(a) Any person who sells tangible personal property through vending devices may elect to register with the Director of the Department of Finance and Administration as a vending device operator and pay the state and local sales and use taxes as provided in this section.

(b) Any person who elects to register as a vending device operator shall obtain a gross receipts tax permit from the director as provided in § 26-52-201 et seq.

(c)

(1) All tangible personal property purchased by a vending device operator for resale through a vending device shall be purchased exempt from the Arkansas Gross Receipts Act of 1941, § 26-52-101 et seq., the Arkansas Compensating Tax Act of 1949, § 26-53-101 et seq., and any local sales and use taxes pursuant to the sale for resale exemption provided for in § 26-52-401(12).

(2) The vending device operator shall maintain suitable records reflecting all purchases of tangible personal property during each calendar month for resale through a vending device.

(d) (1) (A) (i) A tax of four and one-half percent (41/2%) is levied on the purchase price of all tangible personal property purchased or withdrawn from inventory during each calendar month by a vending device operator for resale through a vending device.

(ii)

(a) An additional tax of one and one-half percent (11/2%) is levied on the purchase price of all tangible personal property purchased or withdrawn from inventory during each calendar month by a vending device operator for resale through a vending device.

(b) The additional tax levied under subdivision (d)(1)(A)(ii)(a) of this section shall be special revenue and credited to the Educational Adequacy Fund.

(B) The taxes levied in subdivision (d)(1)(A) of this section shall be in lieu of any state gross receipts tax on the gross receipts or gross proceeds derived from the sale of the tangible personal property by the vending device operator through a vending device.

(2)

(A) An additional tax of one percent (1%) is levied on the purchase price of all tangible personal property purchased or withdrawn from inventory during each calendar month for resale through a vending device.

(B) This tax shall be in lieu of any local gross receipts taxes imposed by any city or county of this state on the gross receipts or gross proceeds derived from the sale of the property by the vending device operator through a vending device.

(e) The taxes levied by subsection (d) of this section shall be reported and paid in the same manner and at the same time as prescribed by law for the reporting and payment of the Arkansas Gross Receipts Act of 1941, § 26-52-101 et seq.

(f) When calculating the taxes due under this section, a vending device operator shall be allowed to deduct any manufacturer's rebates received which lower the final purchase price paid by the vending device operator for tangible personal property sold through a vending device.

(g) Any vending device operator who manufactures the product which is withdrawn from stock for sale through a vending device shall calculate the tax due by multiplying the tax rate set out in subsection (d) of this section by the selling price for which the person would sell the product to another vending device operator for resale through a vending device.