Note: See also TP-64, Notice to Taxpayers Requesting
Information or Assistance from the Tax Department.
The publication you requested begins on page 2 below.
EFTA01129784
New York State
Department of Publication 852
i Taxation
e•j (12/97)
, and Finance
Sales Tax Information For:
CI Manufacturers
O Processors
O Generators
O Assemblers
O Refiners
O Miners and Extractors
O Other Producers of Goods and
Merchandise
New York State and Local Sales and Use Tax
EFTA01129785
EFTA01129786
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 1
PART I - GENERAL INFORMATION
The Production Exemption 2
Production Processes Defined
Manufacturing 2
Processing 3
Generating 3
Assembling 3
Refining 4
Mining 4
Extracting 4
Beginning and End of the Production Process 5
Purchases That Qualify for the Production Exemption 7
Purchases That Do Not Qualify for the Production Exemption 8
Differences Between the State and Local Production Exemptions 8
Research and Development 10
Waste Treatment Equipment 12
PART II - PI IRCI IASF.S BY A MANUFACTURER
Raw Materials 14
Machinery and Equipment 14
On-Site Assembly of Production Machinery and Equipment 14
Rigging Services 15
Installing, Repairing, Maintaining, and Servicing Production Machinery
and Equipment 16
Plumbing Fixtures and Electrical Components Used in the Installation
Of Exempt Production Machinery and Equipment 17
Gas, Electricity, and Other Energy Sources 17
Motor Fuel 19
Diesel Motor Fuel 19
Parts Used in Production 20
Tools Used in Production 20
Supplies Consumed in Production 21
Cartons, Containers, and Packaging Materials 22
Labels and Tags 23
Palletize( System Used in Production 23
Quality Control 24
Safety Apparel and Safety Supplies 25
Storage and Demurrage Charges 25
Food Processing Equipment 25
Process Piping 26
Foundry Equipment 26
EFTA01129787
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART III - SALES BY A MANUFACTURER
Tangible Personal Property 27
Bulk Sales 27
PART IV - INSTALLATIONS OF MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
TREATED AS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT 29
PART V - MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES
Tangible Personal Property Manufactured, Processed, or Assembled by the User 30
Manufacturers as Contractors 31
Property Donated to an Exempt Organization 32
Filing for a Refund or Credit 33
PART VI - CHART A
Gcncral Summary of the Production Excmption 34
PART VII - CHART B
Examples of Taxable and Exempt Purchases by a Manufacturer 35
APPENDIX A
Determining Electricity Used in Production 43
APPENDIX B
Meat Processing Machinery and Equipment 45
APPENDIX C
Legislative History 47
APPENDIX 1.)
Glossary of Terms 50
Taxpayer Assistance (Telephone Numbers and Addresses) Back Cover
EFTA01129788
INTRODUCTION
This publication contains information about exemptions from New York State sales and compensating
use taxes (including the' % tax imposed within the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District
or MCTD), and local sales and compensating use taxes available to certain manufacturers of products
for sale. It covers cxcmptions available on purchases of
• machinery and equipment
• parts, tools and supplies
• fuel and utilities
• installation services
• repair and maintenance services
This publication also contains information about the exclusion from sales and use taxes relating to
purchases of raw materials for resale, the exemptions available for purchases of property and services
used in research and development, and the exemption available for eligible donations of property.
The application of the compensating use tax to certain uses of tangible personal property purchased
by producers of goods for sale is also covered in this publication.
The production operations eligible for the cxcmptions outlined in this publication arc those that
produce goods for sale by manufacturing, processing, generating, assembling, refining, mining or
extracting operations.
This publication does not discuss the specific exemptions available to the following industries:
Farming. For information on the exemptions available to farmers, see Publication 844, Sales Tax
Information for Farmers.
Fishing. The specific exemptions available to operators of commercial fishing vessels are not
covered in this publication. Please contact the Tax Department for additional information on these
exemptions.
Film and Motion Picture Producers. For information on the specifics of the exemptions and
exclusions as they apply to film or motion picture producers, please see Publication 28, A Guide To
Sales Tax For The Film Industry.
MCTD. In instances where the term New York Stale is mentioned within this publication relating to
the imposition of sales and use taxes, the term includes the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation
District, or MCTD (which is comprised of the counties of Dutchess, Nassau, Orange, Putnam,
Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester, and the City of New York).
The information presented is current as of this publication's print date. In instances where there
seems to be a discrepancy between the information presented and the Tax Law or regulations, the law
and regulations govern.
Telephone numbers and addresses for obtaining forms, publications, or other information appear on
the back cover of this publication.
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EFTA01129789
PART I - GENERAL INFORMATION
The Production Businesses that produce tangible personal property, gas,
electricity, refrigeration, or steam (products) for sale are
Exemption entitled to certain exemptions Gum New Yusk State and local
sales and compensating use taxes. For purposes of this
publication, we will refer to these exemptions, collectively, as
The production exemption the production exemption.
applies when products are
produced for sale using one The production exemption applies only when products are
or more of the qualifying produced for sale. This includes the mass production of
production processes standardized items, as well as the production of items based
on a customer's specifications.
The exemption is for certain purchases of machinery,
equipment, parts, tools, supplies, utilities, and fuel used us
consumed in the production process.
Tangible personal property, utilities or fuel purchased for use
in activities that take place before the production process
begins, or after the production process ends, do not qualify for
exemption.
Production Production is the means by which products are created using
one or more of the following operations (or production
Processes Defined processes):
• manufacturing
• processing
• generating
• assembling
• refining
mining
• extracting
Manufacturing generally results in the creation of a product
Manufacturing that is substantially different in form, character, composition,
and usefulness from its components.
Example 1. A dressmaker purchases bolts of cloth from a
textile manufacturer and uses patterns to cut the cloth into
bodices, sleeves, and skirts. The dressmaker then stitches
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EFTA01129790
those pieces together to form dresses. This is a manufacturing
operation.
Example 2. A steel manufacturer combines iron with carbon
to make commercial steel. This is a manufacturing operation.
Processing Processing generally results in a change in the nature, shape,
or form of materials.
Example 3. A textile manufacturer dyes bolts of cloth in
different colors. The dyeing of the cloth is a processing
operation.
Example 4. As part of the production of decorative
landscaping stone, chunks of rock are passed through a series
of rock crushers which reduce the chunks into smaller sizes.
This is a processing operation.
Generating Generating is the creation of a product (such as electricity,
steam, or refrigeration) by means of a natural or chemical
process.
Example 5. Hydroelectric power is produced by directing the
course of water so that the water falls or flows over turbine
blades. The action of the water falling or flowing over the
blades creates energy. This energy is conveyed to a generator
where it is converted into electrical energy (hydroelectric
power). The production of hydroelectric power is a
generating operation.
Assembling
Assembling is a manufacturing operation, or an adjunct to a
manufacturing operation, that produces goods by fitting
together various parts to make a complete product.
Example 6. A beer keg is made by welding aluminum discs
together and attaching a plate and a tap to the welded
aluminum. The production of the beer keg is an assembly
operation.
Example 7. A manufacturer of television sets purchases
cabinet components that are assembled to create television
cabinets. The manufacturer also purchases picture tubes,
circuitry boards, and other components. These components
are assembled to create the internal mechanism, which is then
installed in the cabinets to create complete television sets.
This is an assembly operation.
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EFTA01129791
Example 8. A wreath is made by covering a wire form with
felt material and gluing pine cones, assorted dried leaves,
berries, and dried flowers to the felt. This is an assembly
operation.
Refining Refining is the operation by which impurities or unwanted
elements are removed from a product.
Example 9. Production of gasoline, motor fuels, and fuel oils
from crude oil is a refining operation.
Example 10. Producing salt compounds by replacing all or
part of the hydrogen acid content in raw, unrefined salt is a
refining operation.
Mining Mining is the operation by which minerals are removed from
the earth through either surface excavations (such as open-pit
mines and strip mines) or underground excavations. Mining
includes any activities involved in the removal of the minerals
from their original location. The preparation, washing,
cleaning, or other processing of the minerals at the mine
location is also part of the mining operation.
Example 11. Producing building stone, slate or limestone
num a Tidily is a ht4/ d I of;k mining operation.
Example 12. Dissolving an underground salt deposit with
water and pumping the salt out of the ground is a solution
mining operation.
Extracting Extracting is a manufacturing operation, or an adjunct to a
manufacturing operation, in which oil, gas, or mineral
deposits are removed from their natural underground
reservoirs.
Example 13. A company extracts iron ore in both open pit
and underground mines. After the ore is extracted from the
earth, rock, foreign materials, and other unwanted elements
are sorted out. The ore is then crushed and washed. The
removal and processing of the ore to remove its iron content
is an extracting operation.
Example 14. Cutting and removing coal from the face of a
coal seam is an extracting operation.
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EFTA01129792
Beginning and End It is important to identity when the production process begins
and ends since property, utilities, and fuel used in activities
of the Production that occur before the production process begins, or after the
Process production process ends, are not eligible for the production
exemption.
The point at which production begins and ends depends upon
the procedures used in a particular operation.
