ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
Barbara, etc al
You might be interested to know that here in California we too have a
"use tax". It is what they call the sales tax on items that are bought
out side of CA and shipped or brought into the state. In other words,
you are supposed to pay the "use" (sales) tax on any item you buy and
use in CA. Of course, this is a difficult thing to enforce on
individuals. But with high ticket items such as vehicles, boats and
even furniture the state does go after individuals.
Beware! However, it is different with businesses in CA that have
"Seller's Permits". If they (CA Board of Equalization) audit you and
find equipment that you purchased out of state and did not pay sales
tax, they will assess you the tax (and penalties, I think, why miss a
chance to beat you while you are down!). Of course if someone doesn't
have a "Seller's Permit" they can't "audit" them and it is more
difficult. So, unlike swap meet vendors, those of us who begrudgingly
collect sales tax for the State of CA fall under one of my favorite
sayings: "No good deed goes unpunished".
Don't get me wrong. While it does not bring me great joy to pay taxes,
I do so happily (maybe OKingly) knowing that it is necessary to maintain
our city, state, etc. I doubt California is the only state with this
sort of thing. Hawaii's sales tax is on everything including services
(not so, mostly, in CA) and is calculated in such a way that you end up
paying tax on the tax!
I just thought those of you with businesses, and I would guess this
would also apply to museums that have gift shops, would like to know
that you are not off the hook for the (sales) tax on things bought
outside of the state and are not for resale. At least not if they audit
you.
That's my happy thought for the day!
-Mark-
* Mark Fowle, Partner
* SIGNAL-INNOVA
* 2841 East 19th Street
* Signal Hill, CA 90755
* Email: mailto:markfowle@signal-innova.com
* http://www.SIGNAL-INNOVA.com/
* Phone: (800) 417-9060
* Fax: (800) 773-7694
Barbara Punt wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
>
> Hi Wayne,
>
>
> Last time I checked, California does not provide tax exempt status for items
> purchased for museums unless they were on display, and even then, it only
> applied to the two museums specifically named in a piece of state
> legislation (those two would be the California Science Center and the
> California African-American Museum, both state museums). I worked at the
> Science Center for years, and we always paid sales tax on purchases for
> administrative purposes. I think that applied for lab supplies, too.
>
>
> Sorry! I know it's very unusual. Could be worse - in Arizona they have a
> "use tax," which is different by county and by city and applies with wacky
> percentages on certain types of expenses.
>
> Cheers,
> Barbara
>
> Barbara Punt
>
> Punt Consulting
>
> 409 North PCH, Suite 326
>
> Redondo Beach, CA 90277
>
> Telephone (310) 937-3366
>
> Fax (815) 377-3633
>
> Barbara @puntconsulting.com
>
> www.puntconsulting.com
>
> http://www.puntconsulting.com/
>
> When in doubt ... Punt!
>
> Hi Wayne,
>
>
>
>
>
>
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