Cal. Code Regs. tit. 18, § 1660
(a) Definitions.
(2) Sale Under a Security Agreement.
(3) Sale and Leaseback Transactions.
(B) Special Application. Transactions structured as sales and leasebacks will also be treated as financing transactions if all of the following requirements are met:
(D) Acquisition Sale and Leaseback Transactions. No sales or use tax applies to the transfer of title to, or the lease of, tangible personal property pursuant to an acquisition sale and leaseback, which is a transaction satisfying all of the following conditions:
3. The acquisition sale and leaseback transaction is consummated on or after January 1, 1991.
The sale of the property at the end of the lease term is subject to sales or use tax. Any lease of the property by the purchaser/lessor to any person other than the seller/lessee would be subject to use tax measured by rentals payable. A lease to the seller/lessee at the end of the original lease term is subject to use tax measured by rentals payable unless such lease is pursuant to an election to exercise an option to extend the lease term, which option was contained in the original lease agreement.
(b) Leases as Sales or Purchases.
(1) In General. Any lease of tangible personal property in any manner whatsoever for a consideration is a “sale” as defined in section 6006 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and a “purchase” as defined in section 6010 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, except a lease of:
(E) Tangible personal property leased in substantially the same form as acquired by the lessor or leased in substantially the same form as acquired by a transferor as to which the lessor or his or her transferor acquired the property in a transaction that was a retail sale with respect to which the lessor or the transferor has paid sales tax reimbursement or as to which the lessor or the transferor has timely paid use tax measured by the purchase price of the property.
2. A decedent from whom the lessor acquired the property by will or by law of succession.
For purposes of 1. above, the transaction will qualify if the property is acquired in a transfer of all or substantially all of the tangible personal property held or used by the transferor in all of his or her activities requiring the holding of a seller's permit or permits or in an activity or activities not requiring the holding of a seller's permit or permits, and the ownership of the tangible personal property is substantially similar after the transfer.
As used herein, “transferor” means:
(c) General Application of Tax.
(1) Nature of Tax. In the case of a lease that is a “sale” and “purchase” the tax is measured by the rentals payable. Generally, the applicable tax is a use tax upon the use in this state of the property by the lessee. The lessor must collect the tax from the lessee at the time rentals are paid by the lessee and give him or her a receipt of the kind called for in Regulation 1686 (18 CCR 1686). The lessee is not relieved from liability for the tax until he or she is given such a receipt or the tax is paid to the state.
When the lessee is not subject to use tax (for example, insurance companies), the sales tax applies. The sales tax is upon the lessor and is measured by the rentals payable.
Neither the sales tax nor the use tax applies to leases to the United States and its instrumentalities unless federal law permits taxing the instrumentality. For a more complete explanation regarding sales to the United States and its instrumentalities see Regulation 1614 (18 CCR 1614).
The “rentals” subject to the tax include any payments required by the lease, including amounts paid for personal property taxes on the leased property, whether assessed directly against the lessee or against the lessor, but does not include amounts paid to the lessor for:
(4) Property Acquired in Exempt Transactions.
(B) A purchaser of tangible personal property acquired in a transaction which qualifies under section 6006.5(b) of the Revenue and Taxation Code and leased in substantially the same form as acquired by his or her transferor may elect to pay use tax measured by his or her transferor's purchase price of the property in lieu of tax on rental receipts. This provision has application where the transferor did not pay tax or tax reimbursement when he or she acquired the property.
For purposes of this provision, the transaction will qualify if the property is acquired in a transfer of all or substantially all of the tangible personal property held or used by the transferor in all of his or her activities requiring the holding of a seller's permit or permits or in an activity or activities not requiring the holding of a seller's permit or permits and the ownership of the tangible personal property is substantially similar after the transfer (see also (b)(1)(E) above).
