CCLME.ORG - Special fuel tax act.
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(continued) to establish the existence of any alleged violations of or noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter or any rules or regulations issued hereunder.

For the purpose of any investigation or proceeding under this chapter, the director or any officer designated by him may administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, correspondence, memoranda, agreements, or other documents or records which the director deems relevant or material to the inquiry.

In case of contumacy by or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to, any person, any court of competent jurisdiction upon application by the director, may issue to that person an order requiring him to appear before the director, or the officer designated by him to produce testimony or other evidence touching the matter under investigation or in question. The failure to obey an order of the court may be punishable by contempt.


[1979 c 40 § 20.]




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82.38.280
State preempts tax field.
The tax levied in this chapter is in lieu of any excise, privilege, or occupational tax upon the business of manufacturing, selling, or distributing special fuel, and no city, town, county, township or other subdivision or municipal corporation of the state shall levy or collect any excise tax upon or measured by the sale, receipt, distribution, or use of special fuel, except as provided in chapter 82.80 RCW and RCW 82.47.020.


[2003 c 350 § 6; 1991 c 173 § 5; 1990 c 42 § 205; 1979 ex.s. c 181 § 6; 1971 ex.s. c 175 § 29.]

Notes: Effective date -- 1991 c 173: See note following RCW 82.47.010.

Purpose -- Headings -- Severability -- Effective dates -- Application -- Implementation -- 1990 c 42: See notes following RCW 82.36.025.


Effective date -- Severability -- 1979 ex.s. c 181: See notes following RCW 82.36.440.







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82.38.285
Tax liability of user — Exceptions.
It is intended that the ultimate liability for the tax imposed under this chapter be upon the user, regardless of the manner in which collection of the tax is provided for in this chapter. However, this section does not apply to agreements between the department and federally recognized Indian tribes entered into under RCW 82.38.310, nor does it apply to the consent decrees entered in Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation v. Washington Department of Licensing, No. CS-92-248-JLQ (E.D. Wash.) and Teo v. Steffenson, No. CY-93-3050-AAM (E.D. Wash.).


[1998 c 176 § 81.]




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82.38.290
Disposition of funds.
All taxes, interest and penalties collected under this chapter shall be credited and deposited in the same manner as are motor vehicle fuel taxes collected under RCW 82.36.410.


[1971 ex.s. c 175 § 30.]




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82.38.300
Judicial review and appeals.
Judicial review and appeals shall be governed by the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW.


[1971 ex.s. c 175 § 31.]




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82.38.310
Agreement with tribe for imposition, collection, use.
The department of licensing may enter into an agreement with any federally recognized Indian tribe located on a reservation within this state regarding the imposition, collection, and use of this state's special fuel tax, or the budgeting or use of moneys in lieu thereof, upon terms substantially the same as those in the consent decree entered by the federal district court (Eastern District of Washington) in Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation v. DOL, et al., District Court No. CY-92-248-JLO.


[1995 c 320 § 3.]

Notes: Legislative recognition, belief -- Severability -- Effective date -- 1995 c 320: See notes following RCW 82.36.450.






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82.38.320
Bulk storage of special fuel by international fuel tax agreement licensee — Authorization to pay tax at time of filing tax return — Schedule — Report — Exemptions.
(1) An international fuel tax agreement licensee who meets the qualifications in subsection (2) of this section may be given special authorization by the department to purchase special fuel delivered into bulk storage without payment of the special fuel tax at the time the fuel is purchased. The special authorization applies only to full truck-trailer loads filled at a terminal rack and delivered directly to the bulk storage facilities of the special authorization holder. The licensee shall pay special fuel tax on the fuel at the time the licensee files their international fuel tax agreement tax return and accompanying schedule with the department. The accompanying schedule shall be provided in a form and manner determined by the department and shall contain information on purchases and usage of all nondyed special fuel purchased during the reporting period. In addition, by the fifteenth day of the month following the month in which fuel under the special authorization was purchased, the licensee must report to the department, the name of the seller and the number of gallons purchased for each purchase of such fuel, and any other information as the department may require.

