(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, if any buyer improperly uses a reseller permit number, reseller permit, or other documentation authorized under RCW 82.04.470 to purchase items or services at retail without payment of sales tax that was legally due on the purchase, the department must assess against that buyer a penalty of fifty percent of the tax due, in addition to all other taxes, penalties, and interest due, on the improperly purchased item or service.

(2) The department must waive the penalty imposed under subsection (1) of this section if it finds that the use of the reseller permit number, reseller permit, or other documentation authorized under RCW 82.04.470 was due to circumstances beyond the taxpayer’s control or if the reseller permit number, reseller permit, or other documentation authorized under RCW 82.04.470 was properly used for purchases for dual purposes. The department must define by rule what circumstances are considered to be beyond the taxpayer’s control.

(3) A buyer that purchases items or services at retail without payment of sales tax legally due on the purchase is deemed to have improperly used a reseller permit number, reseller permit, or other documentation authorized under RCW 82.04.470 to purchase the items or services without payment of sales tax and is subject to the penalty in subsection (1) of this section if the buyer:

(a) Furnished to the seller a reseller permit number, a reseller permit or copy of a reseller permit, or other documentation authorized under RCW 82.04.470 to avoid payment of sales tax legally due on the purchase; or

(b) Made the purchase from a seller that had previously used electronic means to verify the validity of the buyer’s reseller permit with the department and, as a result, did not require the buyer to provide a copy of its reseller permit or furnish other documentation authorized under RCW 82.04.470 to document the wholesale nature of the purchase. In such cases, the buyer bears the burden of proving that it did not improperly use its reseller permit to make the purchase without payment of sales tax.

Effective date—2010 c 112 §§ 2, 3, 11, 12, and 15: See note following RCW 82.32.780.

Retroactive application—2010 c 112: See note following RCW 82.32.780.

Finding—Intent—Construction—Effective date—Reports and recommendations—2009 c 563: See notes following RCW 82.32.780.

Severability—Effective dates—Part headings, captions not law—1993 sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 82.04.230.

Seller’s permit and uniform exemption certificate: RCW 82.04.470 and 82.08.130.