§ 7201. Definitions
Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 72 P.S. Taxation and Fiscal AffairsEffective: January 1, 2023
Effective: January 1, 2023
72 P.S. § 7201
§ 7201. Definitions
The following words, terms and phrases when used in this Article II shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
(a) “Soft drinks.” All nonalcoholic beverages, whether carbonated or not, such as soda water, ginger ale, coca cola, lime cola, pepsi cola, Dr. Pepper, fruit juice when plain or carbonated water, flavoring or syrup is added, carbonated water, orangeade, lemonade, root beer or any and all preparations, commonly referred to as “soft drinks,” of whatsoever kind, and are further described as including any and all beverages, commonly referred to as “soft drinks,” which are made with or without the use of any syrup. The term “soft drinks” shall not include natural fruit or vegetable juices or their concentrates, or non-carbonated fruit juice drinks containing not less than twenty-five per cent by volume of natural fruit juices or of fruit juice which has been reconstituted to its original state, or natural concentrated fruit or vegetable juices reconstituted to their original state, whether any of the foregoing natural juices are frozen or unfrozen, sweetened or unsweetened, seasoned with salt or spice or unseasoned, nor shall the term “soft drinks” include coffee, coffee substitutes, tea, cocoa, natural fluid milk or non-carbonated drinks made from milk derivatives.
(1) Having, maintaining or using within this Commonwealth, either directly or through a subsidiary, representative or an agent, an office, distribution house, sales house, warehouse, service enterprise or other place of business; or any agent of general or restricted authority, or representative, irrespective of whether the place of business, representative or agent is located here, permanently or temporarily, or whether the person or subsidiary maintaining the place of business, representative or agent is authorized to do business within this Commonwealth.
(2) Engaging in any activity as a business within this Commonwealth by any person, either directly or through a subsidiary, representative or an agent, in connection with the lease, sale or delivery of tangible personal property or the performance of services thereon for use, storage or consumption or in connection with the sale or delivery for use of the services described in subclauses (11) through (18) of clause (k) of this section, including, but not limited to, having, maintaining or using any office, distribution house, sales house, warehouse or other place of business, any stock of goods or any solicitor, canvasser, salesman, representative or agent under its authority, at its direction or with its permission, regardless of whether the person or subsidiary is authorized to do business in this Commonwealth.
(3) Regularly or substantially soliciting orders within this Commonwealth in connection with the lease, sale or delivery of tangible personal property to or the performance thereon of services or in connection with the sale or delivery of the services described in subclauses (11) through (18) of clause (k) of this section for residents of this Commonwealth by means of catalogues or other advertising, whether the orders are accepted within or without this Commonwealth.
(3.4) Providing a customer's mobile telecommunications service deemed to be provided by the customer's home service provider under the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act (4 U.S.C. § 116). For purposes of this clause, words and phrases used in this clause shall have the meanings given to them in the Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act.
(3.5)(i) Engaging in any activity as a business by any person, either directly or through a subsidiary, representative or an agent, in connection with the lease, sale or delivery of tangible personal property into this Commonwealth or the performance of services for use, storage or consumption or in connection with the sale or delivery for use in this Commonwealth of at least one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) during the preceding twelve-month calendar period.
(c) “Manufacture.” The performance of manufacturing, fabricating, compounding, processing or other operations, engaged in as a business, which place any tangible personal property in a form, composition or character different from that in which it is acquired whether for sale or use by the manufacturer, and shall include, but not be limited to--
(1) Every operation commencing with the first production stage and ending with the completion of tangible personal property having the physical qualities (including packaging, if any, passing to the ultimate consumer) which it has when transferred by the manufacturer to another. For purposes of this clause, “operation” shall include clean rooms and their component systems, including: environmental control systems, antistatic vertical walls and manufacturing platforms and floors, which are independent of the real estate; process piping systems; specialized lighting systems; deionized water systems; process vacuum and compressed air systems; process and specialty gases; and alarm or warning devices specifically designed to warn of threats to the integrity of the product or people. For purposes of this clause, a “clean room” is a location with a self-contained, sealed environment with a controlled, closed air system independent from the facility's general environmental control system.
(4) Building, rebuilding, repairing and making additions to, or replacements in or upon vessels designed for commercial use of registered tonnage of fifty tons or more when produced upon special order of the purchaser, or when rebuilt, repaired or enlarged, or when replacements are made upon order of, or for the account of the owner.
(6) Remanufacture for wholesale distribution by a remanufacturer of motor vehicle parts from used parts acquired in bulk by the remanufacturer using an assembly line process which involves the complete disassembly of such parts and integration of the components of such parts with other used or new components of parts, including the salvaging, recycling or reclaiming of used parts by the remanufacturer.
