Saturday is a big day for aerospace companies in Washington state – the day that the first in a series of industry tax breaks takes effect.
The tax breaks are a big part of the $3.2 billion incentive package the Legislature approved in 2003 as part of the campaign to persuade the Boeing Co. to locate its 787 final assembly line in Everett.
That fact that the tax breaks are tied to a Boeing jet program has led to the common misperception that all $3.2 billion is going to Boeing. Actually, all companies that build jet parts in the state can take advantage of the business and occupation tax breaks.
The Snohomish County Economic Development Council sponsored a workshop last week to explain how they will work. Representatives of about 30 companies showed up for the presentation.
“The Legislature provided these tax incentives, and we want … to make sure you take full advantage of what’s due to you,” said Julie Sexton, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Revenue.
Starting Saturday, the B&O tax rate for aerospace companies will drop 12.5 percent. The rate will fall again in 2007 – assuming that Boeing starts final assembly of the first 787 by the end of that year.
The reduced rate will apply to revenues generated by the sales of Federal Aviation Administration-certified parts for use on commercial airplanes, or on commercial airplanes converted for military use, Sexton said.
The rate will stay in effect until June 30, 2024, she said. The tax cut represents about 90 percent of the value of the entire 787 package.
However, companies can also benefit from a B&O tax credit that will be given for money spent developing new airplane parts, Sexton said.
The credit is similar to the one granted to high-tech companies for research and development spending. Aerospace companies can take a credit equal to 1.5 percent of what they spend for employee wages and benefits, as long as the companies show that those people were working to develop new products.
The credit can apply to spending on new manufacturing tools for the industry, Sexton said, but it doesn’t apply to money a company might spend on outsourced research and development.
There’s also a B&O tax credit for companies that expand or construct new buildings or buy new machinery for aerospace manufacturing.
The credit offsets, dollar for dollar, any increased property taxes a company would have to pay on a new or expanding facility.
The tax credit on machinery applies to manufacturing equipment, not office equipment, Sexton said. “It’s not going to be your Xerox machine or computer.”
There is, however, a sales tax exemption for computer equipment and software a company might buy, so long as it’s used for aerospace design or manufacturing more than 50 percent of the time.
In general, Sexton said, it’s a good idea for companies to sign up to file their state taxes electronically, and if any have questions about how to calculate their tax benefits under the programs, they should request a “letter of ruling” from the Revenue Department.
Reporter Bryan Corliss: 425-339-3454 or corliss@ heraldnet.com.
Bryan Corliss
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