Florida Sales Tax Rules

12A-1.096 Industrial Machinery and Equipment for Use in a New or Expanding Business

(1) Definitions – The following terms and phrases when used in this rule have the meaning ascribed to them except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(a) “Fixed location” means a location or plant site that is used, or intended to be used, for an extended or indefinite period of time for spaceport activities or for manufacturing, processing, compounding, or producing items of tangible personal property for sale. The term also includes a location where a portable plant is set up for a period of not less than six months in a stationary manner so as to perform the same industrial manufacturing, processing, compounding or production process that could be performed at a permanent location or plant site. The geographical limits of the fixed location for purposes of this rule are limited to the immediate permanent location or plant site. Facilities or plant units that are within the same building, or that are on the same parcel of land if not contained in a building, are considered to be one fixed location.

(b) “Industrial machinery and equipment” means tangible personal property or other property with a depreciable life of 3 years or more that is used as an integral part in the manufacturing, processing, compounding, or production of tangible personal property for sale or is exclusively used in spaceport activities. Buildings and their structural components are not industrial machinery and equipment unless the building or structural component is so closely related to the industrial machinery and equipment that it houses or supports that the building or structural component can be expected to be replaced when the machinery and equipment itself is replaced. Heating and air conditioning systems are not considered industrial machinery and equipment, unless the sole justification for their installation is to meet the requirements of the production process, even though the system may provide incidental comfort to employees, or serves, to an insubstantial degree, nonproduction activities. For example, a dehumidifier installed for the sole purpose of conditioning air in a factory, where the manufacturing of electronic components requires a controlled-humidity environment, will be considered industrial machinery and equipment. (See subsection (8) of this rule.) 

(c) “Integral to” means that the machinery and equipment provides a significant function within the production process, such that the production process could not be complete without that machinery and equipment.

(d) “Manufacture, process, compound, or produce for sale” means the various industrial operations of a business where raw materials will be put through a series of steps to make an item of tangible personal property that will be sold. The industrial operations must bring about a change in the composition or physical nature of the raw materials. Where materials are merely repackaged or redistributed, those operations are not manufacturing, processing, compounding, or producing for sale. The item of tangible personal property may be sold to another manufacturer for further processing or for inclusion as a part in another item of tangible personal property that will be sold, or the item may be sold as a finished product to a wholesaler or an end consumer. The business performing the manufacturing, processing, compounding, or production process may or may not own the raw materials. However, the phrase “manufacture, process, compound, or produce for sale” does not include fabrication, alteration, modification, cleaning, or repair services performed on items of tangible personal property belonging to others where such items of tangible personal property are not for sale.

(e) “Physically comparable” means the similarity or equivalency of the characteristics of the items of tangible personal property being manufactured, processed, compounded or produced. Physical comparability applies to the units used to measure the increase in productive output of an expanding business.

1. Example: All models of microwave ovens made by a manufacturer, regardless of specific features, would be physically comparable. However, if the manufacturer also made coffee makers, the coffee makers would not be physically comparable to microwave ovens, even though both items are generally considered small kitchen appliances.

2. Example: A beverage manufacturer produces a variety of soft drinks in various sized cans and bottles. The production of the various sized cans and bottles of soft drinks is not physically comparable. However, production is physically comparable when converted to a common physical unit, such as gallons of product.

(f) “Production process” or “production line” means those industrial activities beginning when raw materials are delivered to the new or expanding business’ fixed location and generally ending when the items of tangible personal property have been packaged for sale, or are in saleable form if packaging is not done. However, the production process may include quality control activities after the items have been packaged (or are in salable form if packaging is normally not done), such as good manufacturing practices as mandated by the Federal Food and Drug Administration to detect adulterated food or food that has been prepared, packaged, or held under unsanitary conditions.

1. The production process may encompass more than one fixed location if the business transfers work-in-process from one fixed location to a second fixed location for further manufacturing, processing, compounding, or production. For example, a company purchases machinery and equipment to produce raw orange juice at one fixed location, and this raw orange juice is transferred as work-in-process to a second fixed location where the company will use the raw orange juice to make five different products.

