New Jersey-2010-A813-Introduced

An Act excluding charges for certain membership and initiation fees and dues from the sales and use tax, amending P.L.1966, c.30.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. Section 2 of P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-2) is amended to read as follows:

2. Unless the context in which they occur requires otherwise, the following terms when used in this act shall mean:

(a) "Person" includes an individual, trust, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, society, association, joint stock company, corporation, public corporation or public authority, estate, receiver, trustee, assignee, referee, fiduciary and any other legal entity.

(b) "Purchase at retail" means a purchase by any person at a retail sale.

(d) "Receipt" means the amount of the sales price of any tangible personal property or digital property or service taxable under this act.

(e) "Retail sale" means any sale, lease, or rental for any purpose, other than for resale, sublease, or subrent.

(1) For the purposes of this act a sale is for "resale, sublease, or subrent" if it is a sale (A) for resale either as such or as converted into or as a component part of a product produced for sale by the purchaser, including the conversion of natural gas into another intermediate or end product, other than electricity or thermal energy, produced for sale by the purchaser, or (B) for use by that person in performing the services subject to tax under subsection (b) of section 3 where the property so sold becomes a physical component part of the property upon which the services are performed or where the property so sold is later actually transferred to the purchaser of the service in conjunction with the performance of the service subject to tax.

(2) For the purposes of this act, the term "retail sale" includes: sales of tangible personal property to all contractors, subcontractors or repairmen of materials and supplies for use by them in erecting structures for others, or building on, or otherwise improving, altering, or repairing real property of others.

(3) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2005, c.126).

(4) The term "retail sale" does not include:

(A) Professional, insurance, or personal service transactions which involve the transfer of tangible personal property as an inconsequential element, for which no separate charges are made.

(B) The transfer of tangible personal property to a corporation, solely in consideration for the issuance of its stock, pursuant to a merger or consolidation effected under the laws of New Jersey or any other jurisdiction.

(D) The distribution of property by a partnership to its partners in whole or partial liquidation.

(E) The transfer of property to a corporation upon its organization in consideration for the issuance of its stock.

(F) The contribution of property to a partnership in consideration for a partnership interest therein.

(G) The sale of tangible personal property where the purpose of the vendee is to hold the thing transferred as security for the performance of an obligation of the seller.

(f) "Sale, selling or purchase" means any transfer of title or possession or both, exchange or barter, rental, lease or license to use or consume, conditional or otherwise, in any manner or by any means whatsoever for a consideration, or any agreement therefor, including the rendering of any service, taxable under this act, for a consideration or any agreement therefor.

(g) "Tangible personal property" means personal property that can be seen, weighed, measured, felt, or touched, or that is in any other manner perceptible to the senses. "Tangible personal property" includes electricity, water, gas, steam, and prewritten computer software including prewritten computer software delivered electronically.

(h) "Use" means the exercise of any right or power over tangible personal property, digital property, services to property, or services by the purchaser thereof and includes, but is not limited to, the receiving, storage or any keeping or retention for any length of time, withdrawal from storage, any distribution, any installation, any affixation to real or personal property, or any consumption of such property. Use also includes the exercise of any right or power over intrastate or interstate telecommunications and prepaid calling services. Use also includes the exercise of any right or power over utility service. Use also includes the derivation of a direct or indirect benefit from a service.

(i) "Seller" means a person making sales, leases or rentals of personal property or services.

