Okla. Admin. Code § 710:65-13-348

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 710:65-13-348 - Limited exemption for qualified neighborhood watch organizations

(a)Qualification for exemption. Effective July 1, 2005, the first $2,000 of each calendar year's sales of tangible personal property or services, to, by, or for the benefit of a qualified neighborhood watch organization that is endorsed or supported by or working directly with a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the area in which the neighborhood watch organization is located are exempt from sales tax. For purposes of this exemption "qualified neighborhood watch organization " means an organization that is a not-for-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Oklahoma that was created to help prevent criminal activity in an area through community involvement and interaction with local law enforcement and which is one of the first two thousand organizations which makes application to the Oklahoma Tax Commission for the exemption after March 29, 2006. [68 O.S. § 1356(53)]

(b)Application process. Only the first two thousand applications received by the Oklahoma Tax Commission are eligible for exemption. Application for exemption is made by submitting to the Business Tax Services Division, Oklahoma Tax Commission, Oklahoma City, OK 73194, a completed Form 13-16-A, contained in Packet E, available online at www.tax.ok.gov along with supporting documentation as follows:

(1) Documentation showing that the organization is a not-for profit corporation under the laws of Oklahoma established to help prevent criminal activity in a specific area through community involvement and interaction with local law enforcement, as may be evidenced by copies of one or more of the following:

(A) Articles of incorporation;

(B) By-laws;

(C) Other documents that show the intent of the incorporators at the time of incorporation.

(2) Documentation showing that the organization is either endorsed, supported by or working directly with a law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction in the area where the neighborhood watch is located. Documentation may consist of membership lists, notices or minutes of meetings or letters from the applicable law enforcement agencies concerning their support, endorsement or involvement with the organization.

(3) A description of the boundaries of the area in which the neighborhood watch organization is located.

(4) The name and address of the person representing the organization to whom the exemption card will be mailed and who will be responsible for keeping track of the sales made to, by, or for the benefit of the organization so that the annual limit of $2,000 will not be exceeded by the organization.

(c)Exemption limited to eligible, properly-documented transactions. Only the first $2,000 of either sales to, by or on behalf of the organization are exempt. The organization must keep accurate records to enable it to properly document the exemption. The exemption documentation that vendors are required to obtain on purchases to, or for the benefit of the organization is set out in 710:65-7-17.

(d)Purchases by contractors. Purchases of tangible personal property or services by a contractor, as defined by 68 O.S. § 1352, are taxable to the contractor. A contractor who performs improvements to real property for organizations which qualify for the exemption from sales tax on their purchases described in this Section may not purchase tangible personal property or services to perform the contract exempt from sales tax under the exemption provided by statute to the qualified organizations.

(e)Review and determination. Upon receipt of the application, the Commission will review and make a determination as to the applicant's eligibility. Upon approval, an exemption card will be sent to the applicant.

(f)Denial of exemption; cancellation, suspension, revocation of exemption card. The exemption may be denied, and the exemption card cancelled, suspended, or revoked by the Commission for non-compliance with the provisions of this Section, with applicable Oklahoma tax statutes, or for other good cause shown. Proceedings related to the cancellation or refusal to issue a certification pursuant to this Section shall be governed by 710:1-5-100 and 710:1-5-21 through 710:1-5-49 of the permanent rules of the Commission.

Okla. Admin. Code § 710:65-13-348

Added at 23 Ok Reg 2847, eff 6-25-06; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 2308, eff 7-11-10

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 32, Issue 23, August 17, 2015, eff. 8/27/2015

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 38, Issue 23, August 16, 2021, eff. 9/1/2021

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 39, Issue 24, September 1, 2022, eff. 9/11/2022