State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > District-of-columbia > Division-viii > Title-47 > Chapter-25 > Section-47-2501

Gas, electric lighting, telephone, telecommunications, and heating oil companies

(a) Before the 21st day of each calendar month, each telephone company that sells public utility services or commodities within the District, and each nonpublic utility who sells artificial gas that is delivered, by any method of delivery, to an end-user in the District shall:

(1) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the amount of its gross receipts for the preceding calendar month from the sales or distribution of public utility services and commodities, or the sale of artificial gas by a nonpublic utility that is delivered, by any method, to an end-user in the District;

(2) Until December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills for a telephone company, 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, or 11% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters for a gas company; and until December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered, by any method, to an end-user located in the District;

(3) After December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a telephone company, 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, or 11% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a gas company; or

(4) After December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered after December 31, 2004, by any method, to a nonresidential end-user located in the District and 10% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered after December 31, 2004, by any method, to a residential end-user located in the District.

(5) After December 1, 2005, pay to the Mayor:

(A) 11% of these gross receipts from the sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, for residential customers for a telephone company,

(B) 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 1, 2005, for residential customers for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District; or

(C) 11% of those gross receipts from the sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of those gross receipts from sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after December 1, 2005, for residential customers by a nonpublic utility to an end-user in the District.

(6) After September 30, 2006, pay to the Mayor:

(A)(i) 11% of these gross receipts from the sales included in bills rendered after September 30, 2006, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after September 30, 2006, for residential customers for a telephone company;

(ii) For the purposes of sub-subparagraph (i) of this subparagraph, in determining whether a particular customer is a residential or nonresidential customer, a telephone company may rely upon existing customer classifications, such as “individual,” “consumer,” “enterprise,” “business,” “corporate,” or “government”.

(B) 11% of those gross receipts from the sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after September 30, 2006, for nonresidential customers and 10% of those gross receipts from sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after September 30, 2006, for residential customers by a nonpublic utility to an end-user in the District.

(a-1) [Repealed].

(a-2) One-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers pursuant to subsection (a)(3), (4), (5), and (6) of this section, or any successor tax, shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by [§ 10-1601.02].

(a-3) For sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, before the 21st day of each month beginning January 2006, each gas company that provides distribution services to District customers shall:

(1) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the number of therms of natural gas delivered for final consumption in the District for the preceding billing period; and

(2)(A)(i) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0703, beginning December 2, 2005 and ending September 28, 2006, for each therm of natural gas delivered to end-users in the District for the billing period;

(ii) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0707, beginning September 29, 2006, for each therm of natural gas delivered to end-users in the District for the preceding billing period; and

(B)(i) Pay to the Mayor an additional tax of $0.00983, beginning December 2, 2005 and ending September 28, 2006, for each therm of natural gas delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District for the billing period;

(ii) Pay to the Mayor an additional tax of $0.00707, beginning September 29, 2006, for each therm of natural gas delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District for the preceding billing period.

(iii) Revenues received by the District pursuant to this subparagraph shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by § 10-1601.02. Payments under this subparagraph shall be in addition to any other payments under this section.

(iv) For the purposes of this subparagraph, for meter readings on or after June 28, 2006, residential end-use customers with group-metered accounts shall be residential customers. Group-metered accounts shall include service to any multiple dwelling building or property with 4 or more dwelling units.

(3) Each gas company that provides distribution services to District customers shall be allowed to recover the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this section in its rates as a surcharge on customers' bills.

(4) The tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be reflected as a separate line item on each bill for distribution services sent by each gas company that provides distribution services to District.

(a-4)(1) For sales included in bills rendered after September 30, 2006, before the 21st day of each month beginning November 1, 2006, each person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District shall:

(A) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the number of gallons of home heating oil delivered for final consumption in the District for the preceding billing period; and

(B)(i) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.17, beginning October 1, 2006, for each gallon of home heating oil delivered to end-users in the District for the preceding billing period; and

(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor an additional tax of $0.017, beginning October 1, 2006, for each gallon of home heating oil delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District for the preceding billing period.

(II) Revenues received by the District pursuant to this sub-subparagraph shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by § 10-1601.02. Payments under this subparagraph shall be in addition to any other payments under this section.

(III) For the purposes of this sub-subparagraph, beginning July 1, 2006, in determining whether a particular customer is a residential or nonresidential customer, all deliveries to a personal place of dwelling shall be considered residential, including end-users living in cooperative housing associations, condominiums, and apartment communities.

(2) Any gross receipts from sales made on or after October 1, 2006, that are not included in bills rendered after September 30, 2006, and taxed under subsection (a-4) of this section shall be taxed at the appropriate rates provided in subsection (a)(5) of this section and reported in the affidavit due on October 21, 2006.

(3) Each person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District shall be allowed to recover the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this section in its rates as a surcharge on customers' bills.

(4) The tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be reflected as a separate line item on each bill for heating oil delivered to an end-user in the District sent by each person who delivers heating oil to end-users in the District.

(b)(1)(A) For the period beginning July 1, 1986, and ending February 28, 1989, each telecommunication company not subject to the tax imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall:

(i) Report by affidavit filed with the Mayor the amount of its monthly gross receipts from the sale of toll telecommunication services that originate from or terminate on telecommunication equipment located in the District and for which a toll charge or periodic charge is billed to an apparatus, telephone, or account in the District, to a customer location in the District, or to a person residing in the District, without regard to where the bill for the service is physically received; and

(ii) Pay to the Mayor 6.7% of these gross receipts.

(B) To prevent actual multi-state taxation of the sale of toll telecommunication service, for the month beginning July 1, 1986, and for each succeeding month, any telecommunication company, upon proof that it has paid a properly due excise, sales, use, or gross receipts tax in another jurisdiction on a sale that is subject to taxation under this act, shall be allowed a credit against the tax for the amount paid, but in no event shall the credit permitted under this section exceed the tax imposed under this act.

(2) For each calendar month in the period beginning after September 30, 1987, and ending February 28, 1989, each telecommunication company shall pay the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection before the 21st day of the succeeding calendar month. The affidavits for each calendar month shall be filed at the time payment is made or on the 20th day of the succeeding calendar month, whichever is earlier.

(3)(A) For the period beginning July 1, 1986, and ending August 31, 1987, the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection shall be due on October 1, 1987. The tax for this period shall be paid in 2 equal installments before November 1, 1987, and before January 1, 1988. The Mayor may, upon written application made before the date prescribed for payment of the tax, grant a reasonable extension of time for paying the tax whenever good cause exists for the extension. The affidavits for each calendar month of this period shall be filed at the time the first installment payment is made or on October 30, 1987, whichever is earlier.

(B) For the period beginning September 1, 1987, and ending September 30, 1987, the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection shall be paid before October 21, 1987. The required affidavit shall be filed at the time the payment is made or on October 20, 1987, whichever is earlier.

(C) Each telecommunication company subject to the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection for the period beginning July 1, 1986, and ending September 30, 1987, shall be allowed a credit against the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection for the amount of personal property tax that is allocable to the period beginning July 1, 1986, and ending September 30, 1987, and that is paid pursuant to § 47-1501, and subchapter II of Chapter 15 of this title.

(D) Beginning July 1, 1986, a telecommunication company subject to the tax imposed by this act may be allowed an alternate method of reporting its monthly gross receipts upon showing, to the satisfaction of the Mayor that the telecommunication company does not have the capability to identify the jurisdiction of origination or termination of a particular toll telecommunication service. This showing shall be made by a written petition to the Mayor, which shall include the factual basis for the company's inability to identify the jurisdiction of origination or termination of a particular toll telecommunication service, with supporting documentation, and an alternative method of reporting for the services for which the company is unable to identify the jurisdiction of origination or termination that the company believes is reasonable and equitable, with supporting documentation. The Mayor may employ a reasonable and equitable alternate method for reporting a telecommunication company's gross receipts from this service based on information submitted pursuant to this subsection or any other information made available to the Mayor. Any alternate method for reporting a telecommunication company's gross receipts that is authorized by the Mayor shall apply only to the service for which the company is unable to identify the jurisdiction of origination or termination and shall not affect the reporting of any other gross receipts. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to relieve the obligation of a telecommunication company to pay the tax imposed by this act.

(4) Gross receipts from the sale by any telecommunication company of toll telecommunication services for resale to any other telecommunication company subject to the gross receipts tax under this subsection shall be exempt from the gross receipts tax under this subsection.

(5) For purposes of this subsection:

(A) The term “telecommunication company” includes and is not limited to every person, as defined in § 47-2001(i), and lessee of a person who provides for the transmission or reception within the District of Columbia of any form of toll telecommunication service for a consideration.

