Delivery, installation, or other direct customer services

*This information is for Model City Tax Code purposes only

Model City Tax Code Section 100.2 Delivery, installation, or other direct customer services  replaces Regulation 100.2 Delivery, installation, or other direct customer services  with an effective date of October 1, 2019.

(a) "Delivery charges" exist only when the total charges to the ultimate customer or consumer include, as separately charged to the ultimate customer, charges for delivery to the ultimate consumer, whether the place of delivery is within or without the City, and when the taxpayer's books and records show the separate delivery charges. 

(1) Identification to the customer or consumer that the listed price has "delivery included" or other similar expression is insufficient to show the delivery as a separate charge. Only the separately stated charge for the delivery shall be deemed a "delivery charge".
(2) Freight in. Charges for delivery from place of production or the manufacturer to the vendor either directly or through a chain of wholesalers or jobbers or other middlemen are deemed "freight -in" and are not considered delivery. 

(b) "Installation" as used in this definition relates only to attachment to tangible personal property. Installation to real property is deemed construction contracting in this Chapter. Examples of installation relating to tangible personal property include installing a radio in an automobile; applying sun screens on the windows of a boat; installing cabinets, carpeting, or "built-in appliances" to a camper or motorized recreational vehicle, or similar activities. 
(c) Repair of tangible personal property is not included in this definition. 
(d) "Direct customer services" means services other than repair rendered directly to the customer. Services or labor provided by any person prior to the transfer of tangible personal property to the customer or consumer are not included in this definition. In the following examples, the requirements of Subsection (e) below are referred to by the words "identify" or "identification". 

(1) A retailer sells a customer a $100 "plug-in" appliance, with a $25 delivery and installation charge. If the retailer identifies the $25 delivery and installation charge, it is a charge for direct customer services. 
(2) A caterer charges his customer $1,000 for the food and drink served, $300 for setup and site cleanup, and $500 for bartender and waiters. If all charges are properly identified, only the $300 for set up and cleanup is a charge for direct customer services, and the $1,500 for food and service is considered Restaurant gross income. 
(3) Persons engaged in engraving on wood, metal, stone, etc. or persons engaged in retouching photographs or paintings may consider such charges for labor as direct customer services. 
(4) All charges by a photographer resulting in the sale of a photograph (sitting fees, developing, making enlargements, retouching, etc.) for services that occur prior to transfer of tangible personal property are not direct customer services. 
(5) An equipment rental company charging $25 for delivery may consider such delivery charge as a charge for direct customer service only if such charge is properly identified. 
(6) Even if identified, charges for labor incurred in the production of any manufactured article or of a custom-made article (jewelry, artwork, tailoring, draperies, etc.) are not included in this definition, as such labor occurs prior to the transfer of property. 

(e) Recordkeeping requirements. 

(1) Any person who engages in transactions involving these services must: 

(A) Separately bill, invoice, or charge the customer for such services in a manner by which the customer or consumer may readily identify the specific dollar amount of the service charge; and 
(B) Maintain business books and records in a manner in which the separate charge for such services can be clearly identified, to the satisfaction of the Tax Collector. 

(2) Rendering a statement to a customer for a transaction involving such services and the transfer of tangible personal property which only indicates the total amount of the charges with words such as "services included" or "charge includes labor and parts" or a similar expression does not satisfy the requirements of this subsection.