2023 California Code › Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC › DIVISION 2 - OTHER TAXES › PART 1 - SALES AND USE TAXES › CHAPTER 4 - Exemptions › ARTICLE 2 - Exemptions From Sales Tax › Section 6385.

6385. (a) There are exempted from the computation of the amount of the sales tax the gross receipts from the sale of tangible personal property, other than fuel and petroleum products, to a common carrier, shipped by the seller via the purchasing carrier’s facilities under a bill of lading whether the freight is paid in advance, or the shipment is made freight charges collect, to a point outside this state and the property is actually transported to the out-of-state destination for use by the carrier in the conduct of its business as a common carrier.
(b) There are exempted from the computation of the amount of the sales tax the gross receipts from the sale of tangible personal property, other than aircraft fuel and petroleum products, purchased by a foreign air carrier and transported by the foreign air carrier’s facilities to a foreign destination for use by the air carrier in the conduct of its business as a common carrier by air of persons or property. To qualify for this exemption, the foreign air carrier shall furnish to the seller a certificate in writing that the property shall be transported and used in the manner required in this subdivision. The certificate shall be substantially in the form prescribed by the department. A seller is not liable for the sales tax if the seller accepts the certificate in good faith. If the seller does not have the certificate at the time the department requests the seller to submit the certificate to the department, the seller shall be given a reasonable time to request the foreign air carrier to provide the seller with the certificate. The foreign air carrier shall maintain records in this state, such as a copy of a bill of lading, an air waybill, or cargo manifest, documenting its transportation of the tangible personal property to a foreign destination.
(c) There are exempted from the computation of the amount of the sales tax the gross receipts from the sale of fuel and petroleum products to a water common carrier for immediate shipment outside this state for consumption in the conduct of its business as a common carrier after the first out-of-state destination. To qualify for the exemption the common carrier shall furnish to the seller an exemption certificate in writing stating the quantity of fuel and petroleum products claimed as exempt which is to be consumed after reaching the first out-of-state destination. That certificate shall bear the purchaser’s valid seller’s permit number or valid fuel exemption registration number and shall be substantially in the form prescribed by the department. Acceptance in good faith of that certificate shall relieve the seller from liability for the sales tax.
(d) “First out-of-state destination,” as used in this section, means the first point reached outside this state by a common carrier in the conduct of its business as a common carrier at which cargo or passengers are loaded or discharged, cargo containers are added or removed, fuel is transferred, or docking fees are charged. “First out-of-state destination,” as used in this section, also includes the entry point of the Panama Canal when the carrier is only transiting the canal in the conduct of its business as a common carrier.
(e) “Common carrier,” as used in this section, with respect to water transportation, shall be deemed to include any vessel engaged, for compensation, in transporting persons or property in interstate or foreign commerce.
(f) “Foreign air carrier,” as used in this section, means a foreign air carrier as defined in Section 40102 of Title 49 of the United States Code.
(g) “Immediate shipment,” as used in this section, means that the delivery of the fuel and petroleum products by the seller is directly into a ship for transportation outside this state and not for storage by the purchaser or any third party.
(h) A common carrier claiming exemption under subdivision (c) who is not required to hold a valid seller’s permit shall be required to register with the department and obtain a fuel exemption registration number and shall be required to file returns as the department may prescribe if either the department notifies the carrier that returns must be filed or the carrier is liable for taxes based upon consumption of fuel erroneously claimed as exempt under this section. A common carrier required to hold a fuel exemption registration number shall be subject to all applicable provisions of this part, Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 7200), and Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251).
(i) A common carrier claiming an exemption under subdivision (c), upon request, shall make available to the department records, including, but not limited to, a copy of a log abstract or a cargo manifest, documenting its transportation of the fuel or petroleum product to an out-of-state destination and the amount claimed as exempt. If the carrier fails to provide these records upon request, the department may revoke the carrier’s fuel exemption registration number.
(j) The department may require any carrier claiming an exemption under this section and required to obtain a fuel exemption registration number to place with it that security as the department may determine pursuant to Section 6701.
(k) Pursuant to subdivisions (a), (b), and (c), any use of the property by the purchasing carrier, other than that incident to the delivery of the property to the carrier and the transportation of the property by the carrier to the first out-of-state destination and subsequent use in the conduct of its business as a common carrier, or a failure of the carrier to document its transporting the property to the first out-of-state destination, shall subject the carrier to liability for payment of sales tax as if it were a retailer making a retail sale of the property at the time of that use or failure, and the sales price of the property to it shall be deemed to be the gross receipts from the retail sale.
(l) For the purpose of complying with Section 41, the Legislature finds and declares all of the following with respect to the exemption extended by the act adding this subdivision:
(1) The specific goal that the exemption will continue to achieve is to ensure fueling will continue to be a robust economic activity in the state and adhere to tax policy and rationale of first substantial use occurring out of state.
(2) Detailed performance indicators measuring whether the exemption meets the goal described in paragraph (1) are the following:
(A) The average monthly maritime fuel price at all domestic and international Pacific seaports.
(B) The average monthly maritime fuel price at California seaports.
(C) Maritime fuel deliveries at California seaports.
(3) On or before January 1, 2026, the Legislative Analyst’s Office shall analyze the performance indicators described in paragraph (2) and shall report its findings, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, to the Legislature.
(m) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.
(Amended (as amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 293, Sec. 1) by Stats. 2023, Ch. 442, Sec. 1. (AB 543) Effective October 8, 2023. Repealed as of January 1, 2029, by its own provisions. See later operative version, as amended by Sec. 2 of Stats. 2023, Ch. 442.)