Mich. Admin. Code R 205.51 — Agricultural producing

Rule 1. (1) For the purpose of this rule, "agricultural producing" means the
commercial production, for sale, of crops, livestock, poultry, and other products by
persons regularly engaged in business as farmers, nurserymen, or agriculturists.
(2) Sales of tangible personal property are subject to the sales or use tax under this
rule, if the sales are to persons other than those specified in subrule (1), or if the
sales are made to persons specified in subrule (1), but the property is used or
consumed by those persons for a purpose other than the commercial production of
agricultural products for sale.
(3) Sales to farmers of fuel, clothing, and all other tangible personal property for
personal living or human consumption or use are taxable. Sales of tangible personal
property to all persons are taxable when the property is used in producing food or
other products for personal consumption and not for sale.
(4) All sales to persons using land, but not included in the definition of "agricultural
producing" in subrule (1), are taxable. For example, a mowing machine is taxable
when sold to the operator of a riding stable for use in cutting hay to be fed to the
operator's riding horses. The sale of the machine is exempt, however, if made to a
person regularly engaged in business as a farmer for use in cutting hay to be fed to the
farmer's work horses or cattle.
(5) Sales of the following are exempt only when used in "agricultural producing"
as defined in subrule (1):
(a) Seeds and other propagative portions of plants.
(b) Fertilizer and similar substances for improving quality of the soil.
(c) Spray materials for insecticides, germicides, and fungicides.
(d) Livestock, poultry, their feeds, and foodstuffs, including salt, bone meal, cod
liver oil, limestone, grit, oyster shell, and other similar substances used to sustain
animals or poultry.
(e) Sacks, wrappers, and other nonreturnable containers resold with crops; also,
binding twine and baling wire.
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(f) Machinery, tools, other equipment, repair parts, motor fuel, oil, grease, and
other tangible personal property necessary for their operation and maintenance, except
that sales of such equipment are taxable under the following circumstances:
(i) If the equipment is to be attached to and becomes a part of real estate.
(ii) If a motor vehicle is used on a public highway and is required by the motor
vehicle law to have registration license plates.
(iii) Gasoline, oil, tires, and parts for a motor vehicle specified in paragraph (ii).
(g) Electricity or gas used directly in producing agricultural products.
When a separate meter is not installed for recording exempt electrical use, an
allocation for exemption may be utilized if the total electrical consumption exceeds
1,500 kwh per month, or 2,500 kwh per month for homes with electric heat during the
months of November to March. (See R 205.115)
(6) Sales of all tangible personal property used to improve real estate, or attached to
and becoming a structural part of real estate, are taxable. Sales of tangible personal
property consumed or used in the construction, alteration, repair, or maintenance of
houses, barns, water supply systems, fences, drains, and all other structures and
appurtenances forming a part of real estate are taxable. Readily movable equipment,
such as portable hog houses and feeding troughs, is not considered a part of real
estate and is not taxable if used in commercial agricultural producing. Sales of tangible
personal property used in clearing land of trees, stumps, and rocks or used in
ditching, tiling, or otherwise improving real estate are taxable.
(7) Sales of seed, fertilizer, equipment, and all other tangible personal
property to anyone for use on homes or other noncommercial gardens, lawns,
parks, boulevards, and golf courses or for use by landscape gardeners are taxable.
(8) Every person, including farmers, nurserymen, and agriculturists, who sells
tangible personal property, other than food at retail, to persons for consumption or
use, and not for resale, shall obtain a sales tax license and pay the tax to the state on
the entire gross proceeds from those sales. It is immaterial whether the retail sales
are made at the place of production, a roadside stand, a market, from a vehicle,
or elsewhere.
(9) A retail sale of tangible personal property used for agricultural production
may be deducted from gross proceeds before computation of the tax if, at the time of
sale, the following certificate is signed by the purchaser:

CERTIFICATE UNDER AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCING EXEMPTION

The undersigned hereby certifies that all items, except as indicated hereon, are
purchased for use of consumption in connection with the production of
horticultural or agricultural products as a business enterprise, and agrees to
reimburse the seller the sales tax if used or consumer otherwise.

DATE _______________________
SIGNED____________________________________
Purchaser

Courtesy of Michigan Administrative Rules
ADDRESS
_______________________________________________________________

Unlawful use of this certificate subjects persons to the penalties of the sales tax act.
(10) A deduction for sales in agricultural producing shall not be taken from gross
sales for agricultural production in the absence of an executed exemption certificate,
as specified in subrule (9), covering each deductible sale. A blanket or so-called
standing or continuous certificate is not acceptable, except for continuous sales of
utilities wherein the taxability for consumption does not change from month to month.
More than 1 item upon which a claim for exemption is made may be covered by
certificate if all the items are purchased at the time of the given sale. Taxable and
nontaxable sales may be listed on the sales invoice, if taxable items are indicated.
For example, the letter "T" may be placed before a taxable item.
(11) Separate copies of the certificate may be used by sellers, or the wording
may be imprinted or rubber-stamped on sales invoices. All language expressed in the
certificate shall be used. The date of purchase or address of the purchaser may be
made to appear anywhere on the invoices;
however, provision for the signature of the purchaser shall follow the wording of
the certificate. Selection of the size of type used in the preparation of certificates is
discretionary.
(12) A deduction for agricultural producing shall not be considered in the
absence of the seller being in possession of executed certificates.