(8) Tax Paid to Another State. A lessor who leases property in substantially the same form as acquired and who has paid a retail sales or use tax, or reimbursement therefor, imposed with respect to that property by any other state, political subdivision thereof or the District of Columbia prior to leasing the property in this state may credit the payment against any use tax imposed on him or her by this state because of such lease. However, to be entitled to the credit the lessor must make a timely election to measure any tax liability for the property by its purchase price, unless the out-of-state tax equals or exceeds the tax imposed on him or her by this state. If the out-of-state tax equals or exceeds the tax imposed on him or her by this state, the lessor will be deemed to have made a timely election and the rental receipts will not be subject to tax provided the property is leased in substantially the same form as acquired. If a timely election is not made, no credit will be allowed because the tax due will be a use tax measured by rental receipts and imposed directly against the lessee, a person other than the one who paid the out-of-state tax or tax reimbursement. If the lessee is not subject to use tax and the lessor does not make a timely election to pay tax measured by his or her purchase price, he or she may not credit the amount of the out-of-state tax against the tax due on the rental receipts because the tax due is a sales tax rather than a use tax.
A credit otherwise permitted by the foregoing provisions shall not be allowed against taxes which are measured by periodic payments made under a lease, to the extent that taxes imposed by any other state, political subdivision or the District of Columbia were also measured by periodic payments made under a lease prior to the lease of the property in this state.
(9) Assignment of Leases.
(A) In General-Status of Assigned Leases. The situations described in (B), (C), and (D) below involve existing leases which are “sales” and “purchases” subject to tax measured by rental payments. When such a lease is assigned, whether or not title to the leased property is transferred, the rental payments remain subject to tax, without any option to measure tax by the purchase price. An assignee-purchaser who uses the property after termination of the lease is subject to use tax measured by the purchase price as provided in (c)(6) above.
Generally, when an existing lease that is not a “sale” and “purchase” is assigned, whether or not title to the leased property is transferred, the rental payments are not subject to tax. If title is transferred, tax applies measured by the sales price.
For rules relating to the assignment of leases of mobile transportation equipment coming within the exclusions provided in sections 6006(g)(4) and 6010(e)(4) of the Revenue and Taxation Code, see Regulation 1661 (18 CCR 1661) .
(B) Assignment of a Right and Creation of a Security Interest. This type of assignment is an assignment by the lessor of the right to receive the rental payments together with the creation of a security interest in the leased property which is designated as such. The assignee has recourse against the assignor.
The assignee in this situation does not have the rights of a lessor and is not obligated to collect or pay the tax measured by the rental payments. The lessor remains subject to the obligation of collecting and reporting the tax even if he or she does not receive the rental payments directly from the lessee. The assignee, however, is obligated to remit to the board any amounts paid to him or her by the lessee as tax.
If the assignee enforces the security agreement and takes title to the property, the assignee as lessor becomes responsible for collecting and reporting the tax.
(C) Assignment of Contract with Transfer of Right, Title, and Interest for Security Purposes. This type of assignment is an assignment by the lessor of the lease contract together with the transfer of the right, title, and interest in the leased property for security purposes. After the termination of the lease, the property usually reverts to the original lessor. The assignment contract may specify that the transfer is for security purposes, or the circumstances may otherwise demonstrate it (e.g., a separate agreement that the property will be returned to the assignor at the termination of the lease). The assignee has recourse against the assignor.
In this situation, the assignee has assumed the position of a lessor. He or she is required to hold a seller's permit and is obligated to collect, report and pay the tax to the board. The assignor should obtain a resale certificate, covering the property in question, from the assignee.
(D) Assignment of Contract and All Right, Title, and Interest. This type of assignment is an assignment by the lessor of the lease contract together with the transfer of all right, title, and interest in the leased property. The assignment is not for security purposes, and the assignor does not retain any substantial ownership rights in the contract or the property. The assignee has no recourse against the assignor.
In this situation, the assignee has assumed the position of a lessor. He or she is required to hold a seller's permit and is obligated to collect, report and pay the tax to the board. The assignor should obtain a resale certificate, covering the property in question, from the assignee.
(d) Particular Applications.
(1) Portable Toilets. A lease of a portable toilet unit is a sale or purchase and tax applies measured by the lease or rental price regardless of whether the unit is leased in substantially the same form as acquired and regardless of whether sales tax reimbursement or use tax has been paid.