(7) Remanufacture or retrofit by a manufacturer or remanufacturer of aircraft, armored vehicles, other defense-related vehicles having a finished value of at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). Remanufacture or retrofit involves the disassembly of such aircraft, vehicles, parts or components, including electric or electronic components, the integration of those parts and components with other used or new parts or components, including the salvaging, recycling or reclaiming of the used parts or components and the assembly of the new or used aircraft, vehicles, parts or components. For purposes of this clause, the following terms or phrases have the following meanings:
(8) Remanufacture by a remanufacturer of locomotive parts from used parts acquired in bulk by the remanufacturer using an assembly line process which involves the complete disassembly of such parts and integration of the components of such parts with other used or new components of parts, including the salvaging, recycling or reclaiming of used parts by the remanufacturer.
The term “manufacture” shall not include constructing, altering, servicing, repairing or improving real estate or repairing, servicing or installing tangible personal property, nor the producing of a commercial motion picture, nor the cooking, freezing or baking of fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, fish, seafood, meats, poultry or bakery products.
(1.1) The processing of fruits or vegetables by cleaning, cutting, coring, peeling or chopping and treating to preserve, sterilize or purify and substantially extend the useful shelf life of the fruits or vegetables, when the person engaged in such activity packages such property in sealed containers for wholesale distribution.
(8) The operation of a saw mill or planing mill for the production of lumber or lumber products for sale. The operation of a saw mill or planing mill begins with the unloading by the operator of the saw mill or planing mill of logs, timber, pulpwood or other forms of wood material to be used in the saw mill or planing mill.
(13) The cooking or baking of bread, pastries, cakes, cookies, muffins and donuts when the person engaged in such activity sells such items at retail at locations that do not constitute an establishment from which ready-to-eat food and beverages are sold. For purposes of this clause, a bakery, a pastry shop and a donut shop shall not be considered an establishment from which ready-to-eat food and beverages are sold.
(e) “Person.” Any natural person, association, fiduciary, partnership, corporation or other entity, including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, its political subdivisions and instrumentalities and public authorities. Whenever used in any clause prescribing and imposing a penalty or imposing a fine or imprisonment, or both, the term “person,” as applied to an association, shall include the members thereof and, as applied to a corporation, the officers thereof.
(1) The acquisition for a consideration of the ownership, custody or possession of tangible personal property other than for resale by the person acquiring the same when such acquisition is made for the purpose of consumption or use, whether such acquisition shall be absolute or conditional, and by whatsoever means the same shall have been effected.
The term “purchase at retail” with respect to “liquor” and “malt or brewed beverages” shall include the purchase of “liquor” from any “Pennsylvania Liquor Store” by any person for any purpose, and the purchase of “malt or brewed beverages” from a “manufacturer of malt or brewed beverages,” “distributor” or “importing distributor” by any person for any purpose, except purchases from a “manufacturer of malt or brewed beverages” by a “distributor” or “importing distributor” or purchases from an “importing distributor” by a “distributor” within the meaning of the “Liquor Code.”1 The term “purchase at retail” shall not include any purchase of “malt or brewed beverages” from a “retail dispenser” or any purchase of “liquor” or “malt or brewed beverages” from a person holding a “retail liquor license” within the meaning of and pursuant to the provisions of the “Liquor Code,” but shall include any purchase or acquisition of “liquor” or “malt or brewed beverages” other than pursuant to the provisions of the “Liquor Code.”
(1) The total value of anything paid or delivered, or promised to be paid or delivered, whether it be money or otherwise, in complete performance of a sale at retail or purchase at retail, as herein defined, without any deduction on account of the cost or value of the property sold, cost or value of transportation, cost or value of labor or service, interest or discount paid or allowed after the sale is consummated, any other taxes imposed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any other expense except that there shall be excluded any gratuity or separately stated deposit charge for returnable containers.
(2) There shall be deducted from the purchase price the value of any tangible personal property actually taken in trade or exchange in lieu of the whole or any part of the purchase price. For the purpose of this clause, the amount allowed by reason of tangible personal property actually taken in trade or exchange shall be considered the value of such property.
(3) In determining the purchase price on the sale or use of taxable tangible personal property or a service where, because of affiliation of interests between the vendor and purchaser, or irrespective of any such affiliation, if for any other reason the purchase price declared by the vendor or taxpayer on the taxable sale or use of such tangible personal property or service is, in the opinion of the department, not indicative of the true value of the article or service or the fair price thereof, the department shall, pursuant to uniform and equitable rules, determine the amount of constructive purchase price upon the basis of which the tax shall be computed and levied. Such rules shall provide for a constructive amount of purchase price for each such sale or use which would naturally and fairly be charged in an arms-length transaction in which the element of common interest between the vendor or purchaser is absent or if no common interest exists, any other element causing a distortion of the price or value is likewise absent. For the purpose of this clause where a taxable sale or purchase at retail transaction occurs between a parent and a subsidiary, affiliate or controlled corporation of such parent corporation, there shall be a rebuttable presumption, that because of such common interest such transaction was not at arms-length.
