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Bam, Tax you suckers!
Tax Implications of Firearms transfers
Introduction
This Special Notice explains how the passage of Initiative 594 ("I-594") affects the tax
collection responsibilities of licensed Washington firearms dealers.
For tax purposes, I-594:
•
Effective December 4, 2014, I-594 removes the requirement for firearms dealers
to collect sales or use tax from the transferee on firearms transfers between
unlicensed persons whether such transfers are in-state or interstate transfers.
•
Keeps the requirement for firearms dealers to collect sales or use tax from the
transferee on interstate firearms transfers by a licensed dealer.
Effective December 4, 2014, I-594 requires background checks on virtually all firearms
transfers. See I-594 for the limited exceptions to the background check requirement.
Contact your local law enforcement officials for questions unrelated to state taxes.
Previously, background checks were only required on direct purchases from licensed
firearms dealers.
The following terms apply for purposes of this Special Notice:
"Licensed dealer" means a dealer who has a Federal Firearms License (FFL) pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Sec. 923(c).
"Unlicensed person" means any person who is not an FFL gun dealer under Chapter
9.41 RCW.
"Transfer" means the intended delivery of a firearm to another person regardless of
whether there is consideration or promise of payment, including, but not limited to
transfers, sales, gifts and loans of firearms.
"Transferee" means the person that will receive the firearm in Washington.
"In-state firearms dealer involved in transferring a firearm." This is the firearms dealer
that will perform the background check before delivering the firearm to the transferee
DECEMBER 4, 2014
in Washington.
Must a licensed dealer facilitating the transfer of a firearm between unlicensed
persons collect sales tax or use tax from the transferee?
No. An in-state firearms dealer is not required to collect sales tax or use tax when a
firearm is transferred between unlicensed parties.
Is the interstate transfer of a firearm from a licensed dealer subject to sales tax or
use tax?
Yes. An in-state firearms dealer involved in the transfer of a firearm from an out-of-
state licensed firearms dealer to an unlicensed person in this state (interstate transfers)
remains responsible for collecting use tax from the transferee.
The tax due is generally determined by the purchase price paid by the transferee to the
seller, which includes freight, delivery and insurance charges. If this purchase price is not
known, or if the transferee acquires the firearm in a manner other than an arms-length
sales transaction, the firearms dealer must determine the taxable amount by using
the current fair market value of the firearm as provided by RCW 82.12.010. Current fair
market value may be determined by the insured value, a recent appraisal, or a reliable
resource, such as a respected publisher of gun values. Values are subject to audit
verification.
Does the buyer/transferee owe use tax if the in-state firearms dealer does not
collect the tax?
Yes. I-594 does not relieve the purchaser/transferee from the obligation to pay use
tax. The purchaser/transferee receiving the firearm must pay use tax directly to the
Department of Revenue as follows:
•
An unlicensed purchaser/transferee that does not have a tax reporting account with
the Department must report and pay the tax by completing and filing a Consumer
Use Tax Return. See the Department's website at www.dor.wa.gov.
•
An unlicensed purchaser/transferee that has a tax reporting account must report
and pay the use tax on their Excise Tax Return.
What taxes apply to the background check fee or other transfer fee?
Retail sales and use tax
Neither retail sales nor use tax applies to charges or fees for performing background
checks. This includes charges for processing required federal, state, and local forms,
contacting the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and for
handling the transfer.
Bam, Tax you suckers!
Tax Implications of Firearms transfers
Introduction
This Special Notice explains how the passage of Initiative 594 ("I-594") affects the tax
collection responsibilities of licensed Washington firearms dealers.
For tax purposes, I-594:
•
Effective December 4, 2014, I-594 removes the requirement for firearms dealers
to collect sales or use tax from the transferee on firearms transfers between
unlicensed persons whether such transfers are in-state or interstate transfers.
•
Keeps the requirement for firearms dealers to collect sales or use tax from the
transferee on interstate firearms transfers by a licensed dealer.
Effective December 4, 2014, I-594 requires background checks on virtually all firearms
transfers. See I-594 for the limited exceptions to the background check requirement.
Contact your local law enforcement officials for questions unrelated to state taxes.
Previously, background checks were only required on direct purchases from licensed
firearms dealers.
The following terms apply for purposes of this Special Notice:
"Licensed dealer" means a dealer who has a Federal Firearms License (FFL) pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Sec. 923(c).
"Unlicensed person" means any person who is not an FFL gun dealer under Chapter
9.41 RCW.
"Transfer" means the intended delivery of a firearm to another person regardless of
whether there is consideration or promise of payment, including, but not limited to
transfers, sales, gifts and loans of firearms.
"Transferee" means the person that will receive the firearm in Washington.
"In-state firearms dealer involved in transferring a firearm." This is the firearms dealer
that will perform the background check before delivering the firearm to the transferee
DECEMBER 4, 2014
in Washington.
Must a licensed dealer facilitating the transfer of a firearm between unlicensed
persons collect sales tax or use tax from the transferee?
No. An in-state firearms dealer is not required to collect sales tax or use tax when a
firearm is transferred between unlicensed parties.
Is the interstate transfer of a firearm from a licensed dealer subject to sales tax or
use tax?
Yes. An in-state firearms dealer involved in the transfer of a firearm from an out-of-
state licensed firearms dealer to an unlicensed person in this state (interstate transfers)
remains responsible for collecting use tax from the transferee.
The tax due is generally determined by the purchase price paid by the transferee to the
seller, which includes freight, delivery and insurance charges. If this purchase price is not
known, or if the transferee acquires the firearm in a manner other than an arms-length
sales transaction, the firearms dealer must determine the taxable amount by using
the current fair market value of the firearm as provided by RCW 82.12.010. Current fair
market value may be determined by the insured value, a recent appraisal, or a reliable
resource, such as a respected publisher of gun values. Values are subject to audit
verification.
Does the buyer/transferee owe use tax if the in-state firearms dealer does not
collect the tax?
Yes. I-594 does not relieve the purchaser/transferee from the obligation to pay use
tax. The purchaser/transferee receiving the firearm must pay use tax directly to the
Department of Revenue as follows:
•
An unlicensed purchaser/transferee that does not have a tax reporting account with
the Department must report and pay the tax by completing and filing a Consumer
Use Tax Return. See the Department's website at www.dor.wa.gov.
•
An unlicensed purchaser/transferee that has a tax reporting account must report
and pay the use tax on their Excise Tax Return.
What taxes apply to the background check fee or other transfer fee?
Retail sales and use tax
Neither retail sales nor use tax applies to charges or fees for performing background
checks. This includes charges for processing required federal, state, and local forms,
contacting the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and for
handling the transfer.