(1) The term "seller" includes:

(A) A person making sales, leases or rentals of tangible personal property, digital property or services, the receipts from which are taxed by this act;

(B) A person maintaining a place of business in the State or having an agent maintaining a place of business in the State and making sales, whether at such place of business or elsewhere, to persons within the State of tangible personal property, digital property or services, the use of which is taxed by this act;

(C) A person who solicits business either by employees, independent contractors, agents or other representatives or by distribution of catalogs or other advertising matter and by reason thereof makes sales to persons within the State of tangible personal property, digital property or services, the use of which is taxed by this act;

(D) Any other person making sales to persons within the State of tangible personal property, digital property or services, the use of which is taxed by this act, who may be authorized by the director to collect the tax imposed by this act;

(E) The State of New Jersey, any of its agencies, instrumentalities, public authorities, public corporations (including a public corporation created pursuant to agreement or compact with another state) or political subdivisions when such entity sells services or property of a kind ordinarily sold by private persons;

(F) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2005, c.126);

(G) A person who sells, stores, delivers or transports energy to users or customers in this State whether by mains, lines or pipes located within this State or by any other means of delivery;

(H) A person engaged in collecting charges in the nature of initiation fees, membership fees or dues for access to or use of the property or facilities of a [health and fitness, athletic, sporting or] shopping club or organization; and

(I) A person engaged in the business of parking, storing or garaging motor vehicles.

(2) In addition, when in the opinion of the director it is necessary for the efficient administration of this act to treat any salesman, representative, peddler or canvasser as the agent of the seller, distributor, supervisor or employer under whom the agent operates or from whom the agent obtains tangible personal property or digital property sold by the agent or for whom the agent solicits business, the director may, in the director's discretion, treat such agent as the seller jointly responsible with the agent's principal, distributor, supervisor or employer for the collection and payment over of the tax. A person is an agent of a seller in all cases, but not limited to such cases, that: (A) the person and the seller have the relationship of a "related person" described pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1993, c.170 (C.54:10A-5.5); and (B) the seller and the person use an identical or substantially similar name, tradename, trademark, or goodwill, to develop, promote, or maintain sales, or the person and the seller pay for each other's services in whole or in part contingent upon the volume or value of sales, or the person and the seller share a common business plan or substantially coordinate their business plans, or the person provides services to, or that inure to the benefit of, the seller related to developing, promoting, or maintaining the seller's market.

(j) "Hotel" means a building or portion of it which is regularly used and kept open as such for the lodging of guests. The term "hotel" includes an apartment hotel, a motel, boarding house or club, whether or not meals are served.

(k) "Occupancy" means the use or possession or the right to the use or possession, of any room in a hotel.

(l) "Occupant" means a person who, for a consideration, uses, possesses, or has the right to use or possess, any room in a hotel under any lease, concession, permit, right of access, license to use or other agreement, or otherwise.

(m) "Permanent resident" means any occupant of any room or rooms in a hotel for at least 90 consecutive days shall be considered a permanent resident with regard to the period of such occupancy.

(n) "Room" means any room or rooms of any kind in any part or portion of a hotel, which is available for or let out for any purpose other than a place of assembly.

(o) "Admission charge" means the amount paid for admission, including any service charge and any charge for entertainment or amusement or for the use of facilities therefor.

(p) "Amusement charge" means any admission charge, dues or charge of a roof garden, cabaret or other similar place.

(q) "Charge of a roof garden, cabaret or other similar place" means any charge made for admission, refreshment, service, or merchandise at a roof garden, cabaret or other similar place.

(r) "Dramatic or musical arts admission charge" means any admission charge paid for admission to a theater, opera house, concert hall or other hall or place of assembly for a live, dramatic, choreographic or musical performance.

(s) "Lessor" means any person who is the owner, licensee, or lessee of any premises, tangible personal property or digital property which the person leases, subleases, or grants a license to use to other persons.

(t) "Place of amusement" means any place where any facilities for entertainment, amusement, or sports are provided.

(u) "Casual sale" means an isolated or occasional sale of an item of tangible personal property or digital property by a person who is not regularly engaged in the business of making retail sales of such property where the item was obtained by the person making the sale, through purchase or otherwise, for the person's own use.

(v) "Motor vehicle" includes all vehicles propelled otherwise than by muscular power (excepting such vehicles as run only upon rails or tracks), trailers, semitrailers, house trailers, or any other type of vehicle drawn by a motor-driven vehicle, and motorcycles, designed for operation on the public highways.

