Senate Bill 2119

(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 27-31-53 AND 27-31-55, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS TO GRANT PARTIAL AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTIONS TO PROPERTY IN FREE PORT WAREHOUSES THROUGH JUNE 30, 2012; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 27-31-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

[Through June 30, 2012, this section shall read as follows:]

27-31-53. All or a portion of the assessed value of personal property in transit through this state which is (1) moving in interstate commerce through or over the territory of the State of Mississippi, or (2) which was consigned or transferred to a licensed "free port warehouse," public or private, within the State of Mississippi for storage in transit to a final destination outside the State of Mississippi, whether specified when transportation begins or afterward, may, in the discretion of the board of supervisors of the county wherein the warehouse or storage facility is located, and in the discretion of the governing authorities of the municipality wherein the warehouse or storage facility is located, as the case may be, and for such period of time as the respective governing body may prescribe, be exempt from all ad valorem taxes imposed by the respective county or municipality and the property exempted therefrom shall not be deemed to have acquired a situs in the State of Mississippi for the purposes of such taxation. The board of supervisors of a county or the governing authorities of a municipality may exempt all or a portion of the assessed value of such property. Such property shall not be deprived of such exemption because while in a warehouse the property is bound, divided, broken in bulk, labeled, relabeled or repackaged.

[From and after July 1, 2012, this section shall read as follows:]

27-31-53. All personal property in transit through this state which is (1) moving in interstate commerce through or over the territory of the State of Mississippi, or (2) which was consigned or transferred to a licensed "free port warehouse," public or private, within the State of Mississippi for storage in transit to a final destination outside the State of Mississippi, whether specified when transportation begins or afterward, may, in the discretion of the board of supervisors of the county wherein the warehouse or storage facility is located, and in the discretion of the governing authorities of the municipality wherein the warehouse or storage facility is located, as the case may be, and for such period of time as the respective governing body may prescribe, be exempt from all ad valorem taxes imposed by the respective county or municipality and the property exempted therefrom shall not be deemed to have acquired a situs in the State of Mississippi for the purposes of such taxation. Such property shall not be deprived of exemption because while in a warehouse the property is bound, divided, broken in bulk, labeled, relabeled or repackaged.

SECTION 2. Section 27-31-55, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

[Through June 30, 2012, this section shall read as follows:]

27-31-55. Each licensed "free port warehouse" shall file with the State Tax Commission and tax assessor of each taxing jurisdiction in which such warehouse or storage facility may be located an inventory of all personal property consigned or transferred to such warehouse or storage facility and located therein on January 1 of each year. Such inventory shall be submitted on such forms and in such manner as the State Tax Commission may prescribe and shall contain a separate statement of all property eligible for exemption under Sections 27-31-51 through 27-31-61 and a separate statement of all property consigned or transferred to such warehouse or storage facility. Exemption shall be allowed for all eligible property in the amount authorized by the board of supervisors or governing authorities of a municipality, but accurate records shall be kept of all personal property shipped from any such warehouse or storage facility, together with the point of final destination of the same, and reports thereof shall be filed with such taxing authorities of this state and in such form and manner as the State Tax Commission may prescribe. At the conclusion of each calendar year each licensee under Sections 27-31-51 through 27-31-61 shall calculate the actual percentage of all personal property consigned or transferred to the warehouse or storage facility which was shipped to a final destination outside the state in relation to the total of all such personal property shipped to any destination during such year. Such percentage reduced proportionately by any partial exemption authorized by the board of supervisors or governing authorities of a municipality shall then be applied to the total value of all property contained in the inventory of such warehouse or storage facility as of January 1 of such year which was consigned or transferred to such warehouse or storage facility. If the result thus obtained shall be less than the value of property for which exemption was allowed, then the amount of such difference shall be deducted from the amount of the exemption previously allowed and taxes shall be levied and collected thereon by the tax collecting officers concerned.

[From and after July 1, 2012, this section shall read as follows:]

27-31-55. Each licensed "free port warehouse" shall file with the State Tax Commission and Tax Assessor of each taxing jurisdiction in which such warehouse or storage facility may be located an inventory of all personal property consigned or transferred to such warehouse or storage facility and located therein on January 1 of each year. Such inventory shall be submitted on such forms and in such manner as the State Tax Commission may prescribe and shall contain a separate statement of all property eligible for exemption under Sections 27-31-51 through 27-31-61 and a separate statement of all property consigned or transferred to such warehouse or storage facility. Exemption shall be allowed for all eligible property, but accurate records shall be kept of all personal property shipped from any such warehouse or storage facility, together with the point of final destination of the same, and reports thereof shall be filed with such taxing authorities of this state and in such form and manner as the State Tax Commission may prescribe. At the conclusion of each calendar year each licensee under Sections 27-31-51 through 27-31-61 shall calculate the actual percentage of all personal property consigned or transferred to the warehouse or storage facility which was shipped to a final destination outside the state in relation to the total of all such personal property shipped to any destination during such year. Such percentage shall then be applied to the total value of all property contained in the inventory of such warehouse or storage facility as of January 1 of such year which was consigned or transferred to such warehouse or storage facility. If the result thus obtained shall be less than the value of property for which exemption was allowed, then the amount of such difference shall be deducted from the amount of the exemption previously allowed and taxes shall be levied and collected thereon by the tax collecting officers concerned.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after January 1, 2002.