Manufacturing. Processing, In manufacturing, processing, and assembling operations, the
and Assembling Operations production process generally begins when the materials that
serve as raw materials for the process are received at the
production site. The activities of receiving, unloading, and
storing raw materials are considered a part of the production
cycle as long as the raw materials are not weighed, inspected,
measured, tested, or inventoried before being placed in the
production line.
Example 15. A manufacturer of paper products orders raw
material from a supplier. When the materials are received at
the plant, the cases are unloaded and taken from the receiving
dock directly to the storage area and placed in storage. The
cases arc counted as they are unloaded for the sole purpose of
verifying the number of cases received with the number of
cases shown on the shipping manifest. The raw materials are
taken from storage as needed and placed directly in the
production line. In this case, the production process begins
with the unloading of the raw materials at the receiving dock.
If the raw materials are weighed, inspected, measured, tested,
or inventoried before they arc placed in storage, then the
production process begins when the materials arc placed in
storage.
Example 16. The facts are the same as in Example 15, except
that the raw materials are taken from the receiving area to a
testing area in the plant where they are counted and tested for
quality. From the testing area, the materials are transported
to the storage area and placed in storage. In this case, the
production process begins with placing the raw materials into
storage.
The production process for manufacturing, processing, and
assembling operations ends when the product is completed,
packaged, and ready to enter the stream of commerce. (The
on-site assembly of machinery or equipment at the site of the
purchaser will sometimes be recognized as a continuation of
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EFTA01129793
the manufacturing process. See On-Site Assembly of
Production Machinery and Equipment on page 14.)
Example 17. A manufacturer who sells products by the pallet
load has a palletizer system. The system consists of a pallet
loader or palletizer (the machinery that automatically arranges
cases into layers and stacks them on pallets), and the
conveyor system which feeds the cased products into the
palletizer. The system is used to prepare pallets containing
one or more products. The finished product is labeled,
packaged, and palletized before being shipped or placed into
storage to await shipment. The pallets are transferred to the
purchaser along with the products that are being sold. The
palletizer system is part of the production line, and the
production process ends when the finished product is
palletized.
An interruption in the production cycle before the product is
finished and ready for sale does not terminate the production
process.
Example 18. A manufacturer who supplies private label food
products sells the product by the pallet load. The finished
products are placed in unlabeled cans and stored until
purchase orders are received. When orders for a particular
brand label are received, the product is returned to the
production line where the brand label is applied to the
container. The containers are then cased and palletized for
shipment. The production process ends when the product is
palletized and ready for sale.
Any activities that occur after the product is completed and in
the form and packaging in which it will be sold are not part of
the production process. This includes transporting the
completed product from the production line for storage or
shipment.
Example 19. A manufacturer of charcoal briquettes places the
finished products into sacks which are then sewn closed. The
sack is the packaging in which the finished product is sold.
The sacks are transferred to storage to await shipment. When
au ()flier is received, the number of bags ordered is loaded
onto a wooden pallet and secured to the pallet for shipment.
Upon delivery, the product is unloaded and the pallet is
returned to the manufacturer. In this situation, the production
process ends when the sacks are sewn closed. The activities
involved in palletizing and preparing the product for shipment
are not part of the production process.
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Refining Operations In refining operations, the production process begins when the
raw materials are received at the production site, provided the
raw materials are not weighed, inspected, measured, tested, or
inventoried before entering the production line. Generally,
the production process is deemed to end when the product is
ready for sale.
Example 20. Production of gasoline, motor fuels and fuel oils
from crude oil is a refining operation.
Example 21. Producing salt compounds by replacing all or
part of the hydrogen acid content in raw, unrefined salt is a
refining operation.
Mining and Extracting In mining and extracting operations, production begins with
Operations the activities involved in preparing the production site for use
Example 22. After a gas producer selects a drilling site, the
site is prepared by clearing the terrain and building access
roads. Clearing the land and constructing access roads is the
beginning of the production process.
In oil, gas and solution mining operations, the production
process ends at the point of sale to the first commercial
purchaser (the first person to whom the product is sold for
compensation).
In other mining operations, the production process ends when
the product has been processed at the site and is in the form
and condition in which it will be sold, including any
packaging.
In extracting operations, the production process ends when
the product has been processed at the site and is in the form
and condition in which it will be sold, including any
packaging.
Purchases That The production exemption applies to purchases of machinery
and equipment used directly and predominantly in the
Qualify for the production process. Purchases of parts, tools, and supplies
Production may also qualify for exemption. Purchases of certain
Exemption maintenance and repair services performed on exempt
production machinery and equipment, and on exempt parts,
tools, and supplies, may qualify for exemption as well.
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EFTA01129795
The production exemption also applies to purchases of fuel,
gas, electricity, refrigeration, and steam, and gas, electric,
refrigeration, and steam services used directly and
exclusively in the production process.
The purchase of machinery or equipment used by a
subcontractor to perform part of a production process may
also be entitled to exemption as production machinery and
equipment.
Purchases That Do Purchases of tangible personal property, fuel, and utilities
used in activities that occur before the beginning of the
Not Qualify for the production process are not eligible for the production
Production exemption. In addition, purchases of tangible personal
Exemption property, fuel and utilities used in activities that are
incidental or ancillary to the production process are not
eligible for the production exemption. Incidental and
ancillary activities include functions such as:
purchasing, transporting, and testing raw materials:
general office and collection work;
clerical work related to production (such as
preparation of work records, production records, and
time records); and
maintenance and janitorial services used to keep
premises clean and in condition for operation of
the production process.
Also excluded from the production exemption are purchases
of tangible personal property, fuel, or utilities used in
activities that occur after the production process ends (such as
displaying, selling, casing, loading, or delivering finished
goods).
Differences Between Not all purchases that are exempt from the New York State
portion of the sales or use tax are exempt from the tax
the State and Local imposed by the local jurisdiction in which the purchase
Production transaction takes place.
Exemptions
The differences between the New York State production
exemption and the exemption provided by the localities are
discussed in this section.
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Machinery and Equipment Purchases of machinery and equipment used directly and
predominantly in the production process are exempt from
both New York State and local sales and use taxes.
Parts Purchases of parts are exempt from both state and local sales
and use taxes, when the parts are to be installed on exempt
production machinery or equipment.
Tools and Supplies Purchases of tools and supplies to be used directly and
predominantly in production are exempt from both state and
local sales and use taxes.
Installation, Repair and The services of installing, repairing, maintaining, or servicing
Maintenance Services exempt production machinery, equipment, parts, tools, and
supplies are exempt from New York State sales and use taxes.
These services are also exempt from the local sales and use
taxes imposed within New York City, when the services are
delivered in New York City. However, these services are
subject to the applicable local sales and use taxes, when
delivered outside New York City.
Note: Prior to September I, 1996, New York City imposed
a sales tax on the services of installing, repairing,
maintaining, or servicing exempt production machinery,
equipment, apparatus, parts, tools, and supplies. The City
provides a refundable credit against the City's General
Corporation Tax (GCT) and Unincorporated Business Tax
(UBT), respectively, for the amount of City sales tax (plus
interest) paid on such services. The credit is available only
for those taxes and related interest paid on or after January 2,
1995 (although the payment may relate to a taxable
transaction that took place before January 2, 1995).
Coal, Gas, Electricity, Purchases of coal, gas, electricity, fuel oil, and other energy
Fuel Oil, and Other Energy sources (other than motor fuel or diesel motor fuel) qualify
Sources for exemption at the time of purchase when such energy
sources are to be used directly and exclusively in the
production process. These purchases are exempt from state
sales and use taxes, and local sales and use taxes other than
the local sales and use taxes imposed within New York City.
The appropriate state and local sales taxes must be paid at the
time motor fuel or diesel motor fuel is purchased. If the fuel
is used directly and exclusively in the production process, a
refund or credit of the state sales tax paid may be applied for.
If the fuel is purchased outside New York City, a refund or
credit of the local sales tax paid may be applied for as well.
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EFTA01129797
Note: There is no exemption from the 4% local sales tax
imposed in New York City on purchases of fuel, gas,
electricity, refrigeration, steam, and related services used or
consumed in production. Taxpayers who have paid the 4%
local tax imposed in New York City on electricity and electric
services used in qualifying manufacturing, processing or
assembling operations are entitled to claim a refundable
credit, equal to the amount of the tax paid, against the City's
General Corporation Tax (GCT) or Unincorporated Business
Tax (UBT).
Research and The purchase of tangible personal property used directly and
predominantly in research and development in the
Development experimental or laboratory sense is exempt from sales and use
taxes. Research and development in the experimental or
laboratory sense means research which has as its ultimate
goal:
• basic research in a scientific or technical field of
endeavor;
• advancing the technology in a scientific or technical
field of endeavor;
• developing new products;
• improving existing products; or
• developing new uses for existing products.
This exemption does not apply to expenses incurred to build
or maintain facilities that are used in research or development,
or the cost of desks, typewriters, and other office machinery
or equipment used in administering research or development
work. It also does not apply to the ordinary testing or
inspection of materials or products for quality control,
efficiency surveys, management studies, consumer surveys,
advertising, promotions, or research in connection with
literary, historical, or similar projects.
Purchases of fuel, gas, electricity, refrigeration, and steam,
and of gas, electric, refrigeration, and steam services are
exempt if used or consumed directly and exclusively in
research and development in the experimental or laboratory
sense. The portion used for heating and lighting the building
(or the facility where research and development take place) is
taxable.
