35 ILCS 115/ Service Occupation Tax Act.

ILLINOIS STATUTES AND CODES

35 ILCS 115/ Service Occupation Tax Act.

(35 ILCS 115/1) (from Ch. 120, par. 439.101)
Sec. 1.

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Service Occupation Tax Act", and the tax imposed by this Act may be referred to as the "Service Occupation Tax".

(Source: Laws 1961, p. 1745.)

(35 ILCS 115/2)(from Ch. 120, par. 439.102)
Sec. 2.

"Transfer" means any transfer of the title to property or of the ownership of property whether or not the transferor retains title as security for the payment of amounts due him from the transferee.

"Cost Price" means the consideration paid by the serviceman for a purchase valued in money, whether paid in money or otherwise, including cash, credits and services, and shall be determined without any deduction on account of the supplier's cost of the property sold or on account of any other expense incurred by the supplier. When a serviceman contracts out part or all of the services required in his sale of service, it shall be presumed that the cost price to the serviceman of the property transferred to him by his or her subcontractor is equal to 50% of the subcontractor's charges to the serviceman in the absence of proof of the consideration paid by the subcontractor for the purchase of such property.

"Department" means the Department of Revenue.

"Person" means any natural individual, firm, partnership, association, joint stock company, joint venture, public or private corporation, limited liability company, and any receiver, executor, trustee, guardian or other representative appointed by order of any court.

"Sale of Service" means any transaction except:

(a) A retail sale of tangible personal property taxable under the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act or under the Use Tax Act.

(b) A sale of tangible personal property for the purpose of resale made in compliance with Section 2c of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act.

(c) Except as hereinafter provided, a sale or transfer of tangible personal property as an incident to the rendering of service for or by any governmental body or for or by any corporation, society, association, foundation or institution organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious or educational purposes or any not‑for‑profit corporation, society, association, foundation, institution or organization which has no compensated officers or employees and which is organized and operated primarily for the recreation of persons 55 years of age or older. A limited liability company may qualify for the exemption under this paragraph only if the limited liability company is organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes.

(d) A sale or transfer of tangible personal property as an incident to the rendering of service for interstate carriers for hire for use as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce or lessors under leases of one year or longer, executed or in effect at the time of purchase, to interstate carriers for hire for use as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce, and equipment operated by a telecommunications provider, licensed as a common carrier by the Federal Communications Commission, which is permanently installed in or affixed to aircraft moving in interstate commerce.

(d‑1) A sale or transfer of tangible personal property as an incident to the rendering of service for owners, lessors or shippers of tangible personal property which is utilized by interstate carriers for hire for use as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce, and equipment operated by a telecommunications provider, licensed as a common carrier by the Federal Communications Commission, which is permanently installed in or affixed to aircraft moving in interstate commerce.

(d‑1.1) On and after July 1, 2003 and through June 30, 2004, a sale or transfer of a motor vehicle of the second division with a gross vehicle weight in excess of 8,000 pounds as an incident to the rendering of service if that motor vehicle is subject to the commercial distribution fee imposed under Section 3‑815.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. Beginning on July 1, 2004 and through June 30, 2005, the use in this State of motor vehicles of the second division: (i) with a gross vehicle weight rating in excess of 8,000 pounds; (ii) that are subject to the commercial distribution fee imposed under Section 3‑815.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code; and (iii) that are primarily used for commercial purposes. Through June 30, 2005, this exemption applies to repair and replacement parts added after the initial purchase of such a motor vehicle if that motor vehicle is used in a manner that would qualify for the rolling stock exemption otherwise provided for in this Act. For purposes of this paragraph, "used for commercial purposes" means the transportation of persons or property in furtherance of any commercial or industrial enterprise whether for‑hire or not.

(d‑2) The repairing, reconditioning or remodeling, for a common carrier by rail, of tangible personal property which belongs to such carrier for hire, and as to which such carrier receives the physical possession of the repaired, reconditioned or remodeled item of tangible personal property in Illinois, and which such carrier transports, or shares with another common carrier in the transportation of such property, out of Illinois on a standard uniform bill of lading showing the person who repaired, reconditioned or remodeled the property as the shipper or consignor of such property to a destination outside Illinois, for use outside Illinois.

