Credits or Refunds

The manufacturer may be eligible to obtain a credit or refund of the manufacturers tax. If a tax-paid article is exported, the exporter or shipper may claim a credit or refund if the manufacturer waives its right to claim the credit or refund. In the case of a tax-paid article used to make another taxable article, the subsequent manufacturer may claim the credit or refund.

A credit or refund (without interest) of the manufacturers taxes may be allowable if a tax-paid article is, by any person:

• Exported,
• Used or sold for use as supplies for vessels (except for coal and vaccines),
• Sold to a state or local government for its exclusive use (except for coal, gas guzzlers, and vaccines),
• Sold to a nonprofit educational organization for its exclusive use (except for coal, gas guzzlers, and vaccines), or
• Used for further manufacture of another article subject to the manufacturers taxes (except for coal).

In addition, a credit or refund (without interest) may be allowable for a tax-paid article for which the price is readjusted by reason of return or repossession of the article or a bona fide discount, rebate, or allowance for taxes based on price.

The claim must set forth in detail the facts upon which the claim is based.

Conditions to allowance.   To claim a credit or refund in the case of an export, supplies for vessels, or sales to a state or local government or nonprofit educational organization, the person who paid the tax must submit, with the claim, a statement asserting any of the following.

• That the tax was neither included in the price of the article nor collected from a vendee. The statement must also identify the nature of the evidence available to establish these facts.
• That the person has repaid, or agreed to repay, the tax to the ultimate vendor of the article.
• That the person has secured, and will submit upon the request of the IRS, the written consent of the ultimate vendor to allowance of the credit or refund.

The ultimate vendor is the seller making the sale that gives rise to the overpayment of tax or that immediately precedes the exportation or use that gives rise to the overpayment.

To claim a credit or refund for a price readjustment, the claim must contain the name and address of the purchaser. To claim a credit or refund for further manufacture, the claim must contain the name of the manufacturer and the date of payment.

For claims by the exporter or shipper, the claim must contain the proof of export and a statement signed by the person that paid the tax waiving the right to claim a credit or refund. The statement must include the amount of tax paid, the date of payment, and the office to which it was paid.

Sport Fishing Equipment

A tax of 10% of the sale price is imposed on many articles of sport fishing equipment sold by the manufacturer. This includes any parts or accessories sold on or in connection with the sale of those articles.

Pay this tax with your return. No tax deposits are required. Sport fishing equipment includes all the following items.

1. Fishing rods and poles (and component parts), fishing reels, fly fishing lines, and other fishing lines not over 130 pounds test, fishing spears, spear guns, and spear tips.
2. Items of terminal tackle, including leaders, artificial lures, artificial baits, artificial flies, fishing hooks, bobbers, sinkers, snaps, drayles, and swivels (but not including natural bait or any item of terminal tackle designed for use and ordinarily used on fishing lines not described in (1)).
3. The following items of fishing supplies and accessories: fish stringers, creels, tackle boxes, bags, baskets, and other containers designed to hold fish, portable bait containers, fishing vests, landing nets, gaff hooks, fishing hook disgorgers, and dressing for fishing lines and artificial flies.
4. Fishing tip-ups and tilts.
5. Fishing rod belts, fishing rodholders, fishing harnesses, fish fighting chairs, fishing outriggers, and fishing downriggers.

See Revenue Ruling 88-52 in Cumulative Bulletin 1988-1 for a more complete description of the items of taxable equipment.

Electric outboard boat motors and sonar devices.   A tax of 3% of the sale price is imposed on the sale by the manufacturer of electric outboard motors and sonar devices suitable for finding fish. This includes any parts or accessories sold on or in connection with the sale of those articles. The tax on any sonar device, however, cannot exceed $30. A sonar device suitable for finding fish does not include any device that is a graph recorder, a digital type, a meter readout, a combination graph recorder, or a combination meter readout.

Certain equipment resale.   The tax on the sale of sport fishing equipment is imposed a second time under the following circumstances. If the manufacturer sells a taxable article to any person, the manufacturer is liable for the tax. If the purchaser or any other person then sells it to a person who is related (discussed next) to the manufacturer, that related person is liable for a second tax on any subsequent sale of the article. The second tax, however, is not imposed if the constructive sale price rules under section 4216(b) of the Internal Revenue Code apply to the sale by the manufacturer.