(B) The term “toll telecommunication service” means the transmission or reception of any sound, vision, or speech communication for which there is a toll charge that varies in amount with the distance or elapsed transmission time of each individual communication; or the transmission or reception of any sound, vision, or speech communication that entitles a person, as defined in § 47-2001(i), upon the payment of a periodic charge, which is determined as a flat amount or upon the basis of total elapsed transmission time, to an unlimited number of communications to or from all or a substantial portion of the persons having telephone or radio telephone stations in a specified area that is outside the local telephone system area in which the station providing this service is located.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each gas company, electric company, telephone company, telecommunication company, and each person who, by any method of delivery, delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, and each nonpublic utility who sells natural or artificial gas that is delivered, by any method, to an end-user in the District subject to the tax imposed by this section shall pay, in addition to any tax imposed by this section, the franchise tax imposed by Chapter 18 of this title, the real property tax imposed by Chapter 8 of this title, and the personal property tax imposed by § 47-1501, and subchapter II of Chapter 15 of this title, to the extent provided in § 47-1508. Beginning in FY 1999, the amount of tax imposed by this section shall not be calculated as gross revenues to which the tax is then applied.

(d) Before February 1, 1988, the Mayor shall:

(1) Report to the Council on the tax treatment of telecommunication and related services in other jurisdictions; and

(2) Make recommendations as to what, if any, additional telecommunication and related services should be subject to tax by the District.

(d-1)(1) Before the 21st day of each calendar month, each electric company that provides distribution services to District of Columbia ratepayers shall:

(A) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity delivered for final consumption in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month; and

(B)(i) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.007 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month; and

(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0007 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.

(II) Revenues received by the District pursuant to this sub-subparagraph shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by [§ 10-1601.02]. Payments under this sub-subparagraph shall be in addition to any other payments under this section.

(2) Each electric company providing distribution services to District of Columbia ratepayers shall be allowed to recover the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection in its rates. Recovery of the tax shall not be subject to any rate cap imposed pursuant to In the Matter of the Investigation into Electrical Services, Market Competition, and Regulation Policies, Formal Case No. 945 (Public Service Commission 1995) or Chapter 15 of Title 34.

(3) The tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be reflected as a separate line item on each bill for distribution services sent by an electric company.

(4) The rate of tax in paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection shall be subject to reduction in accordance with § 47-143.

(e) The Mayor shall issue retroactive and prospective rules necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this section in accordance with § 2-505.

CREDIT(S)

(July 1, 1902, 32 Stat. 617, ch. 1352, § 6, par. 5; July 26, 1939, 53 Stat. 1107, ch. 367, title IV, § 2(a); May 18, 1954, 68 Stat. 118, ch. 218, title XIV, § 1401; July 24, 1956, 70 Stat. 599, ch. 669, § 8(a); Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 1016, Pub. L. 92-518, title III, § 303(a); Oct. 21, 1975, D.C. Law 1-23, title V, § 501(a)(1), 22 DCR 2105; Sept. 13, 1980, D.C. Law 3-95, § 201(a), (b), 27 DCR 3509; June 22, 1983, D.C. Law 5-14, § 102, 30 DCR 2632; Oct. 1, 1987, D.C. Law 7-25, § 2, 34 DCR 5068; Sept. 20, 1989, D.C. Law 8-26, § 22, 36 DCR 4723; Aug. 17, 1991, D.C. Law 9-34, § 2, 38 DCR 4223; Sept. 10, 1992, D.C. Law 9-145, § 110(a), 39 DCR 4895; Feb. 5, 1994, D.C. Law 10-68, § 48, 40 DCR 6311; June 14, 1994, D.C. Law 10-128, §§ 106(a), 106(b), 41 DCR 2096; Apr. 18, 1996, D.C. Law 11-110, § 55, 43 DCR 530; enacted, Apr. 9, 1997, D.C. Law 11-254, § 2, 44 DCR 1575; Apr. 30, 1998, D.C. Law 12-99, § 2(b), 45 DCR 1524; Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-264, § 52(p), 46 DCR 2118; July 18, 2000, D.C. Law 13-148, § 2(c), 47 DCR 4636; June 5, 2003, D.C. Law 14-307, § 902(d), 49 DCR 11664; Mar. 13, 2004, D.C. Law 15-105, § 86(a), 51 DCR 881; Apr. 8, 2005, D.C. Law 15-320, § 110(e), 52 DCR 1757; Sept. 19, 2006, D.C. Law 16-161, §§ 101, 201(b), 53 DCR 5392; Mar. 2, 2007, D.C. Law 16-191, §§ 79, 93, 53 DCR 6794.)

HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES

Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 47-2501.
1973 Ed., § 47-1701.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 13-148, in subsec. (a), in the introductory text deleted “, electric lighting” following “each gas”; in par. (3) substituted “for a gas company” for “for an electric lighting or gas company”; in subsec. (c) substituted “gas company, electric company” for “each gas, electric lighting” and substituted “, in addition to any tax imposed by this section,” for “, in addition to the gross receipts tax,”; and added subsec. (d-1).
D.C. Law 14-307, in subsec. (a), rewrote pars. (3) and (4); added subsec. (a-1); and in subsec. (d-1), substituted “$0.0077” for “$0.007” in par. (1)(B), and added par. (4). Prior to amendment, pars. (3) and (4) of subsec. (a) had read as follows:
“(3) After December 31, 2002, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2002, for a telephone company, 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2002, for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, or 11% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2002, for a gas company; or
“(4) After December 15, 1996, pay to the Mayor 10% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered after December 15, 1996, by any method, to an end-user located in the District.”
D.C. Law 15-105, in subsec. (a-1), substituted “§ 47-368.03” for “§ 47-143”.
D.C. Law 15-320 rewrote subsecs. (a)(2), (3), and (4); added subsec. (a-2); and rewrote subsec. (d-1)(1)(B). Prior to amendment, subsecs. (a)(2), (3), (4), and (d-1)(1)(B) read as follows:
“(2) Until May 31, 1994, pay to the Mayor 9.7% of these gross receipts;
“(3) After December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a telephone company, 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, or 11% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a gas company; or
“(4) After December 31, 2002, pay to the Mayor 11% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered after December 31, 2002, by any method, to an end-user located in the District.
“(B) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0077 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.”
D.C. Law 16-161, in subsec. (a), rewrote the lead-in text, substituted “or the sale of artificial gas” for “the delivery of heating oil to an end-user in the District or sale of natural or artificial gas” in par. (1), and added pars. (5) and (6); repealed subsec. (a-1); in subsec. (a-2), substituted “pursuant to subsection (a)(3), (4), (5), and (6) of this section” for “pursuant to subsection (a)(3) and (4) of this section”, and substituted “One-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers” for ‘'One-eleventh of the total tax collected”; added subsecs. (a-3) and (a-4); in subsec. (d-1)(1)(B)(i), substituted “a tax of $0.007” for “a tax of $ 0.0077”; rewrote subsec. (d-1)(1)(B)(ii)(I); and, in subsec. (e), substituted “necessary or appropriate” for “necessary”. Prior to amendment, the lead-in text of subsec. (a), (a-1), and (d-1)(1)(B)(ii)(I) read as follows:
“(a) Before the 21st day of each calendar month, each gas and telephone company that sells public utility services or commodities within the District, each person who, by any method of delivery, delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, and each nonpublic utility who sells natural or artificial gas that is delivered, by any method, to an end-user in the District shall:”
“(a-1) The rates of tax in subsection (a)(3) and (4) of this section shall be subject to reduction in accordance with § 47-368.03.”
“(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0007 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.”
D.C. Law 16-191, in the section name line, substituted “telecommunications, and heating oil companies” for “and telecommunications companies”; and repealed D.C. Law 15-324 which purported to amend this section.
Temporary Amendments of Section
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 20 of Toll Telecommunications Service Tax Temporary Act of 1989 (D.C. Law 8-4, May 23, 1989, law notification 36 DCR 4154).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of District of Columbia Gross Receipts and Toll Telecommunication Service Tax Temporary Amendment Act of 1991 (D.C. Law 9-34, August 17, 1991, law notification 38 DCR 5801).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of District of Columbia Gross Receipts and Toll Telecommunication Service Tax Temporary Amendment Act of 1992(D.C. Law 9-124, June 11, 1992, law notification 39 DCR 4686).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Natural and Artificial Gas and Gross Receipts Tax Temporary Amendment Act of 1996 (D.C. Law 11-260, April 25, 1997, law notification 44 DCR 6798).
Section 2(d) of D.C. Law 16-7, in subsec. (a), in par. (3), deleted “11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2002, for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District,”, and added par. (3A) to read as follows:
“(3A) After April 30, 2003, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after April 30, 2003, for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District.”
Section 6(b) of D.C. Law 16-7 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 2(b) of D.C. Law 16-29, in subsec. (a-1), inserted “This paragraph shall expire on January 1, 2005.”; in subsec. (a-2), substituted “Beginning, January 1, 2005, one-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers” for “One-eleventh of the total tax collected”; in subsec. (d-1)(1)(B), substituted “a tax of $0.007, as of January 1, 2005,” for “a tax of $ 0.0077” in sub-subpar. (i), and rewrote sub-subpar. (ii)(I); and, in subsec. (e), substituted “necessary or appropriate” for “necessary”. Sub-subpar. (ii)(I) of subsec. (d-1)(1)(B) reads as follows:
“(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0007, as of January 1, 2005, for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.”
Section 4(b) of D.C. Law 16-29 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 2 of D.C. Law 16-48, in subsec. (a), substituted “each calendar month, each” for “each calendar month, each gas and ” and nonpublic utility who sells” for ”and nonpublic utility who sells natural or” in the lead-in language, deleted ‘or natural” following “sale of” in par. (1), and added par. (5); in subsec. (a-2), substituted “pursuant to subsection (a)(3) and (4) of this subsection and after December 1, 2005, one-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers pursuant to subsection (a)(5) of this section” for “pursuant to subsection (a)(3) and (4) of this subsection”; and added subsecs. (a-3) and (a-4). Subsecs. (a)(5), (a-3) and (a-4) read as follows:
“(5) After December 1, 2005, pay to the Mayor:
“(A) 11% of these gross receipts from the sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, for residential customers for a telephone company;
“(B) 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 1, 2005, for residential customers for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District; or
“(C) 11% of those gross receipts from the sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of those gross receipts from sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after December 1, 2005, for residential customers by a nonpublic utility to an end-user in the District.”
“(a-3)(1) For sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, before the 21st day of each month beginning January 2006, each gas company that provides distribution services to District customers shall:
“(A) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the number of therms of natural gas delivered for final consumption in the District for the preceding billing period; and
“(B)(i) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0703, as of December 2, 2005, for each therm of natural gas delivered to end-users in the District for the preceding billing period; and
“(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.00983, as of December 2, 2005, for each therm of natural gas delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District for the preceding billing period.
“(II) Revenues received by the District pursuant to this sub-subparagraph shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by § 10-1601.02. Payments under this sub-subparagraph shall be in addition to any other payments under this section.
“(2) Each gas company that provides distribution services to District customers shall be allowed to recover the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this section in its rates as a surcharge on customers' bills.
“(3) The tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be reflected as a separate line item on each bill for distribution services sent by each gas company that provides distribution services to District.
“(4) The amount of the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be in effect during Fiscal Year 2006.
“(a-4) Any gross receipts from sales made on or after November 1, 2005, that are not included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, and taxed under subsection (a-3) of this section shall be taxed at the appropriate rates provided in subsection (a)(4) of this section and reported in the affidavit due on December 21, 2005.”
Section 4(b) of D.C. Law 16-48 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 2(g) of D.C. Law 16-102 repealed subsec. (a-1); in subsec. (a-2), substituted “One-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers” for “One-eleventh of the total tax collected”; in subpar. (d-1)(1)(B)(i), substituted “a tax of $0.007” for “a tax of $0.0077”; in subsec. (e), substituted “necessary or appropriate” for “necessary”; and rewrote subpar. (d-1)(1)(B)(ii)(I) to read as follows:
“(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0007 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.”
Section 11(b) of D.C. Law 16-102 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Temporary Enactment
Section 2 of D.C. Law 16-44 enacted provisions to read as follows:
“Sec. 2. Fuel cost reduction plan.
“(a) The Mayor shall submit a comprehensive plan to the Council setting forth the most appropriate method or methods that may be executed to address increasing costs associated with motor vehicle fuel and natural gas. The report shall, at a minimum examine the following methods: moving price ceilings; elimination of the gas tax in whole or in part; establishing gasoline sales-tax holidays; gas vouchers; and examining the city's buying power to purchase home heating fuel.
“(b) The report shall include:
“(1) Historical fuel (motor vehicle, natural gas, heating oil) cost trends in the District of Columbia from calendar year 2003 through December 2005;
“(2) An assessment concerning the multiple variables that have influenced the cost shifts through the designated period; and
“(3) An assessment concerning possible price gouging, by local motor vehicle fuel retailers, and wholesalers.
“(c) The report shall be due on December 15, 2005.”
Section 4(b) of D.C. Law 16-44 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 2 of D.C. Law 16-45 enacted provisions to read as follows:
“Sec. 2. Increased funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Utility Discount Programs.
“Except for the funds which are deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund under D.C. Official Code § 47-2501(a-2), for fiscal year 2006, the portion of the funds collected with respect to sales of heating oil and artificial gas under D.C. Official Code § 47-2501(a) which exceed the amount which is estimated, as of the September 2005 revenue estimates, to be collected with respect to such sales in the budget and financial plan shall be used for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Utility Discount Programs administered by the District of Columbia Office of Energy.”
Section 4(b) of D.C. Law 16-45 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 8 of D.C. Law 16-102 added Sec. 4a to D.C. Law 16-102 to read as follows:
“Sec. 4a. Applicability.
“Section 2(d) shall apply for the period beginning May 1, 2003 and ending December 31, 2004.”
Section 11(b) of D.C. Law 16-102 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary amendment of section, see § 2 of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Emergency Amendment Act of 1996 (D.C. Act 11-508, January 17, 1997, 44 DCR 1227), and § 2 of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1997 (D.C. Act 12-51, March 31, 1997, 44 DCR 2201).
For temporary policy statement of act, see § 4 of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Emergency Amendment Act of 1996 (D.C. Act 11-508, January 17, 1997, 44 DCR 1227).
For temporary policy statement of act, see § 4 of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1997 (D.C. Act 12-51, March 31, 1997, 44 DCR 2201).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 2(b) of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Act 12-304, March 20, 1998, 45 DCR 1898).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 902(d) and 903 of Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Support Amendment Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-544, December 4, 2002, 49 DCR 11700).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 902(d) and 903 of the Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Support Amendment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-27, February 24, 2003, 50 DCR 2151).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 902(d) and 903 of Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Support Amendment Second Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-103, June 20, 2003, 50 DCR 5499).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(d) of Finance and Revenue Technical Corrections Emergency Amendment Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-51, March 17, 2005, 52 DCR 3164).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Utility Taxes Technical Corrections Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-86, May 18, 2005, 52 DCR 5265).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Utility Technical Corrections Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-177, October 4, 2005, 52 DCR 9074).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Natural Gas Taxation Relief Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-186, October 28, 2005, 52 DCR 10012).
For temporary (90 day) enactment, see § 2 of Gasoline Fuel Tax Examination Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-188, October 28, 2005, 52 DCR 10017).
For temporary (90 day) enactment, see § 2 of Heating Oil and Artificial Gas Consumer Relief Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-189, October 28, 2005, 52 DCR 10019).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Natural Tax Taxation Relief Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-258, January 26, 2006, 53 DCR 774).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(g) of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-260, January 26, 2006, 53 DCR 780).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 8 of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-260, January 26, 2006, 53 DCR 780).
For temporary (90 day) enactment, see § 2 of Gasoline Fuel Tax Examination Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-279, February 27, 2006, 53 DCR 1624).
For temporary (90 day) enactment, see § 2 of Heating Oil and Artificial Consumer Relief Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-282, February 27, 2006, 53 DCR 1631).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(g) of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-361, April 26, 2006, 53 DCR 3619).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 8 of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-361, April 26, 2006, 53 DCR 3619).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 101, 201(b), 202 of Natural Gas and Home Heating Oil Taxation Relief and Ratepayer Clarification Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-376, May 19, 2006, 53 DCR 4392).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 101, 201(b), and 202(a) of Natural Gas and Home Heating Oil Taxation Relief and Ratepayer Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-443, July 21, 2006, 53 DCR 6436).
For temporary (90 day) repeal of D.C. Law 15-324, see § 11 of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-585, December 28, 2006, 54 DCR 340).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 19 of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-585, December 28, 2006, 54 DCR 340).
Legislative History of Laws
Law 1-23, the “Revenue Act of 1975,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 1-47, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first, amended first, and second readings, and reconsideration of second reading, on April 15, 1975, June 1, 1975, June 24, 1975 and July 11, 1975, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 23, 1975, it was assigned Act No. 1-34 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
For legislative history of D.C. Law 3-95, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 47-2510.
Law 5-14, the “District of Columbia Revenue Act of 1983,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 5-74, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on April 12, 1983 and April 26, 1983, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on May 4, 1983, it was assigned Act No. 5-29 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 7-25, the “Gross Receipt Tax Amendment Act of 1987,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 7-186, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 30, 1987 and July 14, 1987, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 17, 1987, it was assigned Act No. 7-47 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 8-26, the “Toll Telecommunications Service Tax Act of 1989,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 8-166, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on May 30, 1989 and June 13, 1989, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on June 27, 1989, it was assigned Act No. 8-48 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
For legislative history of D.C. Law 9-145, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 47-2501.01.
Law 10-68, the “Technical Amendments Act of 1993,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 10-166, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 29, 1993, and July 13, 1993, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on August 23, 1993, it was assigned Act No. 10-107 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 10-68 became effective on February 5, 1994.
Law 10-128, the “Omnibus Budget Support Act of 1994,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 10-575, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on March 22, 1994, and April 12, 1994, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on April 14, 1994, it was assigned Act No. 10-225 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 10-128 became effective on June 14, 1994.
Law 11-110, the “Technical Amendments Act of 1996,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 11-485, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 5, 1995, and January 4, 1996, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 26, 1996, it was assigned Act No. 11-199 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 11-110 became effective on April 18, 1996.
Law 12-99, the “Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Amendment Act of 1998,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 12-150, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 4, 1997, and January 6, 1998, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 26, 1998, it was assigned Act No. 12-273 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 12-99 became effective on April 30, 1998.
Law 12-264, the “Technical Amendments Act of 1998,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 12-804, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 10, 1998, and December 1, 1998, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 7, 1999, it was assigned Act No. 12-626 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 12-264 became effective on April 20, 1999.
Law 13-148, the “Electricity Tax Act of 2000,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 13-280, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on March 7, 2000, and April 4, 2000, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 18, 2000, it was assigned Act No. 13-335 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 13-148 became effective on July 18, 2000.
For Law 14-307, see notes following § 47-903.
For Law 15-105, see notes following § 47-902.
For Law 15-320, see notes following § 47-368.03.
For Law 16-29, see notes following § 47-368.03.
For Law 16-161, see notes following § 47-368.03.
For Law 16-191, see notes following § 47-2425.
References in Text
“This act”, referred to in (b)(1)(B) and two places in (b)(3)(D), is D.C. Law 7-25.
Section 47-1501, referred to in subsections (b)(3)(C) and (c) of this section, was repealed by § 24 of D.C. Law 6-212.
Editor's Notes
D.C. Law 15-324, § 2, purports to amend par. (3) of subsec. (a) without reference to the prior amendment by D.C. Law 15-320, § 110(e). The amendment by D.C. Law 15-324, § 2, was not effective.
Delegation of Authority
Delegation of authority under Law 5-14, see Mayor's Order 83-190, July 25, 1983.
Delegation of authority pursuant to D.C. Law 7-25, the “Gross Receipts Tax Amendment Act of 1987”, see Mayor's Order 94-120, May 16, 1994 (41 DCR 3240).
Miscellaneous Notes
Mayor authorized to issue rules: Section 1102 of D.C. Law 5-14 provided that the Mayor shall issue rules necessary to carry out the provisions of the act.
Section 903 of D.C. Law 14-307 provides:
“Sec. 903. Applicability.
“Section 902 shall apply as of January 1, 2003.”
Applicability: Section 202(a) of D.C. Law 16-161 provides that section 201(a) and (b)(1) through (3) shall apply as of January 1, 2005.

