SuperCharging Activation Sales Tax? (in WA)

[Tacket]

Just had SuperCharging activated for $2500 + sales tax here in Washington. Wouldn't this fall under:

Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure and Battery Tax Exemptions

Public lands used for installing, maintaining, and operating EV infrastructure are exempt from leasehold excise taxes until January 1, 2020. Additionally, the state sales and use taxes do not apply to plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) batteries; labor and services for installing, repairing, altering, or improving PEV batteries and EV infrastructure; and the sale of property used for EV infrastructure.

Tesla seems to think "no" as far as they've told me - they say tax exemption can only occur if the feature was added with the original purchase. I would assume that this might fall under "service" but since it's not exactly directly related to servicing the battery, maybe no?

 

[JackA]

It would be appropriate to press this further. The legislative language; "..installing,repairing,altering or improving PEV batteries..." seems clearly to include software updates to allow access to improved charging. How would Tesla interpret "improving" if it can only occur at new car purchase?

- - - Updated - - -

Tacket; I have made an inquiry to the Washington Department of Revenue about this. Will post reply if I get one. Jack

 

[Puyallup Bill]

Yes, do continue. It took a several emails and some time, but I received a return of the sales tax charged for the Roadster adapter.

 

[Tacket]

@Jack - Thanks!

@Puyallup Bill - Do you recall who you emailed at Tesla to have this resolved?

 

[DouglasR]

I did not pay any sales tax on the Roadster adapter, but I did have to pay on the installation of a twin charger after delivery. Like Jack, I requested a formal ruling from the DOR, but it came back negative. They said that the charger in the car is not "EV infrastructure."

I predict that in this case they will say that enabling supercharging does not alter or improve the battery, just as adding a twin charger does not alter or improve the battery. Remember that the ​raison d'être of the DOR is to collect money.[FONT=Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif] [/FONT]

 

[Puyallup Bill]

@Jack - Thanks!

@Puyallup Bill - Do you recall who you emailed at Tesla to have this resolved?

I sent the emails to web site store email address - several without response. Never did get a response to the emails, and one phone call was a dead end - we'll call you back, but never did.

Then one day there was a credit on my card account.

 

[Tacket]

Got a relatively quick response from Tesla -- turns out adding Supercharger access does qualify for tax exemption. I am to fill out a form and will be refunded the difference. Their note:

"I have done some more research and did find out that the supercharging will be tax exempt. Can you please fill out the attached form and return it to me. We will need this for tax purposes. I apologize for the wrong information yesterday, and I will make sure our Washington service centers are aware of the correct information."

 

[DouglasR]

Got a relatively quick response from Tesla -- turns out adding Supercharger access does qualify for tax exemption. I am to fill out a form and will be refunded the difference. Their note:

"I have done some more research and did find out that the supercharging will be tax exempt. Can you please fill out the attached form and return it to me. We will need this for tax purposes. I apologize for the wrong information yesterday, and I will make sure our Washington service centers are aware of the correct information."

Tacket, can you say who at Tesla sent you this note? Was it someone in the Seattle SC? Thanks.

 

[Tacket]

No it was the gal who originally took my order over the phone for the upgrade. She is in Technical Support - would you like her email? I can PM it to you and maybe she can hook you up since this will be fresh in her memory.