(2) To receive or maintain special authorization under subsection (1) of this section, the following conditions regarding the international fuel tax agreement licensee must apply:

(a) During the period encompassing the four consecutive calendar quarters immediately preceding the fourth calendar quarter of the previous year, the number of gallons consumed outside the state of Washington as reported on the licensee's international fuel tax agreement tax returns must have been equal to at least twenty percent of the nondyed special fuel gallons, including fuel used on-road and off-road, purchased by the licensee in the state of Washington, as reported on the accompanying schedules required under subsection (1) of this section;

(b) The licensee must have been licensed under the provisions of the international fuel tax agreement during each of the four consecutive calendar quarters immediately preceding the fourth calendar quarter of the previous year; and

(c) The licensee has not violated the reporting requirements of this section.

(3) A special fuel distributor who sells special fuel under the special authorization provisions of this section is not liable for the special fuel tax on the fuel. By the fifteenth day of the month following the month in which the fuel was sold, the special fuel distributor shall report to the department, the name and special authorization number of the purchaser and the number of gallons sold for each purchase of such special fuel, and any other information as the department may require. The special fuel supplier will report such sales, in a manner prescribed by the department, at the time the special fuel supplier submits the monthly tax report.

(4) A supplier selling special fuel under the provisions of this section shall not be responsible for taxes due for special fuel purchased under the provisions of this section.

(5) An international fuel tax agreement licensee who qualifies for a special authorization under this section for calendar year 1999 is not subject to the special fuel user requirements of *RCW 82.38.289.


[1998 c 176 § 83.]

Notes: *Reviser's note: RCW 82.38.289 was repealed by 2005 c 260 § 3, effective July 1, 2005.






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82.38.350
Fuel tax cooperative agreement.
The department of licensing may enter into a fuel tax cooperative agreement with another state or Canadian province for the administration, collection, and enforcement of each state's or Canadian province's fuel taxes.


[1998 c 176 § 88.]




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82.38.360
Fuel tax evasion — Seizure and forfeiture.
(1) The following are subject to seizure and forfeiture:

(a) Special fuel imported into this state by a person not licensed in this state in accordance with this chapter to import fuel;

(b) Special fuel that is blended or manufactured by a person not licensed in this state in accordance with this chapter to blend or manufacture fuel;

(c) All conveyances that are used, or intended for use, to transport, or in any manner to facilitate the transportation, for the purpose of sale or receipt of property described in (a) and (b) of this subsection, except where the owner of the conveyance neither had knowledge of nor consented to the transportation of the special fuel by an unlicensed importer, blender, or manufacturer of fuel.

(2) Before seizing a common carrier conveyance, contract carrier conveyance, or a conveyance secured by a bona fide security interest where the secured party neither had knowledge of or consented to the unlawful act or omission, the state patrol or the department of licensing shall give the common carrier, contract carrier, or secured party, or their representatives within twenty-four hours, a notice in writing served by mail or other means to cease transporting fuel for any person not licensed to import, blend, or manufacture fuel in this state.

(3) Property subject to forfeiture under this chapter may be seized by the state patrol upon process issued by a superior court or district court having jurisdiction over the property. Seizure without process may be made if:

(a) The seizure is incident to an arrest or a search under a search warrant or an administrative inspection; or

(b) The state patrol has probable cause to believe that the property was used or is intended to be used in violation of this chapter and exigent circumstances exist making procurement of a search warrant impracticable.


[2003 c 358 § 7.]

Notes: Captions not law -- Severability -- 2003 c 358: See notes following RCW 82.36.470.






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82.38.365
Fuel tax evasion — Forfeiture procedure.
In all cases of seizure of property made subject to forfeiture under this chapter, the state patrol shall proceed as follows:

(1) Forfeiture is deemed to have commenced by the seizure.

(2) The state patrol shall list and particularly describe in duplicate the conveyance seized. After the appropriate appeal period has expired, a seized conveyance must be sold at a public auction in accordance with chapter 43.19 RCW.

(3) The state patrol shall list and particularly describe in duplicate the special fuel seized. The selling price of the fuel seized will be the average terminal rack price for similar fuel, at the closest terminal rack on the day of sale, unless circumstance warrants that a different selling price is appropriate. The method used to value the fuel must be documented. The fuel will be sold at the earliest point in time, and the total price must include all appropriate state and federal taxes. The state patrol or the department may enter into contracts for the transportation, handling, storage, and sale of fuel subject to forfeiture. The money received must be deposited in the motor vehicle account, after deduction for expenses provided for in this section.