(d‑3) A sale or transfer of tangible personal property which is produced by the seller thereof on special order in such a way as to have made the applicable tax the Service Occupation Tax or the Service Use Tax, rather than the Retailers' Occupation Tax or the Use Tax, for an interstate carrier by rail which receives the physical possession of such property in Illinois, and which transports such property, or shares with another common carrier in the transportation of such property, out of Illinois on a standard uniform bill of lading showing the seller of the property as the shipper or consignor of such property to a destination outside Illinois, for use outside Illinois.

(d‑4) Until January 1, 1997, a sale, by a registered serviceman paying tax under this Act to the Department, of special order printed materials delivered outside Illinois and which are not returned to this State, if delivery is made by the seller or agent of the seller, including an agent who causes the product to be delivered outside Illinois by a common carrier or the U.S. postal service.

(e) A sale or transfer of machinery and equipment used primarily in the process of the manufacturing or assembling, either in an existing, an expanded or a new manufacturing facility, of tangible personal property for wholesale or retail sale or lease, whether such sale or lease is made directly by the manufacturer or by some other person, whether the materials used in the process are owned by the manufacturer or some other person, or whether such sale or lease is made apart from or as an incident to the seller's engaging in a service occupation and the applicable tax is a Service Occupation Tax or Service Use Tax, rather than Retailers' Occupation Tax or Use Tax.

(f) Until July 1, 2003, the sale or transfer of distillation machinery and equipment, sold as a unit or kit and assembled or installed by the retailer, which machinery and equipment is certified by the user to be used only for the production of ethyl alcohol that will be used for consumption as motor fuel or as a component of motor fuel for the personal use of such user and not subject to sale or resale.

(g) At the election of any serviceman not required to be otherwise registered as a retailer under Section 2a of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act, made for each fiscal year sales of service in which the aggregate annual cost price of tangible personal property transferred as an incident to the sales of service is less than 35% (75% in the case of servicemen transferring prescription drugs or servicemen engaged in graphic arts production) of the aggregate annual total gross receipts from all sales of service. The purchase of such tangible personal property by the serviceman shall be subject to tax under the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act and the Use Tax Act. However, if a primary serviceman who has made the election described in this paragraph subcontracts service work to a secondary serviceman who has also made the election described in this paragraph, the primary serviceman does not incur a Use Tax liability if the secondary serviceman (i) has paid or will pay Use Tax on his or her cost price of any tangible personal property transferred to the primary serviceman and (ii) certifies that fact in writing to the primary serviceman.

Tangible personal property transferred incident to the completion of a maintenance agreement is exempt from the tax imposed pursuant to this Act.

Exemption (e) also includes machinery and equipment used in the general maintenance or repair of such exempt machinery and equipment or for in‑house manufacture of exempt machinery and equipment. For the purposes of exemption (e), each of these terms shall have the following meanings: (1) "manufacturing process" shall mean the production of any article of tangible personal property, whether such article is a finished product or an article for use in the process of manufacturing or assembling a different article of tangible personal property, by procedures commonly regarded as manufacturing, processing, fabricating, or refining which changes some existing material or materials into a material with a different form, use or name. In relation to a recognized integrated business composed of a series of operations which collectively constitute manufacturing, or individually constitute manufacturing operations, the manufacturing process shall be deemed to commence with the first operation or stage of production in the series, and shall not be deemed to end until the completion of the final product in the last operation or stage of production in the series; and further for purposes of exemption (e), photoprocessing is deemed to be a manufacturing process of tangible personal property for wholesale or retail sale; (2) "assembling process" shall mean the production of any article of tangible personal property, whether such article is a finished product or an article for use in the process of manufacturing or assembling a different article of tangible personal property, by the combination of existing materials in a manner commonly regarded as assembling which results in a material of a different form, use or name; (3) "machinery" shall mean major mechanical machines or major components of such machines contributing to a manufacturing or assembling process; and (4) "equipment" shall include any independent device or tool separate from any machinery but essential to an integrated manufacturing or assembly process; including computers used primarily in a manufacturer's computer assisted design, computer assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system; or any subunit or assembly comprising a component of any machinery or auxiliary, adjunct or attachment parts of machinery, such as tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, patterns and molds; or any parts which require periodic replacement in the course of normal operation; but shall not include hand tools. Equipment includes chemicals or chemicals acting as catalysts but only if the chemicals or chemicals acting as catalysts effect a direct and immediate change upon a product being manufactured or assembled for wholesale or retail sale or lease. The purchaser of such machinery and equipment who has an active resale registration number shall furnish such number to the seller at the time of purchase. The purchaser of such machinery and equipment and tools without an active resale registration number shall furnish to the seller a certificate of exemption for each transaction stating facts establishing the exemption for that transaction, which certificate shall be available to the Department for inspection or audit.