2. A production process does not include natural processes occurring before raw material is delivered to the receiving operation or after the packaging operation. For example, the natural transformation of grass or feed into raw milk by dairy cows is not part of the production process. In this case, the production process begins with the milking parlor. The planting, growing, or harvesting of crops, and the raising of livestock or poultry are not part of the production process. The natural aging or fermentation of alcoholic beverages or other food products, after they have been packaged, is also not part of the production process. The production process ends when the alcoholic beverage or other food product has been packaged for sale.

3. The production process does not include product design activities. For example, the computer aided design of a product where the final design program or computer file for that product will be sent to or downloaded to industrial machinery and equipment for the physical creation of the product is not a part of the production process. Similarly, the production process for printed materials does not include the initial conception or creation of the written matter. For example, the writing of a story by a reporter for subsequent printing in a newspaper is not a part of the production process. (See subsection (8) of this rule regarding machinery and equipment and the production process.)

(g) “Productive output” ordinarily means the number of units actually produced by a single plant or operation in a single continuous 12-month period. The increase in productive output shall be measured by the output for 12 continuous months, as selected by the expanding business, following the completion of the installation of machinery and equipment for the expansion project as compared to the productive output of 12 continuous months immediately preceding the beginning of the installation of machinery and equipment for the expansion project. However, the 12 continuous months post installation measurement period, as selected by the expanding business, must begin within 24 months following the completion of installation of qualifying machinery and equipment. Productive output may not be measured by sales dollars or by production labor hours for the purposes of this exemption.

(h) “Purchase,” “purchases,” or “purchasing” means the transfer of title or possession, or both, of industrial machinery and equipment for a consideration. The terms also include the acquisition of industrial machinery and equipment under a lease or rental agreement.

(i) “Purchase agreement” means a document, in the form of a purchase order issued by the purchaser, a contract for purchase with a seller or vendor, a memorandum of understanding, or a lease or rental agreement with a lessor.

(j) “Spaceport activities” means those activities as defined in Section 212.02, F.S.

(2) New Business.

(a) The purchase of industrial machinery and equipment, parts and accessories, and the installation labor thereof, is exempt from tax when purchased by a new business which uses such machinery and equipment at a fixed location in this state for exclusive use in spaceport activities, or to manufacture, process, compound, or produce items of tangible personal property for sale.

(b) Machinery and equipment must be purchased, or purchase agreement made, before the new business begins spaceport activities or starts production, and delivery of the purchased items must be made within 12 months from the beginning of spaceport activities or the start of production.

(c) The date of purchase of the machinery and equipment is established by the date of the purchase agreement. If no purchase agreement was made, or in the absence of proof that a purchase agreement was made prior to the determined beginning of spaceport activities or the start of production, the machinery and equipment vendor’s sales invoice will be the controlling document for determining whether the machinery and equipment qualifies for the exemption. No exemption will be allowed even though delivery of machinery and equipment is made within 12 months from the beginning of spaceport activities or the start of production if the machinery and equipment was ordered after the beginning of spaceport activities or the start of production. If a purchase agreement that was made prior to the start of production is amended or changed after the start of production, any amendments or changes that increase the quantity of an item of machinery or equipment will not qualify for the exemption. Any amendments or change orders to that purchase agreement that provide for the substitution of a like kind item of machinery or equipment will qualify for the exemption.

(d)1. The start of production is the date that a product is manufactured, processed, compounded, or produced where such product will be inventoried for sale or will be immediately sold. However, if this date does not reflect the actual start of production, the date of the start of production will be determined by the Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee on a-case-by case basis. In such cases, the business is required to maintain sufficient records to enable the Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee to make a proper determination as to the initial production activities of the new facility. (See subsection (6) of this rule for record keeping requirements.)

a. Initial test or trial runs necessary to calibrate or evaluate the operation of machinery and equipment, where the products made are scrapped or sold for salvage value, are not considered to be the start of production. The operation of machinery and equipment at less than full capacity, where the products made are inventoried or immediately sold, is considered to be the start of production.

b. Production is considered to have started even though the production line may not be complete, if any part(s) of the production process is subcontracted to others and a finished product can be inventoried or immediately sold.

2. The beginning of spaceport activities is the date that industrial machinery and equipment is first exclusively used for that purpose. However, if this does not reflect the actual beginning of spaceport activities, the date will be determined by the Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee on a case-by-case basis. In such cases, the business is required to maintain sufficient records to enable the Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee to make a proper determination as to the beginning of spaceport activities of the new facility. (See subsection (6) of this rule for record keeping requirements.)