If the second tax is imposed, a credit for tax previously paid by the manufacturer is available provided the related person can document the tax paid. The documentation requirement is generally satisfied only through submission of copies of actual records of the person that previously paid the tax.

Related person.   For the tax on sport fishing equipment, a person is a related person of the manufacturer if that person and the manufacturer have a relationship described in section 465(b)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Bows

A tax of 11% of the sale price is imposed on the sale by the manufacturer of any bow having a draw weight of 10 pounds or more. The tax also is imposed on the sale of any part or accessory suitable for inclusion in or attachment to a taxable bow and any quiver suitable for use with arrows, described next. For a list of taxable and nontaxable articles, see Revenue Ruling 98-5 in Cumulative Bulletin 1998-1.

Pay this tax with your return. No tax deposit is required.

Arrow Components

A tax of 12.4% of the sale price is imposed on the sale by the manufacturer of any shaft, point, nock, or vane of a type used in the manufacture of any arrow that after its assembly meets either of the following conditions.

• It measures 18 inches or more in overall length.
• It measures less than 18 inches in overall length but is suitable for use with a taxable bow, discussed earlier.

Pay this tax with your return. No tax deposit is required.

Coal

A tax is imposed on the first sale of coal mined in the United States. The producer of the coal is liable for the tax. The producer is the person who has vested ownership of the coal under state law immediately after the coal is severed from the ground. Determine vested ownership without regard to any contractual arrangement for the sale or other disposition of the coal or the payment of any royalties between the producer and third parties. A producer includes any person who extracts coal from coal waste refuse piles (or from the silt waste product that results from the wet washing of coal).

The tax is not imposed on coal extracted from a riverbed by dredging if it can be shown that the coal has been taxed previously.

Tax rates.   The tax on underground-mined coal is the lower of:

• $1.10 a ton, or
• 4.4% of the sale price.

The tax on surface-mined coal is the lower of:

• 55 cents a ton, or
• 4.4% of the sale price.

Coal will be taxed at the 4.4% rate if the selling price is less than $25 a ton for underground-mined coal and less than $12.50 a ton for surface-mined coal. Apply the tax proportionately if a sale or use includes a portion of a ton.

Example.   If you sell 21,000 pounds (10.5 tons) of coal from an underground mine for $525, the price per ton is $50. The tax is $1.10 × 10.5 tons ($11.55).

Coal production.   Coal is produced from surface mines if all geological matter (trees, earth, rock) above the coal is removed before the coal is mined. Treat coal removed by auger and coal reclaimed from coal waste refuse piles as produced from a surface mine.

Treat coal as produced from an underground mine when the coal is not produced from a surface mine. In some cases, a single mine may yield coal from both surface mining and underground mining. Determine if the coal is from a surface mine or an underground mine for each ton of coal produced and not on a mine-by-mine basis.

Determining tonnage or selling price.   The producer pays the tax on coal at the time of sale or use. In figuring the selling price for applying the tax, the point of sale is f.o.b. (free on board) mine or f.o.b. cleaning plant if you clean the coal before selling it. This applies even if you sell the coal for a delivered price. The f.o.b. mine or f.o.b. cleaning plant is the point at which you figure the number of tons sold for applying the applicable tonnage rate, and the point at which you figure the sale price for applying the 4.4% rate.

The tax applies to the full amount of coal sold. However, the IRS allows a calculated reduction of the taxable weight of the coal for the weight of the moisture in excess of the coal's inherent moisture content. Include in the sale price any additional charge for a freeze-conditioning additive in figuring the tax.

Do not include in the sales price the excise tax imposed on coal.

Coal used by the producer.   The tax on coal applies if the coal is used by the producer in other than a mining process. A mining process means the same for this purpose as for percentage depletion. For example, the tax does not apply if, before selling the coal, you break it, clean it, size it, or apply any other process considered mining under the rules for depletion. In this case, the tax applies only when you sell the coal. The tax does not apply to coal used as fuel in the coal drying process since it is considered to be used in a mining process. However, the tax does apply when you use the coal as fuel or as an ingredient in making coke since the coal is not used in a mining process.