The purchase of laboratory equipment used directly and
predominantly in research and development is exempt.
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Laboratory equipment includes, but is not limited to, items
such as vacuum pumps, microscopes, centrifuges, measuring
devices, electronic measuring equipment, or laboratory
glassware (linkers, tubes, flasks and so forth). It also
includes heating, cooling, and humidifying equipment used
directly and predominantly to maintain a controlled
atmosphere in a room or rooms used exclusively for research
and development projects, and fuel or utility services to
operate the equipment.
Purchases of Parts, Tools, Purchases of items such as screws, nuts, bolts, aluminum
and Supplies tubing, and similar supplies, for use in making laboratory
models of experimental equipment (such as lasers), are
exempt if the construction is performed in-house (that is. by
the purchaser's own labor force) and the items become
component parts of the equipment heing developed.
The purchase of special tools, dies, jigs, and similar items is
taxable when these items are purchased for use by an in-house
machine shop to make special experimental equipment for a
specific research project.
The purchase of small tools (such as pliers, wrenches, and
screwdrivers) is exempt when these tools are purchased for
use by the scientific and engineering staff directly and
predominantly in research and development. For example, a
tool that is used by a scientist to calibrate and adjust exempt
laboratory equipment may be purchased without payment of
sales tax if this is the predominant use of the tool.
Purchases of repair parts are exempt when the parts are used
by the purchaser's own labor force to repair exempt
machinery or equipment used in research and development.
Examples of repair parts are vacuum tubes, transistors,
diodes, replacement parts for vacuum pumps, and x-ray
equipment.
If repairs are made by an outside vendor, the cost of the
materials used is exempt if the cost is separately stated on the
bill, however, the cost of labor for the service is subject to
state and local sales tax. In addition, charges for installing,
servicing, or maintaining exempt equipment are subject to
state and local taxes.
Purchases of Packaging Purchases of tangible personal property such as gas cylinders,
Materials protective packaging materials (such as foam rubber), and
similar items, are exempt when the items arc used to protect
materials from injury, contamination, shock, or other damage
EFTA01129799
while such materials are in the research facility or are being
moved to another research facility for further research and
development. The exemption does not apply if the items are
used to protect materials while they arc being transported
after completion of the research and development operations.
Purchases of Stationery Purchases of stationery, pencils, pens, ink, scientific
Supplies and Writing notebooks, logbooks, and similar supplies, are exempt when
Implements used directly and predominantly in recording qualifying
research and development experiments by scientists,
engineers, and technicians.
Purchases of Printing The cost of printing supplies used in producing scientific
Supplies reports and articles by the research staff is exempt when these
publications arc printed in-house, and arc used by the research
staff in research and development.
Purchases of Laboratory 11used directly and predominantly for qualifying research
Furniture and development, the purchase of laboratory furniture such as
desks, laboratory tables, stools, benches, sinks, and storage
cabinets, is exempt. However, purchases of desks,
typewriters and other office machinery or equipment used in
administering research or development work are not exempt.
Purchases of Technical Technical books and journals purchased for the scientific and
Books, Journals, Etc. cnginccring staff for use in qualifying research and
development operations are exempt. However, the purchase
of an information service that is subject to tax under Tax Law
Section 1105 is not exempt
The Exemption Document An Exempt Use Certificate, Form ST-121, should be given to
to Use the vendor when making the tax-exempt purchases described
in this section.
Waste Treatment The purchase of machinery and equipment qualifies fur
exemption from all state and local sales taxes when purchased
Equipment by a manufacturer and used directly and predominantly in
treating, burying, or storing waste materials, when over 50%
of the waste results from the manufacturer's own production
processes.
Waste treatment equipment includes the monitors and
analyzers that are built into a system designed to prevent
water or air pollution, and that are essential to the operation
of the system.
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EFTA01129800
Building materials which become part of a capital
improvement used as a waste treatment facility are not
eligible for the production exemption. (See Part IV for
information on capital improvements.)
Examples of exempt equipment:
dust collecting filters through which air is passed,
used by a manufacturer whose production functions
include grinding;
waste treatment equipment at a manufacturing plant
which treats both sanitary waste and effluent from an
industrial process, where more than 50% of the waste
being treated is a product or by-product of the
production process;
a mobile filter press designed to refine liquid
industrial waste is used by a manufacturer to extract
solids from the liquid waste created by the
manufacturer's's production process, and then pump
the filtered water back into the production system; and
an enclosed system used in a manufacturing plant to
prevent the escape of particulate dust and gases that
arc generated in the Course of inciting down scrap
steel used in the manufacturing process.
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EFTA01129801
PART II - PURCHASES BY A MANUFACTURER
Raw Materials Raw materials used in production and certain supplies, such
as chemicals and catalysts which become physical
components of the final product for sale, may be purchased
for resale and are therefore not subject to state or local taxes.
Use Form ST-120, Resale Certificate, to purchase raw
materials and qualifying supplies without paying sales tax on
the purchase.
Machinery and To be eligible for the production exemption, machinery and
equipment must be used directly and predominantly (more
Equipment than 50% of the time) in the production of tangible personal
property, gas, electricity, refrigeration, or steam for sale.
Partial usage in administration or distribution phases will
eliminate the machinery or equipment from qualifying for the
production exemption, if the non-qualifying usage amounts to
more than 50% of total usage.
For example, a computer used by a book publisher
predominantly (that is, more than 50% of the time) to produce
and edit manuscripts on magnetic tape would be eligible for
the production exemption. If a computer performs similar
editing operations, but is used predominantly to perform
general office work, credit and collection, purchasing, or any
other nonproduction activity, the computer would not be
eligible for the production exemption.
Form ST-121, Exempt Use Certificate, should be used to
claim the exemption from sales tax on the purchase of
machinery and equipment used directly and predominantly in
the production process.
On-Site Assemhly of Charges for on-site assembly of exempt production
machinery and equipment by the manufacturer of the
Production machinery or equipment, or the manufacturer's subcontractor,
Machinery and are considered pan of the selling price of the machinery or
Equipment equipment in those instances where it is demonstrated that the
machinery or equipment, by virtue of its size, weight, or other
physical factors, could not be completely assembled before
14
EFTA01129802
delivery. Thus, such charges and are also eligible for
exemption from sales tax.
On-site assembly is completed at the point where the
machinery or equipment becomes a finished unit. Once
assembly of the unit is completed, any further charges are
considered to be charges for installing, maintaining, or
servicing machinery and equipment. When the machinery or
equipment is exempt production machinery and equipment,
any additional installation charges are exempt from New
York State sales and use taxes. If the on-site assembly is
performed within New York City, the additional installation
charges will be exempt from the local tax as well. If the on-
site assembly is performed in any other locality (other than
New York City), the additional installation charges will be
subject to the applicable local sales or use tax. For more
information, see the section on Installing, Repairing,
Maintaining, and Servicing Production Machinery and
Equipment beginning on page 16.
Example. Equipment is produced and assembled in a
manufacturer's plant up to the point where further assembling
would make transportation to the customer impossible. The
unassembled equipment is then delivered to the customers
location where it is welded or bolted together by the
manufacturer. This on-site assembly is a continuation of the
manufacturing process, and any separately stated charge for
such assembly is considered part of the selling price of the
equipment, rather than a charge for its installation. Thus, if
the equipment qualifies as exempt production equipment, the
on-site assembly charge by the manufacturer is also exempt.
Rigging Services A manufacturer may employ the services of a rigging
company to perform tasks such as transporting, hoisting, and
erecting qualifying production machinery and equipment at
the manufacturer's plant site. The application of sales tax to
various rigging charges appears below.
The following charges are exempt from state sales tax and
from the sales tax imposed within New York City, but are
subject to all other local sales taxes:
original installation of equipment
reinstallation
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EFTA01129803
• erection of equipment
• re-erection of dismantled equipment, platforms.
pedestals or buildings
• connection of equipment to outlets
• re-connection of equipment to outlets
• millwright services including leveling, aligning,
setting, and putting equipment into operating
condition
The above services arc exempt from all state and local sales
and use taxes if the services performed result in a capital
improvement. (See Part IV for additional information on
capital improvements.)
The following charges are not subject to any state or local
sales taxes when the charge is separately stated on the invoice
or other billing document:
• dismantling
• disconnecting
• hoisting and lowering
• loading and unloading
skidding
relocating equipment
A manufacturer may rent equipment for self use in
performing rigging services. These equipment rentals are
subject to state and local sales or use tax.
Installing, Charges to install, repair, maintain, or service exempt
production machinery and equipment are exempt from state
Repairing, sales and use taxes, and from the local tax imposed within
Maintaining and New York City. However, such charges are subject to the
Servicing applicable local sales or use tax when the services are
delivered in a locality outside New York City.
Production
Machinery and Installation services include but are not limited to:
Equipment
attaching machinery or equipment to a building or
mounting it on a foundation
integrating new equipment into a production line
connecting the wiring from main circuit panel to a
machine
connecting the plumbing from a boiler, power plant or
other water supply to or within the equipment being
installed
16
EFTA01129804
Reminder: Prior to September I, 1996, New York City
imposed a sales tax on the services of installing, repairing,
maintaining, or servicing exempt production machinery,
equipment, apparatus, pans, tools, and supplies. The City
provides a refundable credit against the City's General
Corporation Tax (GCT) and Unincorporated Business Tax
(UBT), respectively, for the amount of City sales tax (plus
interest) paid on such services. The credit is available only
for those taxes and related interest paid on or after January 2.