(e) The Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee will determine if a business qualifies for exemption as a new business, based on the facts in each particular case.

1. A new business means a newly-formed company that opens a facility or plant, at a fixed location in this state, to manufacture, process, compound, or produce items of tangible personal property for sale, or to exclusively use industrial machinery and equipment in spaceport activities.

2. A new business means an addition to, or the enlargement of, an existing facility or plant, or the installation of additional machinery and equipment, for the purpose of manufacturing, processing, compounding, or producing items of tangible personal property for sale that represent a distinct and separate economic activity from other items that have been or are being produced at that same fixed location, or to exclusively use industrial machinery and equipment in distinct and separate spaceport activities. For example, a company that currently manufactures washing machines would be considered a new business for the purpose of installing a dedicated assembly line for the manufacturing of refrigerators. A new business does not mean an addition to, or the enlargement of, an existing facility or plant, or the installation of additional machinery and equipment at an existing facility or plant, for the purpose of manufacturing, processing, compounding, or producing component parts that were previously purchased from, or fabricated by, outside sources for inclusion in that business’ finished items of tangible personal property for sale. (See subsection (4) of this rule regarding manufacturing business classification factors.)

3. A new business means opening a new facility or plant, at a fixed location in this state, to manufacture, process, compound, or produce an item of tangible personal property for sale, or to exclusively use industrial machinery and equipment in spaceport activities, provided no other facility or plant in this state that manufactured, processed, compounded, or produced the same or a similar item of tangible personal property, or performed the same or a similar spaceport activity, at a fixed location in this state, was closed to open the new facility or plant, or will be closed within 12 months. However, this limitation concerning the closure of a facility or plant is not applicable to a mining activity when a mine is closed due to the exhaustion or depletion of the mined resource such that mining is no longer economically feasible at that location.

4. A new business does not mean the change of ownership of an existing facility or plant, at a fixed location in this state, that manufactures, processes, compounds, or produces items of tangible personal property for sale, or exclusively uses industrial machinery and equipment in spaceport activities, by a purchase arrangement, merger, or some other similar means, unless such facility or plant ceased doing productive operations for a period of not less than 12 months.

(3) Expanding Business.

(a) The purchase of industrial machinery and equipment, parts and accessories, and the installation thereof, is exempt from tax when purchased by an expanding business that uses such machinery and equipment at a fixed location in this state to increase the productive output of tangible personal property that is manufactured, processed, compounded, or produced for sale by not less than 5 percent, or for exclusive use in spaceport activities.

(b) The Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee will determine whether a business qualifies for exemption as an expanding business, based upon the facts of each case using the following guidelines:

1.a. An expanding business means an addition to, or the modernization or enlargement of, an existing facility or the installation of additional machinery and equipment to manufacture, process, compound, or produce an item of tangible personal property that is already being produced at that fixed location in this state or is similar to an item of tangible personal property that is already being produced at that fixed location.

b. An expanding business means an addition to, or the modernization or enlargement of, an existing facility or the installation of additional machinery and equipment to begin manufacturing, processing, compounding, or producing a component item of tangible personal property that will be incorporated into a finished item of tangible personal property for sale that is already being produced at that fixed location. When the component item of tangible personal property is manufactured, processed, compounded, or produced, the completion of the first component item meets the required productive output increase. When the business manufactures, processes, compounds, or produces that component for sale to others and incorporates that component in other items of tangible personal property for sale, the business would be classified as a new business.

c. For example, a washing machine manufacturer that previously purchased water pumps from an outside supplier as component parts for the washing machines would be considered an expanding business, rather than a new business, when it purchases machinery and equipment to begin manufacturing its own component water pumps and does not offer the water pumps for sale to others. When the first component water pump is produced, the manufacturer, as an expanding business, meets the required productive output increase.

d. An expanding business means an addition to, or the modernization or enlargement of, an existing facility or the installation of additional machinery and equipment to perform a spaceport activity that is already being performed, or is similar to an activity that is already being performed, at that fixed location.

2. An expanding business means closing an existing plant or an operation in a plant in this state and moving it to a new location in this state within 12 months of the closing.

