Section 458-12-251. Computer software—Definitions—Valuation.

(1) This rule implements the provisions of chapter 29, Laws of 1991, ex. sess, regarding the property taxation of computer software.

(2) Computer software. Computer software is a set of directions or instructions that exist in the form of machine-readable or human-readable code, is recorded on physical or electronic medium and directs the operation of a computer system or other machinery and/or equipment. Computer software includes the associated documentation which describes the code and/or its use, operation, and maintenance and typically is delivered with the code to the user. Computer software does not include data bases, but does include the computer programs and code which are used to generate data bases. Computer software can be canned, custom, or a mixture of both.

(a) A data base is text, data, or other information that may be accessed or managed with the aid of computer software but that does not itself have the capacity to direct the operation of a computer system or other machinery and equipment; and, therefore does not constitute computer software.

(3) Custom software. Custom software is computer software that is specially designed for a single person's or a small group of persons' specific needs. Custom software includes modifications to canned software and can be developed in-house by the user, by outside developers, or by both.

(4) "Person" means any individual, receiver, administrator, executor, assignee, trustee in bankruptcy, trust, estate, firm, copartnership, joint venture, club, company, joint stock company, business trust, municipal corporation, political subdivision of the state of Washington, corporation, association, society, or any group of individuals acting as a unit, whether mutual, cooperative, fraternal, nonprofit, or otherwise and the United States or any instrumentality thereof.

(5) A "small group of persons" shall consist of less than four persons. A group of four or more persons shall be presumed not to be a small group of persons for the purposes of this section unless each of the persons are affiliated through common control and ownership.

(a) "Persons affiliated through common control and ownership" means

(i) Corporations qualifying as controlled group of corporations in 26 U.S.C. § 1563; or

(ii) Partnerships or other persons in which at least 80% of the ownership in the persons claimed to be affiliated is the same.

(6) Canned software. Canned software, also referred to as prewritten, "shrink-wrapped" or standards software, is computer software that is designed for and distributed "as is" for multiple persons who can use it without modifying its code and which is not otherwise considered custom software.

(a) Computer software that is a combination of prewritten or standard components and components specially modified to meet the needs of a user is a mixture of canned and custom software. The standard or prewritten components are canned software and the modifications are custom software.

(b) Canned software that is "bundled" with or sold with computer hardware retains its identity as canned software and shall be valued as such. "Bundled" software is canned software that is sold with hardware and does not have a separately stated price, and can include operating systems such as DOS, UNIX, OS-2, or System 6.0 as well as other programs.

(c) An upgrade is canned software provided by the software developer, author, distributor, inventor, licensor or sublicensor to improve, enhance or correct the workings of previously purchased canned software.

(7) Embedded software. Embedded software is computer software that resides permanently on some internal memory device in a computer system or other machinery and equipment, that is not removable in the ordinary course of operation, and that is of a type necessary for the routine operation of the computer system or other machinery and equipment.

(a) Embedded software can be either canned or custom software which:

(i) Is an integral part of the computer system or machinery or other equipment in which it resides;

(ii) Is designed specifically to be included in or with the computer system or machinery or other equipment; and

(iii) In its absence, the computer system or machinery or other equipment is inoperable.

(b) "Not removable in the ordinary course of operation" means that the software is not readily accessible and is not intended to be removed without

(i) Terminating the computer system, machinery, or equipment's operation; or

(ii) Removal of a computer chip, circuit board, or other mechanical device, or similar item.

(c) "Necessary for the routine operation" means that the software is required for the machinery, equipment, or computer to be able to perform its intended function. In the case of machinery or other equipment, such embedded software does not have to be a physical part of the actual machinery or other equipment, but may be part of a separate control or management panel or cabinet.

(8) Retained rights. Retained rights are any and all rights, including intellectual property rights such as those rights arising from copyright, patent, and/or trade secret laws, that are owned or held under contract or license by a computer software developer, author, inventor, publisher or distributor, licensor or sublicensor.

(9) Golden or master copy. A golden or master copy of computer software is a copy of computer software from which a computer software developer, author, inventor, publisher or distributor makes copies for sale or license.

(10) Acquisition cost.

(a) The acquisition cost of computer software shall include the total consideration paid for the software, including money, credits, rights, or other property expressed in terms of money, actually paid or accrued. The term also includes freight and installation charges but does not include charges for modifying software, retail sales tax or training. No deduction from the acquisition cost of computer software shall be allowed for any retained rights held by the developer, author, inventor, publisher, or distributor.

(b) In cases where the acquisition cost of computer software cannot be specifically identified, it will be valued at the usual retail selling price of the same or substantially similar computer software.

(c) In cases where canned software is specially modified for the user, the canned component of the computer software retains its identity as canned software; and the modifications are considered custom software and not taxable.

(11) Valuation of canned software.

(a) In the first year in which it will be subject to assessment, canned software shall be listed and valued at one hundred percent of acquisition cost as defined in section (10)(a), above, regardless of whether the software has been expensed or capitalized on the accounting records of the business.

(b) In the second year in which it will be subject to assessment, canned software shall be listed at one hundred percent of acquisition cost and valued at fifty percent of its acquisition cost.

(c) After the second year in which canned software has been subject to assessment, it shall be valued at zero.

(d) Upgrades to canned software shall be listed and valued at the acquisition cost of the upgrade package under subsections (11)(a) and (b), above, and not at the value of what the complete software package would cost as a new item.

(12) Valuation of customized canned software. In the case where a person purchases canned software and subsequently has that canned software customized or modified in-house, by outside developers, or both, only the canned portion of such computer software shall be taxable and it shall be valued as described in subsection (11).

(13) Valuation of embedded software. Because embedded software is part of the computer system, machinery, or other equipment, it has no separate acquisition cost and shall not be separately valued apart from the computer system, machinery, or other equipment in which it is housed.

(14) Taxable person. Canned software is taxable to the person having the right to use the software, including a licensee.

(15) Exemptions.

(a) All custom software, except embedded software, shall be exempt from property taxation;

(b) Retained rights of the computer software developer, author, inventor, publisher, distributor, licensor or sublicensor are exempt from property taxation;

(c) Modifications to canned software shall be exempt from property taxation as custom software; however, the underlying canned software shall retain its identity as canned software and shall be valued as prescribed in subsection (11) of this rule;

(d) Master or golden copies of computer software are exempt from property taxation;

(e) The taxpayer is responsible for maintaining and providing records sufficient to support any claim of exemption for either canned or custom software.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 84.08.010 and 1991 c 29. WSR 92-01-132, § 458-12-251, filed 12/19/91, effective 1/19/92.]

RCW 84.08.010 and 1991 c 29. WSR 92-01-132, § 458-12-251, filed 12/19/91, effective 1/19/92.