MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Ways and Means

By: Representatives Howell, Mitchell, Smith (35th)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-65-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO TAX THE RETAIL SALE OF TRUCK-TRACTORS AND SEMITRAILERS USED IN INTERSTATE COMMERCE AND REGISTERED UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION PLAN AT THE RATE OF THREE PERCENT OF THE PORTION OF THE SALE THAT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE USAGE OF SUCH TRUCK-TRACTOR OR SEMITRAILER IN MISSISSIPPI; TO PROVIDE THAT THE TAX LEVIED ON THE SALE OF SUCH TRUCK-TRACTOR AND SEMITRAILER SHALL BE REPORTED AND PAID DIRECTLY TO THE STATE TAX COMMISSION BY THE PURCHASER OF SUCH TRUCK-TRACTOR OR SEMITRAILER AT THE TIME OF REGISTRATION; TO AMEND SECTION 27-65-31, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 27-65-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-65-17. (1) Upon every person engaging or continuing within this state in the business of selling any tangible personal property whatsoever there is hereby levied, assessed and shall be collected a tax equal to seven percent (7%) of the gross proceeds of the retail sales of the business, except as otherwise provided herein.

Retail sales of farm tractors shall be taxed at the rate of one percent (1%) when made to farmers for agricultural purposes. Retail sales of farm implements sold to farmers and used directly in the production of poultry, ratite, domesticated fish as defined in Section 69-7-501, livestock, livestock products, agricultural crops or ornamental plant crops or used for other agricultural purposes shall be taxed at the rate of three percent (3%) when used on the farm.  The three percent (3%) rate shall also apply to all equipment used in logging, pulpwood operations or tree farming which is either (a) self-propelled or which is (b) mounted so that it is (i) permanently attached to other equipment which is self-propelled or (ii) permanently attached to other equipment drawn by a vehicle which is self-propelled.

Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3) of this section, retail sales of aircraft, automobiles, trucks, truck-tractors, semitrailers and mobile homes shall be taxed at the rate of three percent (3%).

Sales of manufacturing machinery or manufacturing machine parts when made to a manufacturer or custom processor for plant use only when said machinery and machine parts will be used exclusively and directly within this state in manufacturing a commodity for sale, rental or in processing for a fee shall be taxed at the rate of one and one-half percent (1-1/2%).

Sales of materials for use in track and track structures to a railroad whose rates are fixed by the Interstate Commerce Commission or the Mississippi Public Service Commission shall be taxed at the rate of three percent (3%).

Sales of tangible personal property to electric power associations for use in the ordinary and necessary operation of their generating or distribution systems shall be taxed at the rate of one percent (1%).

Wholesale sales of beer shall be taxed at the rate of seven percent (7%), and the retailer shall file a return and compute the retail tax on retail sales but may take credit for the amount of the tax paid to the wholesaler on said return covering the subsequent sales of same property, provided adequate invoices and records are maintained to substantiate the credit.

Wholesale sales of food and drink for human consumption to full service vending machine operators to be sold through vending machines located apart from and not connected with other taxable businesses shall be taxed at the rate of eight percent (8%).

A manufacturer selling at retail in this state shall be required to make returns of the gross proceeds of such sales and pay the tax imposed in this section.

Any person exercising any privilege taxable under Section 27-65-15 and selling his natural resource products at wholesale or to exempt persons shall pay the tax levied by said section in lieu of the tax levied by this section.

(2) From and after January 1, 1995, retail sales of private carriers of passengers and light carriers of property, as defined in Section 27-51-101, shall be taxed an additional two percent (2%).

(3) In lieu of the tax levied in subsection (1) of this section, there is levied on retail sales of truck-tractors and semitrailers used in interstate commerce and registered under the International Registration Plan (IRP) or any similar reciprocity agreement or compact relating to the proportional registration of commercial vehicles entered into as provided for in Section 27-19-143, a tax at the rate of three percent (3%) of the portion of the sale that is attributable to the usage of such truck-tractor or semitrailer in Mississippi. The portion of the retail sale that is attributable to the usage of such truck-tractor or semitrailer in Mississippi is the retail sales price of the truck-tractor or semitrailer multiplied by the percentage of the total miles traveled by the vehicle that are traveled in Mississippi. The tax levied pursuant to this subsection (3) shall be collected by the State Tax Commission from the purchaser of such truck-tractor or semitrailer at the time of registration of such truck-tractor or semitrailer.

SECTION 2. Section 27-65-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-65-31. Any person liable for a privilege tax levied and assessed by this chapter except the taxes levied by Sections 27-65-15, 27-65-17(3) and 27-65-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, shall add the amount of such tax due by him to the sales price or gross income and, in addition thereto, shall collect, insofar as practicable, the amount of the tax due by him from the purchaser at the time the sales price or gross income is collected.

The commissioner is * * * authorized, in his discretion, to prescribe by rule or regulation, brackets or schedules by which the applicable tax shall be collected from the purchaser.

The commissioner shall have the authority to make changes as necessary by rule or regulation to implement an agreement for the collection of sales tax by direct marketers with limited contact in Mississippi if, in his discretion, it is beneficial to the state for him to do so.

It shall be unlawful for any person, who is liable for a privilege tax levied by this chapter except the taxes levied by Sections 27-65-15, 27-65-17(3) and 27-65-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, to fail or refuse to add to the sales price and collect, insofar as practicable, the amount of tax due by him on each sale, except where the tax was included in the cost of furnishing service when said cost was a factor in the fixing of rates and charges.

The tax due under the provisions of this chapter shall be computed and paid on gross income or gross proceeds of sales of the business, regardless of the fact that small unit sales may be within the bracket of one (1) of the schedules which does not provide for the collection of the tax from the customer.

Nothing in this section with reference to the collection of the tax from the customer shall be construed to impair, abridge, alter or affect the obligation of any contract in existence at the time it becomes effective.

When the tax collected for any filing period is in excess of the amount due, the total tax collected, including that in excess of the computed liability, shall be paid to the commissioner. This provision shall be construed with other provisions of the law and given effect so as to result in the payment to the commissioner of the total tax collected if in excess of the amount due when computed at the applicable rates.

The funds collected by the taxpayer (seller) from the purchaser pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be considered "trust fund monies" and the taxpayer shall hold these funds in trust for the State of Mississippi; said funds to be separately accounted for as provided by regulation of the commissioner. If the taxpayer fails to remit these trust fund monies as required by law, then the taxpayer may be assessed with a penalty in three (3) times the amount of taxes due. This penalty is to be assessed and collected in the same manner as taxes imposed by this chapter and shall be in addition to all other penalties and/or interest otherwise imposed. For purposes of this section there shall be a presumption that the taxpayer collected the tax from the customer or purchaser.

Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined in a sum not less than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) nor more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).

SECTION 3. Nothing in this act shall affect or defeat any claim, assessment, appeal, suit, right or cause of action for taxes due or accrued under the sales tax laws before the date on which this act becomes effective, whether such claims, assessments, appeals, suits or actions have been begun before the date on which this act becomes effective or are begun thereafter; and the provisions of the sales tax laws are expressly continued in full force, effect and operation for the purpose of the assessment, collection and enrollment of liens for any taxes due or accrued and the execution of any warrant under such laws before the date on which this act becomes effective, and for the imposition of any penalties, forfeitures or claims for failure to comply with such laws.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.