A. A tax is hereby imposed, in lieu of the ad valorem tax on certain items of the whole goods inventories, both new and used items, owned and/or possessed for sale or lease by retailers of farm tractors and other equipment as defined by subsection C of this section.

B. Items to be taxed in lieu of ad valorem pursuant to the provisions of this section are those items of inventory of whole goods agricultural equipment and whole goods attachments thereto received from suppliers of agricultural equipment, if said items have a retail list price of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) or higher but not including repair or replacement parts. The tax shall be paid by the dealer on such items in lieu of the annual ad valorem tax assessment of dealer's average inventory but shall not relieve any other property of the dealer from ad valorem taxation. Each dealer shall maintain a sales log for applicable items pursuant to this section with a serial number where applicable. The log shall be subject to inspection by county assessors. Equipment sold by consignment or by auctions where the selling agent does not take title to the equipment shall continue to be subject to ad valorem taxation. Sales of covered whole goods items between dealers shall be considered wholesale transactions and shall not be subject to the tax imposed by this section until sold at retail.

C. For purposes of this act, a retailer of farm tractors and other equipment is any person having a franchise or dealer agreement for selling and retailing farm tractors and farm implements. On and after January 1, 1993, those business entities which do not have a franchise or dealer agreement for retailing farm equipment, but which from time to time publicly buy and sell such farm equipment shall also be subject to the provisions of this section, and the tax imposed by this section shall apply to the same items and under the same conditions as apply to franchised dealers.

D. "Whole goods agricultural equipment" shall be defined as any machine, including but not limited to a farm tractor, combine, plow or baler, capable of performing agricultural operations either with power from its own engine, or when drawn or otherwise moved by another whole goods unit. "Whole goods attachments" shall be defined as those complete attachments which, when fitted to, drawn or otherwise moved by other equipment, perform specialized agricultural operations. Such attachments include, but shall not be limited to, combine headers, mowers, swathers, shredders and cultivation and haying equipment.

Added by Laws 1991, c. 149, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1992. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 360, § 7, eff. July 1, 1992.