1995 (although the payment may relate to a taxable
transaction that took place before January 2, 1995).
Plumbing Fixtures Plumbing fixtures, such as pipes and fittings used to construct
pipelines for delivery of raw materials during the production
and Electrical process, arc deemed to qualify for the production exemption.
Components Used in
the Installation of All electrical parts actually attached to a piece of production
machinery or equipment which qualifies for exemption, and
Exempt Production the electrical wire from the qualifying production machinery
Machinery and and equipment to the power source (panel box), including any
Equipment switches, arc deemed to be part of the machinery and
equipment. They are therefore eligible for the same
exemption as the qualifying machinery and equipment. All
other electrical components used prior to the power source are
not used directly in production. They are therefore not
eligible for the production exemption. The installation of
these materials may, however, constitute a capital
improvement to real property. The charge for installing
tangible personal property that becomes a capital
improvement to real property is not subject to sales or use tax.
(Sec Part IV for additional information on capital
improvements.)
Gas, Electricity and Purchases of coal, gas, electricity, fuel oil, and other energy
sources (other than motor fuel or diesel motor fuel which are
Other Energy discussed on page 19) qualify for exemption at the time of
Sources purchase if purchased for use directly and exclusively in the
production process to:
• operate exempt production machinery or equipment;
• create conditions necessary for production; or
• perform an actual pan of the production process.
17
EFTA01129805
These purchases are exempt from state sales and use taxes and
local sales and use taxes (other than the local sales and use
taxes imposed within New York City).
When gas, electricity, and other energy sources are used in
both production and non-production activities, and are
supplied from a common storage facility or through a
common meter, an allocation must be made to determine the
portion used directly and exclusively in production which
can be purchased exempt from state sales and use taxes and
local sales and use taxes (except the local sales and use taxes
imposed within New York City).
For example, electricity metered through a single device may
be used to run motors or machines which are used directly in
production, which is an exempt usage, and also to provide
lighting (including lighting for the work area) and operate
office equipment, both of which are a taxable usage, thus
requiring an allocation between the amount used for exempt
purposes and the amount used for taxable purposes.
Likewise, gas used for producing steam which operates a
turbine used directly in production is an exempt usage, but
gas used in the general heating of plant and office space is a
taxable usage. If the gas is stored in a single tank or metered
duough a single device, then an allocation must be made.
Similarly, refrigeration that is used to process food in a flash
freezing plant is an exempt use, but refrigeration used to cool
a storage area where the food ready for sale is held is a
taxable use, and if the refrigeration is supplied from a
common storage facility, its use must be allocated.
Once the exempt portion (percentage) has been established,
it can be used to determine the exempt portion of purchases
made in a given period. If variations in usage occur (for
example, the addition or deletion of production or non-
production equipment), the exempt percentage must be
recomputed. Records must be maintained to account for the
amount of energy used for each type of activity to substantiate
how the exempt portion was determined.
Gas, electricity, coal, and other energy sources (other than
motor fuel or diesel motor fuel) used directly and exclusively
in pmduction may be purchased without payment of sales tax
by using Form ST-121, Exempt Use Certificate, or Form AU-
297, Direct Payment Permit. In that case the user assumes
full liability for the state and local taxes due on that portion
18
EFTA01129806
not used directly and exclusively in exempt production
activities. As an alternative, the purchaser may pay tax on the
entire energy bill, and apply for a refund or credit for sales tax
paid on that portion of the energy source used directly and
exclusively in production.
Appendix A contains information on how to determine the
amount of electricity used in production.
Reminder: There is no exemption from the 4% local sales
tax imposed in New York City on purchases of electricity
or electric service, refrigeration, steam, and related services
used or consumed in production. Taxpayers who have paid
the 4% local tax imposed in New York City on electricity and
electric services used in qualifying manufacturing, processing
or assembling operations are entitled to claim a refundable
credit, equal to the amount of the tax paid, against the City's
General Corporation Tax (GCT) or Unincorporated Business
Tax (UBT).
Motor Fuel Motor fuel (such as gasoline or liquefied petroleum gas) may
not be purchased tax exempt. A refund may be claimed for
New York State and local sales tax (except the local sales tax
imposed within New York City) paid on purchases of motor
fuel that is used directly and exclusively in the production
process. The refund may be claimed by filing Form FT-500.
Application for Refund of Sales Tax Paid on Automotive
Fuels.
There is no exemption from the 4% local sales tax imposed in
New York City on purchases of fuel used or consumed in
production.
Diesel Motor Fuel Enhanced diesel motor fuel (such as diesel fuel, enhanced
No. 2 fuel oil, and No. 1 diesel fuel) may not be purchased tax
exempt. If enhanced diesel motor fuel is used directly and
exclusively in the production process, a refund of any state
and local sales tax paid on the fuel. (except the local tax
imposed within New York City), may be claimed by filing
Form FT-500, Application for Refund of Sales Tax Paid on
Automotive Fuels.
19
EFTA01129807
Unenhanced diesel motor fuel (such as No. 2 fuel oil) and
residual petroleum products (such as No. 4, 5 and 6 fuel
oils and bunker C) may be purchased without payment of
state and local sales tax (except the local sales tax imposed
within New York City), by using Form FT-1012,
Manufacturing Certification for Certain Tares Imposed on
Diesel Motor Fuel and Residual Petroleum Product.
Residual petroleum products may also be purchased tax
exempt by using Form ST-121, Exempt Use Certificate.
Form ST-121 may not be used to purchase motor fuel or
diesel motor fuel.
There is no exemption from the 4% local sales tax imposed in
New York City on purchases of fuel used or consumed in
production.
Parts Used in Purchases of parts are exempt from all state and local sales
and use taxes when the pans are installed on machinery Of
Production equipment used directly and predominantly in production.
A part is any component or attachment of a piece of
machinery or equipment that is actually attached to the
machinery or equipment, and used in connection with the
performance of its functions. The component or attachment
must be necessary to the operation of the machinery or
equipment to qualify as a pan. By definition, a part cannot
accomplish the work for which it was designed independent
of the machinery or equipment for which it is intended to be
a component. Examples are:
a new electric motor for a lathe
a replacement blade for a bench saw that is used in the
manufacturing of furniture
a buttonhole attachment for a sewing machine used to
produce clothing for sale
a standardized computer program installed in a
computer that is used to run exempt production
machinery or equipment
Tools Used in Tools are manually operated implements used to perform a
task. The purchase, by a manufacturer, of tools to be used
Production directly and predominantly in production are exempt from
state and local sales and use taxes. The tool must be
20
EFTA01129808
necessary to, and used within, the production process.
Examples of qualifying tools are tools used to attach and
detach parts (►ike molds or forms) of production machinery
and equipment, and tools actually used in production (such as
an electric saw and electric drill used predominantly to
process wood that is used to make furniture for sale).
The purchase of tools used in the general maintenance, repair,
or servicing of production machinery and equipment is
subject to tax, because the tools arc not used directly and
predominantly in production.
Supplies Consumed Purchases of supplies (such as oil, grease, sandpaper,
solvents, or thinners), used directly and predominantly in the
in Production production process are exempt from state and local sales and
use taxes. Supplies are used directly and predominantly in
the production process when they are used in the maintenance
of exempt production machinery, equipment, parts and tools.
For example, oil and lubricating grease used to maintain
exempt production machinery is used directly and
predominantly in production.
Where a detectable amount of the supply remains with the
finished product, the supply may be purchased for resale as a
component. For example, a solvent or thinner used by a
furniture manufacturer may be purchased for resale providing
a trace element of the solvent or thinner remains with the
furniture produced for sale.
The purchase of other supplies is also exempt when the
supplies are used directly and predominantly in the
production process. For example, charts used in instruments
that record and control the flow of chemicals that are
combined during the manufacture of chemical compounds are
considered to be production supplies, and can be purchased
exempt.
21
EFTA01129809
Cartons, Containers, Packaging and wrapping materials used by a manufacturer in
packing a product to be sold may be eligible for exemption.
and Other To qualify, the materials must actually be transferred with the
Packaging Materials product to the purchaser and become the property of the
purchaser.
Examples of items which are exempt when transferred with
the product to the purchaser are:
Bags Glue
Barrels Gummed labels
Binding Gummed tape
Bottles (including deposit bottles) Kegs
Boxes Lumber used for
Cans blocking
Carboys Pallets
Cartons Reels
Cellophane Sacks
Coatings and Spools
other preservative materials Staples
Cores Strapping
Crates String
Cylinders Tape
Drums Twine
Excelsior Wrapping paper
Use Form ST-121, Exempt Use Certificate, to claim the
exemption for these materials.
The purchase of packing or packaging material which is not
transferred to the purchaser with a product is subject to sales
or use taxes in all localities (at the combined state and local
rates). The materials are taxable regardless of the taxability
of the items being packed or packaged, and regardless of
whether the items, when sold, are shipped outside of New
York State.