Current through September 13, 2012

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > District-of-columbia > Division-viii > Title-47 > Chapter-25 > Section-47-2501

Gas, electric lighting, telephone, telecommunications, and heating oil companies

(a) Before the 21st day of each calendar month, each telephone company that sells public utility services or commodities within the District, and each nonpublic utility who sells artificial gas that is delivered, by any method of delivery, to an end-user in the District shall:

(1) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the amount of its gross receipts for the preceding calendar month from the sales or distribution of public utility services and commodities, or the sale of artificial gas by a nonpublic utility that is delivered, by any method, to an end-user in the District;

(2) Until December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills for a telephone company, 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, or 11% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters for a gas company; and until December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered, by any method, to an end-user located in the District;

(3) After December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a telephone company, 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, or 11% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a gas company; or

(4) After December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered after December 31, 2004, by any method, to a nonresidential end-user located in the District and 10% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered after December 31, 2004, by any method, to a residential end-user located in the District.

(5) After December 1, 2005, pay to the Mayor:

(A) 11% of these gross receipts from the sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, for residential customers for a telephone company,

(B) 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 1, 2005, for residential customers for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District; or

(C) 11% of those gross receipts from the sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of those gross receipts from sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after December 1, 2005, for residential customers by a nonpublic utility to an end-user in the District.

(6) After September 30, 2006, pay to the Mayor:

(A)(i) 11% of these gross receipts from the sales included in bills rendered after September 30, 2006, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after September 30, 2006, for residential customers for a telephone company;

(ii) For the purposes of sub-subparagraph (i) of this subparagraph, in determining whether a particular customer is a residential or nonresidential customer, a telephone company may rely upon existing customer classifications, such as “individual,” “consumer,” “enterprise,” “business,” “corporate,” or “government”.

(B) 11% of those gross receipts from the sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after September 30, 2006, for nonresidential customers and 10% of those gross receipts from sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after September 30, 2006, for residential customers by a nonpublic utility to an end-user in the District.

(a-1) [Repealed].

(a-2) One-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers pursuant to subsection (a)(3), (4), (5), and (6) of this section, or any successor tax, shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by [§ 10-1601.02].

(a-3) For sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, before the 21st day of each month beginning January 2006, each gas company that provides distribution services to District customers shall:

(1) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the number of therms of natural gas delivered for final consumption in the District for the preceding billing period; and

(2)(A)(i) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0703, beginning December 2, 2005 and ending September 28, 2006, for each therm of natural gas delivered to end-users in the District for the billing period;

(ii) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0707, beginning September 29, 2006, for each therm of natural gas delivered to end-users in the District for the preceding billing period; and

(B)(i) Pay to the Mayor an additional tax of $0.00983, beginning December 2, 2005 and ending September 28, 2006, for each therm of natural gas delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District for the billing period;

(ii) Pay to the Mayor an additional tax of $0.00707, beginning September 29, 2006, for each therm of natural gas delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District for the preceding billing period.

(iii) Revenues received by the District pursuant to this subparagraph shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by § 10-1601.02. Payments under this subparagraph shall be in addition to any other payments under this section.

(iv) For the purposes of this subparagraph, for meter readings on or after June 28, 2006, residential end-use customers with group-metered accounts shall be residential customers. Group-metered accounts shall include service to any multiple dwelling building or property with 4 or more dwelling units.

(3) Each gas company that provides distribution services to District customers shall be allowed to recover the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this section in its rates as a surcharge on customers' bills.

(4) The tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be reflected as a separate line item on each bill for distribution services sent by each gas company that provides distribution services to District.

(a-4)(1) For sales included in bills rendered after September 30, 2006, before the 21st day of each month beginning November 1, 2006, each person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District shall:

(A) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the number of gallons of home heating oil delivered for final consumption in the District for the preceding billing period; and

(B)(i) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.17, beginning October 1, 2006, for each gallon of home heating oil delivered to end-users in the District for the preceding billing period; and

(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor an additional tax of $0.017, beginning October 1, 2006, for each gallon of home heating oil delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District for the preceding billing period.

(II) Revenues received by the District pursuant to this sub-subparagraph shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by § 10-1601.02. Payments under this subparagraph shall be in addition to any other payments under this section.

(III) For the purposes of this sub-subparagraph, beginning July 1, 2006, in determining whether a particular customer is a residential or nonresidential customer, all deliveries to a personal place of dwelling shall be considered residential, including end-users living in cooperative housing associations, condominiums, and apartment communities.

(2) Any gross receipts from sales made on or after October 1, 2006, that are not included in bills rendered after September 30, 2006, and taxed under subsection (a-4) of this section shall be taxed at the appropriate rates provided in subsection (a)(5) of this section and reported in the affidavit due on October 21, 2006.

(3) Each person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District shall be allowed to recover the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this section in its rates as a surcharge on customers' bills.

(4) The tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be reflected as a separate line item on each bill for heating oil delivered to an end-user in the District sent by each person who delivers heating oil to end-users in the District.

(b)(1)(A) For the period beginning July 1, 1986, and ending February 28, 1989, each telecommunication company not subject to the tax imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall:

(i) Report by affidavit filed with the Mayor the amount of its monthly gross receipts from the sale of toll telecommunication services that originate from or terminate on telecommunication equipment located in the District and for which a toll charge or periodic charge is billed to an apparatus, telephone, or account in the District, to a customer location in the District, or to a person residing in the District, without regard to where the bill for the service is physically received; and

(ii) Pay to the Mayor 6.7% of these gross receipts.

(B) To prevent actual multi-state taxation of the sale of toll telecommunication service, for the month beginning July 1, 1986, and for each succeeding month, any telecommunication company, upon proof that it has paid a properly due excise, sales, use, or gross receipts tax in another jurisdiction on a sale that is subject to taxation under this act, shall be allowed a credit against the tax for the amount paid, but in no event shall the credit permitted under this section exceed the tax imposed under this act.