(4) Where there is a transfer or retention of possession or custody, whether it be termed a rental, lease, service or otherwise, of tangible personal property including, but not limited to linens, aprons, motor vehicles, trailers, tires, industrial office and construction equipment, and business machines the full consideration paid or delivered to the vendor or lessor shall be considered the purchase price, even though such consideration be separately stated and be designated as payment for processing, laundering, service, maintenance, insurance, repairs, depreciation or otherwise. Where the vendor or lessor supplies or provides an employe to operate such tangible personal property, the value of the labor thus supplied may be excluded and shall not be considered as part of the purchase price if separately stated. There shall also be included as part of the purchase price the value of anything paid or delivered, or promised to be paid or delivered by a lessee, whether it be money or otherwise, to any person other than the vendor or lessor by reason of the maintenance, insurance or repair of the tangible personal property which a lessee has the possession or custody of under a rental contract or lease arrangement.
(5) With respect to the tax imposed by subsection (b) of section 2022 upon any tangible personal property originally purchased by the user of such property six months or longer prior to the first taxable use of such property within the Commonwealth, such user may elect to pay tax on a substituted base determined by considering the purchase price of such property for tax purposes to be equal to the prevailing market price of similar tangible personal property at the time and place of such first use within the Commonwealth. Such election must be made at the time of filing a tax return with the department and reporting such tax liability and paying the proper tax due plus all accrued penalties and interest, if there be any, within six months of the due date of such report and payment, as provided for by subsections (a) and (c) of section 2173 of this article.
(6) The purchase price of employment agency services and help supply services shall be the service fee paid by the purchaser to the vendor or supplying entity. The term “service fee,” as used in this subclause, shall be the total charge or fee of the vendor or supplying entity minus the costs of the supplied employe which costs are wages, salaries, bonuses and commissions, employment benefits, expense reimbursements and payroll and withholding taxes, to the extent that these costs are specifically itemized or that these costs in aggregate are stated in billings from the vendor or supplying entity. To the extent that these costs are not itemized or stated on the billings, then the service fee shall be the total charge or fee of the vendor or supplying entity.
(8) The purchase price of prebuilt housing shall be sixty per cent of the manufacturer's selling price: Provided, however, That a manufacturer of prebuilt housing who precollects tax from a prebuilt housing builder at the time of the sale to the prebuilt housing builder shall have the option to collect tax on sixty per cent of the selling price or on one hundred per cent of the actual cost of the supplies and materials used in the manufacture of the prebuilt housing.
(9) The purchase price of “malt or brewed beverages” sold by a “manufacturer of malt or brewed beverages” directly to the ultimate consumer for consumption on or off premises shall be twenty-five per cent of the retail sales price of the “malt or brewed beverages” sold for consumption on or off premises.
(h) “Purchaser.” Any person who acquires, for a consideration, the ownership, custody or possession by sale, lease or otherwise, of tangible personal property, or who obtains services in exchange for a purchase price but not including an employer who obtains services from his employes in exchange for wages or salaries when such services are rendered in the ordinary scope of their employment.
(1) Any transfer of ownership, custody or possession of tangible personal property for a consideration, including the grant of a license to use or consume and transactions where the possession of such property is transferred but where the transferor retains title only as security for payment of the selling price whether such transaction be designated as bailment lease, conditional sale or otherwise.
(2) The physical incorporation of tangible personal property as an ingredient or constituent into other tangible personal property, which is to be sold in the regular course of business or the performance of those services described in subclauses (2), (3) and (4) of clause (k) of this section upon tangible personal property which is to be sold in the regular course of business or where the person incorporating such property has undertaken at the time of purchase to cause it to be transported in interstate commerce to a destination outside this Commonwealth. The term “resale” shall include telecommunications services purchased by a cable operator or video programmer that are used to transport or deliver cable or video programming services which are sold in the regular course of business.
(3) The term “resale” shall also include tangible personal property purchased or having a situs within this Commonwealth solely for the purpose of being processed, fabricated or manufactured into, attached to or incorporated into tangible personal property and thereafter transported outside this Commonwealth for use exclusively outside this Commonwealth.
