§ 144.011 RSMo — Sale at retail not to include certain transfers — assumption of liability, effect of

1. For purposes of this chapter, and the taxes imposed thereby, the definition of "retail sale" or "sale at retail" shall not be construed to include any of the following:

(1) The transfer by one corporation of substantially all of its tangible personal property to another corporation pursuant to a merger or consolidation effected under the laws of the state of Missouri or any other jurisdiction;

(2) The transfer of tangible personal property incident to the liquidation or cessation of a taxpayer's trade or business, conducted in proprietorship, partnership or corporate form, except to the extent any transfer is made in the ordinary course of the taxpayer's trade or business;

(3) The transfer of tangible personal property to a corporation solely in exchange for its stock or securities;

(4) The transfer of tangible personal property to a corporation by a shareholder as a contribution to the capital of the transferee corporation;

(5) The transfer of tangible personal property to a partnership solely in exchange for a partnership interest therein;

(6) The transfer of tangible personal property by a partner as a contribution to the capital of the transferee partnership;

(7) The transfer of tangible personal property by a corporation to one or more of its shareholders as a dividend, return of capital, distribution in the partial or complete liquidation of the corporation or distribution in redemption of the shareholder's interest therein;

(8) The transfer of tangible personal property by a partnership to one or more of its partners as a current distribution, return of capital or distribution in the partial or complete liquidation of the partnership or of the partner's interest therein;

(9) The transfer of reusable containers used in connection with the sale of tangible personal property contained therein for which a deposit is required and refunded on return;

(10) The purchase by persons operating eating or food service establishments, of items of a nonreusable nature which are furnished to the customers of such establishments with or in conjunction with the retail sales of their food or beverage. Such items shall include, but not be limited to, wrapping or packaging materials and nonreusable paper, wood, plastic and aluminum articles such as containers, trays, napkins, dishes, silverware, cups, bags, boxes, straws, sticks and toothpicks;

(11) The purchase by persons operating hotels, motels or other transient accommodation establishments, of items of a nonreusable nature which are furnished to the guests in the guests' rooms of such establishments and such items are included in the charge made for such accommodations. Such items shall include, but not be limited to, soap, shampoo, tissue and other toiletries and food or confectionery items offered to the guests without charge;

(12) The purchase by persons operating hotels, motels, or other transient accommodation establishments of electricity, electrical current, water, and gas, whether natural or artificial, which are used to heat, cool, or provide water or power to the guests' accommodations of such establishments, including sleeping rooms, meeting and banquet rooms, and any other customer space rented by guests, and which are included in the charge made for such accommodations. Any person required to remit sales tax on such purchases prior to August 28, 2022, shall be entitled to a refund on such taxes remitted;

(13) The transfer of a manufactured home other than:

(a) A transfer which involves the delivery of the document known as the "Manufacturer's Statement of Origin" to a person other than a manufactured home dealer, as defined in section 700.010 , for purposes of allowing such person to obtain a title to the manufactured home from the department of revenue of this state or the appropriate agency or officer of any other state;

(b) A transfer which involves the delivery of a "Repossessed Title" to a resident of this state if the tax imposed by this chapter was not paid on the transfer of the manufactured home described in paragraph (a) of this subdivision;

(c) The first transfer which occurs after December 31, 1985, if the tax imposed by this chapter was not paid on any transfer of the same manufactured home which occurred before December 31, 1985; or

(14) Charges for initiation fees or dues to:

(a) Fraternal beneficiaries societies, or domestic fraternal societies, orders or associations operating under the lodge system a substantial part of the activities of which are devoted to religious, charitable, scientific, literary, educational or fraternal purposes;

(b) Posts or organizations of past or present members of the Armed Forces of the United States or an auxiliary unit or society of, or a trust or foundation for, any such post or organization substantially all of the members of which are past or present members of the Armed Forces of the United States or who are cadets, spouses, widows, or widowers of past or present members of the Armed Forces of the United States, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual; or

(c) Nonprofit organizations exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

2. The assumption of liabilities of the transferor by the transferee incident to any of the transactions enumerated in the above subdivisions (1) to (8) of subsection 1 of this section shall not disqualify the transfer from the exclusion described in this section, where such liability assumption is related to the property transferred and where the assumption does not have as its principal purpose the avoidance of Missouri sales or use tax.