Washington Administrative Code
Title 458 - Revenue, Department of
Chapter 458-20 - Excise tax rules
Section 458-20-138 - Personal services rendered to others

The term "personal services," as used herein, refers generally to the activity of rendering services as distinct from making sales of tangible personal property or of services which have been defined in the law as "sales" or "sales at retail." (See RCW 82.04.040 and 82.04.050.)

The following are illustrative of persons performing personal services which are within the scope of this rule: Attorneys, doctors, dentists, architects, engineers, public accountants, public stenographers, barbers, beauty shop operators. (See also WAC 458-20-224.)

Business and Occupation Tax

Persons engaged in the business of rendering personal services to others are taxable under the service and other activities classification upon the gross income of such business.

There must be included within gross amounts reported for tax all fees for services rendered and all charges recovered for expenses incurred in connection therewith, such as transportation costs, hotel, restaurant, telephone and telegraph charges, etc.

Retail Sales Tax

The retail sales tax does not apply to the amount charged or received for the rendition of personal services to others, even though some tangible personal property in the form of materials and supplies is furnished or used in connection with such services.

Persons performing such services are consumers of all materials and supplies used in connection therewith and must pay the retail sales tax upon the purchase of such material and supplies.

If persons engaged in a personal service business sell articles of tangible personal property apart from the rendition of personal services, the retail sales tax must be collected upon the sale of such articles.

Revised June 1, 1970.

Order ET 70-3, § 458-20-138 (Rule 138), filed 5/29/70, effective 7/1/70.