(2) For each calendar month in the period beginning after September 30, 1987, and ending February 28, 1989, each telecommunication company shall pay the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection before the 21st day of the succeeding calendar month. The affidavits for each calendar month shall be filed at the time payment is made or on the 20th day of the succeeding calendar month, whichever is earlier.

(3)(A) For the period beginning July 1, 1986, and ending August 31, 1987, the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection shall be due on October 1, 1987. The tax for this period shall be paid in 2 equal installments before November 1, 1987, and before January 1, 1988. The Mayor may, upon written application made before the date prescribed for payment of the tax, grant a reasonable extension of time for paying the tax whenever good cause exists for the extension. The affidavits for each calendar month of this period shall be filed at the time the first installment payment is made or on October 30, 1987, whichever is earlier.

(B) For the period beginning September 1, 1987, and ending September 30, 1987, the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection shall be paid before October 21, 1987. The required affidavit shall be filed at the time the payment is made or on October 20, 1987, whichever is earlier.

(C) Each telecommunication company subject to the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection for the period beginning July 1, 1986, and ending September 30, 1987, shall be allowed a credit against the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection for the amount of personal property tax that is allocable to the period beginning July 1, 1986, and ending September 30, 1987, and that is paid pursuant to § 47-1501, and subchapter II of Chapter 15 of this title.

(D) Beginning July 1, 1986, a telecommunication company subject to the tax imposed by this act may be allowed an alternate method of reporting its monthly gross receipts upon showing, to the satisfaction of the Mayor that the telecommunication company does not have the capability to identify the jurisdiction of origination or termination of a particular toll telecommunication service. This showing shall be made by a written petition to the Mayor, which shall include the factual basis for the company's inability to identify the jurisdiction of origination or termination of a particular toll telecommunication service, with supporting documentation, and an alternative method of reporting for the services for which the company is unable to identify the jurisdiction of origination or termination that the company believes is reasonable and equitable, with supporting documentation. The Mayor may employ a reasonable and equitable alternate method for reporting a telecommunication company's gross receipts from this service based on information submitted pursuant to this subsection or any other information made available to the Mayor. Any alternate method for reporting a telecommunication company's gross receipts that is authorized by the Mayor shall apply only to the service for which the company is unable to identify the jurisdiction of origination or termination and shall not affect the reporting of any other gross receipts. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to relieve the obligation of a telecommunication company to pay the tax imposed by this act.

(4) Gross receipts from the sale by any telecommunication company of toll telecommunication services for resale to any other telecommunication company subject to the gross receipts tax under this subsection shall be exempt from the gross receipts tax under this subsection.

(5) For purposes of this subsection:

(A) The term “telecommunication company” includes and is not limited to every person, as defined in § 47-2001(i), and lessee of a person who provides for the transmission or reception within the District of Columbia of any form of toll telecommunication service for a consideration.

(B) The term “toll telecommunication service” means the transmission or reception of any sound, vision, or speech communication for which there is a toll charge that varies in amount with the distance or elapsed transmission time of each individual communication; or the transmission or reception of any sound, vision, or speech communication that entitles a person, as defined in § 47-2001(i), upon the payment of a periodic charge, which is determined as a flat amount or upon the basis of total elapsed transmission time, to an unlimited number of communications to or from all or a substantial portion of the persons having telephone or radio telephone stations in a specified area that is outside the local telephone system area in which the station providing this service is located.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each gas company, electric company, telephone company, telecommunication company, and each person who, by any method of delivery, delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, and each nonpublic utility who sells natural or artificial gas that is delivered, by any method, to an end-user in the District subject to the tax imposed by this section shall pay, in addition to any tax imposed by this section, the franchise tax imposed by Chapter 18 of this title, the real property tax imposed by Chapter 8 of this title, and the personal property tax imposed by § 47-1501, and subchapter II of Chapter 15 of this title, to the extent provided in § 47-1508. Beginning in FY 1999, the amount of tax imposed by this section shall not be calculated as gross revenues to which the tax is then applied.

(d) Before February 1, 1988, the Mayor shall:

(1) Report to the Council on the tax treatment of telecommunication and related services in other jurisdictions; and

(2) Make recommendations as to what, if any, additional telecommunication and related services should be subject to tax by the District.

(d-1)(1) Before the 21st day of each calendar month, each electric company that provides distribution services to District of Columbia ratepayers shall:

(A) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity delivered for final consumption in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month; and

(B)(i) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.007 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month; and

(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0007 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.

(II) Revenues received by the District pursuant to this sub-subparagraph shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by [§ 10-1601.02]. Payments under this sub-subparagraph shall be in addition to any other payments under this section.

(2) Each electric company providing distribution services to District of Columbia ratepayers shall be allowed to recover the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection in its rates. Recovery of the tax shall not be subject to any rate cap imposed pursuant to In the Matter of the Investigation into Electrical Services, Market Competition, and Regulation Policies, Formal Case No. 945 (Public Service Commission 1995) or Chapter 15 of Title 34.

(3) The tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be reflected as a separate line item on each bill for distribution services sent by an electric company.

(4) The rate of tax in paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection shall be subject to reduction in accordance with § 47-143.

(e) The Mayor shall issue retroactive and prospective rules necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this section in accordance with § 2-505.

CREDIT(S)

(July 1, 1902, 32 Stat. 617, ch. 1352, § 6, par. 5; July 26, 1939, 53 Stat. 1107, ch. 367, title IV, § 2(a); May 18, 1954, 68 Stat. 118, ch. 218, title XIV, § 1401; July 24, 1956, 70 Stat. 599, ch. 669, § 8(a); Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 1016, Pub. L. 92-518, title III, § 303(a); Oct. 21, 1975, D.C. Law 1-23, title V, § 501(a)(1), 22 DCR 2105; Sept. 13, 1980, D.C. Law 3-95, § 201(a), (b), 27 DCR 3509; June 22, 1983, D.C. Law 5-14, § 102, 30 DCR 2632; Oct. 1, 1987, D.C. Law 7-25, § 2, 34 DCR 5068; Sept. 20, 1989, D.C. Law 8-26, § 22, 36 DCR 4723; Aug. 17, 1991, D.C. Law 9-34, § 2, 38 DCR 4223; Sept. 10, 1992, D.C. Law 9-145, § 110(a), 39 DCR 4895; Feb. 5, 1994, D.C. Law 10-68, § 48, 40 DCR 6311; June 14, 1994, D.C. Law 10-128, §§ 106(a), 106(b), 41 DCR 2096; Apr. 18, 1996, D.C. Law 11-110, § 55, 43 DCR 530; enacted, Apr. 9, 1997, D.C. Law 11-254, § 2, 44 DCR 1575; Apr. 30, 1998, D.C. Law 12-99, § 2(b), 45 DCR 1524; Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-264, § 52(p), 46 DCR 2118; July 18, 2000, D.C. Law 13-148, § 2(c), 47 DCR 4636; June 5, 2003, D.C. Law 14-307, § 902(d), 49 DCR 11664; Mar. 13, 2004, D.C. Law 15-105, § 86(a), 51 DCR 881; Apr. 8, 2005, D.C. Law 15-320, § 110(e), 52 DCR 1757; Sept. 19, 2006, D.C. Law 16-161, §§ 101, 201(b), 53 DCR 5392; Mar. 2, 2007, D.C. Law 16-191, §§ 79, 93, 53 DCR 6794.)

HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES

Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 47-2501.
1973 Ed., § 47-1701.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 13-148, in subsec. (a), in the introductory text deleted “, electric lighting” following “each gas”; in par. (3) substituted “for a gas company” for “for an electric lighting or gas company”; in subsec. (c) substituted “gas company, electric company” for “each gas, electric lighting” and substituted “, in addition to any tax imposed by this section,” for “, in addition to the gross receipts tax,”; and added subsec. (d-1).
D.C. Law 14-307, in subsec. (a), rewrote pars. (3) and (4); added subsec. (a-1); and in subsec. (d-1), substituted “$0.0077” for “$0.007” in par. (1)(B), and added par. (4). Prior to amendment, pars. (3) and (4) of subsec. (a) had read as follows:
“(3) After December 31, 2002, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2002, for a telephone company, 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2002, for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, or 11% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2002, for a gas company; or
“(4) After December 15, 1996, pay to the Mayor 10% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered after December 15, 1996, by any method, to an end-user located in the District.”
D.C. Law 15-105, in subsec. (a-1), substituted “§ 47-368.03” for “§ 47-143”.
D.C. Law 15-320 rewrote subsecs. (a)(2), (3), and (4); added subsec. (a-2); and rewrote subsec. (d-1)(1)(B). Prior to amendment, subsecs. (a)(2), (3), (4), and (d-1)(1)(B) read as follows:
“(2) Until May 31, 1994, pay to the Mayor 9.7% of these gross receipts;
“(3) After December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a telephone company, 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, or 11% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a gas company; or
“(4) After December 31, 2002, pay to the Mayor 11% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered after December 31, 2002, by any method, to an end-user located in the District.
“(B) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0077 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.”
D.C. Law 16-161, in subsec. (a), rewrote the lead-in text, substituted “or the sale of artificial gas” for “the delivery of heating oil to an end-user in the District or sale of natural or artificial gas” in par. (1), and added pars. (5) and (6); repealed subsec. (a-1); in subsec. (a-2), substituted “pursuant to subsection (a)(3), (4), (5), and (6) of this section” for “pursuant to subsection (a)(3) and (4) of this section”, and substituted “One-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers” for ‘'One-eleventh of the total tax collected”; added subsecs. (a-3) and (a-4); in subsec. (d-1)(1)(B)(i), substituted “a tax of $0.007” for “a tax of $ 0.0077”; rewrote subsec. (d-1)(1)(B)(ii)(I); and, in subsec. (e), substituted “necessary or appropriate” for “necessary”. Prior to amendment, the lead-in text of subsec. (a), (a-1), and (d-1)(1)(B)(ii)(I) read as follows:
“(a) Before the 21st day of each calendar month, each gas and telephone company that sells public utility services or commodities within the District, each person who, by any method of delivery, delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, and each nonpublic utility who sells natural or artificial gas that is delivered, by any method, to an end-user in the District shall:”
“(a-1) The rates of tax in subsection (a)(3) and (4) of this section shall be subject to reduction in accordance with § 47-368.03.”
“(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0007 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.”
D.C. Law 16-191, in the section name line, substituted “telecommunications, and heating oil companies” for “and telecommunications companies”; and repealed D.C. Law 15-324 which purported to amend this section.
Temporary Amendments of Section
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 20 of Toll Telecommunications Service Tax Temporary Act of 1989 (D.C. Law 8-4, May 23, 1989, law notification 36 DCR 4154).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of District of Columbia Gross Receipts and Toll Telecommunication Service Tax Temporary Amendment Act of 1991 (D.C. Law 9-34, August 17, 1991, law notification 38 DCR 5801).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of District of Columbia Gross Receipts and Toll Telecommunication Service Tax Temporary Amendment Act of 1992(D.C. Law 9-124, June 11, 1992, law notification 39 DCR 4686).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Natural and Artificial Gas and Gross Receipts Tax Temporary Amendment Act of 1996 (D.C. Law 11-260, April 25, 1997, law notification 44 DCR 6798).
Section 2(d) of D.C. Law 16-7, in subsec. (a), in par. (3), deleted “11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2002, for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District,”, and added par. (3A) to read as follows:
“(3A) After April 30, 2003, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after April 30, 2003, for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District.”
Section 6(b) of D.C. Law 16-7 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 2(b) of D.C. Law 16-29, in subsec. (a-1), inserted “This paragraph shall expire on January 1, 2005.”; in subsec. (a-2), substituted “Beginning, January 1, 2005, one-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers” for “One-eleventh of the total tax collected”; in subsec. (d-1)(1)(B), substituted “a tax of $0.007, as of January 1, 2005,” for “a tax of $ 0.0077” in sub-subpar. (i), and rewrote sub-subpar. (ii)(I); and, in subsec. (e), substituted “necessary or appropriate” for “necessary”. Sub-subpar. (ii)(I) of subsec. (d-1)(1)(B) reads as follows:
“(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0007, as of January 1, 2005, for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.”
Section 4(b) of D.C. Law 16-29 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 2 of D.C. Law 16-48, in subsec. (a), substituted “each calendar month, each” for “each calendar month, each gas and ” and nonpublic utility who sells” for ”and nonpublic utility who sells natural or” in the lead-in language, deleted ‘or natural” following “sale of” in par. (1), and added par. (5); in subsec. (a-2), substituted “pursuant to subsection (a)(3) and (4) of this subsection and after December 1, 2005, one-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers pursuant to subsection (a)(5) of this section” for “pursuant to subsection (a)(3) and (4) of this subsection”; and added subsecs. (a-3) and (a-4). Subsecs. (a)(5), (a-3) and (a-4) read as follows:
“(5) After December 1, 2005, pay to the Mayor:
“(A) 11% of these gross receipts from the sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, for residential customers for a telephone company;
“(B) 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 1, 2005, for residential customers for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District; or
“(C) 11% of those gross receipts from the sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of those gross receipts from sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after December 1, 2005, for residential customers by a nonpublic utility to an end-user in the District.”
“(a-3)(1) For sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, before the 21st day of each month beginning January 2006, each gas company that provides distribution services to District customers shall:
“(A) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the number of therms of natural gas delivered for final consumption in the District for the preceding billing period; and
“(B)(i) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0703, as of December 2, 2005, for each therm of natural gas delivered to end-users in the District for the preceding billing period; and
“(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.00983, as of December 2, 2005, for each therm of natural gas delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District for the preceding billing period.
“(II) Revenues received by the District pursuant to this sub-subparagraph shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by § 10-1601.02. Payments under this sub-subparagraph shall be in addition to any other payments under this section.
“(2) Each gas company that provides distribution services to District customers shall be allowed to recover the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this section in its rates as a surcharge on customers' bills.
“(3) The tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be reflected as a separate line item on each bill for distribution services sent by each gas company that provides distribution services to District.
“(4) The amount of the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be in effect during Fiscal Year 2006.
“(a-4) Any gross receipts from sales made on or after November 1, 2005, that are not included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, and taxed under subsection (a-3) of this section shall be taxed at the appropriate rates provided in subsection (a)(4) of this section and reported in the affidavit due on December 21, 2005.”
Section 4(b) of D.C. Law 16-48 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 2(g) of D.C. Law 16-102 repealed subsec. (a-1); in subsec. (a-2), substituted “One-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers” for “One-eleventh of the total tax collected”; in subpar. (d-1)(1)(B)(i), substituted “a tax of $0.007” for “a tax of $0.0077”; in subsec. (e), substituted “necessary or appropriate” for “necessary”; and rewrote subpar. (d-1)(1)(B)(ii)(I) to read as follows:
“(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0007 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.”
Section 11(b) of D.C. Law 16-102 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Temporary Enactment
Section 2 of D.C. Law 16-44 enacted provisions to read as follows:
“Sec. 2. Fuel cost reduction plan.
“(a) The Mayor shall submit a comprehensive plan to the Council setting forth the most appropriate method or methods that may be executed to address increasing costs associated with motor vehicle fuel and natural gas. The report shall, at a minimum examine the following methods: moving price ceilings; elimination of the gas tax in whole or in part; establishing gasoline sales-tax holidays; gas vouchers; and examining the city's buying power to purchase home heating fuel.
“(b) The report shall include:
“(1) Historical fuel (motor vehicle, natural gas, heating oil) cost trends in the District of Columbia from calendar year 2003 through December 2005;
“(2) An assessment concerning the multiple variables that have influenced the cost shifts through the designated period; and
“(3) An assessment concerning possible price gouging, by local motor vehicle fuel retailers, and wholesalers.
“(c) The report shall be due on December 15, 2005.”
Section 4(b) of D.C. Law 16-44 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 2 of D.C. Law 16-45 enacted provisions to read as follows:
“Sec. 2. Increased funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Utility Discount Programs.
“Except for the funds which are deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund under D.C. Official Code § 47-2501(a-2), for fiscal year 2006, the portion of the funds collected with respect to sales of heating oil and artificial gas under D.C. Official Code § 47-2501(a) which exceed the amount which is estimated, as of the September 2005 revenue estimates, to be collected with respect to such sales in the budget and financial plan shall be used for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Utility Discount Programs administered by the District of Columbia Office of Energy.”
Section 4(b) of D.C. Law 16-45 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 8 of D.C. Law 16-102 added Sec. 4a to D.C. Law 16-102 to read as follows:
“Sec. 4a. Applicability.
“Section 2(d) shall apply for the period beginning May 1, 2003 and ending December 31, 2004.”
Section 11(b) of D.C. Law 16-102 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary amendment of section, see § 2 of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Emergency Amendment Act of 1996 (D.C. Act 11-508, January 17, 1997, 44 DCR 1227), and § 2 of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1997 (D.C. Act 12-51, March 31, 1997, 44 DCR 2201).
For temporary policy statement of act, see § 4 of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Emergency Amendment Act of 1996 (D.C. Act 11-508, January 17, 1997, 44 DCR 1227).
For temporary policy statement of act, see § 4 of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1997 (D.C. Act 12-51, March 31, 1997, 44 DCR 2201).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 2(b) of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Act 12-304, March 20, 1998, 45 DCR 1898).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 902(d) and 903 of Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Support Amendment Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-544, December 4, 2002, 49 DCR 11700).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 902(d) and 903 of the Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Support Amendment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-27, February 24, 2003, 50 DCR 2151).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 902(d) and 903 of Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Support Amendment Second Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-103, June 20, 2003, 50 DCR 5499).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(d) of Finance and Revenue Technical Corrections Emergency Amendment Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-51, March 17, 2005, 52 DCR 3164).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Utility Taxes Technical Corrections Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-86, May 18, 2005, 52 DCR 5265).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Utility Technical Corrections Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-177, October 4, 2005, 52 DCR 9074).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Natural Gas Taxation Relief Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-186, October 28, 2005, 52 DCR 10012).
For temporary (90 day) enactment, see § 2 of Gasoline Fuel Tax Examination Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-188, October 28, 2005, 52 DCR 10017).
For temporary (90 day) enactment, see § 2 of Heating Oil and Artificial Gas Consumer Relief Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-189, October 28, 2005, 52 DCR 10019).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Natural Tax Taxation Relief Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-258, January 26, 2006, 53 DCR 774).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(g) of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-260, January 26, 2006, 53 DCR 780).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 8 of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-260, January 26, 2006, 53 DCR 780).
For temporary (90 day) enactment, see § 2 of Gasoline Fuel Tax Examination Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-279, February 27, 2006, 53 DCR 1624).
For temporary (90 day) enactment, see § 2 of Heating Oil and Artificial Consumer Relief Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-282, February 27, 2006, 53 DCR 1631).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(g) of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-361, April 26, 2006, 53 DCR 3619).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 8 of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-361, April 26, 2006, 53 DCR 3619).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 101, 201(b), 202 of Natural Gas and Home Heating Oil Taxation Relief and Ratepayer Clarification Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-376, May 19, 2006, 53 DCR 4392).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 101, 201(b), and 202(a) of Natural Gas and Home Heating Oil Taxation Relief and Ratepayer Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-443, July 21, 2006, 53 DCR 6436).
For temporary (90 day) repeal of D.C. Law 15-324, see § 11 of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-585, December 28, 2006, 54 DCR 340).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 19 of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-585, December 28, 2006, 54 DCR 340).
Legislative History of Laws
Law 1-23, the “Revenue Act of 1975,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 1-47, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first, amended first, and second readings, and reconsideration of second reading, on April 15, 1975, June 1, 1975, June 24, 1975 and July 11, 1975, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 23, 1975, it was assigned Act No. 1-34 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
For legislative history of D.C. Law 3-95, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 47-2510.
Law 5-14, the “District of Columbia Revenue Act of 1983,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 5-74, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on April 12, 1983 and April 26, 1983, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on May 4, 1983, it was assigned Act No. 5-29 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 7-25, the “Gross Receipt Tax Amendment Act of 1987,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 7-186, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 30, 1987 and July 14, 1987, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 17, 1987, it was assigned Act No. 7-47 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 8-26, the “Toll Telecommunications Service Tax Act of 1989,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 8-166, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on May 30, 1989 and June 13, 1989, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on June 27, 1989, it was assigned Act No. 8-48 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
For legislative history of D.C. Law 9-145, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 47-2501.01.
Law 10-68, the “Technical Amendments Act of 1993,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 10-166, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 29, 1993, and July 13, 1993, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on August 23, 1993, it was assigned Act No. 10-107 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 10-68 became effective on February 5, 1994.
Law 10-128, the “Omnibus Budget Support Act of 1994,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 10-575, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on March 22, 1994, and April 12, 1994, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on April 14, 1994, it was assigned Act No. 10-225 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 10-128 became effective on June 14, 1994.
Law 11-110, the “Technical Amendments Act of 1996,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 11-485, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 5, 1995, and January 4, 1996, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 26, 1996, it was assigned Act No. 11-199 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 11-110 became effective on April 18, 1996.
Law 12-99, the “Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Amendment Act of 1998,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 12-150, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 4, 1997, and January 6, 1998, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 26, 1998, it was assigned Act No. 12-273 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 12-99 became effective on April 30, 1998.
Law 12-264, the “Technical Amendments Act of 1998,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 12-804, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 10, 1998, and December 1, 1998, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 7, 1999, it was assigned Act No. 12-626 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 12-264 became effective on April 20, 1999.
Law 13-148, the “Electricity Tax Act of 2000,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 13-280, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on March 7, 2000, and April 4, 2000, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 18, 2000, it was assigned Act No. 13-335 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 13-148 became effective on July 18, 2000.
For Law 14-307, see notes following § 47-903.
For Law 15-105, see notes following § 47-902.
For Law 15-320, see notes following § 47-368.03.
For Law 16-29, see notes following § 47-368.03.
For Law 16-161, see notes following § 47-368.03.
For Law 16-191, see notes following § 47-2425.
References in Text
“This act”, referred to in (b)(1)(B) and two places in (b)(3)(D), is D.C. Law 7-25.
Section 47-1501, referred to in subsections (b)(3)(C) and (c) of this section, was repealed by § 24 of D.C. Law 6-212.
Editor's Notes
D.C. Law 15-324, § 2, purports to amend par. (3) of subsec. (a) without reference to the prior amendment by D.C. Law 15-320, § 110(e). The amendment by D.C. Law 15-324, § 2, was not effective.
Delegation of Authority
Delegation of authority under Law 5-14, see Mayor's Order 83-190, July 25, 1983.
Delegation of authority pursuant to D.C. Law 7-25, the “Gross Receipts Tax Amendment Act of 1987”, see Mayor's Order 94-120, May 16, 1994 (41 DCR 3240).
Miscellaneous Notes
Mayor authorized to issue rules: Section 1102 of D.C. Law 5-14 provided that the Mayor shall issue rules necessary to carry out the provisions of the act.
Section 903 of D.C. Law 14-307 provides:
“Sec. 903. Applicability.
“Section 902 shall apply as of January 1, 2003.”
Applicability: Section 202(a) of D.C. Law 16-161 provides that section 201(a) and (b)(1) through (3) shall apply as of January 1, 2005.