You must use a constructive sale price to figure the tax under the 4.4% rate if you use the coal in other than a mining process. Base your constructive sale price on sales of a like kind and grade of coal by you or other producers made f.o.b. mine or cleaning plant. Normally, you use the same constructive price used to figure your percentage depletion deduction.

Blending.   If you blend surface-mined coal with underground-mined coal during the cleaning process, you must figure the excise tax on the sale of the blended, cleaned coal. Figure the tax separately for each type of coal in the blend. Base the tax on the amount of each type in the blend if you can determine the proportion of each type of coal contained in the final blend. Base the tax on the ratio of each type originally put into the cleaning process if you cannot determine the proportion of each type of coal in the blend. However, the tax is limited to 4.4% of the sale price per ton of the blended coal.

Exemption from tax.   The tax does not apply to sales of lignite and imported coal. The only other exemption from the tax on the sale of coal is for coal exported as discussed next.

Exported.   The tax does not apply to the sale of coal if the coal is in the stream of export when sold by the producer and the coal is actually exported.

Coal is in the stream of export when sold by the producer if the sale is a step in the exportation of the coal to its ultimate destination in a foreign country. For example, coal is in the stream of export when:

1. The coal is loaded on an export vessel and title is transferred from the producer to a foreign purchaser, or
2. The producer sells the coal to an export broker in the United States under terms of a contract showing that the coal is to be shipped to a foreign country.

Proof of export includes any of the following items.

• A copy of the export bill of lading issued by the delivering carrier.
• A certificate signed by the export carrier's agent or representative showing actual exportation of the coal.
• A certificate of landing signed by a customs officer of the foreign country to which the coal is exported.
• If the foreign country does not have a customs administrator, a statement of the foreign consignee showing receipt of the coal.

Tires

Tax is imposed on the sale by the manufacturer of tires of the type used on highway vehicles and made all or in part of rubber.

The tax is based on the weight of each tire. The tax does not apply to tires that weigh 40 pounds or less. The tax rate is shown in the Form 720 instructions.

Determination of weight.   Do not include metal rims or rim bases in figuring the total weight of a tire. But include in the total weight, the wire, staples, darts, clips, and other material or fastening devices that form a part of the tire or are required for its use.

Consider studs as part of a tire, and include them in the total weight. The total weight of a tubeless tire or inner tube includes the weight of the air valve and stem or any other mechanism that functions as a part of the tire or attaches to the inner tube and is used in connection with inflating the tire or tube or maintaining its air pressure.

When you sell tires with metal rims or rim bases attached, you must keep records establishing what portion of the total weight of the finished product represents the tire without the metal rim or rim base.

Alternative method of determining weight.   If you have received permission from the IRS, you may determine total weight of tires that you manufactured and sold using the average weight for each type, size, grade, and classification.

See Revenue Procedure 92-82 in Cumulative Bulletin 1992-2 for several alternative methods you can use to determine tire weight.

Manufacturer's retail stores.   The excise tax on tires is imposed at the time the tires are delivered to the manufacturer-owned retail stores, not at the time of sale.

Tires on imported articles.   The importer of an article equipped with taxable tires is treated as the manufacturer of the tires and is liable for the tire excise tax when the article is sold (except in the case of an automobile bus chassis or body with tires).

Tires exempt from tax.   The tax does not apply to the following items.

• Tires of extruded tiring with an internal wire fastening agent.
• Recapped or retreaded tires if the tires have been sold previously in the United States and were taxable tires at the time of sale.
• Tire carcasses not suitable for commercial use.
• Tires for use on qualifying intercity, local, and school buses. For tax-free treatment, the registration requirements discussed earlier under Requirements for Exempt Sales apply.

Qualifying intercity or local bus.   This is any bus used mainly (more than 50%) to transport the general public for a fee and that either operates on a schedule along regular routes or seats at least 20 adults (excluding the driver).

