Tax Type
Retail Sales and Use Tax
Description
United Nation promotional association
Topic
Taxability of Persons and Transactions
Date Issued
07-28-1989
July 28, 1989
Re: Request for Ruling: Sales and Use Tax
Dear******************
This will reply to your letter dated July 10, 1989, in which you requested a ruling whether your organization qualifies for exemption from the sales and use tax.
FACTS
********* ("The Taxpayer"), a nonprofit organization exempt from income taxation under §501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, is designed to promote a better understanding of the United Nations and the interdependence of the nations of the world. Each year, the Taxpayer brings together over 2000 high school students from across the United States for its model United Nations seminar in New York City. At the seminar, the students learn international diplomacy and debating techniques.
Specifically, you seek an exemption to allow the Taxpayer to purchase items exempt from the Virginia retail sales and use tax.
RULING
There is no general exemption from the Virginia retail sales and use tax for nonprofit organizations (see §630-10-74 of Virginia Retail Sales and Use Tax Regulations). The only exemptions from the tax are set out in Virginia Code §58.1-608. While I am mindful of the worthwhile purpose that the Taxpayer serves, absent a statutory exemption that would allow the Taxpayer to make purchases exempt from the tax, the department has no authority to grant such an exemption.
Therefore, the Taxpayer is required to pay the tax to the retailer on all purchases of tangible personal property if the retailer is registered to collect the tax. If the retailer is not registered to collect the tax, the Taxpayer must report and pay the use tax on a Consumer Use Tax Return, Form ST-7. If I can be of further assistance, please contact the department.
Sincerely,
W. H. Forst
Tax Commissioner
Rulings of the Tax Commissioner