Abstract, Title Insurance and Escrow Businesses

No agency filings affecting this section since 2003 The gross receipts of "abstract," "title insurance" and "escrow" businesses include all service charges representing an abstract fee, a charge for a title insurance fee or premium, or an escrow fee or service charge received by "escrow agents." The term "escrow" means any transaction wherein any person or persons, for the purpose of effecting and closing the sale, purchase, exchange, transfer, encumbrance, or lease of real or personal property to another person or persons, delivers any written instrument, money, evidence of title to real or personal property, or other thing of value to a third person to be held by such third person until the happening of a specified event or the performance of a prescribed condition or conditions, when it is then to be delivered by such third person, in compliance with instructions under which he is to act, to a grantee, grantor, promisee, promisor, obligee, obligor, lessee, lessor, bailee, bailor, or any agent or employee thereof. "Escrow agent" means any sole proprietorship, firm, association, partnership, or corporation engaged in the business of performing for compensation the duties of the third person referred to in the foregoing definition. Business and Occupation Tax Abstract, title insurance and escrow businesses are taxable under the classification retailing on gross receipts from fees or premiums charged to consumers for abstract, title insurance or escrow services. The gross income from collection contracts which do not involve an escrow as above defined is subject to tax under the classification service and other activities. Retail Sales Tax The retail sales tax must be collected and reported by abstract, title insurance and escrow businesses on fees or premiums charged for such services. The retail sales tax is applicable to sales to such businesses of forms, office supplies and equipment for use in the conduct of such businesses. [Statutory Authority: RCW 82.32.300 . WSR 83-07-033 (Order ET 83-16), § 458-20-156, filed 3/15/83; Order ET 70-3, § 458-20-156 (Rule 156), filed 5/29/70, effective 7/1/70.]