(a)
- (1) In addition to the state and local sales or use tax, there is a rental vehicle tax on the gross receipts or gross proceeds derived from the short-term rental of motor vehicles required to be licensed in Arkansas.
- (2) The rate of the rental vehicle tax is equal to ten percent (10%) of the gross receipts or gross proceeds, plus a local rental vehicle tax equal to the sales tax rate of the city and county in which the lessor’s business is located.
- (3) This section should be read in conjunction with 26 CAR §§ 30-702 and 30-1002.
(b)
- (1) A motor vehicle required to be licensed in Arkansas includes any automobile, truck, van, motorcycle, truck tractor, or other self-propelled vehicle required to be licensed for highway use under the law of Arkansas, as well as a vehicle that is titled and registered in a state other than Arkansas, but that is the type of vehicle that would be required to be registered for highway use in Arkansas.
- (2) The term “motor vehicle” does not include special mobile equipment as defined in Arkansas Code § 27-14-211 or implements of husbandry as defined in Arkansas Code § 27-14-212.
(c) The rental vehicle tax does not apply to the following:
- (1) Rentals of diesel trucks for commercial shipping;
- (2) Semitrailers, trailers, or other nonmotor vehicles;
- (3) Farm machinery or equipment leased for a commercial purpose; and
- (4) A gasoline-powered or diesel-powered truck leased or rented for residential moving or shipping.
- (d) If the consideration for the lease of the motor vehicle is not separately stated from the consideration for the lease of a trailer, then rental vehicle tax will apply to the total consideration for the rental of both vehicles.
- (e) A lessor with no physical business location should collect the city and county portion of the rental vehicle tax based on the city and county in which the lessee resides.
- (f) The rental vehicle tax applies whether or not Arkansas gross receipts or use tax was paid when the vehicle was registered.
(g)
- (1) Whether a rental of a motor vehicle is considered long-term or short-term is dependent on the written contract and period for which payment is initially due.
- (2) If a vehicle is rented initially for fourteen (14) days with the rental contract reflecting a term of rental for fourteen (14) days and the customer subsequently decides to continue renting the vehicle for twenty-one (21) more days, the transaction is treated as two (2) short-term rentals, not one (1) long-term rental.
- (3) Lessors must maintain sufficient records to establish the intended term of the rental.
Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules contained a footnote as follows: "Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 26-63-302"