(5) The physical incorporation of tangible personal property as an ingredient or constituent in the construction of foundations for machinery or equipment the sale or use of which is excluded from tax under the provisions of paragraphs (A), (B), (C) and (D) of subclause (8) of clause (k) and subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of paragraph (B) of subclause (4) of clause (o) of this section, whether such foundations at the time of construction or transfer constitute tangible personal property or real estate.
(4) The rendition for a consideration of the service of repairing, altering, mending, pressing, fitting, dyeing, laundering, drycleaning or cleaning tangible personal property other than wearing apparel or shoes, or applying or installing tangible personal property as a repair or replacement part of other tangible personal property except wearing apparel or shoes for a consideration, whether or not the services are performed directly or by any means other than by coin-operated self-service laundry equipment for wearing apparel or household goods and whether or not any tangible personal property is transferred in conjunction therewith, except such services as are rendered in the construction, reconstruction, remodeling, repair or maintenance of real estate: Provided, however, That this subclause shall not be deemed to impose tax upon such services in the preparation for sale of new items which are excluded from the tax under clause (26) of section 204,4 or upon diaper service.
The term “sale at retail” shall not include (i) any such transfer of tangible personal property or rendition of services for the purpose of resale, or (ii) such rendition of services or the transfer of tangible personal property including, but not limited to, machinery and equipment and parts therefor and supplies to be used or consumed by the purchaser directly in the operations of--
(B) Farming, dairying, agriculture, timbering, horticulture or floriculture when engaged in as a business enterprise. The term “farming” shall include the propagation and raising of ranch raised fur-bearing animals and the propagation of game birds for commercial purposes by holders of propagation permits issued under 34 Pa.C.S. (relating to game) and the propagation and raising of horses to be used exclusively for commercial racing activities. The term “timbering” shall include:
(2) All operations prior to the transport of the harvested product necessary for the removal of timber or forest products from the site, in-field processing of trees into logs or chips, complying with environmental protection and safety requirements applicable to the harvesting of forest products, loading of forest products onto highway vehicles for transport to storage or processing facilities and postharvesting site reclamation, including those activities necessary to improve timber growth or ensure natural or direct reforestation of the site. The term shall not include the harvesting of trees for clearing land for access roads.
The exclusions provided in paragraphs (A), (B), (C) and (D) shall not apply to any vehicle required to be registered under The Vehicle Code, except those vehicles used directly by a public utility engaged in business as a common carrier; to maintenance facilities; or to materials, supplies or equipment to be used or consumed in the construction, reconstruction, remodeling, repair or maintenance of real estate other than directly used machinery, equipment, parts or foundations therefor that may be affixed to such real estate.
The exclusions provided in paragraphs (A), (B), (C) and (D) shall not apply to tangible personal property or services to be used or consumed in managerial sales or other nonoperational activities, nor to the purchase or use of tangible personal property or services by any person other than the person directly using the same in the operations described in paragraphs (A), (B), (C) and (D) herein.
The exclusion provided in paragraph (C) shall not apply to (i) construction materials, supplies or equipment used to construct, reconstruct, remodel, repair or maintain facilities not used directly by the purchaser in the production, delivering or rendition of public utility service, (ii) construction materials, supplies or equipment used to construct, reconstruct, remodel, repair or maintain a building, road or similar structure, or (iii) tools and equipment used but not installed in the maintenance of facilities used directly in the production, delivering or rendition of a public utility service.
The exclusions provided in paragraphs (A), (B), (C) and (D) shall not apply to the services enumerated in clauses (k)(11) through (18) and (w) through (kk), except that the exclusion provided in this subclause for farming, dairying and agriculture shall apply to the service enumerated in clause (z).
(9) Where tangible personal property or services are utilized for purposes constituting a “sale at retail” and for purposes excluded from the definition of “sale at retail,” it shall be presumed that such tangible personal property or services are utilized for purposes constituting a “sale at retail” and subject to tax unless the user thereof proves to the department that the predominant purposes for which such tangible personal property or services are utilized do not constitute a “sale at retail.”
(10) The term “sale at retail” with respect to “liquor” and “malt or brewed beverages” shall include the sale of “liquor” by any “Pennsylvania liquor store” to any person for any purpose, and the sale of “malt or brewed beverages” by a “manufacturer of malt or brewed beverages,” “distributor” or “importing distributor” to any person for any purpose, except sales by a “manufacturer of malt or brewed beverages” to a “distributor” or “importing distributor” or sales by an “importing distributor” to a “distributor” within the meaning of the “Liquor Code.” The term “sale at retail” shall not include any sale of “malt or brewed beverages” by a “retail dispenser” or any sale of “liquor” or “malt or brewed beverages” by a person holding a “retail liquor license” within the meaning of and pursuant to the provisions of the “Liquor Code,” but shall include any sale of “liquor” or “malt or brewed beverages” other than pursuant to the provisions of the “Liquor Code.”
