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House committee clears bill to exempt nonprofit animal adoption fees from sales tax
Summary
The House Revenue and Taxation Committee voted to send House Bill 263 to the floor with a “do pass” recommendation after testimony from animal rescue volunteers and legal counsel arguing adoption fees are reimbursements for veterinary and care costs, not taxable sales.
The House Revenue and Taxation Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to send House Bill 263 to the House floor with a “do pass” recommendation. The bill would clarify that adoption and rehoming fees charged by nonprofit animal rescues are not subject to sales tax.
Sponsor Representative Charlie Shepherd, R-District 7, told the committee he was compelled to bring the bill after constituents complained rescues were being taxed “for essentially rescuing animals and bringing them back to health and then finding good homes for them.” The panel heard in-person testimony from volunteers and an attorney who said the fees are reimbursements for medical care and other rescue costs, not taxable sales of tangible personal property.
“These are not sales, this is community service,” Sharon Helmandala, president of Take Me Home Dog Rescue, told the committee. Helmandala described her organization as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that takes dogs from…
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