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DEVOREFLYER
12-01-2012, 02:58 PM
Since 1938 certain sporting goods items are subject to a tax. 11% onSporting arms, ammunition and archery equipment, 10% tax on handguns.

Most are not aware of the 10% taxes on fishing equipment passed in 1960 and 1974.

Read and weep. Taxes enough yet?

Title 26: Internal Revenue
PART 48—MANUFACTURERS AND RETAILERS EXCISE TAXES

Subpart K—Sporting Goods
Source: Sections 48.4161(a)–1 through 48.4161(b)–5 contained in T.D. 7328, 39 FR 36586, Oct. 11, 1974 unless otherwise noted. Sections 48.4181–1 through 48.4182–2 contained in T.D. 6454, 25 FR 1774, Mar. 1, 1960, unless otherwise noted.
§ 48.4161(a) [Reserved]

§ 48.4161(a)-1 Imposition and rate of tax; fishing equipment.
(a) Imposition of tax. Section 4161(a) imposes a tax on the sale of the following articles of fishing equipment (including in each case parts or accessories of such articles sold on or in connection therewith or with the sale thereof) by the manufacturer, producer, or importer thereof:
(1) Fishing rods;
(2) Fishing creels;
(3) Fishing reels; and
(4) Artificial lures, baits, and flies.
The tax applies only to those items of fishing equipment specified in section 4161(a) and this paragraph. Therefore, other items of fishing equipment, such as fishing nets, lines, hooks, sinkers, gaffs, etc., are not subject to the tax. Furthermore, the tax applies only to those specified articles of fishing equipment that are designed or constructed for use in the sport of fishing. Accordingly, the tax does not apply to those articles which, although nominally articles that are specified in section 4161(a), are in the nature of toys or novelties that merely simulate articles of a type referred to in section 4161(a), and are not designed or constructed for practical use in the sport of fishing.
(b) Rate of tax. Tax is imposed on the sale of the articles enumerated in section 4161(a) and paragraph (a) of this section at the rate of 10 percent of the price for which such articles are sold. For the definition of the term “price” see section 4216 and the regulations thereunder.
(c) Liability for tax. The tax imposed by section 4161(a) is payable by the manufacturer, producer, or importer making the sale. For determining who is the manufacturer, producer, or importer, see §48.0–2(a)(4).
[T.D. 7328, 39 FR 36586, Oct. 11, 1974, as amended by T.D. 8043, 50 FR 32014, Aug. 8, 1985]
§ 48.4161(a)-2 Meaning of terms.
(a) Fishing rods. The term “fishing rods” includes all articles, however, designated, that are designed or constructed for use in conjunction with a fishing reel for casting a line and hook in the sport of fishing. The term does not include any article that is neither designed for use in casting, nor suitable for such use. A so-called fishing rod “blank” is not considered to be a “fishing rod” unless the blank contains an affixed handle and reel seat, or is sold in the form of a kit that contains a rod blank, a handle, and a reel seat.
(b) Fishing creels. The term “fishing creels” includes all portable containers, of whatever material made, that are designed for storing and carrying fish from the time they are caught until such time as they are removed from the container for consumption or preservation. The term does not include any article primarily designed for use in the commercial fishing industry, or an article such as a collapsible wire basket designed to be hung over the side of a boat to keep fish captive and alive in the water.
(c) Fishing reels. The term “fishing reels” includes all mechanical and electrical devices that contain a spool for dispensing and recovering fishing line, and are designed for use with fishing rods in casting and in reeling in hooked fish in the sport of fishing. The term also includes reels designed for use with bows, in the sport of bowfishing.
(d) Artificial lures, baits, and flies. The term “artificial lures, baits, and flies” includes all artifacts, of whatever materials made, that simulate an article considered edible by fish and are designed to be attached to a line or hook to attract fish so that they may be captured. Thus, the term includes such artifacts as imitation flies, blades, spoons, and spinners, and edible materials that have been processed so as to resemble a different edible article considered more attractive to fish, such as bread crumbs treated so as to simulate salmon eggs, and pork rind cut and dyed to resemble frogs, eels, or tadpoles.
[T.D. 7328, 39 FR 36586, Oct. 11, 1974, as amended by T.D. 8043, 50 FR 32014, Aug. 8, 1985]
§ 48.4161(a)-3 Parts and accessories.
(a) In general. The tax attaches with respect to parts and accessories for articles specified in section 4161(a) and §48.4161(a)–1 that are sold on or in connection with such articles, or with the sale thereof, at the same rate applicable to the sale of the basic articles. The tax attaches in such cases whether or not charges for the parts or accessories are billed separately. To be considered a part or accessory for an article specified in section 4161(a), an item must be either essential to the operation of the specified article, or be designed to directly improve the performance of the specified article, or to improve its appearance. For example, a carrying case for a fishing rod is not considered to be a part or accessory for a fishing rod, despite the fact that it is designed for use with the rod, because it is neither essential to the use of the rod, nor does it in any way improve its performance or appearance. A sale of a part or accessory which would otherwise be considered a sale “on or in connection with” the sale of an article taxable under section 4161(a), is not subject to tax if the part or accessory is sold as a replacement for an identical part or accessory being sold with the taxable article.
(b) Essential equipment. If taxable articles are sold by the manufacturer, producer, or importer thereof, without parts or accessories that are essential for their operation, or are designed directly to improve the performance or appearnace of the articles, the separate sale of the parts accessories to the same vendee will be considered, in the absense of evidence to the contrary, to have been made in connection with the sale of the basic article, even though the parts or accessories are shipped separately at the same time or on a different date.
[T.D. 7328, 39 FR 36586, Oct. 11, 1974, as amended by T.D. 8043, 50 FR 32014, Aug. 8, 1985]
§ 48.4161(a)-4 Use considered sale.
For provisions relating to the tax on use of taxable articles by the manufacturer, producer, or importer thereof, see section 4218 relating to use by a manufacturer being considered a sale, and the regulations thereunder.
§ 48.4161(a)-5 Tax-free sales.
For provisions relating to the tax-free sales of articles referred to in section 4161(a) see:
(a) Section 4221, relating to certain tax-free sales;
(b) Section 4222, relating to registration;
(c) Section 4223, pertaining to special rules relating to further manufacture; and
(d) Section 4225, relating to exemption of articles manufactured or produced by Indians;
and the regulations thereunder.