(w) "Persons required to collect tax" or "persons required to collect any tax imposed by this act" includes: every seller of tangible personal property, digital property or services; every recipient of amusement charges; every operator of a hotel; every seller of telecommunications; every recipient of initiation fees, membership fees or dues for access to or use of the property or facilities of a [health and fitness, athletic, sporting or] shopping club or organization; and every recipient of charges for parking, storing or garaging a motor vehicle. Said terms shall also include any officer or employee of a corporation or of a dissolved corporation who as such officer or employee is under a duty to act for such corporation in complying with any requirement of this act and any member of a partnership.

(x) "Customer" includes: every purchaser of tangible personal property, digital property or services; every patron paying or liable for the payment of any amusement charge; every occupant of a room or rooms in a hotel; every person paying charges in the nature of initiation fees, membership fees or dues for access to or use of the property or facilities of a [health and fitness, athletic, sporting or] shopping club or organization; and every purchaser of parking, storage or garaging a motor vehicle.

(y) "Property and services the use of which is subject to tax" includes: (1) all property sold to a person within the State, whether or not the sale is made within the State, the use of which property is subject to tax under section 6 or will become subject to tax when such property is received by or comes into the possession or control of such person within the State; (2) all services rendered to a person within the State, whether or not such services are performed within the State, upon tangible personal property or digital property the use of which is subject to tax under section 6 or will become subject to tax when such property is distributed within the State or is received by or comes into possession or control of such person within the State; (3) intrastate or interstate telecommunications sourced to this State pursuant to section 29 of P.L.2005, c.126 (C.54:32B-3.4); (4) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1995, c.184); (5) energy sold, exchanged or delivered in this State for use in this State; (6) utility service sold, exchanged or delivered in this State for use in this State; (7) direct mail processing services in connection with direct mail distributed in this State; (8) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2005, c.126); and (9) services the benefit of which are received in this State.

(z) "Director " means the Director of the Division of Taxation of the State Department of the Treasury, or any officer, employee or agency of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury duly authorized by the director (directly, or indirectly by one or more redelegations of authority) to perform the functions mentioned or described in this act.

(aa) "Lease or rental" means any transfer of possession or control of tangible personal property for a fixed or indeterminate term for consideration. A "lease or rental" may include future options to purchase or extend.

(1) "Lease or rental" does not include:

(A) A transfer of possession or control of property under a security agreement or deferred payment plan that requires the transfer of title upon completion of the required payments;

(B) A transfer of possession or control of property under an agreement that requires the transfer of title upon completion of required payments and payment of an option price does not exceed the greater of $100 or one percent of the total required payments; or

(C) Providing tangible personal property or digital property along with an operator for a fixed or indeterminate period of time. A condition of this exclusion is that the operator is necessary for the equipment to perform as designed. For the purpose of this subparagraph, an operator must do more than maintain, inspect, or set-up the tangible personal property or digital property.

(2) "Lease or rental" does include agreements covering motor vehicles and trailers where the amount of consideration may be increased or decreased by reference to the amount realized upon sale or disposition of the property as defined in 26 U.S.C. s.7701(h)(1).

(3) The definition of "lease or rental" provided in this subsection shall be used for the purposes of this act regardless of whether a transaction is characterized as a lease or rental under generally accepted accounting principles, the federal Internal Revenue Code or other provisions of federal, state or local law.

(bb) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.2005, c.126).

(cc) "Telecommunications" means the act or privilege of originating or receiving messages or information through the use of any kind of one-way or two-way communication; including but not limited to voice, video, facsimile, teletypewriter, computer, mobile telecommunications service or any other type of communication; using electronic or electromagnetic methods, and all services and equipment provided in connection therewith or by means thereof. "Telecommunications" shall not include:

(1) one-way radio or television broadcasting transmissions available universally to the general public without a fee;

(2) purchases of telecommunications by a telecommunications provider for use as a component part of telecommunications provided to an ultimate retail consumer who (A) originates or terminates the taxable end-to-end communications or (B) pays charges exempt from taxation pursuant to paragraph (5) of this subsection;

