Okla. Admin. Code § 710:65-13-210

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 710:65-13-210 - Exemption for public and private schools and institutions of higher education

(a)Sales to schools. Sales of tangible personal property or services to the following entities are exempt from taxation:

(1) Private institutions of higher education.

(2) Private elementary and secondary schools.

(3) Members of the Oklahoma system of higher education.

(4) Public school districts.

(b)Scope of exemption. The exemption in this subsection shall apply only if said institution or school is accredited by the State Department of Education, registered by the State Board of Education for purposes of participating in federal programs or accredited as defined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher education which are exempt from taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C.A § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Included in sales which are exempt are materials, supplies and equipment used in construction and improvement of buildings owned by said entities and operated for educational services.

(c)Sales by a lease or lease-purchase agreement with a school district. Sales of tangible personal property or services pursuant to a lease or lease-purchase agreement executed between a vendor and a school district are exempt from sales tax.

(d)Sales under public contract. Sales to any public school, institution of the Oklahoma system of higher education and to any person, including subcontractor, whom a public school or institution of the Oklahoma system of higher education has duly entered into a contract pursuant to law necessary for carrying out said contract are exempt from taxation.

(e)Certification required. Certification on the face of the invoice is required of persons making purchases on behalf of an entity listed in (a) of this Section. The invoice containing the certification must be retained by the vendor. Wrongful or erroneous certification may result in criminal punishment.

(f)Campus or school construction. Sales for use on campus or school construction projects for the benefit of either the institutions of the Oklahoma system of higher education, private institutions of higher education accredited by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, or for public schools or school-districts, are exempt when the projects are financed by or through the use of nonprofit entities exempt from taxation pursuant to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code 26 U.S.C., § 501(c)(3).

(g)Obtaining exemption for campus or school construction projects. The general contractor shall request a letter of confirmation that the project qualifies for the exemption from the Business Tax Services Division. Along with the request, the following must be supplied:

(1) A letter from the institution confirming that the not-for-profit entity is financing the project and that the requestor is the general contractor for the project.

(2) A copy of the IRS letter to the not-for-profit entity showing its exemption status.

(h)Private schools tuition. Tuition and educational fees paid to private institutions of higher education, private elementary and secondary institutions of education duly accredited by the State Board of Education or registered to participate in federal programs are exempt from sales tax. The institution must be exempt from income taxation pursuant to the provisions of 26 U.S.C.A. § 501(c)(3) for this exemption to apply.

(i)Sales in school cafeterias. Sales of food in cafeterias or lunchrooms of elementary schools, high schools, colleges or universities which are operated primarily for teachers and pupils are exempt from taxation so long as the cafeteria or lunch room is not operated primarily for the public or for profit. Management companies operating for a profit who contract with a school, college or university to operate a lunchroom or cafeteria will be denied the exemption. Also, sales of food made on school premises but not in a cafeteria or lunchroom do not fall within the exemption provided by statute.

(j)Sales of admission tickets. That portion of the gross receipts received from the sale of admission tickets which is for the repayment of money borrowed by an accredited state-supported college or university for the purposes outlined in the statute is exempt from taxation if said amount is:

(1) separately stated on the admission ticket; and

(2) imposed, collected and used for the sole purpose of servicing the debt incurred by the college or university for capital improvements described in the statute.

(k)Sales by school, student, parent-teacher organizations or associations. Private schools, public schools, public or private school boards, public school districts, public or private school student organizations and parent-teacher organizations or associations can make sales of tangible personal property exempt from sales tax. Public or private school personnel can make sales for fund-raising projects to benefit the school, school district, school board or student group or organization without collecting and remitting sales tax. For purposes of subsections (k) and (l) tangible personal property includes the sale of admission tickets and concessions at athletic events. [See: 68 O.S. § 1356(13)]

(l)Sales to, or by, parent-teacher organizations. Parent-teacher associations and parent-teacher organizations that are exempt from federal income tax pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code may make purchases and sales free from the levy of Oklahoma sales taxes.

(m)Sales to, or by, nonprofit local public or private school foundations. Nonprofit local public or private school foundations which solicit money or property in the name of any public or private school or public school district may make purchases and sales of tangible personal property exempt from sales tax.

(n)Sales to career technology student organizations. Career technology student organizations under the direction and supervision of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education may make purchases exempt from Oklahoma sales and use taxes and local sales and use taxes.

(o)Application process. The entities set forth in (l) through (n) of this Section may make application for exemption by submitting to the Business Tax Services Division, Oklahoma Tax Commission, Oklahoma City, OK 73194, a completed Form 13-16-A, contained in Packet E, available online at www.tax.ok.gov along with the applicable documentation outlined in (p) of this Section.

(p)Supporting documentation required.

(1)Parent-Teacher Associations or Organizations. Parent-Teacher Associations or Organizations must submit the Internal Revenue Service determination letter recognizing the organization as exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3).

(2)School foundations. School foundations must submit the documentation described in (A) and (B) of paragraph (2).

(A) A letter from the Internal Revenue Service recognizing the foundation as exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3);

(B) A written description of the qualifying activities of the foundation or organization, as may be evidenced by copies of:

(i) Articles of Incorporation;

(ii) By-laws;

(iii) Brochure; and

(iv) Notarized letter from the President or Chairman of the foundation.

(3)Career Technology School Organizations. Career Technology School Organizations must submit documentation that the organization is under the direction and supervision of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.

Okla. Admin. Code § 710:65-13-210

Amended at 11 Ok Reg 3521, eff 6-26-94; Amended at 13 Ok Reg 3139, eff 7-11-96; Amended at 14 Ok Reg 2711, eff 6-26-97; Amended at 17 Ok Reg 2677, eff 6-25-00; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 2823, eff 6-25-01; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 2175, eff 6-26-03; Amended at 21 Ok Reg 2581, eff 6-25-04; Amended at 22 Ok Reg 1561, eff 6-11-05; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 2070, eff 7-1-08; Amended at 26 Ok Reg 2354, eff 6-25-09; Amended at 27 Ok Reg 2308, eff 7-11-10; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 542, eff 5-11-12

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 38, Issue 23, August 16, 2021, eff. 9/1/2021

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 39, Issue 24, September 1, 2022, eff. 9/11/2022