Examples of taxable items arc:
• returnable cartons and pallets; and
• racks, trays or similar devices used to facilitate
delivery of the product when the ownership of these
items is not transferred with the product to the
purchaser.
22
EFTA01129810
Labels and Tags Purchases of labels or tags may be exempted from tax as
purchases for resale, if the label or tag forms a critical
element of the product to be sold. A label or tag becomes a
critical element of the product sold if it serves a useful
purpose to the retail customer after the point of the retail sale.
Therefore, labels that contain size, care instructions, and
information useful to the final customer, and that are
permanently attached to the product to be sold, may be
purchased for resale.
Likewise, tags and labels that identify, describe or provide
information about the product, or that provide the name,
address, or telephone number of the producer or manufacturer
of the product, are considered to be a critical element of the
product and may be purchased for resale whether or not such
tags or labels are permanently affixed to the product.
However, price, size, style, lot number, and inspection tickets
and tags which arc used by the manufacturer to provide
information about the product to a potential customer, and
which are not permanently attached to the product, and do not
serve a useful purpose to the customer after the point of the
retail sale, may not be purchased for resale.
Labels and tags may sometimes constitute packaging material
and, as such, they may also be purchased for resale.
Examples of labels used in packaging a product are adhesive
address labels and warning stickers that carry instructions
such as "FRAGILE - HANDLE WITH CARE."
Form ST-121, Resale Certificate, should be used to make a
purchase for resale without payment of sales tax.
Palletizer System A palletizer system consists of a pallet loader (palletizer),
which is the machinery that automatically arranges cases into
Used in Production layers and stacks them on pallets, and the conveyor system,
which feeds the cased products into the palletizer.
When a manufacturer sells products by the pallet load and the
finished products are labeled, packaged, and palletized before
either immediate shipment or storage pending shipment, the
palletizing system qualifies as production equipment used
directly and predominantly in production. The system
23
EFTA01129811
would therefore be exempt from all state and local sales and
use taxes. Using the palletizer system to prepare mixed
pallets (pallets containing cases of more than one product)
will not affect the exempt status of the palletizer providing
that the pallet load remains the unit of sale. An interruption
in the production cycle of work in process before final
packaging of the goods does not affect the exempt status of
the palletizer.
Example. A manufacturer who supplies private label products
to retailers processes the product through the point where it is
placed in unlabeled cans or jars. The product is temporarily
removed from production, pending a customer's order. When
the order is received, the product is returned to the production
stream where the appropriate brand labels are applied to the
containers. The product proceeds through the casing
operation directly to the pallet loader, where it is palletized
for sale. This palletizer qualifies for the production
exemption.
If completed cased products (labeled and sealed) are stored
awaiting customer's orders and then palletized to fill the
orders, palletizers so used will be considered part of the
distribution operation and not eligible for exemption.
Example. A manufacturer or processor completes the labeling
of a product, packages it into cartons, and stores the cartons.
Later, the cartons are palletized for distribution. The
palletizer is not eligible for exemption.
Palletinrs that are not part of the production line (that is they
are used to store or distribute a finished product), are not
exempt from sales or use tax. Examples are a palletizer used
in a warehouse area by a manufacturer, or one used by a
wholesaler for the shipment of goods.
Quality Control The purchase of machinery and equipment by a manufacturer
for use directly and predominantly in quality control of the
manufactured product while it is still on the production line
is exempt from all state and local sales and use taxes. Where
the quality control functions are performed is immaterial.
The quality control facilities may be located within the
production area or in a separate laboratory. Supplies used in
quality control of the manufactured product while the product
is still on the production line are also exempt.
24
EFTA01129812
The exemption does not apply to machinery and equipment
used to test the manufactured product after it is finished and
ready for sale, or to test raw materials before they are stored.
Safety Apparel and Safety apparel and safety supplies (such as uniforms, hair
coverings, safety shoes, gloves, and eye shields) that are
Safety Supplies indispensable to production, and that are furnished by the
manufacturer to the manufacturer's employees, are exempt
from both the state and local sales and use taxes. An Exempt
Use Certificate, Form ST-121, may be issued by the
manufacturer to the supplier for the tax-exempt purchase of
these items. If a manufacturer sells the safety apparel and
supplies to its employees, the manufacturer should issue a
Resale Certificate, Form ST-120, to the supplier for purchases
of these items. Both state and local taxes must be collected
when the manufacturer sells the safety apparel or supplies to
its employees.
Storage and When a vendor charges a customer for leaving tangible
personal property on the vendor's premises beyond a
Demurrage Charges stipulated period of time, the charge is considered a charge for
storage. Charges for the storage of goods in process or of
property held for sale in the regular course of business arc not
taxable. Charges for the storage of other goods are subject to
state and local sales tax. The designation of the charge as a
penalty, late fee, or demurrage does not affect its taxable
status.
When a customer retains a vendor's tangible personal property
beyond a stipulated period of time, the charge made by the
vendor to the customer for not returning the property on time
is considered a charge for the rental of tangible personal
property, and is subject to state and local sales tax.
Food Processing Machinery or equipment used directly and predominantly in
the manufacturing or processing (such as cutting, slicing,
Equipment grinding, freezing, or packaging) of food for sale qualifies for
the production exemption, including the exemption provided
within New York City.
Machinery and equipment used in a similar manner does not
25
EFTA01129813
qualify for the production exemption when used by
restaurants, taverns, and like establishments in the preparation
of food and drink subject to tax under Section 1105(d) of the
Tax Law. Machinery or equipment used by these
establishments is not considered to be used in the processing
of tangible personal property for sale.
Machinery or equipment used to provide cold storage
facilities for frozen food is not exempt, even though the food
will subsequently be sold.
See Appendix B for a listing of taxable and exempt meat
processing equipment.
Process Piping Process piping used in production is eligible for exemption
from both state and local sales and use taxes as machinery and
equipment, if it is used directly and predominantly in the
production process, or in the treatment of waste generated by
the production process. Installation of process piping may
constitute a capital improvement, an installation of tangible
personal property, or a combination of the two. Charges for
the service of installing exempt process piping, where the
installation is not a capital improvement to real property, are
exempt from state sales and use taxes, and from the local tax
imposed within Ncw York City. These charges arc subject to
all other local sales and use taxes.
Foundry Equipment Mold and core making machines used in a foundry operation
are eligible for the production exemption for machinery and
equipment if they are used directly and predominantly in the
production process. The purchase of core boxes, master
patterns and match plates are also exempt from all state and
local sales and use taxes, if they are attached to exempt
machinery or equipment.
Supplies used in connection with exempt mold and core
making machinery (such as sand and resin-treated sand), are
exempt from state and local sales and use taxes.
The purchase of pre-manufactured cores that are attached to
exempt machinery or equipment is also considered a purchase
of exempt machine parts and is exempt from all state and
local sales and use taxes.
26
EFTA01129814
PART III - SALES BY A MANUFACTURER
Tangible Personal All sales of tangible personal property made by a
manufacturer are subject to New York State and local sales
Property and use taxes unless:
the purchaser provides the manufacturer with a
properly completed exemption document;
the product being sold is, by its nature, specifically
exempt from tax (such as exempt drugs or medicines)
and exemption documents are not required; or
the product is delivered to the purchaser outside of
New York State.
A manufacturer's sales include sales of:
inventory to wholesalers or retailers;
inventory at a sales outlet or company store to
employees, or directly to the public;
hangers and plastic wrap;
tickets, tags, and labels attached to the product for the
retailer's benefit;
display racks to wholesalers or retailers;
dies; and
box forming machines
All sales must be reported on the sales and use tax return filed
for the period during which the sales occurred. Any sales
taxes due on the sales must be remitted with that return.
Bulk Sales A bulk sale is any sale, transfer, or assignment in hulk of any
part or the whole of a business' assets, other than in the
ordinary course of business. The phrase 'ordinary course of
business' means any function, operation or transaction which
is done ordinarily or customarily in the course of business.
For example, if obsolete machinery is sold and replaced with
new machinery, the transaction is in the ordinary course of
business arid is not a bulk sale. If, on the other hand,
machinery or equipment is sold as part of the liquidation of a
business, then the sale would be considered a bulk sale
27
EFTA01129815
because it is not in the ordinary course of business.
Thus, when a manufacturer sells obsolete equipment,
vehicles, scrap molds, parts, office equipment, and similar
property, all the facts and circumstances surrounding the
transaction will become a part of the determination of whether
the sale is considered a bulk sale for sales tax purposes.
When a hulk sale occurs, the manufacturer should provide
each prospective purchaser with a copy of Form TP-153,
Notice to Prospective Purchasers ofa Business or Business
Assets.
These sales are taxable unless the purchaser furnishes an
exemption document, or the item being purchased is exempt
from tax. In addition, the purchaser is required to notify the
Tax Department of the purchase by filing Form AU-196.10,
Notification ofSale, Transfer or Assignment in Bulk.
See Part 537 of the Sales and Use Tax Regulations for
additional information.