(3) services provided by a person, or by that person's wholly owned subsidiary, not engaged in the business of rendering or offering telecommunications services to the public, for private and exclusive use within its organization, provided however, that "telecommunications" shall include the sale of telecommunications services attributable to the excess unused telecommunications capacity of that person to another;

(4) charges in the nature of subscription fees paid by subscribers for cable television service;

(5) charges subject to the local calling rate paid by inserting coins into a coin operated telecommunications device available to the public; and

(6) purchases of telecommunications using a prepaid calling service.

(dd) "Interstate telecommunication" means any telecommunication that originates or terminates inside this State, including international telecommunication. In the case of mobile telecommunications service, "interstate telecommunication" means any mobile telecommunications service that originates in one state and terminates in another state, territory, or foreign country that is provided to a customer with a place of primary use in this State.

(ee) "Intrastate telecommunication" means any telecommunication that originates and terminates within this State. In the case of mobile telecommunications service, "intrastate telecommunication" means any mobile telecommunications service that originates and terminates within the same state that is provided to a customer with a place of primary use in this State.

(ff) "Natural gas" means any gaseous fuel distributed through a pipeline system.

(gg) "Energy" means natural gas or electricity.

(hh) "Utility service" means the transportation or transmission of natural gas or electricity by means of mains, wires, lines or pipes, to users or customers.

(ii) "Self-generation unit" means a facility located on the user's property, or on property purchased or leased from the user by the person owning the self-generation unit and such property is contiguous to the user's property, which generates electricity to be used only by that user on the user's property and is not transported to the user over wires that cross a property line or public thoroughfare unless the property line or public thoroughfare merely bifurcates the user's or self-generation unit owner's otherwise contiguous property.

(jj) "Co-generation facility" means a facility the primary purpose of which is the sequential production of electricity and steam or other forms of useful energy which are used for industrial or commercial heating or cooling purposes and which is designated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or its successor, as a "qualifying facility" pursuant to the provisions of the "Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978," Pub.L.95-617.

(kk) "Non-utility" means a company engaged in the sale, exchange or transfer of natural gas that was not subject to the provisions of P.L.1940, c.5 (C.54:30A-49 et seq.) prior to December 31, 1997.

(ll) "Pre-paid calling service" means the right to purchase exclusively telecommunications services, that must be paid for in advance, that enables the origination of calls using an access number or authorization code, whether manually or electronically dialed; provided, that the remaining amount of units of service that have been pre-paid shall be known by the service provider on a continuous basis.

(mm) "Mobile telecommunications service" means commercial mobile radio service, as defined in section 20.3 of title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations as in effect on June 1, 1999.

(nn) "Place of primary use" means the street address representative of where the customer's use of the mobile telecommunications service primarily occurs, which shall be the residential street address or the primary business street address of the customer and within the licensed service area of the home service provider. For the purposes of determining the primary place of use, the terms used shall have the meanings provided pursuant to the federal "Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act,'' 4 U.S.C.s.124 (Pub.L.106-252).

(oo) (1)"Sales price" is the measure subject to sales tax and means the total amount of consideration, including cash, credit, property, and services, for which personal property or services are sold, leased, or rented, valued in money, whether received in money or otherwise, without any deduction for the following:

(A) The seller's cost of the property sold;

(B) The cost of materials used, labor or service cost, interest, losses, all costs of transportation to the seller, all taxes imposed on the seller, and any other expense of the seller;

(D) Delivery charges;

(E) Installation charges; and

(F) The value of exempt personal property given to the purchaser where taxable and exempt personal property have been bundled together and sold by the seller as a single product or piece of merchandise.

