01.
Exclusive Financing Exemption Under Section 63-3622BB(1), Idaho Code. The purchase of certain tangible personal property used in connection with certain activities at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is exempt from sales and use tax. To qualify for this exemption, the property needs to be tangible personal property primarily or directly used or consumed in research, development, experimental and testing activities, exclusively financed by the United States Government.
a. Qualifying Activity. Research, development, experimental, and testing activity means any activity of an original investigation, for the advancement of scientific knowledge in a field of laboratory science, engineering or technology and does not have an actual commercial application.
b. Real Property. The exemption does not apply to real property or to tangible personal property which will become improvements or fixtures to real property. See Rules 012 and 067 of these rules.
c. Incidental Use of Property. This exemption does not extend to the incidental use of any tangible personal property which fails to meet the test of primary or direct use or consumption.
i. Areas of support which are considered incidental include: communications equipment; office equipment and supplies; janitorial equipment and supplies; training equipment and supplies; dosimetry or radiation monitoring equipment which lacks the capability of giving an immediate indication and would not result in an immediate evacuation of personnel or shutdown of equipment; subscriptions or technical manuals which provide technology not primarily used or directly connected to the research activity; and hot and cold laundry operations.
ii. Materials of common support which are considered incidental include: clothing for weather protection or of a reusable nature; hand tools which are not subject to contamination at the time of initial use; protective coverings which are protection from other than radiation or are of a reusable nature; and all safety equipment and supplies which do not protect from direct radiation exposure.
d. Property Directly Used or Consumed. Tangible personal property primarily or directly used or consumed in a research and development activity to perform quality assurance on research equipment is tax exempt. Items of a general support nature, such as coveralls, are taxable.
e. Parts for Equipment. The use of tangible personal property which becomes a component part of research equipment being calibrated within a calibration lab is tax exempt; whereas, the use of parts and equipment in calibrating or for the repair of other maintenance equipment is taxable.
f. Radioactive Waste. The initial containment or storage of radioactive waste is an exempt use. Any further processing or transporting of such waste not relating to a research and development activity is a taxable use.
g. Motor Vehicles. The purchase of any motor vehicle licensed or required to be licensed by the laws of this state is taxable.
h. Agreements with Contractors. The Commission may enter into agreements with contractors engaged in research at the INL prescribing methods by which the contractor or contractors may accrue use tax based on the accounting procedures required by the U.S. Department of Energy.
02.
Percentage of Tangible Personal Property Exemption Under Section 63-3622BB(2), Idaho Code. If a facility is used by the United States or one (1) of its management and operating contractors for research and development activities at the INL and also is used by a person or persons in addition to the United States or one (1) of its management and operating contractors, there is exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter a percentage of each sale or use of tangible personal property used or consumed at or for the benefit of the facility in the amount that the research and development activities of the United States or its management and operating contractors bear to the total use of the facility by all persons. The Commission will calculate, review, and verify the allocation provided for in this section.
