No. 20, § 270; 2021, No. 73, § 11, eff. July 1, 2020; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 594, eff. July 1, 2022; 2021, No. 179 (Adj. Sess.), § 27a, eff. June 7, 2022.)