(2) "Sales price" does not include:

(A) Discounts, including cash, term, or coupons that are not reimbursed by a third party, that are allowed by a seller and taken by a purchaser on a sale;

(B) Interest, financing, and carrying charges from credit extended on the sale of personal property or services, if the amount is separately stated on the invoice, bill of sale, or similar document given to the purchaser;

(C) Any taxes legally imposed directly on the consumer that are separately stated on the invoice, bill of sale, or similar document given to the purchaser;

(D) The amount of sales price for which food stamps have been properly tendered in full or part payment pursuant to the federal Food Stamp Act of 1977, Pub.L.95-113 (7 U.S.C.s.2011 et seq.); or

(E) Credit for any trade-in of property of the same kind accepted in part payment and intended for resale if the amount is separately stated on the invoice, bill of sale, or similar document given to the purchaser.

(pp) "Purchase price" means the measure subject to use tax and has the same meaning as "sales price."

(qq) "Sales tax" means the tax imposed on certain transactions pursuant to the provisions of the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.).

(rr) "Delivery charges" means charges by the seller for preparation and delivery to a location designated by the purchaser of personal property or services including, but not limited to, transportation, shipping, postage, handling, crating, and packing. If a shipment includes both exempt and taxable property, the seller should allocate the delivery charge by using: (1) a percentage based on the total sales price of the taxable property compared to the total sales price of all property in the shipment; or (2) a percentage based on the total weight of the taxable property compared to the total weight of all property in the shipment.

(ss) "Direct mail" means printed material delivered or distributed by United States mail or other delivery service to a mass audience or to addresses on a mailing list provided by the purchaser or at the direction of the purchaser in cases in which the cost of the items are not billed directly to the recipients. "Direct mail" includes tangible personal property or digital property supplied directly or indirectly by the purchaser to the direct mail seller for inclusion in the package containing the printed material. "Direct mail" does not include multiple items of printed material delivered to a single address.

(tt) "Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement" means the agreement entered into as governed and authorized by the "Uniform Sales and Use Tax Administration Act," P.L.2001, c.431 (C.54:32B-44 et seq.).

(uu) "Alcoholic beverages" means beverages that are suitable for human consumption and contain one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume.

(vv) "Digital property" means electronically delivered music, ringtones, movies, books, audio and video works and similar products, where the customer is granted a right or license to use, retain or make a copy of such item. Digital property does not include video programming services, including video on demand television services, and broadcasting services, including content to provide such services.

(ww) "Landscaping services" means services that result in a capital improvement to land other than structures of any kind whatsoever, such as: seeding, sodding or grass plugging of new lawns; planting trees, shrubs, hedges, plants; and clearing and filling land.

(xx) "Investigation and security services" means:

(1) investigation and detective services, including detective agencies and private investigators, and fingerprint, polygraph missing person tracing and skip tracing services;

(2) security guard and patrol services, including bodyguard and personal protection, guard dog, guard, patrol, and security services;

(3) armored car services; and

(4) security systems services, including security, burglar, and fire alarm installation, repair or monitoring services.

(yy) "Information services" means the furnishing of information of any kind, which has been collected, compiled, or analyzed by the seller, and provided through any means or method, other than personal or individual information which is not incorporated into reports furnished to other people.

(cf: P.L.2006, c.44, s.1)

2. Section 3 of P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-3) is amended to read as follows:

3. There is imposed and there shall be paid a tax of 7% upon:

(a) The receipts from every retail sale of tangible personal property or digital property, except as otherwise provided in this act.

(b) The receipts from every sale, except for resale, of the following services:

(1) Producing, fabricating, processing, printing or imprinting tangible personal property or digital property, performed for a person who directly or indirectly furnishes the tangible personal property or digital property, not purchased by him for resale, upon which such services are performed.