28
EFTA01129816
PART IV - INSTALLATIONS OF MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
TREATED AS A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
Installations of When machinery or equipment, as installed, constitutes a
capital improvement to real property, the cost of the
Machinery and installation is exempt from all state and local sales taxes. A
Equipment That capital improvement is an addition or alteration to real
Meet the Criteria of property which meets all three of the following conditions:
a Capital 1) it substantially adds to the value of the real property, or
Improvement appreciably prolongs the useful life of the real property; and
2) it becomes part of the real property or is permanently
affixed to the real property so that removal would cause
material damage to the real property or the article itself; and
3) it is intended to become a permanent installation.
if the installation of exempt machinery and equipment meets
the above criteria and the machinery and equipment will be
classified as real property after it is installed, the manufacturer
should give the contractor Form ST-124, Certificate of
Capital Improvement. If the contractor is both purchasing
and installing the machinery or equipment, the manufacturer
should give the contractor both a Certificate of Capital
Improvement and Form ST-I21, Exempt Use Certificate. The
contractor should, in turn, furnish the supplier of the
machinery and equipment with Form ST-120.1, Contractor
Exempt Purchase Certificate, which enables the contractor to
purchase the machinery or equipment without paying any
sales tax on the purchase.
To qualify as machinery or equipment, the tangible personal
property must have the character of machinery or equipment
prior to installation. Therefore, a concrete foundation, even
one on which a piece of machinery or equipment is placed, is
not machinery or equipment, and the contractor must pay both
state and local sales or use tax on the materials used to
construct the concrete foundation.
29
EFTA01129817
PART V - MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES
Tangible Personal A compensating use tax is imposed on the use of any tangible
personal property which was manufactured by the user and
Property used in the manufacturer's own operations in a taxable
Manufactured, manner. The amount on which the use tax is computed
Processed, or depends on whether or not the user offers items of the same
kind for sale in the regular course of business.
Assembled by the
User Whcrc the user of a product sells items of the same kind in the
regular course of business, the basis of tax on the use of
products which are manufactured, processed, or assembled by
the user is the price at which such items are sold, as evidenced
by a price list, catalog price, or record of sales. In the absence
of a catalog price or price list, the average of the prices
charged various customers will be deemed the price at which
the user sells the items in the regular course of business. The
use tax would be computed on this amount.
If the user does not offer items of the same kind for sale in the
regular course of business, the basis of tax is the amount paid
for the materials manufactured, processed, or assembled into
the items that are used. Costs incurred for delivery of the
materials must be included in the base on which the use tax is
computed.
Items of the same kind means that the items belong to an
identifiable class, but need not be identical.
Example. Windows are items of the same kind when they are
a standard size and manufactured of similar materials,
whether or not they arc sold from inventory or produced to
order from a catalog description. A manufacturer of windows
produces, from a catalog description, square, round, and
hexagon shaped windows from various materials. The
windows, regardless of shape, size, or materials, are
considered to be items of the same kind.
When hems which are not standard or catalogued are made to
the specifications of a particular job, they will not be
considered items of the same kind as catalog or inventory
items.
30
EFTA01129818
Items made to the specifications of a particular job will not be
considered items of the same kind as items made to the
specifications of other jobs.
Offeredfor sale in the regular course ofbusiness means that
a business, during each 12 month period beginning December
1st, sells more than I U% of its product to persons other than
organizations which are exempt under Section 1116(a) of the
Tax Law. For purposes of calculating whether the "more than
10%" criteria is met, the amount sold should be measured by
weight, volume, size, or other unit on which the selling price
is based. The percentage is based on a fraction. The
numerator is the total amount of product sold, minus the
amount sold to exempt organizations. The denominator is the
total amount of product sold and product used in performing
work for others, minus the amount of products sold to, or
used in performing work for, exempt organizations. This is
illustrated by the following formula:
Total amount sold, minus amount sold to exempt
organizations
Total amount sold and used, minus the sum of: the amount
sold to. plus the amount used for, exempt organizations
Manufacturers as Manufacturing is the production of tangible personal property
that is substantially different in form, character, composition,
Contractors and usefulness from its components. Manufacturing includes
the production of standardized items as well as the production
of items to a customer's specifications.
When a manufacturer installs a standard manufactured item,
and the installation meets the criteria of a capital
improvement, the computation of the use tax due on the item
is hasPd on the normal selling price of the product (that is, the
price at which the item is offered for sale by the manufacturer
in the ordinary course of business).
When a standard manufactured product has been altered or
modified by the manufacturer, and is installed by the
manufacturer as a capital improvement, a use tax is owed by
the manufacturer based on the normal selling price of the
standard manufactured product exclusive of the cost of the
alterations or modifications.
31
EFTA01129819
As discussed in Part II of this publication, the purchase of
machinery and equipment which is used directly and
predominantly in the production process is exempt from all
New York State and local sales and use taxes. Note, however,
that the purchase of the machinery and equipment is not
exempt if 50% or less of the tangible personal property
produced is offered for sale by the manufacturer/contractor.
Property installed as a capital improvement by the
manufacturer/contractor is not considered to be property
produced for sale.
Example. A manufacturer/contractor produces kitchen
cabinets. Only 30% of the product is sold to others
uninstalled; the balance is installed by the manufacturer in
capital improvement projects. Since more than 50% of the
product is not offered for sale, the purchase of the machinery
and equipment used to produce the cabinets does not qualify
for the production exemption.
Property Donated to Donations of tangible personal property by a manufacturer,
processor, or assembler to certain exempt organizations
an Exempt qualify for exemption from state and local use taxes, provided
Organization the following conditions are met:
• the donor is the manufacturer, processor, or assembler
of the donated property;
• the donor offers the same kind of tangible personal
property for sale in the regular course of business; and
the donor does not make any other use of the property
before it is donated.
Qualifying donations to the following exempt organizations
are not subject to tax:
the State of New York or any of its agencies,
instrumentalities, public corporations (including a
public corporation created under an agreement or
compact with another state or Canada), or political
subdivisions;
the United States of America, and any of its agencies
and instrumentalities;
the United Nations or any international organization
of which the United States of America is a member;
a qualifying corporation, association, trust, or
community chest, fund, or foundation that is
organized and operated exclusively for religious,
32
EFTA01129820
charitable, or scientific purposes, or for purposes of
testing for public safety, or for literary or educational
purposes, or to foster national or international amateur
sports competition, or for the prevention of cruelty to
children or animals;
• posts and organizations consisting of past or present
members of the Armed Forces of the United States;
• certain Indian nations or tribes located in New York
State;
• not-for-profit corporations operating as health
maintenance organizations subject to the provisions of
Article 44 of the Public Health Law; and
• rural electric cooperatives.
Filing for a Refund If sales or use tax is paid on tangible personal property or
services that qualify for exemption, an application for refund
or Credit or credit of those taxes may be filed. When applying for a
refund or credit, certain information and substantiating
documentation must be provided.
For example, if sales tax is paid on 100% of the electricity
purchased by a manufacturer, but the manufacturer used some
of the electricity directly and exclusively in the production
process, the manufacturer can apply for a refund of the tax
paid on the exempt portion of the electricity. To substantiate
the allocations made for use of electricity, the manufacturer
must submit an electrical engineer survey, or the
manufacturer's own survey.
The formula found in Appendix A may be used by a
manufacturer to allocate the use of electricity between
qualifying and non-qualifying activities.
Claims for refitnd may be filed on Form AU-11, Application
for Credit or Refund ofState and Local Sales or Use Tax.
Form FT-500, Application for Refund of Sales Tax Paid on
Automotive Fuels, should be filed to request a refund of sales
tax paid on motor fuel or diesel motor fuel.
33
EFTA01129821
PART VI - CHART A
GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE PRODUCTION EXEMPTION
Exemption apply only for production of product for sale.
Local
(excluding)
New York State New Yo k City) New York City
Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt
Machinery or equipment used directly
and predominantly in the production
process x x x
Machinery pans used directly and
predominantly in production x x x
Tools (hand tools) and supplies used
directly and predominantly in
production x x x
Ingredients or components (raw
materials) which become part of product x x x
Supplies used directly and
predominantly in production x x x
Services of installing, repairing,
maintaining, or servicing machinery and
equipment used directly and
predominantly in production x x x
Services of installing, repairing,
maintaining or servicing parts, tools,
and supplies used with exempt
production machinery and equipment x x x
Fuel and utility services used directly
and exclusively in production x x x
General maintenance, heating, and
illumination of plant and office building x x x
34
EFTA01129822
PART VII - CHART B
EXAMPLES OF TAXABLE AND EXEMPT PURCHASES BY A MANUFACTURER
Unless otherwise indicated, purchases of tangible personal property (such as machinery, equipment,
parts and supplies) and charges for on-site assembly qualify for the production exemption only if the
property purchased is used directly and predominantly in the production process. Purchases of
fuel, gas, electricity, refrigeration, and steam, and gas, electric, refrigeration, and steam services
qualify for the production exemption only if used directly and exclusively in the production process.