(1) Corporeal personal property including, but not limited to, goods, wares, merchandise, steam and natural and manufactured and bottled gas for non-residential use, electricity for non-residential use, prepaid telecommunications, premium cable or premium video programming service, spirituous or vinous liquor and malt or brewed beverages and soft drinks, interstate telecommunications service originating or terminating in the Commonwealth and charged to a service address in this Commonwealth, intrastate telecommunications service with the exception of (i) subscriber line charges and basic local telephone service for residential use and (ii) charges for telephone calls paid for by inserting money into a telephone accepting direct deposits of money to operate, provided further, the service address of any intrastate telecommunications service is deemed to be within this Commonwealth or within a political subdivision, regardless of how or where billed or paid. In the case of any such interstate or intrastate telecommunications service, any charge paid through a credit or payment mechanism which does not relate to a service address, such as a bank, travel, credit or debit card, but not including prepaid telecommunications, is deemed attributable to the address of origination of the telecommunications service.
(3) The obtaining by a purchaser of the services of (i) washing, cleaning, waxing, polishing or lubricating of motor vehicles whether or not any tangible personal property is transferred to the purchaser in conjunction with such services, and (ii) inspecting motor vehicles pursuant to the mandatory requirements of “The Vehicle Code.”
(4) The obtaining by a purchaser of the service of repairing, altering, mending, pressing, fitting, dyeing, laundering, dry cleaning or cleaning tangible personal property other than wearing apparel or shoes or applying or installing tangible personal property as a repair or replacement part of other tangible personal property other than wearing apparel or shoes, whether or not the services are performed directly or by any means other than by means of coin-operated self-service laundry equipment for wearing apparel or household goods, and whether or not any tangible personal property is transferred to the purchaser in conjunction therewith, except such services as are obtained in the construction, reconstruction, remodeling, repair or maintenance of real estate: Provided, however, That this subclause shall not be deemed to impose tax upon such services in the preparation for sale of new items which are excluded from the tax under clause (26) of section 204, or upon diaper service: And provided further, That the term “use” shall not include--
(A) Any tangible personal property acquired and kept, retained or over which power is exercised within this Commonwealth on which the taxing of the storage, use or other consumption thereof is expressly prohibited by the Constitution of the United States or which is excluded from tax under other provisions of this article.
(ii) Farming, dairying, agriculture, timbering, horticulture or floriculture when engaged in as a business enterprise. The term “farming” shall include the propagation and raising of ranch-raised furbearing animals and the propagation of game birds for commercial purposes by holders of propagation permits issued under 34 Pa.C.S. (relating to game) and the propagation and raising of horses to be used exclusively for commercial racing activities. The term “timbering” shall include:
(2) All operations prior to the transport of the harvested product necessary for the removal of timber or forest products from the site, in-field processing of trees into logs or chips, complying with environmental protection and safety requirements applicable to the harvesting of forest products, loading of forest products onto highway vehicles for transport to storage or processing facilities and postharvesting site reclamation, including those activities necessary to improve timber growth or ensure natural or direct reforestation of the site. The term shall not include the harvesting of trees for clearing land for access roads.
The exclusions provided in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) shall not apply to any vehicle required to be registered under The Vehicle Code except those vehicles directly used by a public utility engaged in the business as a common carrier; to maintenance facilities; or to materials, supplies or equipment to be used or consumed in the construction, reconstruction, remodeling, repair or maintenance of real estate other than directly used machinery, equipment, parts or foundations therefor that may be affixed to such real estate. The exclusions provided in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) shall not apply to tangible personal property or services to be used or consumed in managerial sales or other nonoperational activities, nor to the purchase or use of tangible personal property or services by any person other than the person directly using the same in the operations described in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv).
The exclusion provided in subparagraph (iii) shall not apply to (A) construction materials, supplies or equipment used to construct, reconstruct, remodel, repair or maintain facilities not used directly by the purchaser in the production, delivering or rendition of public utility service or (B) tools and equipment used but not installed in the maintenance of facilities used directly in the production, delivering or rendition of a public utility service.
The exclusion provided in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) shall not apply to the services enumerated in clauses (o)(9) through (16) and (w) through (kk), except that the exclusion provided in subparagraph (ii) for farming, dairying and agriculture shall apply to the service enumerated in clause (z).
(5) Where tangible personal property or services are utilized for purposes constituting a “use,” as herein defined, and for purposes excluded from the definition of “use,” it shall be presumed that such property or services are utilized for purposes constituting a “sale at retail” and subject to tax unless the user thereof proves to the department that the predominant purposes for which such property or services are utilized do not constitute a “sale at retail.”