Charges for mandatory maintenance or cleaning services of portable toilet units are subject to tax as part of the rental price. Charges for optional maintenance or cleaning services of portable toilet units are not part of the rental price of the portable toilet units and are not subject to tax. Maintenance or cleaning services are mandatory within the meaning of this regulation when the lessee, as a condition of the lease or rental agreement, is required to purchase the maintenance or cleaning service from the lessor. Maintenance or cleaning services are optional within the meaning of this regulation when the lessee is not required to purchase the maintenance or cleaning service from the lessor.
Charges for maintenance or cleaning services will be considered mandatory and therefore part of the taxable rental price, unless the lessor provides documentary evidence establishing that such charges are optional. The terms of the lease or rental agreement determine whether the maintenance or service charges are mandatory or optional. In the absence of a lease or rental agreement, or in the absence of language in the lease or rental agreement specifying whether the maintenance or service charges are mandatory or optional, an invoice stating that the maintenance or cleaning charges are optional, and separately stating these charges from the rental charge, will be sufficient to support the exemption from tax.
Other documentary evidence may be accepted by the Board to establish that the maintenance or cleaning is performed at the option of the lessee.
When the maintenance or cleaning services are subject to tax, the supplies used to perform these services are considered to be sold with the services and may be purchased for resale. When the maintenance or cleaning services are not subject to tax, the provider of these services is the consumer of the supplies, and tax generally applies to the sale to or the use of these supplies by the provider of the maintenance or cleaning services.
(7) Property Affixed to Realty. For the purpose of this regulation, “tangible personal property” includes any leased fixture affixed to realty if the lessor has the right to remove the fixture upon breach or termination of the lease agreement, unless the lessor of the fixture is also the lessor of the realty to which the fixture is affixed. The term fixture as used herein has the same meaning as the term “fixture” in Regulation 1521 (18 CCR 1521).
Leases of structures together with the component parts of such structures, e.g., plumbing fixtures, air conditioners, water heaters, etc., will be treated as leases of real property. Accordingly, tax applies to contracts to construct such structures and the attached components in accordance with Regulation 1521 (18 CCR 1521).
On and after September 26, 1989, leases of factory-built school buildings (relocatable classrooms) as defined in paragraph (c)(4)(B) of Regulation 1521 (18 CCR 1521), “Construction Contractors”, will be treated as leases of real property with the lessor to the school or school district as the consumer. If the lessor is the manufacturer, tax applies to the manufacturer's costs of all tangible personal property used in constructing the factory-built school building. If the lessor is other than the manufacturer, tax applies to 40% of the sales price of the factory-built school building to such lessor.
For purposes of this section, “structure” does not include any prefabricated mobile homes or similar items which are registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles. It also does not include a portable building, such as a shed or kiosk, which is moveable as a unit from its site of installation, unless the building is physically attached to the realty, upon a concrete foundation or otherwise. Such a building resting in place by its own weight, whether upon the ground, a concrete slab, or sills or piers, is not a “structure”. A prefabricated or modular building similar in size to, but which is not, a factory-built school building (relocatable classroom) is a “structure” whether the building rests in place by its own weight or is physically attached to realty.
Those fixtures which are essential to the structure such as heating and air conditioning units, sinks, toilets, and faucets, which are leased by the lessor of the structure to which they are attached are considered part of the structure and therefore improvements to real property.
On the other hand, those fixtures which although being a component part of the structure are leased by other than the lessor of the structure, will be considered tangible personal property. Accordingly, the tax consequences with respect to such fixtures will be the same as with respect to any other lease of tangible personal property.
(8) Mobilehomes.
(B) The lease of a new mobilehome purchased by a retailer without payment of sales tax reimbursement or use tax and first leased on or after July 1, 1980, is excluded from classification as a continuing sale and the lessor's use of such property by leasing is subject to the use tax.
If the use of the property is for occupancy as a residence then the tax is measured by an amount equivalent to 75 percent of the purchase price paid by the lessor's vendor. In the absence of satisfactory evidence of the vendor's purchase price it shall be presumed that the measure of use tax is an amount equivalent to 60 percent of the sales price of the mobilehome to the lessor unless the vendor is also the manufacturer. If such mobilehome is purchased by the lessor from the manufacturer, the measure of the use tax liability is 75 percent of the purchase price of the mobilehome to the lessor.
If the use of the property is not for occupancy as a residence, then the tax is measured by the full retail sales price to the lessor.
