89-009

Response December 13, 1989

 

 

December 13, 1989

 

XXXXX, CPA

 

Dear XXXXX:

 

In response to your letter of October 27, 1989, I believe the typesetting service done by XXXXX is exempt from sales tax as explained in the third paragraph of Tax Bulletin 8-89, referred to in your letter.

 

Respectfully,

 

XXXXX

Managing Auditor

 

M E M O R A N D U M

 

TO: XXXXX

Auditing

 

FROM: XXXXX

 

DATE: November 6, 1989

 

SUBJECT: Request for Declaratory Judgment/Advisory Opinion

 

XXXXX, C.P.A., has requested a declaratory judgment/advisory opinion on the taxability of services by XXXXX.

 

Please respond according to the guidelines established by the Commission. Thank you.

 

October 27 1989

 

The Commissioners

Utah State Tax Commission

160 East 300 South

Salt Lake City, Utah 84134-0400

 

REF: Application for Ruling on Taxability of Services by XXXXX, XXXXX, XXXXX

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Your recent publication setting forth the general principles for taxing the services of typographers leads us to believe that my client, XXXXX, is not required to collect sales tax for her services.

 

Based on my client's description of her services, quoted below, we ask you to rule on this question for this particular business.

 

"XXXXX is a service bureau for artists, designers, advertising agencies, and printers. We do typesetting and output typesetting from disks supplied by our customers. We are the first step in an unfinished product. The type is then pasted on armbands by our clients and given to a printing company to print. The finished product is then given to the artist or designer or agency's client for their use, either to sell or use."

 

"I pay taxes on supplies I use. My clients are then taxed by me when they pick up their type. They in turn tax their client for their work. The printer taxes the work. If the client sells the finished piece, it is taxed again."

 

The description given is accurate with respect to all her business activity. We feel practically certain that this activity fits within your guidelines for non-taxable services but would like your confirmation so that the issue can be settled now. My client states that she has competitors who do not collect sales tax, and that of course gives them an unfair-advantage.

 

We will be pleased if you will respond to either XXXXX or to us.

 

Very truly yours,

 

XXXXX