Except as provided in Section 2d of this Act, the rolling stock exemption applies to rolling stock used by an interstate carrier for hire, even just between points in Illinois, if such rolling stock transports, for hire, persons whose journeys or property whose shipments originate or terminate outside Illinois.

Any informal rulings, opinions or letters issued by the Department in response to an inquiry or request for any opinion from any person regarding the coverage and applicability of exemption (e) to specific devices shall be published, maintained as a public record, and made available for public inspection and copying. If the informal ruling, opinion or letter contains trade secrets or other confidential information, where possible the Department shall delete such information prior to publication. Whenever such informal rulings, opinions, or letters contain any policy of general applicability, the Department shall formulate and adopt such policy as a rule in accordance with the provisions of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act.

On and after July 1, 1987, no entity otherwise eligible under exemption (c) of this Section shall make tax free purchases unless it has an active exemption identification number issued by the Department.

    "Serviceman" means any person who is engaged in the occupation of making sales of service.
    "Sale at Retail" means "sale at retail" as defined in the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act.

"Supplier" means any person who makes sales of tangible personal property to servicemen for the purpose of resale as an incident to a sale of service.

(Source: P.A. 92‑484, eff. 8‑23‑01; 93‑23, eff. 6‑20‑03; 93‑24, eff. 6‑20‑03; 93‑1033, eff. 9‑3‑04.)

(35 ILCS 115/2a) (from Ch. 120, par. 439.102a)
Sec. 2a.

"Pollution control facilities" means any system, method, construction, device or appliance appurtenant thereto transferred by a serviceman for the primary purpose of eliminating, preventing, or reducing air and water pollution as the term "air pollution" or "water pollution" is defined in the "Environmental Protection Act", enacted by the 76th General Assembly, or for the primary purpose of treating, pretreating, modifying or disposing of any potential solid, liquid or gaseous pollutant which if released without such treatment, pretreatment, modification or disposal might be harmful, detrimental or offensive to human, plant or animal life, or to property.

Until July 1, 2003, the purchase, employment and transfer of such tangible personal property as pollution control facilities shall not be deemed to be a purchase, use or sale of service or of tangible personal property, but shall be deemed to be intangible personal property.

(Source: P.A. 93‑24, eff. 6‑20‑03.)

(35 ILCS 115/2b) (from Ch. 120, par. 439.102b)
Sec. 2b.

"Low sulfur dioxide emission coal fueled devices" means any device sold or used or intended for the purpose of burning, combusting or converting locally available coal in a manner which eliminates or significantly reduces the need for additional sulfur dioxide abatement that would otherwise be required under State or federal air emission standards. Such device includes all machinery, equipment, structures and all related apparatus of a coal gasification facility, including coal feeding equipment, designed to convert locally available coal into a low sulfur gaseous fuel and to manage all waste and byproduct streams.

The purchase, employment and transfer of such tangible personal property as low sulfur dioxide emission coal fueled devices is not a purchase, use or sale of tangible personal property.

This amendatory Act of 1981 is not intended to nor does it make any change in the meaning of any provision in this Section but is intended to remove possible ambiguities, thereby confirming the existing meaning of this Section in effect prior to the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1981.

(Source: P.A. 87‑435.)

(35 ILCS 115/2c) (from Ch. 120, par. 439.102c)
Sec. 2c.