(2) Installing tangible personal property or digital property, or maintaining, servicing, repairing tangible personal property or digital property not held for sale in the regular course of business, whether or not the services are performed directly or by means of coin-operated equipment or by any other means, and whether or not any tangible personal property or digital property is transferred in conjunction therewith, except (i) such services rendered by an individual who is engaged directly by a private homeowner or lessee in or about his residence and who is not in a regular trade or business offering his services to the public, (ii) such services rendered with respect to personal property exempt from taxation hereunder pursuant to section 13 of P.L.1980, c.105 (C.54:32B-8.1), (iii) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1990, c.40), (iv) any receipts from laundering, dry cleaning, tailoring, weaving, or pressing clothing, and shoe repairing and shoeshining and (v) services rendered in installing property which, when installed, will constitute an addition or capital improvement to real property, property or land, other than landscaping services and other than installing carpeting and other flooring.

(3) Storing all tangible personal property not held for sale in the regular course of business; the rental of safe deposit boxes or similar space; and the furnishing of space for storage of tangible personal property by a person engaged in the business of furnishing space for such storage.

"Space for storage" means secure areas, such as rooms, units, compartments or containers, whether accessible from outside or from within a building, that are designated for the use of a customer and wherein the customer has free access within reasonable business hours, or upon reasonable notice to the furnisher of space for storage, to store and retrieve property. Space for storage shall not include the lease or rental of an entire building, such as a warehouse or airplane hanger.

(4) Maintaining, servicing or repairing real property, other than a residential heating system unit serving not more than three families living independently of each other and doing their cooking on the premises, whether the services are performed in or outside of a building, as distinguished from adding to or improving such real property by a capital improvement, but excluding services rendered by an individual who is not in a regular trade or business offering his services to the public, and excluding garbage removal and sewer services performed on a regular contractual basis for a term not less than 30 days.

(5) Direct-mail processing services, except for direct-mail processing services in connection with distribution of direct mail to out-of-State recipients.

(6) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1995, c.184).

(7) Utility service provided to persons in this State, any right or power over which is exercised in this State.

(8) Tanning services, including the application of a temporary tan provided by any means.

(9) Massage, bodywork or somatic services, except such services provided pursuant to a doctor's prescription.

(10) Tattooing, including all permanent body art and permanent cosmetic make-up applications.

(11) Investigation and security services.

(12) Information services.

(13) Transportation services originating in this State and provided by a limousine operator, as permitted by law, except such services provided in connection with funeral services.

Wages, salaries and other compensation paid by an employer to an employee for performing as an employee the services described in this subsection are not receipts subject to the taxes imposed under this subsection (b).

Services otherwise taxable under paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection (b) are not subject to the taxes imposed under this subsection, where the tangible personal property or digital property upon which the services were performed is delivered to the purchaser outside this State for use outside this State.

(c) (1) Receipts from the sale of prepared food in or by restaurants, taverns, or other establishments in this State, or by caterers, including in the amount of such receipts any cover, minimum, entertainment or other charge made to patrons or customers, except for meals especially prepared for and delivered to homebound elderly, age 60 or older, and to disabled persons, or meals prepared and served at a group-sitting at a location outside of the home to otherwise homebound elderly persons, age 60 or older, and otherwise homebound disabled persons, as all or part of any food service project funded in whole or in part by government or as part of a private, nonprofit food service project available to all such elderly or disabled persons residing within an area of service designated by the private nonprofit organization; and

(2) Receipts from sales of food and beverages sold through vending machines, at the wholesale price of such sale, which shall be defined as 70% of the retail vending machine selling price, except sales of milk, which shall not be taxed. Nothing herein contained shall affect other sales through coin-operated vending machines taxable pursuant to subsection (a) above or the exemption thereto provided by section 21 of P.L.1980, c.105 (C.54:32B-8.9).

The tax imposed by this subsection (c) shall not apply to food or drink which is sold to an airline for consumption while in flight.

