1. (a) Taxable substance For purposes of this subchapter—

   1. (1) In general The term “taxable substance” means any substance which, at the time of sale or use by the importer, is listed as a taxable substance by the Secretary for purposes of this subchapter.

   2. (2) Determination of substances on list A substance shall be listed under paragraph (1) if—

      1. (A) the substance is contained in the list under paragraph (3), or
      2. (B) the Secretary determines, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Commissioner of Customs, that taxable chemicals constitute more than 50 percent of the weight (or more than 50 percent of the value) of the materials used to produce such substance (determined on the basis of the predominant method of production).

      If an importer or exporter of any substance requests that the Secretary determine whether such substance be listed as a taxable substance under paragraph (1) or be removed from such listing, the Secretary shall make such determination within 180 days after the date the request was filed.

   3. (3) Initial list of taxable substances

      Cumene	Methylene chloride
      Styrene	Polypropylene
      Ammonium nitrate	Propylene glycol
      Nickel oxide	Formaldehyde
      Isopropyl alcohol	Acetone
      Ethylene glycol	Acrylonitrile
      Vinyl chloride	Methanol
      Polyethylene resins, total	Propylene oxide
      Polybutadiene	Polypropylene resins
      Styrene-butadiene, latex	Ethylene oxide
      Styrene-butadiene, snpf	Ethylene dichloride
      Synthetic rubber, not containing fillers	Cyclohexane
      Urea	Isophthalic acid
      Ferronickel	Maleic anhydride
      Ferrochromium nov 3 pct	Phthalic anhydride
      Ferrochrome ov 3 pct. carbon	Ethyl methyl ketone
      Unwrought nickel	Chloroform
      Nickel waste and scrap	Carbon tetrachloride
      Wrought nickel rods and wire	Chromic acid
      Nickel powders	Hydrogen peroxide
      Phenolic resins	Polystyrene homo­polymer resins
      Polyvinylchloride resins	Melamine
      Polystyrene resins and copolymers	Acrylic and methacrylic acid resins
      Ethyl alcohol for nonbeverage use	Vinyl resins
      Ethylbenzene	Vinyl resins, NSPF.

   4. (4) Modifications to list The Secretary shall add to the list under paragraph (3) substances which meet either the weight or value tests of paragraph (2)(B) and may remove from such list only substances which meet neither of such tests.

2. (b) Other definitions For purposes of this subchapter—

   1. (1) Importer The term “importer” means the person entering the taxable substance for consumption, use, or warehousing.
   2. (2) Taxable chemicals; United States The terms “taxable chemical” and “United States” have the respective meanings given such terms by section 4662(a).
3. (c) Disposition of revenues from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands The provisions of subsections (a)(3) and (b)(3) of section 7652 shall not apply to any tax imposed by section 4671.

(Added Pub. L. 99–499, title V, § 515(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1768; amended Pub. L. 100–647, title II, § 2001(b), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3594.)

Amendments 1988—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 100–647, § 2001(b)(2), inserted at end “If an importer or exporter of any substance requests that the Secretary determine whether such substance be listed as a taxable substance under paragraph (1) or be removed from such listing, the Secretary shall make such determination within 180 days after the date the request was filed.”

Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 100–647, § 2001(b)(1), inserted “(or more than 50 percent of the value)” after “weight”.

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 100–647, § 2001(b)(3), amended par. (4) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows:

“(A) In general.—The Secretary may add substances to or remove substances from the list under paragraph (3) (including items listed by reason of paragraph (2)) as necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter.

“(B) Authority to add substances to list based on value.—The Secretary may, to the extent necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter, add any substance to the list under paragraph (3) if such substance would be described in paragraph (2)(B) if ‘value’ were substituted for ‘weight’ therein.”

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment Amendment by Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Superfund Revenue Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–499, title V, to which it relates, see section 2001(e) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 56 of this title.

Effective Date Section effective Jan. 1, 1989, see section 515(c) of Pub. L. 99–499, set out as a note under section 4671 of this title.

Transfer of Functions For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United States Customs Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.