For purposes of this Act, a corporation, limited liability company, society, association, foundation or institution organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes shall include: all tax‑supported public schools; private schools which offer systematic instruction in useful branches of learning by methods common to public schools and which compare favorably in their scope and intensity with the course of study presented in tax‑supported schools; licensed day care centers as defined in Section 2.09 of the Child Care Act of 1969 which are operated by a not‑for‑profit corporation, society, association, foundation, institution or organization; vocational or technical schools or institutes organized and operated exclusively to provide a course of study of not less than 6 weeks duration and designed to prepare individuals to follow a trade or to pursue a manual, technical, mechanical, industrial, business or commercial occupation.

However, a corporation, limited liability company, society, association, foundation or institution organized and operated for the purpose of offering professional, trade or business seminars of short duration, self‑improvement or personality development courses, courses which are avocational or recreational in nature, courses pursued entirely by open circuit television or radio, correspondence courses, or courses which do not provide specialized training within a specific vocational or technical field shall not be considered to be organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes.

(Source: P.A. 88‑480.)

    (35 ILCS 115/2d)
    Sec. 2d. Motor vehicles; trailers; use as rolling stock definition.

(a) Through June 30, 2003, "use as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce" in subsections (d) and (d‑1) of the definition of "sale of service" in Section 2 means for motor vehicles, as defined in Section 1‑146 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, and trailers, as defined in Section 1‑209 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, when on 15 or more occasions in a 12‑month period the motor vehicle and trailer has carried persons or property for hire in interstate commerce, even just between points in Illinois, if the motor vehicle and trailer transports persons whose journeys or property whose shipments originate or terminate outside Illinois. This definition applies to all property purchased for the purpose of being attached to those motor vehicles or trailers as a part thereof.

(b) On and after July 1, 2003 and through June 30, 2004, "use as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce" in paragraphs (d) and (d‑1) of the definition of "sale of service" in Section 2 occurs for motor vehicles, as defined in Section 1‑146 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, when during a 12‑month period the rolling stock has carried persons or property for hire in interstate commerce for 51% of its total trips and transports persons whose journeys or property whose shipments originate or terminate outside Illinois. Trips that are only between points in Illinois will not be counted as interstate trips when calculating whether the tangible personal property qualifies for the exemption but such trips will be included in total trips taken.

(c) Beginning July 1, 2004, "use as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce" in paragraphs (d) and (d‑1) of the definition of "sale of service" in Section 2 occurs for motor vehicles, as defined in Section 1‑146 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, when during a 12‑month period the rolling stock has carried persons or property for hire in interstate commerce for greater than 50% of its total trips for that period or for greater than 50% of its total miles for that period. The person claiming the exemption shall make an election at the time of purchase to use either the trips or mileage method. Persons who purchased motor vehicles prior to July 1, 2004 shall make an election to use either the trips or mileage method and document that election in their books and records. If no election is made under this subsection to use the trips or mileage method, the person shall be deemed to have chosen the mileage method. Any election to use either the trips or mileage method will remain in effect for that motor vehicle for any period for which the Department may issue a notice of tax liability under this Act.

For purposes of determining qualifying trips or miles, motor vehicles that carry persons or property for hire, even just between points in Illinois, will be considered used for hire in interstate commerce if the motor vehicle transports persons whose journeys or property whose shipments originate or terminate outside Illinois. The exemption for motor vehicles used as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce may be claimed only for the following vehicles: (i) motor vehicles whose gross vehicle weight rating exceeds 16,000 pounds; and (ii) limousines, as defined in Section 1‑139.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code. This definition applies to all property purchased for the purpose of being attached to those motor vehicles as a part thereof.

(d) Beginning July 1, 2004, "use as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce" in paragraphs (d) and (d‑1) of the definition of "sale of service" in Section 2 occurs for trailers, as defined in Section 1‑209 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, semitrailers as defined in Section 1‑187 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, and pole trailers as defined in Section 1‑161 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, when during a 12‑month period the rolling stock has carried persons or property for hire in interstate commerce for greater than 50% of its total trips for that period or for greater than 50% of its total miles for that period. The person claiming the exemption for a trailer or trailers that will not be dedicated to a motor vehicle or group of motor vehicles shall make an election at the time of purchase to use either the trips or mileage method. Persons who purchased trailers prior to July 1, 2004 that are not dedicated to a motor vehicle or group of motor vehicles shall make an election to use either the trips or mileage method and document that election in their books and records. If no election is made under this subsection to use the trips or mileage method, the person shall be deemed to have chosen the mileage method. Any election to use either the trips or mileage method will remain in effect for that trailer for any period for which the Department may issue a notice of tax liability under this Act.