Local
(excluding)
New York State New York City) New York City
Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt
Machinery and Equipment
Machinery and equipment purchased
or leased for use directly and
predominantly in production x x x
Electronic equipment used directly and
predominantly in production x x x
Work tables used directly and
predominantly in production x x x
Machinery and equipment used to
produce exempt production machinery
and equipment x x x
Fork lifts and cranes used directly and
predominantly in production x x x
Parts when installed on machinery
and equipment used directly and
predominantly in production x x x
Power tools, such as electric drill
presses or table saws, used directly
and predominantly in production x x x
Hand tools (such as hand saws and
wrenches) used directly and
predominantly in production x x x
35
EFTA01129823
Local
(excluding)
New York State New York City) New York City
Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt
Machinery and equipment used for
general heating, lighting, ventilation,
and air condition of plants and offices x x x
Air conditioning and ventilation
equipment used directly and
predominantly to create conditions
necessary for production x x x
Conveyors used directly and
predominantly in production x x x
Conveyors used to move finished
products to and within storage and
shipping areas x x x
Palletizer system used directly and
predominantly in:
a. Production x x x
b. Distribution x x x
Meat Processing Equipment
Sec Appendix B
Process Piping
x x x
Distributing ingredients or raw
materials
x x x
Distributing supply materials
x x x
For treatment of waste generated by the
production process
36
EFTA01129824
Local
(excluding)
New York State New Yo k City) New York City
Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt
Quality Control
Machinery and equipment for
production line testing of goods in
process x x x
Machinery and equipment for testing
finished product x x x
Production Supplies
Supplies used or consumed directly and
predominantly in the production
process, in connection with exempt
machinery, or qualifying quality control
(such as wiping cloths and sandpaper) x x x
Oil and grease for use in or on exempt
production machinery and equipment X x x
Charts maintained for recording
maintenance schedules, machine
efficiency, and similar information
relating to exempt production
machinery and equipment x x x
Charts used to record and control
the flow of materials through the
manufacturing process, such as a chart
produced by an orifice meter that
records the pressure and volume of
gas flowing through the meters x x x
Chemicals and catalysts used directly
and predominantly in production, not
components of the finished product X x x
37
EFTA01129825
Local
(excluding)
New York State New York City) New York City
Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt
Safety apparel (such as glasses and
shoes) famished without charge by the
manufacturer to its employees for use
in the production process x x x
Ingredients, components, raw
materials, chemicals, and so forth,
which become an clement of the
finished product x x x
Utilities and Fuel
Electricity, gas, fuel oil, propane,
steam, and other fuels consumed
directly and exclusively to power
production equipment, including
blasting agents and explosives used
directly and exclusively in production x x x
Electricity, gas, fuel oil, propane,
steam, and so forth, used in the
heating, lighting, or air conditioning
of production and nonproduction
areas and offices x x x
Waste-Treatment Equipment
Equipment purchased by a
manufacturer for use directly and
predominantly in treating waste
resulting from the production process x x x
Equipment used to contain or recover
oil spills x x x
Chemicals used in conjunction with
qualifying waste-trcaunciit equipment x x x
38
EFTA01129826
Local
(excluding)
New York State New Yo k City) New York City
Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt
1
Alarm devices that are not an integral
component part of the waste-treatment
equipment x x x
Building materials for constructing
waste-treatment plants x x x
Ventilation equipment used to remove
polluted air from the production area x x x
Outside Labor Services
Labor to install or repair production
machinery or equipment x x x
On-site assembly of qualifying
production machinery and equipment x x x
Capital improvement to buildings and
land x x x
Labor to install machinery and
equipment which constitutes a capital
improvement x x x
Plant guard and security services x x x
Trash removal, snow removal, repair,
and maintenance of building and land x x x
Rigging Services Performed on
Production Equipment
Installations, connections, erections,
and the like x x x
39
EFTA01129827
Local
(excluding)
New York State New York City) New York City
Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt
Dismantling, disconnecting,
transporting, etc., if charges arc
separately stated on invoice x x x
Research and Development
( )
Laboratory equipment such as Bunsen
burners, flasks, and microscopes used
directly and predominantly in M x x x
Parts for Machinery and equipment
used directly and predominantly in
x x x
Utilities
I. Power used directly and
exclusively for qualifying
machinery and equipment x x x
2. Power used directly and
exclusively to heat or air
condition a room or rooms for
the proper conduct, operation,
or maintenance of research and
development machinery and
equipment, or activities x x x
3. General lighting and heating x x x
4. Intrastate telephone service x x x
40
EFTA01129828
Local
(excluding)
New Yo k State New York City) New York City
Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt
5. Power to heat or air condition a
plant where research and
development is conducted x x x
6. Special lighting for a qualifying
research and development
project x x x
Maintenance supplies such as brooms
and light bulbs x x x
Labor to inatoll or repair rcacarch and
development machinery or equipment x x \
Tangible personal property used
directly and predominantly for the
development of new equipment for
more efficient production of existing
product x x x
Technical journals for purposes x x x
Laboratory furniture used directly and
predominantly in research and
development x \ N
Furniture used for clerical purposes x x x
Test equipment to monitor new
machinery and equipment used
directly and predominantly in x x x
Building materials for construction in
areas (such as partitions and
enclosures) x x x
41
EFTA01129829
Local
(excluding)
New Yo k State New Yo k City) New York City
Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt
Containers, Labels, and Packing
Materials
Returnable containers such as barrels,
drums, and acid carboys, owned by a
manufacturer x x x
Racks, trays. and the like, not
transferred with product x x x
Protective coverings (such as
tarpaulins) not transferred with
product x x x
Pallets (unreturnable) used to ship
manufactured product x x x
Product instruction inserts x x x
Instruction inserts containing
advertisements for other products x x x
Labels and nameplates to be
permanently attached to product x x x
Tickets and tags containing
information such as size, style, lot
number, inspection, list price, and
similar manufacturer's data, not
permanently attached to the product x x x
Tickets and tags containing
information such as contents, size, care
instructions, etc. that are permanently
attached to the product x x x
Bags, wrapping paper, twine, bands,
and labels, used to package finished
products for sale to others and
transferred with the product x x x
42
EFTA01129830
Local
(excluding)
New York State New York City) New York City
Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt
Administrative Supplies
Officc supplies including invoiccs,
purchase orders, and envelopes x x x
Miscellaneous Expenses
Office furniture x x x
Building repairs and maintenance x x x
Samples purchased x x
Transportation and delivery vehicles
other than exempt tractors, trailers, and
semitrailers x x x
Tractors, trailers, and semitrailers used
in combination where the gross vehicle
weight exrenic16.0n0 lbs x x x
Commercial aircraft primarily used by
a manufacturer to transport its goods in
intrastate, interstate or foreign
commerce x x x
Commercial vessels primarily used by
a manufacturer to transport its goods in
interstate or foreign commerce x x
43
EFTA01129831
APPENDIX A
Determining Electricity Used in Production
The formula shown below has been developed for use in determining the exempt amount of
electricity used in production. ( No formulas have been prepared for other utility services.) To
determine the portion of purchases of electricity qualifying for exemption from sales tax, calculate
the ratio of kilowatt-hours of exempt use to total kilowatt-hours of use. Then apply this ratio to
electricity purchases to determine the amount qualifying for exemption.
kilowatt-hours exempt use per month - proportion of purchases
kilowatt-hours for month qualifying for exemption
When determining monthly hours of operation for the formula above, keep in mind variations in use
throughout the year. Add the approximate hours of use for each month of the year and divide the
results by 12.
total hours per year • average hours per month
12
Calculating Kilowatts per Hour of Operation
Motors
Horsepower known[
Multiply the number of horsepower by 746 and divide by 1,000 to determine approximate
kilowatts used per hour of operation.
horsepower x 746 • kilowatts per hour
1,000
Horsepower not known.
Multiply volts by amperes indicated on manufacturer's nameplate and divide by 1,000 to
determine approximate kilowatts used per hour of operation.
volts x amperes kilowatts per hour
1,000
44
EFTA01129832
Lights
For incandescent bulbs, add rated wattage and divide by 1,000. For fluorescent lights, add rated
wattage plus an additional 20% of rated wattage (for energy used by lamp ballasts), then divide
by 1,000.
Incandescent lights: watts = kilowatts per hour
1,000
Fluorescent lights: watts 4,Theatiat) kilowatts per hour
1,000
Devices Other Than Motors or Lights
For these devices, divide rated wattage by 1,000 to obtain approximate kilowatts used per hour
of operation.
watts = kilowatts per hour
1,000
45
EFTA01129833
APPENDIX B
Meat Processing Machinery and Equipment
Listed below are examples of taxable and exempt machinery, equipment, replacement pans, tools,
and supplies used in meat processing operations (that is, meat processing plants, butcher shops, or
meat departments in supermarkets). The items listed as exempt are exempt only when they are used
directly and predominantly to produce meat or meat products for sale. Equipment used by
restaurants, taverns, and similar establishments to prepare meals does not qualify for the production
exemption.