3. An expanding business means the purchase of an existing facility to manufacture, process, compound, or produce an item of tangible personal property that is already being produced at that facility or is similar to an item of tangible personal property that is already being produced at that facility.

(c)1. To qualify for exemption as an expanding business, the taxpayer is required to provide information to the satisfaction of the Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee that the items purchased will be or have been used to increase the productive output of the existing facility or specific product line(s) by not less than 5 percent. An expanding business is allowed to specify whether the 5 percent increase in productive output is for the entire plant or for specific product line(s). However, where the increase in productive output applies to a product or component that becomes part of different product lines, the increase in productive output will be determined by measuring the increase in the combined output of the different product lines. Similarly, if the additional machinery and equipment affects the productive output of more than one product line, the increase in productive output must be measured by all of the product lines that have been affected.

a. Example: If a company purchases machinery and equipment that increases its production of raw orange juice by 25 percent, and this raw orange juice is used by the company to make five different products, the increase in productive output would be determined by measuring the volume increase in the combined output of all five different products.

b. Example: A beverage manufacturer that currently produces a variety of soft drinks in 12-ounce cans purchases machinery and equipment to begin making plastic bottles and also purchases additional mixing machinery and equipment to make more syrup for overall beverage production. Effectively, there are two separate expansion projects for this manufacturer. The plastic bottle expansion project will meet the required productive output increase requirement upon production of the first bottle. However, the productive output increase requirement for the additional mixing machinery and equipment must be measured by the amount of beverages produced at the plant.

c. Example: A manufacturer of coffeemakers, toasters, and microwave ovens purchases replacement machinery and equipment that is only used to make components for the coffeemakers. The productive output increase may be measured just on the production of coffeemakers.

2. The physical productive output measurement must be based on physical production data, which is directly relevant to the business and/or the product(s) being produced. A physical productive output measurement based on indirect or minor, variable components is not a relevant measurement. For example, a relevant measurement for a furniture manufacturer would be the number of pieces of furniture manufactured, not the amount of glue, paint, stain, or varnish used in the manufacturing of furniture.

3. Expanding spaceport activities are not subject to the increase in productive output requirement.

(4) Manufacturing Business Classification Factors.

(a) When an additional product is made at an existing fixed location, the determination whether that business is classified for the exemption as a new business or as an expanding business will depend upon whether the additional product represents an economic activity that is distinct and separate from a product, or a group of products, that is already being manufactured, processed, compounded, or produced at that fixed location.

(b) The Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee will make a determination regarding the classification of a business’ application for exemption on a case-by-case basis. The Department will be guided by the following factors when making a determination:

1. The general nature of the applicant’s predominant existing business;

2. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) or North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industry number of the existing product(s) versus the additional product;

3. The raw materials or components used to make the existing product(s) versus the additional product;

4. Whether the additional product is an alternative to, or represents a replacement for, the existing product(s);

5. The differences in machinery and equipment needed to make the existing product(s) versus the additional product; and

6. The units used to measure production of the existing product(s) versus the additional product.

(c) No single factor within paragraph (b) will decide whether the additional product represents a distinct and separate economic activity.

(d) Additional products that merely differ in size, color, flavor, style, packaging, or model line, or existing products that merely incorporate newer technology, are not considered to be a distinct and separate economic activity. For example, the manufacturing of electronic products based on digital technology is not a distinct and separate economic activity from the manufacturing of electronic products based on analog technology.

(e) The business claiming an exemption as a new business has the burden of demonstrating that the additional product represents a distinct and separate economic activity from a product, or group of products, that is already being manufactured, processed, compounded, or produced at the fixed location.

(5) Temporary Tax Exemption Permit – Refund or Credit.

(a) To receive the exemption provided under subsection (2) or (3), a qualifying business entity must apply to the Florida Department of Revenue, Technical Assistance and Dispute Resolution, Post Office Box 7443, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-7443, for a temporary tax exemption permit. The business entity seeking a temporary tax exemption must file an Application for Temporary Tax Exemption Permit (Form DR-1214) with the Department prior to receiving a permit or refund for the new or expanded business. Upon a tentative affirmative determination of the business’s qualification for exemption by the Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee, a temporary tax exemption permit will be issued to, or a refund authorized for, the business entity.

