Wash. Admin. Code § 458-20-168
(1) Introduction. This rule explains the application of business and occupation (B&O), retail sales, and use taxes to persons operating:
(b) Other rules that may apply. Readers may want to refer to the rules in the following list for additional information:
• Hospitals as defined in RCW 70.41.020;
• Nursing homes as defined in RCW 18.51.010;
• Assisted living facilities as defined in RCW 18.20.020;
• Adult family homes as defined in RCW 70.128.010;
• Senior living communities as defined in RCW 82.04.040; and
• Similar health care facilities.
(2) Personal and professional services of hospitals. For purposes of this rule, the following definitions apply:
(a) Hospital services to patients. Gross income earned by hospitals for providing personal or professional services to patients is subject to B&O tax as shown in the table below. RCW 82.04.260.
| Report Income From Providing Personal or Professional Services | Reporting Classification |
| For profit hospitals | For profit hospitals B&O tax classification |
| Public and nonprofit hospitals | Public or nonprofit hospitals B&O tax classification |
Gross income earned for providing nonmedical services, interest received on patient accounts receivable, and amounts earned for providing transcribing services to physicians are subject to service and other activities B&O tax.
(b) Clinics and departments operated by hospitals. Gross income earned by medical clinics and departments providing services to patients and operated by a hospital is subject to B&O tax as shown in subsection (2)(a) of this rule, where the operation of a medical clinic or department is covered by the hospital's license. If the clinic or department is not covered by the hospital's license, the gross income earned by a medical clinic or department providing services to patients is subject to B&O tax under the service and other activities B&O tax classification.
• "Hospital" - The term hospital is as defined in RCW 70.41.020. It includes hospitals that come within the scope of chapter 71.12 RCW, but only if they are also licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW.
• "Public hospital" or "nonprofit hospital" - Public or nonprofit hospitals are hospitals operated by the state or any of its political subdivisions or operated as nonprofit corporations.
(7) Sales of tangible personal property. Retailing B&O tax applies to sales of tangible personal property sold and billed separately from the performance of personal or professional services by hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, adult family homes, and similar health care facilities. This includes charges for making copies of medical records. The seller must collect retail sales tax from the buyer and remit the tax to the department unless the sale is specifically exempt by law.
(a) Tangible personal property used in providing medical services to patients. Retailing B&O and retail sales taxes do not apply to charges to a patient for tangible personal property used in providing medical services to the patient, even if separately billed. Tangible personal property used in providing medical services is not considered to have been sold separately from the medical services simply because those items are separately invoiced. These charges, even if separately itemized, are for providing medical services.
For example, when a hospital charges a patient for drugs physically administered by the hospital staff, the charges to the patient are subject to B&O tax under the appropriate tax classification as shown in subsection (2)(a) of this rule based on the hospital making the charge. However, charges for drugs sold to persons or their caregivers, either for self-administration or administration by a caregiver other than the seller, are subject to retailing B&O tax and retail sales tax unless specifically exempt by law. Readers should refer to WAC 458-20-18801 for detailed information regarding retail sales tax exemptions that apply to sales of prescription drugs and other medical items.
(b) Sales of food, drinks, and meals. Although the sale of food, drinks, or meals is generally considered to be a retail sale:
(8) Industry reporting. This subsection discusses common reporting issues affecting persons operating medical or other health care facilities.
(b) Tax consequences if a hospital contracts with an independent contractor to provide medical services at the hospital. When a hospital contracts with an independent contractor (service provider) to provide medical services, such as managing and staffing the hospital's emergency department, the hospital may not deduct the amount paid to the service provider from its gross income. If, however, the patients are alone liable for paying the service provider, and the hospital has no personal liability, either primarily or secondarily, for paying the service provider, other than as agent for the patients, then the hospital may deduct from its gross income the amount it receives and pays to the service provider.
In addition, the service provider is subject to service and other activities B&O tax on the amount earned from the hospital for providing these services for the hospital. If the service provider subcontracts with a third party, such as a physician or nurse, to help provide medical services as an independent contractor, the service provider may not deduct from its gross income amounts paid to the subcontractor where the service provider is personally liable, either primarily or secondarily, for paying the subcontractor. If, however, the hospital is alone liable for paying the subcontractor, and the service provider has no personal liability, either primarily or secondarily, other than as agent for the hospital, then the service provider may deduct from its gross income the amount it receives from the hospital and pays to the subcontractor. For additional information regarding deductible advances and reimbursements, refer to WAC 458-20-111.
(9) B&O tax deductions, credits, and exemptions. This subsection provides information about B&O tax deductions, credits, and exemptions available to persons operating medical or other health care facilities.
(c) Adult family homes. RCW 82.04.327 provides a B&O tax exemption for gross income derived from personal and professional services of adult family homes licensed by the department of social and health services (DSHS), or which are specifically exempt from licensing under the rules of DSHS. This exemption does not apply to persons who provide home care services to clients in the clients' own residences.
For the purpose of this rule, "adult family home" has the same meaning as in RCW 70.128.010.