For purposes of determining qualifying trips or miles, trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers that carry property for hire, even just between points in Illinois, will be considered used for hire in interstate commerce if the trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers transport property whose shipments originate or terminate outside Illinois. This definition applies to all property purchased for the purpose of being attached to those trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers as a part thereof. In lieu of a person providing documentation regarding the qualifying use of each individual trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer, that person may document such qualifying use by providing documentation of the following:

(1) If a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is

dedicated to a motor vehicle that qualifies as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce under subsection (c) of this Section, then that trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer qualifies as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce under this subsection.

(2) If a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer is

dedicated to a group of motor vehicles that all qualify as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce under subsection (c) of this Section, then that trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer qualifies as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce under this subsection.

(3) If one or more trailers, semitrailers, or pole

trailers are dedicated to a group of motor vehicles and not all of those motor vehicles in that group qualify as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce under subsection (c) of this Section, then the percentage of those trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers that qualifies as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce under this subsection is equal to the percentage of those motor vehicles in that group that qualify as rolling stock moving in interstate commerce under subsection (c) of this Section to which those trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers are dedicated. However, to determine the qualification for the exemption provided under this item (3), the mathematical application of the qualifying percentage to one or more trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers under this subpart shall not be allowed as to any fraction of a trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer.

(Source: P.A. 95‑528, eff. 8‑28‑07.)

(35 ILCS 115/3) (from Ch. 120, par. 439.103)
Sec. 3. Tax imposed.

A tax is imposed upon all persons engaged in the business of making sales of service (referred to as "servicemen") on all tangible personal property transferred as an incident of a sale of service, including computer software, and including photographs, negatives, and positives that are the product of photoprocessing, but not including products of photoprocessing produced for use in motion pictures for public commercial exhibition. Beginning January 1, 2001, prepaid telephone calling arrangements shall be considered tangible personal property subject to the tax imposed under this Act regardless of the form in which those arrangements may be embodied, transmitted, or fixed by any method now known or hereafter developed.

(Source: P.A. 91‑51, eff. 6‑30‑99; 91‑870, eff. 6‑22‑00.)

    (35 ILCS 115/3‑5)
    Sec. 3‑5. Exemptions. The following tangible personal property is exempt from the tax imposed by this Act:

(1) Personal property sold by a corporation, society, association, foundation, institution, or organization, other than a limited liability company, that is organized and operated as a not‑for‑profit service enterprise for the benefit of persons 65 years of age or older if the personal property was not purchased by the enterprise for the purpose of resale by the enterprise.

(2) Personal property purchased by a not‑for‑profit Illinois county fair association for use in conducting, operating, or promoting the county fair.

(3) Personal property purchased by any not‑for‑profit arts or cultural organization that establishes, by proof required by the Department by rule, that it has received an exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is organized and operated primarily for the presentation or support of arts or cultural programming, activities, or services. These organizations include, but are not limited to, music and dramatic arts organizations such as symphony orchestras and theatrical groups, arts and cultural service organizations, local arts councils, visual arts organizations, and media arts organizations. On and after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, however, an entity otherwise eligible for this exemption shall not make tax‑free purchases unless it has an active identification number issued by the Department.

(4) Legal tender, currency, medallions, or gold or silver coinage issued by the State of Illinois, the government of the United States of America, or the government of any foreign country, and bullion.

(5) Until July 1, 2003 and beginning again on September 1, 2004 through August 30, 2014, graphic arts machinery and equipment, including repair and replacement parts, both new and used, and including that manufactured on special order or purchased for lease, certified by the purchaser to be used primarily for graphic arts production. Equipment includes chemicals or chemicals acting as catalysts but only if the chemicals or chemicals acting as catalysts effect a direct and immediate change upon a graphic arts product.

(6) Personal property sold by a teacher‑sponsored student organization affiliated with an elementary or secondary school located in Illinois.