(6) The term “use” with respect to “liquor” and “malt or brewed beverages” shall include the purchase of “liquor” from any “Pennsylvania liquor store” by any person for any purpose and the purchase of “malt or brewed beverages” from a “manufacturer of malt or brewed beverages,” “distributor” or “importing distributor” by any person for any purpose, except purchases from a “manufacturer of malt or brewed beverages” by a “distributor” or “importing distributor,” or purchases from an “importing distributor” by a “distributor” within the meaning of the “Liquor Code.” The term “use” shall not include any purchase of “malt or brewed beverages” from a “retail dispenser” or any purchase of “liquor” or “malt or brewed beverages” from a person holding a “retail liquor license” within the meaning of and pursuant to the provisions of the “Liquor Code,” but shall include the exercise of any right or power incidental to the ownership, custody or possession of “liquor” or “malt or brewed beverages” obtained by the person exercising such right or power in any manner other than pursuant to the provisions of the “Liquor Code.”
(p) “Vendor.” Any person maintaining a place of business in this Commonwealth, selling or leasing tangible personal property, or rendering services, the sale or use of which is subject to the tax imposed by this article, including a marketplace facilitator, marketplace seller, peer-to-peer car-sharing program marketplace facilitator or shared vehicle owner, but not including any employe who in the ordinary scope of employment renders services to his employer in exchange for wages and salaries.
(r) “Gratuity.” Any amount paid or remitted for services performed in conjunction with any sale of food or beverages, or hotel or motel accommodations which amount is in excess of the charges and the tax thereon for such food, beverages or accommodations regardless of the method of billing or payment.
(i) Brings into the Commonwealth, by automobile, truck or other means of transportation, or purchases in the Commonwealth tangible personal property the sale or use of which is subject to the tax imposed by this article or comes into the Commonwealth to perform services the sale or use of which is subject to the tax imposed by this article;
(v) “Show.” An event, the primary purpose of which involves the display or exhibition of any tangible personal property or services for sale, including, but not limited to, a flea market, antique show, coin show, stamp show, comic book show, hobby show, automobile show, fair or any similar show, whether held regularly or of a temporary nature, at which more than one vendor displays for sale or sells tangible personal property or services subject to tax under section 202 of this article.
(w) “Lobbying services.” Providing the services of a lobbyist, as defined in the definition of “lobbyist” in section 2 of the act of September 30, 1961 (P.L. 1778, No. 712), known as the “Lobbying Registration and Regulation Act.”5
(x) “Adjustment services, collection services or credit reporting services.” Providing collection or adjustments of accounts receivable or mercantile or consumer credit reporting, including, but not limited to, services of the type provided by adjustment bureaus or collection agencies, consumer or mercantile credit reporting bureaus, credit bureaus or agencies, credit clearinghouses or credit investigation services. Such services do not include providing credit card service with collection by a central agency, providing debt counseling or adjustment services to individuals or billing or collection services provided by local exchange telephone companies.
(z) “Disinfecting or pest control services.” Providing disinfecting, termite control, insect control, rodent control or other pest control services. Such services include, but are not limited to, deodorant servicing of rest rooms, washroom sanitation service, rest room cleaning service, extermination service or fumigating service. As used in this clause, the term “fumigating service” shall not include the fumigation of agricultural commodities or containers used for agricultural commodities. As used in this clause, the term “insect control” shall not include the spraying of trees which are harvested for commercial purposes for gypsy moth control.
(aa) “Building maintenance or cleaning services.” Providing services which include, but are not limited to, janitorial, maid or housekeeping service, office or interior building cleaning or maintenance service, window cleaning service, floor waxing service, lighting maintenance service such as bulb replacement, cleaning, chimney cleaning service, acoustical tile cleaning service, venetian blind cleaning, cleaning and maintenance of telephone booths or cleaning and degreasing of service stations. This term shall not include repairs on buildings and other structures; nor shall this term include the maintenance or repair of boilers, furnaces and residential air conditioning equipment or parts thereof; the painting, wallpapering or applying other like coverings to interior walls, ceilings or floors; or the exterior painting of buildings.
(bb) “Employment agency services.” Providing employment services to a prospective employer or employe other than employment services provided by theatrical employment agencies and motion picture casting bureaus. Such services shall include, but are not limited to, services of the type provided by employment agencies, executive placing services and labor contractor employment agencies other than farm labor.