(d) Nonprofit kidney dialysis facilities, hospice agencies, and nonprofit nursing homes and homes for unwed mothers. RCW 82.04.4289 provides a B&O tax exemption for amounts earned as compensation for services rendered to patients or from sales of drugs for human use pursuant to a prescription furnished as an integral part of services rendered to patients by kidney dialysis facilities operated as a nonprofit corporation, nonprofit hospice agencies licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW, nonprofit nursing homes and homes for unwed mothers operated as religious or charitable organizations. This exemption applies only if no part of the net earnings earned by such an institution inures, directly or indirectly, to any person other than the institution entitled to this exemption. This exemption is available to nonprofit hospitals for income from the operation of kidney dialysis facilities if the hospital accurately identifies and accounts for the income from this activity.
Examples of nonprofit nursing homes include nursing homes operated by church organizations or by nonprofit corporations designed to assist alcoholics in recovery and rehabilitation. Nursing homes and homes for unwed mothers operated by governmental entities, including public hospital districts, do not qualify for the B&O tax exemption provided in RCW 82.04.4289.
(e) Government payments made to health or social welfare organizations. RCW 82.04.4297 provides a B&O tax deduction to health or social welfare organizations, as defined in RCW 82.04.431, for amounts earned directly from the United States, any instrumentality of the United States, the state of Washington, or any municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state of Washington as compensation for health or social welfare services.
RCW 82.04.4275 provides a B&O tax deduction for amounts health or social welfare organizations receive as compensation for providing child welfare services under a government-funded program.
A deduction is not allowed, however, for amounts that are received under an employee benefit plan. For purposes of the deduction provided by RCW 82.04.4297, "employee benefit plan" includes any plan, trust, commingled employee benefit trust, or custodial arrangement that is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 1001 et seq., or that is described in sections 125, 401, 403, 408, 457, and 501 (c)(9) and (17) through (23) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or a similar plan maintained by a state or local government, or a plan, trust, or custodial arrangement established to self-insure benefits required by federal, state, or local law.
(f) Amounts earned under a health service program subsidized by federal or state government. RCW 82.04.4311 provides a B&O tax deduction to:
• A public hospital that is owned by a municipal corporation or political subdivision; or
• A nonprofit hospital; or
• A nonprofit community health center; or
• A network of nonprofit community health centers, that qualifies as a health and social welfare organization as defined in RCW 82.04.431, for amounts earned as compensation for health care services covered under the federal medicare program authorized under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act; medical assistance, children's health, or other program under chapter 74.09 RCW; or for the state of Washington basic health plan under chapter 70.47 RCW. This deduction applies to amounts received directly or through a third party from the qualified programs or plans. However, it does not apply to amounts received from patient copayments or patient deductibles. For purposes of the deduction provided by RCW 82.04.4311, "community health center" means a federally qualified health center as defined in 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1396d as existed on August 1, 2005.
Example 3. Acme Hospital is a nonprofit hospital that qualifies as a health and social welfare organization as defined in RCW 82.04.431. Acme receives $1,000 for providing health care services to Jane, who qualifies for the federal medicare program authorized under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act. Jane is covered in a health care plan that is a combination of medicare, which is B&O tax deductible by Acme, and a medicare plus plan, which is paid for by Jane and is not B&O tax deductible by Acme. Jane pays $20 to Acme as patient copayments. Medicare pays $600 to Acme for the health care services, and the medicare plus plan pays $380. Acme may deduct only the $600 received from medicare.
(g) Blood and tissue banks. Except as otherwise provided, RCW 82.04.324 provides a B&O tax exemption for amounts earned by a qualifying blood bank, a qualifying tissue bank, or a qualifying blood and tissue bank to the extent such amounts are exempt from federal income tax.
(i) Qualifying blood bank. "Qualifying blood bank" means a blood bank that qualifies as an exempt organization under 26 U.S.C. 501 (c)(3) as existing on June 10, 2004, that is registered under 21 C.F.R., Part 607 as existing on June 10, 2004, and whose primary business purpose is the collection, preparation, and processing of blood.
"Qualifying blood bank" does not include a comprehensive cancer center that is recognized as such by the National Cancer Institute.
(iii) Qualifying blood and tissue bank. "Qualifying blood and tissue bank" means a bank that qualifies as an exempt organization under 26 U.S.C. 501 (c)(3) as existing on June 10, 2004, is registered under 21 C.F.R., Parts 607 and 1271 as existing on June 10, 2004, and whose primary business purpose is the collection, preparation, and processing of blood, and the recovery, processing, storage, labeling, packaging, or distribution of human bone tissue, ligament tissue and similar musculoskeletal tissues, skin tissue, and heart valve tissue.
"Qualifying blood and tissue bank" does not include a comprehensive cancer center that is recognized as such by the National Cancer Institute.
