S.C. Code Regs. 117-314.11 — Federal Government Construction Contracts

Sales to, or purchases by, a construction contractor of tangible personal property for use in a federal
government construction project in South Carolina for which the contractor has a written contract with
the federal government are not subject to the sales and use tax under Code Section 12-36-2120(29) if
the contract necessitating the purchase provides that title and possession of the property is to transfer
from the contractor to the federal government at the time of purchase or after the time of purchase
and such property actually transfer to the federal government in accordance with the contract or the
property becomes part of real or personal property owned by the federal government or is to transfer
to the federal government.
The purpose of this regulation is to address the application of Code Section 12-36-2120(29) to sales
to, or purchases by, a construction subcontractor of tangible personal property for use in a federal
government construction project in South Carolina for which the subcontractor has a written contract
with a general contractor who has a written contract for the project with the federal government.
For purposes of this regulation, the following example and information will be used to illustrate the
application of the exemption:
The federal government is constructing a building on a military base located in South Carolina.
After following its contracting procedures, the federal government has entered into a written contract
with a general construction contractor (''Contractor A'') to construct the building.
Contractor A has hired and entered into a written contract with a construction subcontractor
(''Subcontractor B'') to construct a certain portion of the building.
Subcontractor B in turn hires and enters into a written contract with a construction subcontractor
(''Subcontractor C'') to construct a certain portion of the building under its contract.
Contractor A, Subcontractor B, and Subcontractor C each purchase the material necessary to
complete the project from various suppliers.
Based on the example and information, the exemption in Code Section 12-36-2120(29) for federal
government contracts applies as follows:
1. Sales to, or purchases by, Contractor A of tangible personal property for use in a federal
government construction project in South Carolina as described in the facts are exempt from the sales
and use tax under Code Section 12-36-2120(29) if the written contract necessitating the purchase
provides that title and possession of the property is to transfer from Contractor A to the federal
government at the time of purchase or after the time of purchase and such property actually transfers
to the federal government in accordance with the contract or the property becomes part of real or
personal property owned by the federal government, or is to transfer to the federal government.
2. Sales to, or purchases by, Subcontractor B of tangible personal property for use in a federal
government construction project in South Carolina as described in the facts are subject to the sales and
use tax since Subcontractor B does not have a written contract with the federal government.
However, if Subcontractor B is an agent for the Contractor A, then sales to, or purchases by,
Subcontractor B of tangible personal property for use in a federal government construction project in
South Carolina as described in the facts are not subject to the sales and use tax if all other provisions of
the exemption found in Code Section 12-36-2120(29) are met and all books and records support the
existence of an agency relationship. (See information below concerning an agency relationship.)
3. Sales to, or purchases by, Subcontractor C of tangible personal property for use in a federal
government construction project in South Carolina as described in the facts are subject to the sales and
use tax since Subcontractor C does not have a written contract with the federal government.
However, if Subcontractor C is a subagent for Subcontractor B and Contractor A has specifically
granted Subcontractor B the authority to appoint a subagent that can bind Contractor A, then sales to,
or purchases by, Subcontractor C of tangible personal property for use in a federal government
construction project in South Carolina as described in the facts are not subject to the sales and use tax
if all other provision of the exemption found in Code Section 12-36-2120(29) are met and all books
and records support the existence of an agency relationship. (See information below concerning an
agency relationship.)
The Department will recognize the existence of an agency relationship with respect to the exemption
in Code Section 12-36-2120(29), such a determination must be made a case-by-case basis and that if it
is determined an agency relationship does not exist the Department will assess the applicable party
(depending on the facts) under the sales and use tax law (supplier or contractor or subcontractor) for
the tax due. (Note: Regardless of the facts and circumstances, the agency must be in writing.)
However, the Department has established the following ''safe harbor'' for which it will recognize an
agency relationship with respect to the above facts and the exemption in Code Section 12-36-2120(29):
1. Purchases by Subcontractor B: Contractor A has appointed, in writing, Subcontractor B as its
agent when purchasing tangible personal property for the federal government contract and that as a
result of this agency relationship Contractor A is liable for payment of such purchases if Subcontractor
B fails to pay the supplier and is also liable for the payment of any sales and use tax for any property
that was purchased by Subcontractor B in its capacity as agent and that does not qualify for the
exemption in Code Section 12-36-2120(29) if Subcontractor B fails to pay the tax.
Purchases by Subcontractor C: Subcontractor B has appointed, in writing, Subcontractor C as its
subagent when purchasing tangible personal property for the federal government contract and
Contractor A has specifically granted Subcontractor B the authority to appoint a subagent that can
bind Contractor A and that as a result of this subagency relationship Contractor A is liable for payment
of such purchases if Subcontractor C fails to pay the supplier and is also liable for the payment of any
sales and use tax for any property that was purchased by Subcontractor C in its capacity as subagent
and that does not qualify for the exemption in Code Section 12-36-2120(29) if Subcontractors B or C
fail to pay the tax.
2. The purchase order of Subcontractor B or Subcontractor C submitted to the supplier must
clearly state that Subcontractor B or Subcontractor C is the agent of Contractor A in purchasing the
property.
3. Contractor A has applied for and received an exemption certificate from the Department for
purposes of the exemption in Code Section 12-36-2120(29). Copies of the application for the
exemption, Form ST-10G, can be found on the Department's website at
www.sctax.org. The federal
contractor's exemption certificate that will be issued by the Department will be Form ST-404.
4. Contractor A must provide a copy of the exemption certificate to Subcontractor B and must have
completed Section C of the copy indicating that Subcontractor B and Subcontractor C are its agents in
purchasing tangible personal property for the federal construction project. Subcontractor B will in
turn provide a copy to its subagent, Subcontractor C.
Note: Only Contractor A can complete Section C of the exemption certificate. Therefore, when
Contractor A has specifically granted Subcontractor B the authority to appoint a subagent that can
bind Contractor A, Subcontractor B will be required to inform Contractor A, who then must list
Subcontractor C as its agent on a copy of the certificate.
5. Subcontractor B or Subcontractor C must provide a copy of the certificate to the supplier when
purchasing tangible personal property exempt under Code Section 12-36-2120(29).
6. All books and records support the existence of an agency relationship.
Note: Sale or purchases of tangible personal property used or consumed by the purchaser
(contractor or subcontractor) are subject to the tax. The exemption in Code Section 12-36-2120(29)
only applies property where title and possession of the property transfers from the contractor or
subcontractor to the federal government at the time of purchase or after the time of purchase or the
property purchased becomes part of real or personal property owned by the federal government.