(cc) “Help supply services.” Providing temporary or continuing help where the help supplied is on the payroll of the supplying person or entity, but is under the supervision of the individual or business to which help is furnished. Such services include, but are not limited to, service of a type provided by labor and manpower pools, employe leasing services, office help supply services, temporary help services, usher services, modeling services or fashion show model supply services. Such services shall not include providing farm labor services. The term shall not include human health-related services, including nursing, home health care and personal care. As used in this clause, “personal care” shall include providing at least one of the following types of assistance to persons with limited ability for self-care:
(3) does not constitute a component of a basic service tier provided by a cable television system or a cable programming service tier provided by a cable television system. A basic service tier shall include all signals of domestic television broadcast stations, any public, educational, governmental or religious programming and any additional video programming signals or service added to the basic service tier by the cable operator. The basic service tier shall also include a single additional lower-priced package of broadcast channels and access information channels which is a subset of the basic service tier as set forth above. A cable programming service tier includes any video programming other than: (i) the basic service tier; (ii) video programming offered on a pay-per-channel or pay-per-view basis; or (iii) a combination of multiple channels of pay-per-channel or pay-per-view programming offered as a package. If a purchaser receives or agrees to receive premium cable or premium video programming service, then the following charges are included in the purchase price: charges for installation or repair of any premium cable or premium video programming service, upgrade to include additional premium cable or premium video programming service, downgrade to exclude all or some premium cable or premium video programming service, additional premium cable outlets in excess of ten or any other charge or fee related to premium cable or premium video programming services. The term shall not apply to transmissions by public television, public radio services or official Federal, State or local government cable services. Nor shall the term apply to local origination programming which provides a variety of public service programs unique to the community, programming which provides coverage of public affairs issues which are presented without commentary or analysis, including United States Congressional proceedings, or programming which is substantially related to religious subjects. Nor shall the term “premium cable or premium video programming service” apply to subscriber charges for access to a video dial tone system or charges by a common carrier to a video programmer for the transport of video programming.
The term shall include boilers, chillers, air cleaners, humidifiers, fans, switchgear, pumps, telephones, speakers, horns, motion detectors, dampers, actuators, grills, registers, traffic signals, sensors, card access devices, guardrails, medial devices, floor troughs and grates and laundry equipment, together with integral coverings and enclosures, whether or not the item constitutes a fixture or is otherwise affixed to the real estate, whether or not damage would be done to the item or its surroundings upon removal or whether or not the item is physically located within a real estate structure. The term “building machinery and equipment” shall not include guardrail posts, pipes, fittings, pipe supports and hangers, valves, underground tanks, wire, conduit, receptacle and junction boxes, insulation, ductwork and coverings thereof.
(1) a charitable organization, a volunteer firemen's organization, a nonprofit educational institution or a religious organization for religious purposes and which qualifies as an institution of purely public charity under the act of November 26, 1997 (P.L. 508, No. 55),6 known as the “Institutions of Purely Public Charity Act”;
The term includes building machinery and equipment; developed or undeveloped land; streets; roads; highways; parking lots; stadiums and stadium seating; recreational courts; sidewalks; foundations; structural supports; walls; floors; ceilings; roofs; doors; canopies; millwork; elevators; windows and external window coverings; outdoor advertising boards or signs; airport runways; bridges; dams; dikes; traffic control devices, including traffic signs; satellite dishes; antennas; guardrail posts; pipes; fittings; pipe supports and hangers; valves; underground tanks; wire; conduit; receptacle and junction boxes; insulation; ductwork and coverings thereof; and any structure or item similar to any of the foregoing, whether or not the structure or item constitutes a fixture or is affixed to the real estate, or whether or not damage would be done to the structure or item or its surroundings upon removal.
(rr) “Telecommunications service.” Any one-way transmission or any two-way, interactive transmission of sounds, signals or other intelligence converted to like form which effects or is intended to effect meaningful communications by electronic or electromagnetic means via wire, cable, satellite, light waves, microwaves, radio waves or other transmission media. The term includes all types of telecommunication transmissions, such as local, toll, wide-area or any other type of telephone service; private line service; telegraph service; radio repeater service; wireless communication service; personal communications system service; cellular telecommunication service; specialized mobile radio service; stationary two-way radio service; and paging service. The term does not include any of the following:
(A) The transport over the Internet or any proprietary network using the Internet protocol of telephone calls, facsimile transmissions or other telecommunications traffic to or from end users on the public switched telephone network if the signal sent from or received by an end user is not in an Internet protocol.
(1) Thoroughbred and harness racing at which pari-mutuel wagering is conducted under the act of December 17, 1981 (P.L. 435, No. 135),7 known as the “Race Horse Industry Reform Act.”
(1) Manufactured housing, including mobile homes, which bears a label as required by and referred to in the act of November 17, 1982 (P.L. 676, No. 192),8 known as the “Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Authorization Act.”
