Iowa Admin. Code r. 701—215.19(423) — Exemption for the sale of property directly and primarily used in recycling or reprocessing of waste products

The sales price of computers, computer peripherals, machinery, Revenue equipment, replacement parts, supplies, and materials used to construct or self-construct computers, computer peripherals, machinery, equipment, replacement parts, and supplies is exempt from sales and use tax when the property is directly and primarily used in recycling or reprocessing of waste products. 215.19(1) Required elements. To qualify for exemption under this rule, the purchaser must prove the property is: a. Computers, computer peripherals, machinery, equipment, replacement parts, supplies, or materials used to construct or self-construct computers, computer peripherals, machinery, equipment, replacement parts, or supplies as described in subrule 215.14(2); b. Directly used as described in subrule 215.15(2); c. Primarily used as described in subrule 215.15(2); and d. Used in: (1) Recycling of waste products as described in subrule 215.19(2); or (2) Reprocessing of waste products as described in subrule 215.19(2). 215.19(2) Recycling and reprocessing. a. “Recycling” is any process by which waste or materials that would otherwise become waste are collected, separated, or processed and revised or returned for use in the form of raw materials or products. Recycling includes but is not limited to the composting of yard waste that has been previously separated from other waste. Recycling does not include any form of energy recovery. b. “Reprocessing” is not a subcategory of processing. Reprocessing of waste products is an activity separate and independent from the processing of tangible personal property. c. Recycling or reprocessing generally begins when the waste products are collected or separated. Recycling or reprocessing generally ends when waste products are in the form of raw material or another nonwaste product. Activities that occur between these two points and are an integral part of recycling or processing qualify as recycling or reprocessing. 215.19(3) Replacement parts and supplies. a. Replacement parts. To qualify for exemption under this rule, replacement parts must satisfy the definition contained in Iowa Code section 423.3(47)“d.” In addition to the other requirements, an exempt replacement part must replace a component of a computer, computer peripheral, machinery, or equipment that is directly and primarily used in recycling or reprocessing of waste products. Tangible personal property is not an exempt replacement part under this rule if the property exclusively replaces a component of a computer, computer peripheral, machinery, or equipment that is not directly and primarily used in recycling or reprocessing of waste products. b. Supplies. To qualify for exemption under this rule, supplies must satisfy the definition contained in Iowa Code section 423.3(47)“d.” In addition to the other requirements, an exempt supply must be connected to, be used in conjunction with, or come into physical contact with a computer, computer peripheral, machinery, or equipment that is directly and primarily used in recycling or reprocessing of waste products, or an exempt supply must itself be directly and primarily used in recycling or reprocessing of waste products. Tangible personal property is not an exempt supply under this rule if the property exclusively is connected to, is used in conjunction with, or comes into physical contact with a computer, computer peripheral, machinery, or equipment that is not directly and primarily used in recycling or reprocessing of waste products. 215.19(4) Examples. a. Computers, computer peripherals, machinery, and equipment that may be exempt from sales and use tax under this rule include, but are not limited to, compactors, balers, crushers, grinders, cutters, and shears if directly and primarily used in recycling or reprocessing. b. End loaders, forklifts, trucks, conveyor systems, and other moving devices directly and primarily used in the movement of waste products during recycling or reprocessing may be exempt from sales and use tax under this rule. c. A bin or other container used to store waste products before collection for recycling or reprocessing is not directly and primarily used in recycling or reprocessing, and its sales price is not exempt from sales and use tax under this rule. Revenue[701]Ch 215, p.20 IAC 2/5/25 d. A vehicle used directly and primarily for collecting waste products for recycling or reprocessing could be a vehicle used for an exempt purpose under this rule, and such a vehicle could be exempt from the fee for new registration. Thus, a garbage truck could qualify for this exemption if the truck is directly and primarily used in recycling; however, a garbage truck primarily used to haul garbage to a landfill does not qualify for exemption under this rule. Example A: Company A recycles household waste. Company A uses several machines in its facility to separate waste products into recyclable and nonrecyclable materials and to further separate the recyclable materials into paper, plastic, or glass. The sales prices of all separating machines are exempt from sales and use tax as machines directly and primarily used in recycling of waste products. Example B: Company B uses grinding machines to convert logs, stumps, pallets, crates, and other waste wood into wood chips. Company B then uses its trucks to deliver the wood chips to local purchasers. The sales prices of the grinding machines are exempt from sales and use tax as machines directly and primarily used in recycling or reprocessing of waste products. The trucks used to transport the wood chips are not used in recycling or reprocessing because the wood chips are in their final form when loaded onto the trucks.