For the purposes of this exemption, the following definitions apply:
(h) Assisted living facilities. RCW 82.04.4337 provides a B&O tax deduction to licensed assisted living facility operators for amounts earned as compensation for providing adult residential care, enhanced adult residential care, or assisted living services under contract with the department of social and health services authorized by chapter 74.39A RCW to residents who are medicaid recipients. For the purpose of this rule, "adult residential care," "enhanced adult residential care," and "assisted living services" have the same meaning as in RCW 74.39A.009.
In addition, RCW 82.04.4264 provides a B&O tax exemption for amounts earned by a nonprofit assisted living facility licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW for providing room and domiciliary care to residents of the assisted living facility. For purposes of this rule, "nonprofit assisted living facility" means an assisted living facility that is operated as a religious or charitable organization, is exempt from federal income tax under 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501 (c)(3), is incorporated under chapter 24.03A RCW, is operated as part of a nonprofit hospital, or is operated as part of a public hospital district.
(j) Prescription drugs administered by the medical service provider. RCW 82.04.620 allows a deduction from the measure of tax for reporting under the service and other activities classification of the B&O tax (RCW 82.04.290) for amounts earned by physicians or clinics for drugs for infusion or injection by licensed physicians or their agents for human use pursuant to a prescription. This deduction only applies to amounts that:
(iii) Are covered or required under a health care service program subsidized by the federal or state government.
For the purpose of this deduction only, amounts that "are covered or required under a health care service program subsidized by the federal or state government" include any required drug copayments made directly from the patient to the physician or clinic.
Deductible amounts should be included in the gross income reported on the combined excise tax return and then identified on the appropriate deduction detail line of the return to determine the amount of taxable income.
(10) Sales, use, and other specified taxes deductions and exemptions. Unless otherwise exempt by law, hospitals, nursing homes, adult family homes, assisted living facilities, and similar health care providers are required to pay retail sales tax on purchases of equipment and supplies. The deductions and exemptions listed in this subsection are available to qualified persons.
(a) For the purpose of this subsection, the following definitions apply:
(iii) "Medical supplies" means any item of tangible personal property, including any repair and replacement parts for such tangible personal property, used by a comprehensive cancer center for the purpose of performing research on, procuring, testing, processing, storing, packaging, distributing, or using blood, bone, or tissue. The term includes tangible personal property used to:
(b) Temporary medical housing provided by a health or social welfare organization. RCW 82.08.997 provides an exemption from state and local retail sales taxes and lodging taxes for temporary medical housing provided by a health or social welfare organization. The term "health or social welfare organization" is defined in RCW 82.04.431. "Temporary medical housing" means transient lodging and related services provided to a patient or the patient's immediate family, legal guardian, or other persons necessary to the patient's mental or physical well-being.
(i) The exemption applies to the following taxes:
(ii) The exemptions in this subsection apply to charges made for "temporary medical housing" only:
(11) Buyer's responsibility to remit deferred sales or use tax. If the seller does not collect retail sales tax on a retail sale, the buyer must remit the retail sales tax, commonly referred to as "deferred sales tax", or use tax directly to the department unless the purchases are specifically exempt by law. For detailed information regarding the use tax, refer to WAC 458-20-178.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 82.01.060 and 82.32.300. WSR 24-03-081, § 458-20-168, filed 1/16/24, effective 2/16/24; WSR 22-14-014, § 458-20-168, filed 6/23/22, effective 7/24/22. Statutory Authority: RCW 82.24.550, 82.01.060, 82.08.808, 82.12.808, 82.08.02807 and 82.12.02749. WSR 21-01-062, § 458-20-168, filed 12/9/20, effective 1/9/21. Statutory Authority: RCW 82.32.300, 82.01.060(2), and 2015 c 86. WSR 15-21-092, § 458-20-168, filed 10/21/15, effective 11/21/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 82.32.300 and 82.01.060(2). WSR 14-18-019, § 458-20-168, filed 8/25/14, effective 9/25/14. Statutory Authority: RCW 82.32.300, 82.01.060(2), chapters 82.04, 82.08, 82.12 and 82.32 RCW. WSR 10-06-069, § 458-20-168, filed 2/25/10, effective 3/28/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 82.32.300 and 82.01.060(2). WSR 08-16-057, § 458-20-168, filed 7/30/08, effective 8/30/08; WSR 05-14-090, § 458-20-168, filed 6/30/05, effective 7/31/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 82.32.300 and 82.04.260(15). WSR 94-11-097, § 458-20-168, filed 5/17/94, effective 6/17/94. Statutory Authority: RCW 82.32.300. WSR 88-01-050 (Order 87-9), § 458-20-168, filed 12/15/87; WSR 87-05-042 (Order 87-1), § 458-20-168, filed 2/18/87; WSR 83-07-033 (Order ET 83-16), § 458-20-168, filed 3/15/83. Statutory Authority: RCW 82.01.060(2) and 82.32.300. WSR 78-07-045 (Order ET 78-4), § 458-20-168, filed 6/27/78; Order ET 74-2, § 458-20-168, filed 6/24/74; Order ET 70-3, § 458-20-168 (Rule 168), filed 5/29/70, effective 7/1/70.]