(2) Industrialized housing as defined in the act of May 11, 1972 (P.L. 286, No. 70),9 known as the “Industrialized Housing Act.”
(yy) “Prebuilt housing sale.” A sale of prebuilt housing to a prebuilt housing purchaser, including a sale to a landlord, without regard to whether the person making the sale is responsible for installing the prebuilt housing or whether the prebuilt housing becomes a real estate structure upon installation. Temporary installation by a prebuilt housing builder for display purposes of a unit held for resale shall not be considered occupancy for residential purposes.
(bbb) “Fiscal Code.” The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.343, No.176),9 known as “The Fiscal Code.”
(ccc) “Prepaid mobile telecommunications service.” Mobile telecommunications service which is paid for in advance and which enables the origination of calls using an access number, authorization code or both, whether manually or electronically dialed, if the remaining amount of units of the prepaid mobile telecommunications service is known by the service provider of the prepaid mobile telecommunications service on a continuous basis. The term does not include the advance purchase of mobile telecommunications service if the purchase is pursuant to a service contract between the service provider and customer and if the service contract requires the customer to make periodic payments to maintain the mobile telecommunications service.
The term includes a person that may also be a vendor.
(ppp) “Peer-to-peer car-sharing payment.” Full consideration paid or delivered, or promised to be paid or delivered, to the peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace facilitator under a car-sharing program agreement, excluding charges for local sales or use tax, State sales or use tax or public transportation assistance fund fees.
(sss) “Peer-to-peer car-sharing program marketplace facilitator.” A person that facilitates peer-to-peer car sharing through a peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace and either directly or indirectly, through agreements or arrangements with third parties, collects the peer-to-peer car-sharing payment from the purchaser and transmits the payment to the shared vehicle owner.
Credits
1971, March 4, P.L. 6, No. 2, art. II, § 201. Amended 1971, Aug. 31, P.L. 362, No. 93, § 1; 1971, Sept. 9, P.L. 437, No. 105, § 1, imd. effective; 1972, May 9, P.L. 273, No. 66, § 1; 1974, May 2, P.L. 269, No. 75, § 1, imd. effective; 1974, July 20, P.L. 563, No. 192, § 1, imd. effective; 1978, Nov. 26, P.L. 1287, No. 306, § 1, imd. effective; 1978, June 9, P.L. 463, No. 62, § 1, effective in 60 days; 1980, Dec. 9, P.L. 1136, No. 202, § 1, effective in 60 days; 1983, Dec. 22, P.L. 300, No. 82, § 1, effective in 60 days; 1985, May 2, P.L. 28, No. 13, § 1, imd. effective; 1986, July 2, P.L. 318, No. 77, § 1, effective in 60 days; 1991, Aug. 4, P.L. 97, No. 22, § 1, imd. effective; 1991, Dec. 13, P.L. 373, No. 40, § 1, effective Jan. 1, 1992; 1994, June 16, P.L. 279, No. 48, § 1, effective July 1, 1994; 1995, June 30, P.L. 139, No. 21, § 1, effective July 1, 1995; 1997, May 7, P.L. 85, No. 7, § 1, effective July 1, 1997; 1998, April 23, P.L. 239, No. 45, § 1, effective July 1, 1998; 1999, May 12, P.L. 26, No. 4, § 1, effective July 1, 1999; 2000, May 24, P.L. 106, No. 23, § 1, effective July 1, 2000; 2001, June 22, P.L. 353, No. 23, § 1, effective July 1, 2001; 2002, June 29, P.L. 559, No. 89, § 1, effective July 1, 2002; 2003, Dec. 23, P.L. 250, No. 46, § 1, imd. effective; 2006, July 12, P.L. 1137, No. 116, § 1, imd. effective; 2007, July 25, P.L. 373, No. 55, § 1; 2012, July 2, P.L. 751, No. 85, § 1, imd. effective; 2013, July 9, P.L. 270, No. 52, § 1, imd. effective; 2016, July 13, P.L. 526, No. 84, § 1; 2017, Oct. 30, P.L. 672, No. 43, § 1, imd. effective; 2019, June 28, P.L. 50, No. 13, § 1, effective July 1, 2019; 2022, July 8, P.L. 513, No. 53, § 1.
Footnotes
47 P.S. § 1-101 et seq.
72 P.S. § 7202.
72 P.S. § 7217.
72 P.S. § 7204.
46 P.S. § 148.2 (repealed).
10 P.S. § 371 et seq.
4 P.S. § 325.101 et seq. (repealed).
35 P.S. § 1656.1 et seq.
72 P.S. § 1 et seq.
72 P.S. § 7201, PA ST 72 P.S. § 7201
Current through Act 11 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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