Current through September 13, 2012


State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > District-of-columbia > Division-viii > Title-47 > Chapter-25 > Section-47-2501

Gas, electric lighting, telephone, telecommunications, and heating oil companies

(a) Before the 21st day of each calendar month, each telephone company that sells public utility services or commodities within the District, and each nonpublic utility who sells artificial gas that is delivered, by any method of delivery, to an end-user in the District shall:

(1) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the amount of its gross receipts for the preceding calendar month from the sales or distribution of public utility services and commodities, or the sale of artificial gas by a nonpublic utility that is delivered, by any method, to an end-user in the District;

(2) Until December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills for a telephone company, 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, or 11% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters for a gas company; and until December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered, by any method, to an end-user located in the District;

(3) After December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a telephone company, 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, or 11% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a gas company; or

(4) After December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered after December 31, 2004, by any method, to a nonresidential end-user located in the District and 10% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered after December 31, 2004, by any method, to a residential end-user located in the District.

(5) After December 1, 2005, pay to the Mayor:

(A) 11% of these gross receipts from the sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, for residential customers for a telephone company,

(B) 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 1, 2005, for residential customers for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District; or

(C) 11% of those gross receipts from the sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of those gross receipts from sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after December 1, 2005, for residential customers by a nonpublic utility to an end-user in the District.

(6) After September 30, 2006, pay to the Mayor:

(A)(i) 11% of these gross receipts from the sales included in bills rendered after September 30, 2006, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after September 30, 2006, for residential customers for a telephone company;

(ii) For the purposes of sub-subparagraph (i) of this subparagraph, in determining whether a particular customer is a residential or nonresidential customer, a telephone company may rely upon existing customer classifications, such as “individual,” “consumer,” “enterprise,” “business,” “corporate,” or “government”.

(B) 11% of those gross receipts from the sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after September 30, 2006, for nonresidential customers and 10% of those gross receipts from sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after September 30, 2006, for residential customers by a nonpublic utility to an end-user in the District.

(a-1) [Repealed].

(a-2) One-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers pursuant to subsection (a)(3), (4), (5), and (6) of this section, or any successor tax, shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by [§ 10-1601.02].

(a-3) For sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, before the 21st day of each month beginning January 2006, each gas company that provides distribution services to District customers shall:

(1) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the number of therms of natural gas delivered for final consumption in the District for the preceding billing period; and

(2)(A)(i) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0703, beginning December 2, 2005 and ending September 28, 2006, for each therm of natural gas delivered to end-users in the District for the billing period;

(ii) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0707, beginning September 29, 2006, for each therm of natural gas delivered to end-users in the District for the preceding billing period; and

(B)(i) Pay to the Mayor an additional tax of $0.00983, beginning December 2, 2005 and ending September 28, 2006, for each therm of natural gas delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District for the billing period;

(ii) Pay to the Mayor an additional tax of $0.00707, beginning September 29, 2006, for each therm of natural gas delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District for the preceding billing period.