(3) For the purposes of this subsection:

"Food and beverages sold through vending machines" means food and beverages dispensed from a machine or other mechanical device that accepts payment; and

"Prepared food" means:

(i) A. food sold in a heated state or heated by the seller; or

B. two or more food ingredients mixed or combined by the seller for sale as a single item, but not including food that is only cut, repackaged, or pasteurized by the seller, and eggs, fish, meat, poultry, and foods containing these raw animal foods requiring cooking by the consumer as recommended by the Food and Drug Administration in Chapter 3, part 401.11 of its Food Code so as to prevent food borne illnesses; or

C. food sold with eating utensils provided by the seller, including plates, knives, forks, spoons, glasses, cups, napkins, or straws. A plate does not include a container or packaging used to transport the food;

provided however, that

(ii) "prepared food" does not include the following sold without eating utensils:

A. food sold by a seller whose proper primary NAICS classification is manufacturing in section 311, except subsector 3118 (bakeries);

B. food sold in an unheated state by weight or volume as a single item; or

C. bakery items, including bread, rolls, buns, biscuits, bagels, croissants, pastries, donuts, danish, cakes, tortes, pies, tarts, muffins, bars, cookies, and tortillas.

(d) The rent for every occupancy of a room or rooms in a hotel in this State, except that the tax shall not be imposed upon a permanent resident.

(e) (1) Any admission charge to or for the use of any place of amusement in the State, including charges for admission to race tracks, baseball, football, basketball or exhibitions, dramatic or musical arts performances, motion picture theaters, except charges for admission to boxing, wrestling, kick boxing or combative sports exhibitions, events, performances or contests which charges are taxed under any other law of this State or under section 20 of P.L.1985, c.83 (C.5:2A-20), and, except charges to a patron for admission to, or use of, facilities for sporting activities in which such patron is to be a participant, such as bowling alleys and swimming pools. For any person having the permanent use or possession of a box or seat or lease or a license, other than a season ticket, for the use of a box or seat at a place of amusement, the tax shall be upon the amount for which a similar box or seat is sold for each performance or exhibition at which the box or seat is used or reserved by the holder, licensee or lessee, and shall be paid by the holder, licensee or lessee.

(2) The amount paid as charge of a roof garden, cabaret or other similar place in this State, to the extent that a tax upon such charges has not been paid pursuant to subsection (c) hereof.

(f) (1) The receipts from every sale, except for resale, of intrastate or interstate telecommunications sourced to this State in accordance with section 29 of P.L.2005, c.126 (C.54:32B-3.4).

(2) The receipts from every sale, except for resale, of intrastate or interstate mobile telecommunications services billed by or for a customer's home service provider and provided to a customer with a place of primary use in this State. The provisions and definitions of the federal "Mobile Telecommunications Sourcing Act," 4 U.S.C.ss.116-126 (Pub.L.106-252), are applicable herein.

(g) The receipts from every sale, except for resale, of prepaid calling service and the recharge of prepaid calling service.

(h) Charges in the nature of initiation fees, membership fees or dues for access to or use of the property or facilities of a [health and fitness, athletic, sporting or] shopping club or organization in this State, except for membership in a club or organization whose members are predominantly age 18 or under.

(i) The receipts from parking, storing or garaging a motor vehicle, excluding charges for the following types of parking: residential parking; employee parking, when provided by an employer or at a facility owned or operated by the employer; municipal metered parking; and such receipts subject to tax pursuant to any other law or ordinance.

(cf: P.L.2006, c.44, s.2)