(b)1. A temporary tax exemption permit may be issued only to the qualified business entity which will use the qualifying machinery and equipment at a fixed location in this state in manufacturing, processing, compounding, or producing tangible personal property for sale, or for exclusive use in spaceport activities. Such permit may be extended by the business entity to its vendor(s) or to its authorized contractor(s) operating under lump sum, cost plus, fixed fee, guaranteed price, or any other type of contract executed for the purpose of constructing a new or expanded business. The authorized contractor(s) may, likewise, extend the temporary tax exemption permit to its vendor(s) for use in purchasing qualifying machinery and equipment tax exempt. The business entity that extends the temporary tax exemption permit to a contractor or subcontractor for the purpose of authorizing that contractor or subcontractor to purchase qualifying machinery and equipment tax exempt will be responsible for paying the sales and use tax on any nonqualified items purchased tax exempt by the contractor or subcontractor.

2. Upon completion of purchases of qualifying machinery and equipment, the temporary tax exemption permit is required to be delivered to the Department or returned by certified or registered mail. If the permit is returned by mail, the permit should be mailed to the Florida Department of Revenue, Technical Assistance and Dispute Resolution, P.O. Box 7443, Tallahassee, Florida 32314-7443.

(c)1. If a qualifying business entity fails to apply for a temporary tax exemption permit before purchasing qualifying machinery and equipment for a new or expanded business, or if the initial determination by the Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee is negative, the exemptions provided by subsections (2) and (3) above may be obtained only by a refund to the business entity of previously paid taxes. Refunds will not be allowed until information has been provided to the satisfaction of the Executive Director or the Executive Director’s designee that such machinery and equipment meets the requirements of this rule and is used as designated herein. Only the qualified business entity that will use the qualifying machinery and equipment at a fixed location in this state in manufacturing, processing, compounding, or producing tangible personal property for sale, or for exclusive use in spaceport activities is entitled to request a refund of sales or use taxes paid on qualifying industrial machinery and equipment, or installation thereof. 

2. Before the owners of a qualifying new or expanded business under subsection (2) or (3) may request a refund of sales or use taxes paid by their contractors on qualifying industrial machinery and equipment, or installation thereof, the following certified statement(s) must be executed:

a. If a subcontractor was involved, the subcontractor must obtain a certified statement from its supplier(s) or other subcontractor(s) certifying that the supplier or other subcontractor has remitted the tax to the State, or certifying that the subcontractor has remitted use tax directly to the State. The subcontractor must then extend the statement(s) it has executed or obtained from suppliers or other subcontractors to the prime contractor; and

b. The prime contractor must obtain a certified statement from its supplier(s) and subcontractor(s) certifying that the supplier or subcontractor has remitted the tax to the State, or certifying that the prime contractor has remitted use tax directly to the State. The prime contractor must then extend the statement(s) it has executed or obtained from its supplier(s) or subcontractor(s) to the qualifying new or expanded business entity to support the refund claim.

(d)1. The following is a suggested format for a certified statement that tax has been remitted to the State of Florida:

COMPANY, incorporated in the state of STATE, its undersigned officer who is duly authorized, hereby certifies to QUALIFYING NEW OR EXPANDING BUSINESS, OR CONTRACTOR, OR SUBCONTRACTOR it has paid sales tax to the Department of Revenue, State of Florida, totaling the sum of $_________. Said taxes were collected by COMPANY upon the sales of tangible personal property as evidenced by the attached invoice(s).

The company further certifies the sales tax for the attached invoice(s) was paid to the State of Florida in the month following the date of sale under sales tax number _________.

Dated at ________ County _______, Florida, this ___ day of ___ 20___.

AUTHORIZED OFFICER OF COMPANY

BY: _______________________________

TITLE: ____________________________

2. The above certified statement will not be necessary where the business entity claiming the refund has self-accrued and remitted the tax directly to the State of Florida. However, documentation that the tax has been remitted to the State of Florida in a timely manner is required.

(e) The right to a refund of, or credit for, sales or use taxes.

l. An application for refund by a new business must be filed within 3 years after the date the tax was paid in accordance with the timing provisions of Section 215.26(2), F.S. However, an application for refund will not be considered complete pursuant to Sections 213.255(2) and (3), F.S., and Rule 12-26.003, F.A.C., and a refund will not be approved, before the date the new business first places a product in inventory or immediately sells a product, or before the date a new business engaged in spaceport activities begins those activities.