(7) Farm machinery and equipment, both new and used, including that manufactured on special order, certified by the purchaser to be used primarily for production agriculture or State or federal agricultural programs, including individual replacement parts for the machinery and equipment, including machinery and equipment purchased for lease, and including implements of husbandry defined in Section 1‑130 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, farm machinery and agricultural chemical and fertilizer spreaders, and nurse wagons required to be registered under Section 3‑809 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, but excluding other motor vehicles required to be registered under the Illinois Vehicle Code. Horticultural polyhouses or hoop houses used for propagating, growing, or overwintering plants shall be considered farm machinery and equipment under this item (7). Agricultural chemical tender tanks and dry boxes shall include units sold separately from a motor vehicle required to be licensed and units sold mounted on a motor vehicle required to be licensed if the selling price of the tender is separately stated.

Farm machinery and equipment shall include precision farming equipment that is installed or purchased to be installed on farm machinery and equipment including, but not limited to, tractors, harvesters, sprayers, planters, seeders, or spreaders. Precision farming equipment includes, but is not limited to, soil testing sensors, computers, monitors, software, global positioning and mapping systems, and other such equipment.

Farm machinery and equipment also includes computers, sensors, software, and related equipment used primarily in the computer‑assisted operation of production agriculture facilities, equipment, and activities such as, but not limited to, the collection, monitoring, and correlation of animal and crop data for the purpose of formulating animal diets and agricultural chemicals. This item (7) is exempt from the provisions of Section 3‑55.

(8) Fuel and petroleum products sold to or used by an air common carrier, certified by the carrier to be used for consumption, shipment, or storage in the conduct of its business as an air common carrier, for a flight destined for or returning from a location or locations outside the United States without regard to previous or subsequent domestic stopovers.

(9) Proceeds of mandatory service charges separately stated on customers' bills for the purchase and consumption of food and beverages, to the extent that the proceeds of the service charge are in fact turned over as tips or as a substitute for tips to the employees who participate directly in preparing, serving, hosting or cleaning up the food or beverage function with respect to which the service charge is imposed.

(10) Until July 1, 2003, oil field exploration, drilling, and production equipment, including (i) rigs and parts of rigs, rotary rigs, cable tool rigs, and workover rigs, (ii) pipe and tubular goods, including casing and drill strings, (iii) pumps and pump‑jack units, (iv) storage tanks and flow lines, (v) any individual replacement part for oil field exploration, drilling, and production equipment, and (vi) machinery and equipment purchased for lease; but excluding motor vehicles required to be registered under the Illinois Vehicle Code.

(11) Photoprocessing machinery and equipment, including repair and replacement parts, both new and used, including that manufactured on special order, certified by the purchaser to be used primarily for photoprocessing, and including photoprocessing machinery and equipment purchased for lease.

(12) Until July 1, 2003, coal exploration, mining, offhighway hauling, processing, maintenance, and reclamation equipment, including replacement parts and equipment, and including equipment purchased for lease, but excluding motor vehicles required to be registered under the Illinois Vehicle Code.

(13) Beginning January 1, 1992 and through June 30, 2011, food for human consumption that is to be consumed off the premises where it is sold (other than alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and food that has been prepared for immediate consumption) and prescription and non‑prescription medicines, drugs, medical appliances, and insulin, urine testing materials, syringes, and needles used by diabetics, for human use, when purchased for use by a person receiving medical assistance under Article V of the Illinois Public Aid Code who resides in a licensed long‑term care facility, as defined in the Nursing Home Care Act, or in a licensed facility as defined in the MR/DD Community Care Act.

(14) Semen used for artificial insemination of livestock for direct agricultural production.

(15) Horses, or interests in horses, registered with and meeting the requirements of any of the Arabian Horse Club Registry of America, Appaloosa Horse Club, American Quarter Horse Association, United States Trotting Association, or Jockey Club, as appropriate, used for purposes of breeding or racing for prizes. This item (15) is exempt from the provisions of Section 3‑55, and the exemption provided for under this item (15) applies for all periods beginning May 30, 1995, but no claim for credit or refund is allowed on or after January 1, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95‑88) for such taxes paid during the period beginning May 30, 2000 and ending on January 1, 2008 (the effective date of Public Act 95‑88).

