1. A. Persons operating vending machines are deemed to be retailers and selling articles of tangible personal property. The total sales from vending machine operations are considered the total selling price of the tangible personal property distributed in connection with their operations and must be reported as the amount of sales subject to tax.
2. B. Persons operating vending machines selling food, beverages, and dairy products in which the proceeds of each sale do not exceed $1, and who do not report an amount equal to 150% of the cost of items as goods consumed, are subject to the requirements of A.

3. C. For purposes of the 150% of cost formula in Section 59-12-104(3), "cost" is defined as follows.

   1. 1. In the case of retailers, cost is the total purchase price paid for products, including any packaging and incoming freight.

   2. 2. In the case of a manufacturer, cost includes the following items:

      a) acquisition costs of materials and packaging, including freight;

      b) direct manufacturing labor; and

      c) utility expenses, if a sales tax exemption has been granted on utility purchases.

4. D. Operators of vending machines, if they so desire, may divide the tax out and sell items at fractional parts of a cent, providing their records so indicate.

5. E. Where machines vending taxable items are owned by persons other than the proprietor of a place of business in which the machine is placed and the person owning the machine has control over the sales made by the machine, evidenced by collection of the money, the owner is required to secure a sales tax license. One license is sufficient for all such machines. A statement in substantially the following form must be conspicuously affixed upon each vending machine:

   "This machine is operated under Utah Sales Tax License No. "

KEY: charities, tax exemptions, religious activities, sales tax

Date of Last Change: January 1, 2026

Notice of Continuation: November 9, 2021

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 9-2-1702; 9-2-1703; 10-1-303; 10-1-306; 10-1-307; 10-1-405; 19-6-808; 26-32a-101 through 26-32a-113; 59-1-210; 59-12; 59-12-102; 59-12-103; 59-12-104; 59-12-105; 59-12-106; 59-12-107; 59-12-108; 59-12-118; 59-12-301; 59-12-352; 59-12-353