82.04.2404 - Manufacturers -- Processors for hire -- Semiconductor materials.

Manufacturers — Processors for hire — Semiconductor materials. (Expires December 1, 2018.)

(1) Upon every person engaging within this state in the business of manufacturing or processing for hire semiconductor materials, as to such persons the amount of tax with respect to such business is, in the case of manufacturers, equal to the value of the product manufactured, or, in the case of processors for hire, equal to the gross income of the business, multiplied by the rate of 0.275 percent.

     (2) For the purposes of this section "semiconductor materials" means silicon crystals, silicon ingots, raw polished semiconductor wafers, and compound semiconductor wafers.

     (3) A person reporting under the tax rate provided in this section must file a complete annual report with the department under RCW 82.32.534.

     (4) This section expires December 1, 2018.

[2010 c 114 § 105; 2006 c 84 § 2.]

Notes: Application -- Finding -- Intent -- 2010 c 114: See notes following RCW 82.32.585.

Effective date -- 2007 c 54 § 22; 2006 c 84 §§ 2-8: "(1)(a) Sections 2 through 8, chapter 84, Laws of 2006 and section 22, chapter 54, Laws of 2007 are contingent upon the siting, expansion, or renovation, and commercial operation of a significant semiconductor materials fabrication facility or facilities in the state of Washington.

     (b) For the purposes of this section:

     (i) "Commercial operation" means the equipment and process qualifications in the new, expanded, or renovated building are completed and production for sale has begun.

     (ii) "Semiconductor materials fabrication" means the manufacturing of silicon crystals, silicon ingots that are at least three hundred millimeters in diameter, raw polished semiconductor wafers that are at least three hundred millimeters in diameter, and compound semiconductor wafers that are at least three hundred millimeters in diameter.

     (iii) "Significant" means that the combined investment or investments by a single person, occurring at any time before December 1, 2006, of new buildings, expansion or renovation of existing buildings, tenant improvements to buildings, and machinery and equipment in the buildings, at the commencement of commercial production, is at least three hundred fifty million dollars based on actual expenditures by the person.

     (2) Except for section 1 of this act and this section, this act takes effect the first day of the month immediately following the department's determination that the contingency in subsection (1) of this section has occurred. The department shall make its determination regarding the contingency in subsection (1) of this section based on information provided to the department by affected taxpayers or representatives of affected taxpayers.

     (3) The department of revenue shall provide notice of the effective date of sections 2 through 8, chapter 84, Laws of 2006 [December 1, 2006] to affected taxpayers, the legislature, the office of the code reviser, and others as deemed appropriate by the department." [2007 c 54 § 29; 2006 c 84 § 9.]

Findings -- Intent -- 2006 c 84: "The legislature finds that the welfare of the people of the state of Washington is positively impacted through the encouragement and expansion of family wage employment in the state's manufacturing industries. The legislature further finds that targeting tax incentives to focus on key industry clusters is an important business climate strategy. Washington state has recognized the semiconductor industry, which includes the design and manufacture of semiconductor materials, as one of the state's existing key industry clusters. Businesses in this cluster in the state of Washington are facing increasing pressure to expand elsewhere. The sales and use tax exemptions for manufacturing machinery and equipment enacted by the 1995 legislature improved Washington's ability to compete with other states for manufacturing investment. In 2003 the legislature enacted comprehensive tax incentives for the semiconductor cluster that address activities of the lead product industry and its suppliers and customers. These tax incentives are contingent on the investment of at least one billion dollars in a new semiconductor microchip fabrication facility in this state, which has not occurred. This investment criteria failed to recognize the significance of potential investment in the advanced semiconductor materials sector. Therefore, the legislature intends to complement existing comprehensive tax incentives for the semiconductor cluster to address activities of the advanced semiconductor materials product industry and its suppliers and customers. Tax incentives for the semiconductor cluster are important in both retention and expansion of existing businesses and attraction of new businesses, all of which will strengthen this cluster. The legislature also recognizes that the semiconductor industry involves major investment that results in significant construction projects, which will create jobs and bring many indirect benefits to the state during the construction phase." [2006 c 84 § 1.]