2. An application for refund by an expanding business must be filed within 3 years after the date the tax was paid in accordance with the timing provisions of Section 215.26(2), F.S. However, an application for refund will not be considered complete pursuant to Sections 213.255(2) and (3), F.S., and Rule 12-26.003, F.A.C., and a refund will not be approved, before the date an expanding business can substantiate that the business expansion has increased the productive output at the existing facility by not less than 5 percent, or for an expanding business engaged in spaceport activities, before the date of completion of the installation of the machinery and equipment.

(6) Record Keeping Requirements. The applicant is required to maintain all necessary books and records to support the exemption. All such books, invoices, certified statements, and other records must be open for inspection by the Department at all reasonable hours at the qualifying business entity’s location in this state. Any qualifying business entity that maintains such books and records at a point outside this state is required to make such books and records available for inspection by the Department where the general records are kept.

(7) Exclusions.

(a) The exemptions provided by subsections (2) and (3) do not apply to machinery and equipment purchased or used by electric utility companies; communication companies; oil or gas exploration or production operations; publishing firms that do not export at least 50 percent of their finished product out of the state; any firm subject to regulation by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation; or any firm which does not manufacture, process, compound, or produce items of tangible personal property for sale, or exclusively use machinery and equipment in spaceport activities.

(b) If a publishing firm is also the printer of the finished product, the Department will consider the business to be a printer for the purpose of the exemption. Therefore, the above indicated 50 percent requirement would not apply to such a business.

(8) Types of industrial machinery and equipment that will or will not qualify for the exemption.

(a) For the purpose of this exemption, industrial machinery and equipment includes:

1. Special foundations required for the support of such qualifying machinery and equipment;

2. Electrical wiring from the nearest power panel or disconnect box to the qualifying machinery and equipment; and,

3. Plumbing connections necessary to connect the machinery and equipment to the nearest water supply or drain line.

(b) The exemption for industrial machinery and equipment ends at that stage of the production process where the product produced is placed in a package (or is in salable form if packaging is normally not done) to be sold to the wholesaler, retailer, or other purchaser. Machinery and equipment for the refrigerated, frozen, heated, or otherwise temperature-controlled storage or warehousing of packaged finished goods inventory, solely for preservation purposes, prior to shipment or delivery to customers, is not a part of the production process.

1. Example: A manufacturer’s cold storage facility that is used solely for the warehousing of processed and packaged foods is not a part of the production process regardless of the fact that custom palletized orders may be assembled within the cold storage facility for customers.

2. Example: A manufacturer produces a product that must be frozen to be in a salable condition. The facility that performs the freezing function also stores the product prior to shipment. The freezing facility will qualify as a part of the production process.

3. Example: Customer accessible refrigerated cases containing prepackaged meats in a butcher shop are not a part of the production process, regardless of the fact that a customer may request that a package of meat be recut, trimmed, or ground.

4. Example: Refrigerated cases containing meats or seafood that are only accessible by employees, where such meats or seafood may be further processed by packaging, cutting, grinding, or steaming or otherwise cooked, are a part of the production process.

5. Example: Bakery display cases where the baked goods are only accessible by bakery shop personnel for slicing or packaging are a part of the production process.

6. Example: Refrigerated or heated display cases or preparation units for deli items that are only accessible by deli personnel are a part of the production process.

7. Example: A citrus juice manufacturer is prohibited by federal regulations from selling its inventory of processed juice before required post-production microbial tests are performed. Accordingly, the refrigerated or frozen storage of processed juice is a part of the manufacturing process.

(c) Quality control equipment installed within the production line and required to perform quality checks on each item, article, or batch produced before the item, article, or batch can be sold qualifies for the exemption.

(d) Preproduction, random, or postproduction quality control equipment qualifies as industrial machinery and equipment, if it is an integral part of the production process.

(e) Industrial machinery and equipment that is an integral part of the production process, as well as in postproduction, such as a forklift, will qualify for the exemption.

(f) Pollution control equipment, or sanitizing and sterilizing equipment, that is an integral part of the production process qualifies for exemption.

(g) Monitoring machinery and equipment, such as computers, video, or other sensing systems or devices that are essential to the production process, qualifies for exemption.