(4) The state patrol shall, within five days after the seizure of a conveyance or fuel, cause notice to be served on the owner of the property seized, if known, on the person in charge of the property, and on any other person having any known right or interest in the property, of the seizure and intended forfeiture. The notice may be served by any method authorized by law or court rule including but not limited to service by mail. If service is by mail it must be by both certified mail with return receipt requested and regular mail. Service by mail is deemed complete upon mailing within the five-day period after the date of seizure.

(5) If no person notifies the state patrol in writing of the person's claim of ownership or right to possession of the items seized within fifteen days of the date of the notice of seizure, the items seized are considered forfeited.

(6) If any person notifies the state patrol, in writing, of the person's claim of ownership or right to possession of the items seized within fifteen days of the date of the notice of seizure, the person or persons must be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard as to the claim or right. The hearing must be before the director of licensing, or the director's designee. A hearing and any appeals must be in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW. The burden of proof by a preponderance of the evidence is upon the person claiming to be the lawful owner or the person claiming to have the lawful right to possession of the items seized. The state patrol and the department shall promptly return the conveyance seized, and money from the sale of fuel seized, to the claimant upon a determination that the claimant is the present lawful owner and is lawfully entitled to possession of the items seized.


[2003 c 358 § 8.]

Notes: Captions not law -- Severability -- 2003 c 358: See notes following RCW 82.36.470.






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82.38.370
Fuel tax evasion — Forfeited property.
When property is forfeited under this chapter, the state patrol or the department may use the proceeds of the sale and all moneys forfeited for the payment of all proper expenses of any investigation leading to the seizure and of the proceedings for forfeiture and sale, including expenses of seizure, maintenance of custody, advertising, and court costs. Proper expenses of investigation include costs incurred by a law enforcement agency or a federal, state, or local agency. The balance of the proceeds must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund.


[2003 c 358 § 9.]

Notes: Captions not law -- Severability -- 2003 c 358: See notes following RCW 82.36.470.






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82.38.375
Fuel tax evasion — Return of seized property.
(1) The state patrol and the department may return property seized and proceeds from the sale of fuel under this chapter when it is shown that there was no intention to violate this chapter.

(2) When property is returned under this section, the state patrol and the department may return the goods to the parties from whom they were seized if and when the parties pay all applicable taxes and interest.


[2003 c 358 § 10.]

Notes: Captions not law -- Severability -- 2003 c 358: See notes following RCW 82.36.470.






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82.38.380
Fuel tax evasion — Search and seizure.
When the state patrol has good reason to believe that special fuel is being unlawfully imported, kept, sold, offered for sale, blended, or manufactured in violation of this chapter or rules adopted under it, the state patrol may make an affidavit of that fact, describing the place or thing to be searched, before a judge of any court in this state, and the judge shall issue a search warrant directed to the state patrol commanding the officer diligently to search any place or vehicle designated in the affidavit and search warrant, and to seize the fuel and conveyance so possessed and to hold them until disposed of by law, and to arrest the person in possession or control of them.


[2003 c 358 § 11.]

Notes: Captions not law -- Severability -- 2003 c 358: See notes following RCW 82.36.470.






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82.38.385
Rules.
The department and the state patrol shall adopt rules necessary to implement RCW 82.38.360 through 82.38.380.


[2003 c 358 § 12.]

Notes: Captions not law -- Severability -- 2003 c 358: See notes following RCW 82.36.470.






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82.38.800
Rules — 1998 c 176.
See RCW 82.36.800.






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82.38.900
Section captions.
All section captions used in this chapter do not constitute any part of the law.


[1971 ex.s. c 175 § 32.]




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82.38.910
Short title.
This chapter may be cited as the "Special Fuel Tax Act".


[1971 ex.s. c 175 § 1.]




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82.38.920
Severability — 1971 ex.s. c 175.
If any provision of this 1971 act, or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act, or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.


[1971 ex.s. c 175 § 34.]




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82.38.930
Effective date — 1971 ex.s. c 175.
The effective date of this Special Fuel Tax Act is January 1, 1972.


[1971 ex.s. c 175 § 36.]




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82.38.940
Findings — 1998 c 176.
See RCW 82.36.900.






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82.38.941
Effective date — 1998 c 176.
See RCW 82.36.901.