§ 63-3622T — EQUIPMENT TO PRODUCE CERTAIN NEWSPAPERS

There are exempted from the taxes imposed by this chapter:
(a) Receipts from the sale, storage, use or other consumption in this state of tangible personal property directly used and consumed in the production of publications in a newspaper format which are distributed to the public at large and which rely on advertising revenue as their primary source of income; provided, that the purchase, storage, use or other consumption is by a business or segment of a business which is primarily devoted to such production of said publications; provided, further, that the use or consumption of such tangible personal property is necessary or essential to the performance of such publication business. This exemption does not include machinery, equipment, materials and supplies used in a manner that is incidental to the production of said publications, such as maintenance and janitorial equipment and supplies; nor does it include tangible personal property used in any activities other than the actual production of the publication and shall not include property such as office equipment and supplies, equipment and supplies used in selling and distributing activities, in research or in transportation activities; nor shall this exemption include motor vehicles or aircraft without regard to the use to which such motor vehicles or aircraft are put.
(b) Provided, further, that this exemption shall apply when the publication referred to herein is distributed to the public free of charge.
(c) Provided, further, that in order for the exemption to be applicable, at least ten percent (10%) of the total publication, computed on an average annual column inch basis, must be devoted to the publication of nonincome producing informative material.

Legislative History

[63-3622T, added 1984, ch. 239, sec. 21, p. 582; am. 1987, ch. 326, sec. 5, p. 684; am. 1999, ch. 42, sec. 11, p. 98; am. 2016, ch. 9, sec. 2, p. 8.]