3. Section 6 of P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-6) is amended to read as follows:

6. Unless property or services have already been or will be subject to the sales tax under this act, there is hereby imposed on and there shall be paid by every person a use tax for the use within this State of 7%, except as otherwise exempted under this act, (A) of any tangible personal property or digital property purchased at retail, including energy, provided however, that electricity consumed by the generating facility that produced it shall not be subject to tax, (B) of any tangible personal property or digital property manufactured, processed or assembled by the user, if items of the same kind of tangible personal property or digital property are offered for sale by him in the regular course of business, or if items of the same kind of tangible personal property are not offered for sale by him in the regular course of business and are used as such or incorporated into a structure, building or real property, (C) of any tangible personal property or digital property, however acquired, where not acquired for purposes of resale, upon which any taxable services described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) of section 3 of P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-3) have been performed, (D) of interstate or intrastate telecommunications and mobile telecommunications described in subsection (f) of section 3 of P.L.1966, c.30, (E) (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1995, c.184), (F) of utility service provided to persons in this State for use in this State, provided however, that utility service used by the facility that provides the service shall not be subject to tax, (G) of direct-mail processing services described in paragraph (5) of subsection (b) of section 3 of P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-3), (H) of prepaid calling service and the recharge of prepaid calling service, (I) of any services subject to tax pursuant to subsection (11), (12) or (13) of subsection (b) of section 3 of P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-3), and (J) of access to or use of the property or facilities of a [health and fitness, athletic, sporting or] shopping club or organization in this State. For purposes of clause (A) of this section, the tax shall be at the applicable rate, as set forth hereinabove, of the consideration given or contracted to be given for such property or for the use of such property including delivery charges made by the seller, but excluding any credit for property of the same kind accepted in part payment and intended for resale. For the purposes of clause (B) of this section, the tax shall be at the applicable rate, as set forth hereinabove, of the price at which items of the same kind of tangible personal property or digital property are offered for sale by the user, or if items of the same kind of tangible personal property are not offered for sale by the user in the regular course of business and are used as such or incorporated into a structure, building or real property the tax shall be at the applicable rate, as set forth hereinabove, of the consideration given or contracted to be given for the tangible personal property manufactured, processed or assembled by the user into the tangible personal property the use of which is subject to use tax pursuant to this section, and the mere storage, keeping, retention or withdrawal from storage of tangible personal property or digital property by the person who manufactured, processed or assembled such property shall not be deemed a taxable use by him. For purposes of clause (C) of this section, the tax shall be at the applicable rate, as set forth hereinabove, of the consideration given or contracted to be given for the service, including the consideration for any tangible personal property or digital property transferred in conjunction with the performance of the service, plus the cost of transportation, except where such cost is separately stated in the written contract, if any, and on the bill rendered to the purchaser. For the purposes of clause (D) of this section, the tax shall be at the applicable rate on the charge made by the telecommunications service provider. For purposes of clause (F) of this section, the tax shall be at the applicable rate on the charge made by the utility service provider. For purposes of clause (G) of this section, the tax shall be at the applicable rate on that proportion of the amount of all processing costs charged by a direct-mail processing service provider that is attributable to the service distributed in this State. For the purposes of clause (H) of this section, the tax shall be at the applicable rate on the consideration given or contracted to be given for the prepaid calling service or the recharge of the prepaid calling service. For purposes of clause (I) of this section, the tax shall be at the applicable rate on the charge made by the service provider. For purposes of clause (J) of this section, the tax shall be at the applicable rate on the charges in the nature of initiation fees, membership fees or dues.

(cf: P.L.2006, c.44, s.5)

4. This act shall take effect immediately and apply to membership periods beginning on or after the first day of the second month following the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

This bill excludes the charges for certain membership and initiation fees and dues from the tax imposed by the "Sales and Use Tax Act," P.L.1966, c.30 (C.54:32B-1 et seq.). Under the provisions of this bill, initiation fees, membership fees, and dues charged for access to or use of the property or facilities of a charitable, governmental, or for-profit health and fitness, athletic, or sporting club or organization are exempt from the seven percent tax that was first imposed by P.L.2006, c.44.

Since P.L.2006, c.44 took effect in October of 2006, the extension of the sales and use tax to membership and initiation fees and dues has significantly increased the overall costs associated with health club memberships, fitness center dues, and initiation fees for an array of athletic and sporting clubs and organizations. In addition, the taxation of membership and initiation fees and dues has sent a negative message to State residents by taxing the activities that help promote active and healthy lifestyles. Rather than reward residents who choose to be proactive in maintaining their health, improving their cardiovascular fitness, and reducing their levels of stress, the additional tax discourages physical fitness and athletic activity. By eliminating the tax, this bill reduces the overall cost of participation, and encourages residents of New Jersey to engage activities that promote their health and well-being.