(16) Computers and communications equipment utilized for any hospital purpose and equipment used in the diagnosis, analysis, or treatment of hospital patients sold to a lessor who leases the equipment, under a lease of one year or longer executed or in effect at the time of the purchase, to a hospital that has been issued an active tax exemption identification number by the Department under Section 1g of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act.

(17) Personal property sold to a lessor who leases the property, under a lease of one year or longer executed or in effect at the time of the purchase, to a governmental body that has been issued an active tax exemption identification number by the Department under Section 1g of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act.

(18) Beginning with taxable years ending on or after December 31, 1995 and ending with taxable years ending on or before December 31, 2004, personal property that is donated for disaster relief to be used in a State or federally declared disaster area in Illinois or bordering Illinois by a manufacturer or retailer that is registered in this State to a corporation, society, association, foundation, or institution that has been issued a sales tax exemption identification number by the Department that assists victims of the disaster who reside within the declared disaster area.

(19) Beginning with taxable years ending on or after December 31, 1995 and ending with taxable years ending on or before December 31, 2004, personal property that is used in the performance of infrastructure repairs in this State, including but not limited to municipal roads and streets, access roads, bridges, sidewalks, waste disposal systems, water and sewer line extensions, water distribution and purification facilities, storm water drainage and retention facilities, and sewage treatment facilities, resulting from a State or federally declared disaster in Illinois or bordering Illinois when such repairs are initiated on facilities located in the declared disaster area within 6 months after the disaster.

(20) Beginning July 1, 1999, game or game birds sold at a "game breeding and hunting preserve area" or an "exotic game hunting area" as those terms are used in the Wildlife Code or at a hunting enclosure approved through rules adopted by the Department of Natural Resources. This paragraph is exempt from the provisions of Section 3‑55.

(21) A motor vehicle, as that term is defined in Section 1‑146 of the Illinois Vehicle Code, that is donated to a corporation, limited liability company, society, association, foundation, or institution that is determined by the Department to be organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes. For purposes of this exemption, "a corporation, limited liability company, society, association, foundation, or institution organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes" means all tax‑supported public schools, private schools that offer systematic instruction in useful branches of learning by methods common to public schools and that compare favorably in their scope and intensity with the course of study presented in tax‑supported schools, and vocational or technical schools or institutes organized and operated exclusively to provide a course of study of not less than 6 weeks duration and designed to prepare individuals to follow a trade or to pursue a manual, technical, mechanical, industrial, business, or commercial occupation.

(22) Beginning January 1, 2000, personal property, including food, purchased through fundraising events for the benefit of a public or private elementary or secondary school, a group of those schools, or one or more school districts if the events are sponsored by an entity recognized by the school district that consists primarily of volunteers and includes parents and teachers of the school children. This paragraph does not apply to fundraising events (i) for the benefit of private home instruction or (ii) for which the fundraising entity purchases the personal property sold at the events from another individual or entity that sold the property for the purpose of resale by the fundraising entity and that profits from the sale to the fundraising entity. This paragraph is exempt from the provisions of Section 3‑55.

(23) Beginning January 1, 2000 and through December 31, 2001, new or used automatic vending machines that prepare and serve hot food and beverages, including coffee, soup, and other items, and replacement parts for these machines. Beginning January 1, 2002 and through June 30, 2003, machines and parts for machines used in commercial, coin‑operated amusement and vending business if a use or occupation tax is paid on the gross receipts derived from the use of the commercial, coin‑operated amusement and vending machines. This paragraph is exempt from the provisions of Section 3‑55.

(24) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, computers and communications equipment utilized for any hospital purpose and equipment used in the diagnosis, analysis, or treatment of hospital patients sold to a lessor who leases the equipment, under a lease of one year or longer executed or in effect at the time of the purchase, to a hospital that has been issued an active tax exemption identification number by the Department under Section 1g of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. This paragraph is exempt from the provisions of Section 3‑55.

(25) Beginning on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 92nd General Assembly, personal property sold to a lessor who leases the property, under a lease of one year or longer executed or in effect at the time of the purchase, to a governmental body that has been issued an active tax exemption identification number by the Department under Section 1g of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act. This paragraph is exempt from the provisions of Section 3‑55.