Qualifying school bus.   This is any bus substantially all the use (85% or more) of which is to transport students and employees of schools.

Credit or refund.   A credit or refund (without interest) is allowable if the tax on a tire has been paid on its sale by the manufacturer and the tire is sold by any person on, or in connection with, any other article that is:

• An automobile bus chassis or body,
• Exported,
• Sold to a state or local government for its exclusive use,
• Sold to a nonprofit educational organization for its exclusive use, or
• Used or sold for use as supplies for vessels.

The person who sold the article is eligible to make the claim.

Gas Guzzler Tax

Tax is imposed on the sale by the manufacturer of automobiles of a model type that has a fuel economy standard as measured by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of less than 22.5 miles per gallon. If you import an automobile for personal use, you may be liable for this tax. Figure the tax on Form 6197, Gas Guzzler Tax, as discussed later. The tax rate is based on fuel economy rating. The tax rates for the gas guzzler tax are shown on Form 6197.

A person that lengthens an existing automobile (for example, to make a stretch limousine) is the manufacturer of an automobile.

Automobiles.   An automobile is any four-wheeled vehicle that is:

• Rated at an unloaded gross vehicle weight of 6,000 pounds or less,
• Propelled by an engine powered by gasoline or diesel fuel, and
• Intended for use mainly on public streets, roads, and highways.

Limousines.   The tax generally applies to limousines (including stretch limousines) regardless of their weight.

Vehicles not subject to tax.   For the gas guzzler tax, the following vehicles are not considered automobiles.

1. Vehicles operated exclusively on a rail or rails.
2. Vehicles sold for use and used primarily:
   1. As ambulances or combination ambulance-hearses,
   2. For police or other law enforcement purposes by federal, state, or local governments, or
   3. For firefighting purposes.
3. Vehicles treated under 49 USC 32901 (1978) as non-passenger automobiles. This includes limousines manufactured primarily to transport more than 10 persons.

The manufacturer can sell a vehicle described in item (2) tax free only when the sale is made directly to a purchaser for the described emergency use and the manufacturer and purchaser (other than a state or local government) are registered.

Treat an Indian tribal government as a state only if the police or other law enforcement purposes are an essential tribal government function.

Model type.   Model type is a particular class of automobile as determined by EPA regulations.

Fuel economy.   Fuel economy is the average number of miles an automobile travels on a gallon of gasoline (or diesel fuel) rounded to the nearest 0.1 mile as figured by the EPA.

Imported automobiles.   The tax applies to automobiles that do not have a prototype-based fuel economy rating assigned by the EPA. An automobile imported into the United States without a certificate of conformity to United States emission standards and which has no assigned fuel economy rating must be either:

• Converted by installation of emission controls to conform in all material respects to an automobile already certified for sale in the United States, or
• Modified by installation of emission control components and individually tested to demonstrate emission compliance.

An imported automobile that has been converted to conform to an automobile already certified for sale in the United States may use the fuel economy rating assigned to the conformed automobile.

A fuel economy rating is not generally available for modified imported automobiles because the EPA does not require a highway fuel economy test on them. A separate highway fuel economy test would be required to devise a fuel economy rating (otherwise the automobile is presumed to fall within the lowest fuel economy rating).

For more information about fuel economy ratings for imported automobiles, see Revenue Ruling 86-20 and Revenue Procedure 86-9 in Cumulative Bulletin 1986-1, and Revenue Procedure 87-10 in Cumulative Bulletin 1987-1.

Exemptions.   No one is exempt from the gas guzzler tax, including the federal government, state and local governments, and nonprofit educational organizations. However, see Vehicles not subject to tax, earlier.

Form 6197.   Use Form 6197 to figure your tax liability for each quarter. Attach Form 6197 to your Form 720 for the quarter. See the instructions for Form 6197 for more information about filing and the special rules for filing if you import an automobile for personal use.

Credit or refund.   If the manufacturer paid the tax on a vehicle that is used or resold for an emergency use (see item (2) under Vehicles not subject to tax), the manufacturer can claim a credit or refund. See Credits and Refunds, later.

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