(e) Grant of Privilege to Use Which is Not a Lease.
(2) Definitions.
(C) “Premises” or “business location” means a building or specific area owned or leased by a grantor or to which a grantor has an exclusive right of use or a space occupied by the personal property which a grantor allows other persons to use in place. For example:
(3) Examples of Situations Which Do Not Qualify for Exclusion from the Term “Lease.”
(A) One of several rental firms permitted by a hospital to do so rents a portable television set and stand to a hospital patient for a charge of $4.00 per day for a period of six days.
This situation does not qualify for the exclusion because the period of “use” is not for less than one day, the total rental is not less than $20 and the place of use is not the “premises” or “business location” of the rental firm since it does not have “exclusive right of use” of the hospital as regards the placing of its rental units therein nor is the space regularly occupied by it for use in place.
(B) Rental of a canoe for a period of eight hours for a total charge of $4 when the customer will use the canoe on the Russian River.
This situation does not qualify for the exclusion because the river is not the premises or business location of the grantor of the privilege.
(C) Rental of tools to be used on the premises of the owner of the tools for a period of eight hours invoiced as follows:
1 Portable lamp
$ 4
1 Wheel pulley
4
1 Portable hoist
4
1 Sander
4
1 Spray gun
5
Total rental
$21
This situation does not qualify for the exclusion because the agreement for rental of the property is a single agreement involving rental charges of $21 and does not meet the requirement that the charge be less than $20.
(D) An equipment rental firm rents a cement mixer to a customer who takes the mixer to his or her home and uses it for less than one day. The rental charge is $9. The mixer is of a type which must be firmly “in place” during the cement mixing operation.
This situation does not qualify for the exclusion because although the mixer is firmly “in place” during the mixing operation, it is not in a space regularly occupied by it for use in place by customers of the grantor.
Note: Authority cited: Section 7051, Revenue and Taxation Code. Reference: Sections 6006, 6006.1, 6006.3, 6006.5, 6009, 6010, 6010.1, 6010.65, 6010.7, 6011, 6012, 6012.6, 6016.3, 6092.1, 6094, 6094.1, 6243.1, 6244, 6244.5, 6379, 6390, 6391, 6407 and 6457, Revenue and Taxation Code; and Section 1936, Civil Code.
1. Amendment filed 11-17-83 as an emergency; effective upon filing (Register 83, No. 47). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL within 120 days or emergency language will be repealed on 3-17-84. For prior history, see Register 81, No. 30.
2. Certificate of Compliance as to 11-17-83 order transmitted to OAL 3-16-84 and filed 4-12-84 (Register 84, No. 15).
3. Amendment of subsections (c)(1) and (c)(8) filed 8-23-85; effective thirtieth day thereafter (Register 85, No. 34).
4. Amendment filed 6-26-89; operative 7-26-89 (Register 89, No. 26).
5. Amendment of subsections (b)(1)(A), (b)(1)(F) and (d)(8) filed 7-23-91; operative 8-22-91 (Register 91, No. 47).
6. Repealer of subsection (d)(3) and renumbering filed 8-27-91 as an emergency; operative 8-27-91 (Register 92, No. 13). A Certificate of Compliance must be transmitted to OAL 12-26-91 or emergency language will be repealed by operation of law on the following day.
7. Certificate of Compliance as to 8-27-91 order transmitted to OAL 12-12-91 and filed 1-13-92 (Register 92, No. 18).
8. Amendment of section and Note filed 6-30-94; operative 8-1-94 (Register 94, No. 26).
9. Change without regulatory effect repealing subsection (a)(3)(D)4. filed 6-22-95 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 95, No. 25).
10. Change without regulatory effect adding new subsection (b)(1)(F), relettering subsection, and amending Note filed 11-5-97 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 97, No. 45).
11. Amendment of subsection (c)(1) and new subsection (c)(1)(G) filed 4-25-2000; operative 5-25-2000 (Register 2000, No. 17).
12. Amendment of subsection (d)(1) and amendment of Note filed 12-6-2001; operative 1-5-2002 (Register 2001, No. 49).
13. Change without regulatory effect adding subsection (c)(1)(H) and amending Note filed 7-10-2007 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2007, No. 28).