(h) Machinery and equipment used to remove waste materials away from industrial machinery and equipment, where the removal is required to maintain the operation of the production process, will qualify for exemption. For example, equipment used to remove wood chips and sawdust from around a qualified industrial wood lathe will qualify for exemption.

(i) Parts and accessories for industrial machinery and equipment purchased for replacement, maintenance, or repair purposes do not qualify for this exemption unless purchased by:

1. A new business before production or spaceport activities begin, and delivery is made within 12 months from the start of production or spaceport activities; or

2. An expanding business before the completion of the expansion project.

3. Parts and accessories purchased for replacement, maintenance, or repair that have already received an exemption pursuant to Section 212.08(7)(xx), F.S., are not entitled to an exemption as provided in this rule.

(j) Conveyers or related equipment used to transport raw materials from the storage area located at the fixed location to the production line, or to transport work-in-process within the production line at the fixed location, will qualify for exemption.

(k) Computers and computer equipment.

1. Computers and computer equipment, such as computer aided manufacturing (CAM) systems used to direct and control the functions of exempt industrial machinery and equipment will qualify for exemption.

2. Computers and computer equipment, such as computer aided design (CAD) systems used in the conception or design of a product and computers and computer equipment used to input original images or data into a publishing system are not a part of the production process and will not qualify for exemption.

3. Computers and computer equipment used in an ancillary function, such as data storage or backup, are not a part of the production process and will not qualify for exemption.

4. Portable computers, such as laptops and similar portable devices, including digital cameras, will not qualify for exemption unless such items are exclusively used at the fixed location.

5. The initial purchase of software for qualifying computers and computer equipment will qualify for exemption. However, software license renewals will not qualify for exemption.

(l) Masks, molds, jigs, or templates, where such property is integral to the production process, will qualify for exemption. The machinery and equipment that is integral to the creation or maintenance of those masks, molds, jigs, or templates will also qualify for exemption, even though such machinery and equipment is not a direct part of the production process.

(m) Machinery and equipment used in the general repair or maintenance of the plant or production machinery and equipment, such as welders, gear-pullers, or bench grinders, does not qualify for the exemption. However, specialized machinery and equipment that is continuously required to keep production machinery and equipment calibrated or in optimum condition, such as a sharpening machine in a sawmill, will qualify for the exemption.

(n) Scales at the start of, or within, the production process that are necessary to weigh raw materials or ingredients, or finished goods at the time of packaging, will qualify for the exemption.

(o) Office equipment, such as copy machines, typewriters, fax machines, desktop printers, or calculators, will not qualify for the exemption.

(p) Equipment used for communications purposes, such as telephones, radios, intercom systems, video or television equipment, or public address systems, will not qualify for exemption.

(q) Security systems for surveillance or to prevent or restrict access to the fixed location or areas within the fixed location will not qualify for exemption.

(r) Furniture items for office or production personnel will not qualify for the exemption.

(s) General or task lighting fixtures will not qualify for the exemption.

(t) Installation labor charges qualify for exemption. However, other installation costs, such as equipment rental or expendable supplies, which do not become a physical part of qualifying machinery and equipment, will not qualify for exemption.

(u) Motor vehicles, as defined in Section 320.01, F.S., do not qualify for exemption.

(v) Locomotives or railroad cars that do not remain at the fixed location will not qualify for exemption.

(9) Leases of Machinery and Equipment.

(a) When a qualifying new or expanding business entity leases industrial machinery, equipment, or parts thereof, the exemption from tax only applies to the original term of the lease agreement. Any subsequent renewal or extensions of the original term of the lease agreement are subject to tax.

(b) The exercise of a purchase option in an operating lease is considered to be a purchase made after the start of production for a new business, or a purchase made outside the expansion project period for an expanding business, and is subject to tax.

(c) In the case of a capital lease, sales-type lease, or direct financing lease, such leases will be considered to be sales and purchases at their inception.

Rulemaking Authority 212.08(5)(b)4., 212.18(2), 213.06(1) FS. Law Implemented 212.02(4), (10)(g), (14), (19), (21), (22), 212.05, 212.06, 212.08(5)(b), (7)(xx), 212.13(2), 213.255(2), (3), 215.26(2) FS. History–New 5-11-92, Amended 7-1-99, 6-28-00, 6-19-01, 3-6-02, 4-1-08, 1-12-11, 1-17-13.