Local
(excluding)
New York State New York City) New York City
Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt
Power meat saws, tubers, grinders,
slicers x x x
Sausage stuffers, hamburger patty
machines x x x
Tenderizers (power) x x x
Scales (used to weigh processed meat
for labeling) x x x
Scales (used to weigh incoming meat) x x x
Hot water heaters x x x
Sinks x x x
Wrapping systems x x x
Wrapping supplies x x x
Platters used in production line x x x
Platters used to display the product
for sale x x x
Conveyors (not used in the production
line) x x x
46
EFTA01129834
Local
(excluding)
Ncw Yo k State New Yo k City) New York City
Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt Taxable Exempt
Tramrail (used for receiving meat for
weighing, inspecting, measuring, or
testing) x x x
Tramrail (used for receiving meat to
be placed directly into storage x x x
Carts used to move meat along
production line x x x
Cans not used in the production line x x x
Stock trucks x x x
Tubs (used to hold meat during x x x
processing)
Coolers and freezers used in x x x
production
Freezers and coolers for storage of
finished product x x x
Machinery or equipment pans x x x
Hand meat saws, knives, and other
hand tools x x x
Supplies used with exempt machinery
or equipment x x x
Installing, repairing, maintaining, or
servicing machinery or equipment
used directly and predominantly in
production x x x
47
EFTA01129835
APPENDIX C
Legislative History
Beginning in 1965, machinery and equipment (including parts with a useful life of more than one year) used directly
and exclusively in production were exempted from New York State sales and use taxes. All tangible personal
property used or consumed in production was exempt from all local taxes (except the local tax imposed in New
York City, which had no production exemption). Parts with a useful life of less than one year, tools, and supplies
used in production were subject to New York State sales tax and the local sales tax imposed by New York City on
sales made within New York City. Subsequent to the original enactment of the law sections which provided for
exemptions from tax for property used or consumed in a qualifying production process, the so-called "production
exemption" was amended. These amendments arc discussed below.
Effective
Date Law Section Amendment
September 1, 1974 1115(a)(12) Changed the requirement that machinery and equipment
be used exclusively in the production of tangible
property or goods for sale to qualify for the exemption
from taxation. Effective September 1, 1974, the
purchase of machinery and equipment qualifies for
exemption if the machinery and equipment is to be used
"predominantly" (more than 50% of the time) in such
production.
(Chapter 851, Laws of 1974)
July 11, 1979 1105-B Except for the local portion of the tax imposed on
deliveries made in New York City, this amendment
reduced the rate of tax to 2% for the period September 1,
1980 to February 28, 1981, and exempted from tax
effective March 1, 1981 purchases of: parts with a useliil
life of one year or less, tools, and supplies for use or
consumption directly and predominantly in the
production of goods and property for sale; and the charge
for the services of installing, repairing, maintaining, or
servicing production machinery and equipment and parts.
tools, and supplies for use or consumption directly and
predominantly in the production process.
(Chapter 625, Laws of 1979)
48
EFTA01129836
Legislative History Continued
Effective
Date Law Section Amendment
August 26, 1981 1115(a)12 Granted an exemption for "all pipe. pipeline, drilling
rigs, service rigs, vehicles and associated equipment used
in the drilling, production and operation of oil, gas, and
solution mining activities to the point of sale to the first
commercial purchaser".
(Chapter 846, Laws of 1981)
July 1, 1984 1 I -503(g) of the Provided a refundable credit against the New York City
Administrative Code of Unincorporated Business Income Tax equal to the
the City of New York amount of New York City sales or compensating use
taxes paid on purchases or uses of electricity or electric
service used or consumed directly and exclusively in the
production of tangible personal property for sale by
manufacturing, processing or assembling. Effective for
taxes due on or after, and paid on or after, July 1, 1984.
(Chapter 907, Laws of 1985)
July 1, 1984 11-604.15(a)(1) of the Provided a refundable credit against the General
Administrative Code of Corporation Tax equal to the amount ofNew York City
the City of New York sales or compensating use taxes paid on purchases or
uses of electricity or electric service used or consumed
directly and exclusively in the production of tangible
personal property for sale by manufacturing, processing
or assembling. Effective for taxes due on or after, and
paid on or after, July 1, 1984.
(Chapter 907, Laws of 1985)
June 1, 1989 1110 Provided that use tax is due on property used as such or
incorporated into a structure, building, or real property,
located in New York State, by a contractor, subcontractor
or repairman, even though items of the same kind are not
offered for sale by the user in the user's regular course of
business.
(Chapter 61, Laws of 1989)
49
EFTA01129837
Legislative History Continued
Effective
Date Law Section Amendment
December 1, 1989 1107 Provided an exemption from local tax imposed by New
York City on the purchase of production machinery and
equipment only. The exemption does not extend to
purchases of parts with a useful life of one year or less,
tools and supplies, or to utilities and utility services.
(Chapter 376, Laws of 1989)
January 2. 1995 I 1 -503(k) of the Provided a refundable credit against the City of New
Administrative Code of York's Unincorporated Business Income Tax equal to the
the City of New York amount of New York City sales or use tax paid on the
purchase of the services of installing, repairing,
maintaining. or servicing machinery or equipment, parts.
tools and supplies used or consumed directly and
predominantly in the production process.
(Chapter 489, Laws of 1995)
January 2, 1995 1 I -604.17-a of the Provided a refundable credit against the City of New
Administrative Code of York's General Corporation Tax equal to the amount of
the City of New York New York City sales or use tax paid on the purchase of
the services of installing, repairing, maintaining, or
servicing machinery or equipment. parts, tools and
supplies used or consumed directly and predominantly in
the production process.
(Chapter 489, Laws of 1995)
December 1, 1996 1105-B Exempts from the 4% local sales or use tax imposed
within New York City the purchase of parts with a useful
life of one year or less, tools or supplies for use or
consumption directly and predominantly in the
production process; parts with a useful life of one year or
less, tools or supplies for use directly and predominantly
in or on exempt telephone central office equipment or
station apparatus, or comparable telegraph equipment;
and the services of installing, repairing, maintaining, or
servicing exempt machinery, equipment, apparatus, parts,
tools, and supplies.
(Chapter 366, Laws of 1996)
so
EFTA01129838
APPENDIX D - GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The following definitions apply for purposes of the exemptions discussed in this publication.
Administration Includes activities such as sales promotion, general office work, credit and collection,
purchasing, general maintenance, transporting, receiving, and testing of raw materials, and
clerical work in production such as preparation of work production and time records.
Assembling Coupling or uniting of parts or materials as a manufacturing process or as a step in a
manufacturing process which results in a new product.
Catalyst A substance that speeds up or slows down the rate of a chemical reaction but does not itself
undergo any permanent chemical change in the process.
Component My type of material, including chemicals and catalysts, which becomes an element of the
final product for sale, even if only a small portion remains with the finished product
Directly Machinery or equipment is used directly in production when it:
acts upon or causes a change in material to form the product to be sold; or
has an active causal relationship in the production of the product to be sold; or
is used in the handling, storage, or conveyance of materials during the production
process; or
is used to place the product to be sold in the package in which it will enter the stream
of commerce.
To be used directly in production, fuel, gas, electricity, refrigeration, or steam and gas,
electric. refrigeration, or steam services must, during the production phase of a process:
be used to operate exempt production machinery or equipment; or
create conditions necessary for production; or
be used to perform an actual part of the production process.
Use in activities collateral to the production process is not direct use in production.
Distribution Includes all operations after production, such as storing, displaying, selling, loading, and
shipping finished products.
Equipment An item used that has properties of repetitive utility and which maintains its form and
characteristics during and after use, although subject to wear and deterioration.
Exclusively Totally, or 100%. The term generally applies to use of gas, electricity, refrigeration, and
steam, and gas, electric, refrigeration and steam services.
Machinery A mechanical, electrical, or electronic device. Includes all devices required to control,
51
EFTA01129839
regulate, or operate a piece of machinery, provided the devices are directly connected to or
are an integral part of the machinery.
Part A replacement for any portion of a piece of machinery or equipment, and any device actually
attached to the machinery or equipment and used in connection with the performance of its
function.
Predominantly More than 50%. For example, a piece of equipment that is generally in operation 12 hours
a day is used in the production process for 9 hours a day (or 75% of the time), and is used
for other purposes 3 hours a day (or 25% of the time). The equipment is used predominantly
in production since it is used more than 50% of the time in the production process.
Processing An operation that changes the nature, shape, or form of tangible personal property.
Production The process by which products are created using one or more of the following operations:
manufacturing; processing; fabricating; generating; assembling; refining; mining; or
extracting.
Quality Control Routine on-line or off-line inspection, monitoring, or testing of a product.
Raw Material Any substance or material, whether crude or processed, that can be converted by a production
process into a new product.
Research and Experimental or laboratory research for developing new or better products, finding new uses
Development for existing products. or advancing technology.
Supply An item of tangible personal property which is used to maintain machinery or equipment;
or an expendable item of tangible personal property that is used or consumed in the
production process.
A supply item which becomes a detectable element of the finished product for sale (such as
a chemical) is treated as a component. See Component on page 47.
Tool A manually operated implement for performing a task, such as a tool used by carpenters and
machinists; does not include parts, attachments, or devices that are affixed to machinery or
equipment.
Useful Life Length of time a machine part is expected to last under normal conditions.
52
EFTA01129840
Publication 852 (12/97)
NEED HELP?
Telephone Assistance 5 available kom to 1 800 634-2100 from :o 15 M.. Monday
425 g., Monday through Friday.
For business tax information and bra
TI)L1 through Friday. If you do not own a TOD. check with
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programs to find out where machines are available for
call the NYS Business Tax Information
pudic use.
Center at: 1 800 972-1233
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Mailing Address — If you need to write. address your
Fax-on-Demand Forms' - Forms are available
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Taxpayer Assistance Bureau
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Internet Access* - http/Armetax.state.nyas
- Quarterly Form ST-102 currently not available via Fax.on•Demand or on the DTF web site (subs:Wm Form ST-100)
EFTA01129841