HawgZWylde
12-01-2012, 03:41 PM
And those taxes were to be spent on those specific sports. for hunting and fishing, they supported the FWS and it's conservation and enhancement programs. Now there is debate that would take those funds and put them into the general fund and away from fishing and hunting programs.

http://www.activistangler.com/journal/2012/10/29/future-of-fws-fisheries-program-in-doubt.html

shinbob
12-01-2012, 03:41 PM
This is actually part of the Sport Fish Restoration act, it's been around since the 50s. The good thing about this tax is that the proceeds are specifically allocated to improve fishing and boating, with only 6% or so to be spent on administration. I dislike frivolous taxes as much as anyone else, but at least this one benefits us directly. And while people often get around fishing license fees by just not buying one, they can 't get around this one if they buy any fishing tackle.

"The Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program has had a major impact on sport fishing nationwide. Since 1950, state fish and wildlife agencies have received more than $2.6 billion under the Program. These funds have helped to build or reconstruct more than 1,200 fishing or boating access sites, purchase over 260,000 acres for boating, fishing and fish production, and fund research and inventory projects resulting in better ways to manage fish populations. "

shinbob
12-01-2012, 03:47 PM
And those taxes were to be spent on those specific sports. for hunting and fishing, they supported the FWS and it's conservation and enhancement programs. Now there is debate that would take those funds and put them into the general fund and away from fishing and hunting programs.

http://www.activistangler.com/journal/2012/10/29/future-of-fws-fisheries-program-in-doubt.html

Well, that would suck. That's a clear violation of the act, and seems like it should therefore be illegal. And $34M is literally a drop in the bucket compared to the total deficit, it's totally absurd.

But luckily the total funds from this tax is something like $650M per year, so the impact won't be too severe, at least not yet.

HawgZWylde
12-01-2012, 07:00 PM
Well, that would suck. That's a clear violation of the act, and seems like it should therefore be illegal. And $34M is literally a drop in the bucket compared to the total deficit, it's totally absurd.

But luckily the total funds from this tax is something like $650M per year, so the impact won't be too severe, at least not yet.

Sucks is putting it mildly. Illegal it is, but did that ever stop our politicians from raiding those dedicated funds? And due to the current economic situation, sales, hence revenues, are already way down. This is not good because it will cause fees and taxes to go higher to make up for the lost revenue, which already are due to the fiscal crisis. A vicious cycle indeed. Two good reads for understanding the SFR act, and the funding for it;

http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/FASPORT.HTML
http://www.fishwildlife.org/files/SportFish-Restoration-ROI-Report_2011.pdf

DEVOREFLYER
12-01-2012, 07:29 PM
This is all well and good but remember the STATE must make a contribution toward any project for the funds to come back to the state. California has no free funds to invest and get anything back in the way of taxes we have paid. I would like to see a list of projects that California has started and the funds we have recieved toward that project(s). On the shooting side of the tax collected California is a non gun friendly state and I know of no new ranges funded and many have closed under pressure from antigun groups.