(26) Beginning on January 1, 2002 and through June 30, 2011, tangible personal property purchased from an Illinois retailer by a taxpayer engaged in centralized purchasing activities in Illinois who will, upon receipt of the property in Illinois, temporarily store the property in Illinois (i) for the purpose of subsequently transporting it outside this State for use or consumption thereafter solely outside this State or (ii) for the purpose of being processed, fabricated, or manufactured into, attached to, or incorporated into other tangible personal property to be transported outside this State and thereafter used or consumed solely outside this State. The Director of Revenue shall, pursuant to rules adopted in accordance with the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act, issue a permit to any taxpayer in good standing with the Department who is eligible for the exemption under this paragraph (26). The permit issued under this paragraph (26) shall authorize the holder, to the extent and in the manner specified in the rules adopted under this Act, to purchase tangible personal property from a retailer exempt from the taxes imposed by this Act. Taxpayers shall maintain all necessary books and records to substantiate the use and consumption of all such tangible personal property outside of the State of Illinois.

(27) Beginning January 1, 2008, tangible personal property used in the construction or maintenance of a community water supply, as defined under Section 3.145 of the Environmental Protection Act, that is operated by a not‑for‑profit corporation that holds a valid water supply permit issued under Title IV of the Environmental Protection Act. This paragraph is exempt from the provisions of Section 3‑55.

(28) Tangible personal property sold to a public‑facilities corporation, as described in Section 11‑65‑10 of the Illinois Municipal Code, for purposes of constructing or furnishing a municipal convention hall, but only if the legal title to the municipal convention hall is transferred to the municipality without any further consideration by or on behalf of the municipality at the time of the completion of the municipal convention hall or upon the retirement or redemption of any bonds or other debt instruments issued by the public‑facilities corporation in connection with the development of the municipal convention hall. This exemption includes existing public‑facilities corporations as provided in Section 11‑65‑25 of the Illinois Municipal Code. This paragraph is exempt from the provisions of Section 3‑55.

(29) Beginning January 1, 2010, materials, parts, equipment, components, and furnishings incorporated into or upon an aircraft as part of the modification, refurbishment, completion, replacement, repair, or maintenance of the aircraft. This exemption includes consumable supplies used in the modification, refurbishment, completion, replacement, repair, and maintenance of aircraft, but excludes any materials, parts, equipment, components, and consumable supplies used in the modification, replacement, repair, and maintenance of aircraft engines or power plants, whether such engines or power plants are installed or uninstalled upon any such aircraft. "Consumable supplies" include, but are not limited to, adhesive, tape, sandpaper, general purpose lubricants, cleaning solution, latex gloves, and protective films. This exemption applies only to those organizations that (i) hold an Air Agency Certificate and are empowered to operate an approved repair station by the Federal Aviation Administration, (ii) have a Class IV Rating, and (iii) conduct operations in accordance with Part 145 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The exemption does not include aircraft operated by a commercial air carrier providing scheduled passenger air service pursuant to authority issued under Part 121 or Part 129 of the Federal Aviation Regulations.

(Source: P.A. 95‑88, eff. 1‑1‑08; 95‑538, eff. 1‑1‑08; 95‑876, eff. 8‑21‑08; 96‑116, eff. 7‑31‑09; 96‑339, eff. 7‑1‑10; 96‑532, eff. 8‑14‑09; 96‑759, eff. 1‑1‑10; 96‑1000, eff. 7‑2‑10.)

(35 ILCS 115/3‑5.5)
Sec. 3‑5.5. Food and drugs sold by not‑for‑profit organizations; exemption.

The Department shall not collect the 1% tax imposed on food for human consumption that is to be consumed off the premises where it is sold (other than alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, and food that has been prepared for immediate consumption) and prescription and nonprescription medicines, drugs, medical appliances, and insulin, urine testing materials, syringes, and needles used by diabetics, for human use from any not‑for‑profit organization, that sells food in a food distribution program at a price below the retail cost of the food to purchasers who, as a condition of participation in the program, are required to perform community service, located in a county or municipality that notifies the Department, in writing, that the county or municipality does not want the tax to be collected from any of such organizations located in the county or municipality.

(Source: P.A. 88‑374.)