- Business and occupation tax
The Business and Occupation tax (often abbreviated B & O tax) is a type of
tax levied by theU.S. state ofWashington . It is a type ofgross receipts tax because it is levied ongross income , rather thannet income . While deductions are not permitted for labor, materials, or otheroverhead expenses , the State of Washington does allow certain deductions, exemptions, and credits, bystatute .Tax rates
The rate of taxation is not uniform for all businesses. Rather, different types of businesses are taxed at different rates, depending upon their classification by the
Washington State Legislature and theWashington Department of Revenue . [ [http://dor.wa.gov/Content/FileAndPayTaxes/BeforeIFile/doingBus_CommonBusActivities.aspx Tax classifications for common businesses] ] [ [http://dor.wa.gov/Content/FileAndPayTaxes/BeforeIFile/Def_TxClassBandO.aspx Definitions of tax classifications for the B & O tax] ]Service industry businesses have the heaviest tax burden, with a tax rate of 1.5%, more than double the other major classifications.Major B & O Classifications and their tax rates
Specialized B & O Tax Classifications
Exemptions, deductions, and credits
Income from exempt activities need not be listed on the B & O tax return. Items claimed as "deductions", however, must be listed as part of gross income before it can be taken as a deduction.
Tax credits for the B & O tax can be due to a taxpayer who overpaid his/her taxes for the priorfiscal year . Additionally, the Legislature has specially created tax credits for certain types of activities.All exemptions, deductions, and credits are provided for by Chapter 82.04 of the
Revised Code of Washington (the chapter which is the legislative basis for the B & O tax) and Title 458 of theWashington Administrative Code (the regulations of the Washington Department of Revenue). Certain provisions of these laws operate in a similar manner as theInternal Revenue Code and U.S. Treasury Regulations. For example,bad debt can be deducted from the B & O tax in much the same way as it can be deducted from the federal income tax [ [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=82.04.4284 RCW 82.04.4284: Deduction - Bad debts] ] [ [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=458-20-196 WAC 458-20-196: Bad debts] ] .References
External links
* [http://dor.wa.gov/docs/pubs/excisetax/bo_pubutil_littertax/bofs.pdf Washington Department of Revenue brochure on the B & O tax] — provides basic information on tax rates, exempt activities, deductions, and credits.
* [http://dor.wa.gov/content/findtaxesandrates/bandotax/ Washington Dept. of Revenue page on B & O tax]
* [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?Cite=82.04 Chapter 82.04 of the Revised Code of Washington]
* [http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=458 Title 458 of the Washington Administrative Code]
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