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TITLE 34PUBLIC FINANCE
PART 1COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
CHAPTER 3TAX ADMINISTRATION
SUBCHAPTER OSTATE AND LOCAL SALES AND USE TAXES
RULE §3.285Resale Certificate; Sales for Resale

    (B) A seller does not owe tax on a sale, lease, or rental of a taxable item if the seller accepts a properly completed resale certificate in good faith. A resale certificate is deemed to be accepted in good faith if:

      (i) the resale certificate is accepted at or before the time of the transaction;

      (ii) the resale certificate is properly completed, meaning that all of the information required by subsection (g) of this section is legible; and

      (iii) the seller does not know, and does not have reason to know, that the sale is not a sale for resale. It is the seller's responsibility to be familiar with Texas sales tax law as it applies to the seller's business and to take notice of the information provided by the purchaser on the resale certificate. For example, a jewelry seller should know that a resale certificate from a landscaping service is invalid because a landscaping service is not in the business of reselling jewelry.

    (C) The seller should obtain a properly executed resale certificate at the time the taxable transaction occurs. All certificates obtained on or after the date the comptroller's auditor actually begins work on the audit at the seller's place of business or on the seller's records after the entrance conference are subject to verification. All incomplete certificates will be disallowed regardless of when they were obtained. The seller has 60 days from the date written notice is received by the seller from the comptroller in which to deliver the certificates to the comptroller. Written notice shall be given by the comptroller upon the filing of a petition for redetermination or claim for refund. For the purposes of this section, written notice given by mail is presumed to have been received by the seller within three business days from the date of deposit in the custody of the United States Postal Service. The seller may overcome the presumption by submitting proof from the United States Postal Service or by other competent evidence showing a later delivery date. Any certificates delivered to the comptroller during the 60-day period will be subject to independent verification by the comptroller before any deductions will be allowed. Certificates delivered after the 60-day period will not be accepted and the deduction will not be granted. See §3.282 of this title (relating to Auditing Taxpayer Records) and §3.286 of this title.

    (D) Resale certificates are subject to the provisions of §3.281 of this title (relating to Records Required; Information Required). A seller is required to keep resale certificates for a minimum of four years from the date on which the sale is made and throughout any period in which any tax, penalty, or interest may be assessed, collected, or refunded by the comptroller or in which an administrative hearing or judicial proceeding is pending.

  (4) Blanket resale certificate. A purchaser may issue to a seller a blanket resale certificate describing the general nature of the taxable items purchased for resale. The seller may rely on the blanket certificate until it is revoked in writing.

  (5) Bulk commodities. A resale certificate is not required to be issued by a broker or dealer that buys and sells only raw commodities in bulk, such as natural gas, raw cotton bales, or raw aluminum, from producers or other commodity brokers or dealers solely for resale in the normal course of business. However, if requested by the seller, a properly completed resale certificate, absent a sales tax permit number, may be issued by the purchaser of such raw commodities even if the purchaser does not hold a sales and use tax permit.

  (6) Electricity sales and purchases by independent organization certified under Texas Utilities Code, §39.151. A resale certificate is not required to be issued by a person who purchases electricity solely for the purpose of resale from the independent organization certified under Texas Utilities Code, §39.151. The independent organization certified under Texas Utilities Code, §39.151 is not required to issue a resale certificate to a person from whom it purchases electricity solely for the purpose of resale.

(d) Retailers outside Texas.

  (1) A seller in Texas may accept a resale certificate in lieu of tax from a retailer located outside Texas who purchases taxable items for resale in the United States or Mexico in a transaction that is a sale for resale, as defined in subsection (b) of this section.

  (2) The resale certificate must show the signature and address of the purchaser, the date of the sale, the state in which the purchaser intends to resell the item, the sales tax permit number or the registration number assigned to the purchaser by the state in which the purchaser is authorized to do business or a statement that the purchaser is not required to be permitted in the state in which the purchaser is authorized to do business. Mexican retailers who purchase taxable items for resale must show their Federal Taxpayers Registry (RFC) identification number for Mexico on the resale certificate and give a copy of their Mexican Registration Form to the Texas seller. An invoice describing the taxable item purchased and showing the exact street address or office address from which the taxable item will be resold must be attached to the resale certificate. The resale certificate must also state the type business engaged in by the purchaser and the type items sold in the regular course of business. A resale certificate may be accepted from the out-of-state retailer even if the Texas retailer ships or delivers the taxable item directly to a recipient located inside Texas.

  (3) The Texas retailer is not responsible for determining whether the out-of-state retailer is required to hold a Texas sales and use tax permit or to enter a Texas permit number on the resale certificate.

  (4) Foreign purchasers, other than purchasers from Mexico, who are not engaged in business in Texas and do not hold a Texas sales and use tax permit, may issue a properly completed resale certificate, as described in paragraph (2) of this subsection, in lieu of paying tax on the purchase of taxable items for sale in the normal course of business when the items are delivered or shipped to a location outside of Texas but within the United States or Mexico.

  (5) An out-of-state or foreign purchaser who acquires goods or services from a Texas seller for resale in Texas should refer to §3.286 of this title for information on their responsibilities.

  (6) A purchaser, whether from Texas, Mexico, or another foreign country, may not issue a resale certificate for taxable items purchased for resale outside the United States or Mexico. See subsection (b)(5) of this section. Purchasers who purchase taxable items in Texas for sale outside the United States or Mexico must comply with the requirements of §3.323 of this title to claim exemption from the Texas sales tax.

(e) Taxable use of items purchased for resale; items removed from tax-free inventory.

  (1) Divergent use; paying tax on fair market rental value. When a taxable item is removed from a valid tax-free inventory for use in Texas, Texas sales tax is due. When a taxable item purchased under a resale certificate is used for any purpose other than retention, demonstration, or display while holding it for sale, lease, or rental, or for transfer as an integral part of a taxable service, the purchaser is liable for sales tax based on the value of the taxable item for the period of time used.

    (A) The value of tangible personal property is the fair market rental value of the tangible personal property. The fair market rental value is the amount that a purchaser would pay on the open market to rent or lease the tangible personal property for use. If tangible personal property has no fair market rental value, sales tax is due based upon the original purchase price.

    (B) The value of a taxable service is the fair market value of the taxable service. The fair market value is the amount that a purchaser would pay on the open market to obtain that taxable service. If a taxable service has no fair market value, sales tax is due based upon the original purchase price.

    (C) At any time the person using a taxable item may stop paying tax on the value of the taxable item and instead pay sales tax on the original purchase price. When the person elects to pay sales tax on the original purchase price, credit will not be allowed for taxes previously paid based on value.

  (2) Donation of taxable item. A purchaser who gives a valid resale certificate instead of paying tax on the purchase of a taxable item is not liable for sales tax on the taxable item when donated to an organization exempt under Tax Code, §151.309 (Governmental Entities), or §151.310(a)(1) and (2) (Religious, Educational, And Public Service Organizations), provided the purchaser did not make a taxable use of the donated taxable item prior to its donation.

Cont'd...

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