Note: See also TP-64, Notice to Taxpayers Requesting
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
e•ji Taxation
, and Finance
Sales Tax Information For: Publication 852
(12/97)
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.
1
EFTA01129789
PART I - GENERAL INFORMATION
The Production
Exemption
The production exemption
applies when products are
produced for sale using one
or more of the qualifying
production processes Businesses that produce tangible personal property, gas,
electricity, refrigeration, or steam (products) for sale are
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 only when products are
produced for sale. This includes the mass production of
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
Processes Defined
Manufacturing Production is the means by which products are created using
one or more of the following operations (or production
processes):
• manufacturing
• processing
• generating
• assembling
• refining
mining
• extracting
Manufacturing generally results in the creation of a product
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
2
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
Assembling 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 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.
3
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
Extracting 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 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.
4
EFTA01129792
Beginning and End
of the Production
Process
Manufacturing. Processing,
and Assembling Operations It is important to identity when the production process begins
and ends since property, utilities, and fuel used in activities
that occur before the production process begins, or after the
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.
In manufacturing, processing, and assembling operations, the
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.
6
EFTA01129794
Refining Operations
Mining and Extracting
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.
In mining and extracting operations, production begins with
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
Qualify for the
Production
Exemption The production exemption applies to purchases of machinery
and equipment used directly and predominantly in the
production process. Purchases of parts, tools, and supplies
may also qualify for exemption. Purchases of certain
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
Not Qualify for the
Production
Exemption Purchases of tangible personal property, fuel, and utilities
used in activities that occur before the beginning of the
production process are not eligible for the production
exemption. In addition, purchases of tangible personal
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
the State and Local
Production
Exemptions Not all purchases that are exempt from the New York State
portion of the sales or use tax are exempt from the tax
imposed by the local jurisdiction in which the purchase
transaction takes place.
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
Parts
Tools and Supplies
Installation, Repair and
Maintenance Services 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.
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.
Purchases of tools and supplies to be used directly and
predominantly in production are exempt from both state and
local sales and use taxes.
The services of installing, repairing, maintaining, or servicing
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.
9
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
Development The purchase of tangible personal property used directly and
predominantly in research and development in the
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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EFTA01129798
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,
and Supplies
Purchases of Packaging
Materials Purchases of items such as screws, nuts, bolts, aluminum
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 tangible personal property such as gas cylinders,
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
Supplies
Purchases of Laboratory
Furniture
Purchases of Technical
Books, Journals, Etc.
The Exemption Document
to Use The cost of printing supplies used in producing scientific
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.
11 used directly and predominantly for qualifying research
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.
Technical books and journals purchased for the scientific and
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
An Exempt Use Certificate, Form ST-121, should be given to
the vendor when making the tax-exempt purchases described
in this section.
Waste Treatment
Equipment The purchase of machinery and equipment qualifies fur
exemption from all state and local sales taxes when purchased
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
Equipment To be eligible for the production exemption, machinery and
equipment must be used directly and predominantly (more
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
Production
Machinery and
Equipment Charges for on-site assembly of exempt production
machinery and equipment by the manufacturer of the
machinery or equipment, or the manufacturer's subcontractor,
are considered pan of the selling price of the machinery or
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,
Repairing,
Maintaining and
Servicing
Production
Machinery and
Equipment Charges to install, repair, maintain, or service exempt
production machinery and equipment are exempt from state
sales and use taxes, and from the local tax imposed within
New York City. However, such charges are subject to the
applicable local sales or use tax when the services are
delivered in a locality outside New York City.
Installation services include but are not limited to:
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
and Electrical
Components Used in
the Installation of
Exempt Production
Machinery and
Equipment Plumbing fixtures, such as pipes and fittings used to construct
pipelines for delivery of raw materials during the production
process, arc deemed to qualify for the production exemption.
All electrical parts actually attached to a piece of production
machinery or equipment which qualifies for exemption, and
the electrical wire from the qualifying production machinery
and equipment to the power source (panel box), including any
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
Other Energy
Sources Purchases of coal, gas, electricity, fuel oil, and other energy
sources (other than motor fuel or diesel motor fuel which are
discussed on page 19) qualify for exemption at the time of
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
Production Purchases of parts are exempt from all state and local sales
and use taxes when the pans are installed on machinery Of
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
Production Tools are manually operated implements used to perform a
task. The purchase, by a manufacturer, of tools to be used
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
in Production Purchases of supplies (such as oil, grease, sandpaper,
solvents, or thinners), used directly and predominantly in the
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,
and Other
Packaging Materials Packaging and wrapping materials used by a manufacturer in
packing a product to be sold may be eligible for exemption.
To qualify, the materials must actually be transferred with the
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
Barrels
Binding
Bottles (including deposit bottles)
Boxes
Cans
Carboys
Cartons
Cellophane
Coatings and
other preservative materials
Cores
Crates
Cylinders
Drums
Excelsior Glue
Gummed labels
Gummed tape
Kegs
Lumber used for
blocking
Pallets
Reels
Sacks
Spools
Staples
Strapping
String
Tape
Twine
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
Used in Production A palletizer system consists of a pallet loader (palletizer),
which is 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
📷 Images in this document (58 detected; 6 largest described)
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[Image 1] The image shows a document with text, which appears to be a page from a manual or a guide. The text is in English and includes headings and bullet points. The document is titled "INTRODUCTIONS" and contains sections such as "Purpose of the Manual," "Scope," and "Policy." There are also references to "New York State," "New York State Department of Transportation," and "New York State Department of
[Image 2] The image shows a page from a document, which appears to be a manual or guide of some sort. The text is too small to read clearly, but it seems to be a list of items or topics, possibly related to a business or technical manual. The document is structured with headings and subheadings, and there are numbered sections. The text is in English, and the document is printed on standard letter-sized pap
[Image 3] The image shows a page from a document, which appears to be a technical or informational text. The text is written in English and discusses the use of natural gas in a specific context, possibly related to energy production or consumption. The document includes a heading and several paragraphs, each discussing different aspects of the topic at hand. The text is dense and seems to be informative in
[Image 4] The image shows a page from a document, which appears to be a manual or guide related to a process. The text is in English and discusses the beginning and end of a process, mentioning topics such as product development, product testing, and product launch. The document is structured with headings and subheadings, and there are references to specific pages or sections within the document. The text
[Image 5] The image is a page from a document, specifically a section titled "Plumbing fixtures and Electrical equipment used in the installation of machinery and equipment." The text is in English and appears to be a set of guidelines or regulations related to plumbing and electrical installations. The document is structured with headings and bullet points, indicating a formal or technical nature. There ar
[Image 6] The image shows a document titled "Appendix D - Glossary of Terms." It appears to be a page from a manual or a report, as indicated by the header and footer. The document contains a list of terms with definitions, which are related to a specific field or industry. The text is in English, and the document is structured with headings and subheadings for clarity. The content is informational and seem