(iii) Revenues received by the District pursuant to this subparagraph shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by § 10-1601.02. Payments under this subparagraph shall be in addition to any other payments under this section.

(iv) For the purposes of this subparagraph, for meter readings on or after June 28, 2006, residential end-use customers with group-metered accounts shall be residential customers. Group-metered accounts shall include service to any multiple dwelling building or property with 4 or more dwelling units.

(3) Each gas company that provides distribution services to District customers shall be allowed to recover the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this section in its rates as a surcharge on customers' bills.

(4) The tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be reflected as a separate line item on each bill for distribution services sent by each gas company that provides distribution services to District.

(a-4)(1) For sales included in bills rendered after September 30, 2006, before the 21st day of each month beginning November 1, 2006, each person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District shall:

(A) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the number of gallons of home heating oil delivered for final consumption in the District for the preceding billing period; and

(B)(i) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.17, beginning October 1, 2006, for each gallon of home heating oil delivered to end-users in the District for the preceding billing period; and

(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor an additional tax of $0.017, beginning October 1, 2006, for each gallon of home heating oil delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District for the preceding billing period.

(II) Revenues received by the District pursuant to this sub-subparagraph shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by § 10-1601.02. Payments under this subparagraph shall be in addition to any other payments under this section.

(III) For the purposes of this sub-subparagraph, beginning July 1, 2006, in determining whether a particular customer is a residential or nonresidential customer, all deliveries to a personal place of dwelling shall be considered residential, including end-users living in cooperative housing associations, condominiums, and apartment communities.

(2) Any gross receipts from sales made on or after October 1, 2006, that are not included in bills rendered after September 30, 2006, and taxed under subsection (a-4) of this section shall be taxed at the appropriate rates provided in subsection (a)(5) of this section and reported in the affidavit due on October 21, 2006.

(3) Each person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District shall be allowed to recover the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this section in its rates as a surcharge on customers' bills.

(4) The tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be reflected as a separate line item on each bill for heating oil delivered to an end-user in the District sent by each person who delivers heating oil to end-users in the District.

(b)(1)(A) For the period beginning July 1, 1986, and ending February 28, 1989, each telecommunication company not subject to the tax imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall:

(i) Report by affidavit filed with the Mayor the amount of its monthly gross receipts from the sale of toll telecommunication services that originate from or terminate on telecommunication equipment located in the District and for which a toll charge or periodic charge is billed to an apparatus, telephone, or account in the District, to a customer location in the District, or to a person residing in the District, without regard to where the bill for the service is physically received; and

(ii) Pay to the Mayor 6.7% of these gross receipts.

(B) To prevent actual multi-state taxation of the sale of toll telecommunication service, for the month beginning July 1, 1986, and for each succeeding month, any telecommunication company, upon proof that it has paid a properly due excise, sales, use, or gross receipts tax in another jurisdiction on a sale that is subject to taxation under this act, shall be allowed a credit against the tax for the amount paid, but in no event shall the credit permitted under this section exceed the tax imposed under this act.

(2) For each calendar month in the period beginning after September 30, 1987, and ending February 28, 1989, each telecommunication company shall pay the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection before the 21st day of the succeeding calendar month. The affidavits for each calendar month shall be filed at the time payment is made or on the 20th day of the succeeding calendar month, whichever is earlier.

(3)(A) For the period beginning July 1, 1986, and ending August 31, 1987, the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection shall be due on October 1, 1987. The tax for this period shall be paid in 2 equal installments before November 1, 1987, and before January 1, 1988. The Mayor may, upon written application made before the date prescribed for payment of the tax, grant a reasonable extension of time for paying the tax whenever good cause exists for the extension. The affidavits for each calendar month of this period shall be filed at the time the first installment payment is made or on October 30, 1987, whichever is earlier.

(B) For the period beginning September 1, 1987, and ending September 30, 1987, the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection shall be paid before October 21, 1987. The required affidavit shall be filed at the time the payment is made or on October 20, 1987, whichever is earlier.

(C) Each telecommunication company subject to the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection for the period beginning July 1, 1986, and ending September 30, 1987, shall be allowed a credit against the gross receipts tax imposed by this subsection for the amount of personal property tax that is allocable to the period beginning July 1, 1986, and ending September 30, 1987, and that is paid pursuant to § 47-1501, and subchapter II of Chapter 15 of this title.

(D) Beginning July 1, 1986, a telecommunication company subject to the tax imposed by this act may be allowed an alternate method of reporting its monthly gross receipts upon showing, to the satisfaction of the Mayor that the telecommunication company does not have the capability to identify the jurisdiction of origination or termination of a particular toll telecommunication service. This showing shall be made by a written petition to the Mayor, which shall include the factual basis for the company's inability to identify the jurisdiction of origination or termination of a particular toll telecommunication service, with supporting documentation, and an alternative method of reporting for the services for which the company is unable to identify the jurisdiction of origination or termination that the company believes is reasonable and equitable, with supporting documentation. The Mayor may employ a reasonable and equitable alternate method for reporting a telecommunication company's gross receipts from this service based on information submitted pursuant to this subsection or any other information made available to the Mayor. Any alternate method for reporting a telecommunication company's gross receipts that is authorized by the Mayor shall apply only to the service for which the company is unable to identify the jurisdiction of origination or termination and shall not affect the reporting of any other gross receipts. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to relieve the obligation of a telecommunication company to pay the tax imposed by this act.

(4) Gross receipts from the sale by any telecommunication company of toll telecommunication services for resale to any other telecommunication company subject to the gross receipts tax under this subsection shall be exempt from the gross receipts tax under this subsection.

(5) For purposes of this subsection:

(A) The term “telecommunication company” includes and is not limited to every person, as defined in § 47-2001(i), and lessee of a person who provides for the transmission or reception within the District of Columbia of any form of toll telecommunication service for a consideration.

(B) The term “toll telecommunication service” means the transmission or reception of any sound, vision, or speech communication for which there is a toll charge that varies in amount with the distance or elapsed transmission time of each individual communication; or the transmission or reception of any sound, vision, or speech communication that entitles a person, as defined in § 47-2001(i), upon the payment of a periodic charge, which is determined as a flat amount or upon the basis of total elapsed transmission time, to an unlimited number of communications to or from all or a substantial portion of the persons having telephone or radio telephone stations in a specified area that is outside the local telephone system area in which the station providing this service is located.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, each gas company, electric company, telephone company, telecommunication company, and each person who, by any method of delivery, delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, and each nonpublic utility who sells natural or artificial gas that is delivered, by any method, to an end-user in the District subject to the tax imposed by this section shall pay, in addition to any tax imposed by this section, the franchise tax imposed by Chapter 18 of this title, the real property tax imposed by Chapter 8 of this title, and the personal property tax imposed by § 47-1501, and subchapter II of Chapter 15 of this title, to the extent provided in § 47-1508. Beginning in FY 1999, the amount of tax imposed by this section shall not be calculated as gross revenues to which the tax is then applied.

(d) Before February 1, 1988, the Mayor shall:

(1) Report to the Council on the tax treatment of telecommunication and related services in other jurisdictions; and

(2) Make recommendations as to what, if any, additional telecommunication and related services should be subject to tax by the District.

(d-1)(1) Before the 21st day of each calendar month, each electric company that provides distribution services to District of Columbia ratepayers shall:

(A) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity delivered for final consumption in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month; and

(B)(i) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.007 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month; and

(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0007 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.

(II) Revenues received by the District pursuant to this sub-subparagraph shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by [§ 10-1601.02]. Payments under this sub-subparagraph shall be in addition to any other payments under this section.

(2) Each electric company providing distribution services to District of Columbia ratepayers shall be allowed to recover the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection in its rates. Recovery of the tax shall not be subject to any rate cap imposed pursuant to In the Matter of the Investigation into Electrical Services, Market Competition, and Regulation Policies, Formal Case No. 945 (Public Service Commission 1995) or Chapter 15 of Title 34.

(3) The tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be reflected as a separate line item on each bill for distribution services sent by an electric company.

(4) The rate of tax in paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection shall be subject to reduction in accordance with § 47-143.

(e) The Mayor shall issue retroactive and prospective rules necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this section in accordance with § 2-505.

CREDIT(S)

(July 1, 1902, 32 Stat. 617, ch. 1352, § 6, par. 5; July 26, 1939, 53 Stat. 1107, ch. 367, title IV, § 2(a); May 18, 1954, 68 Stat. 118, ch. 218, title XIV, § 1401; July 24, 1956, 70 Stat. 599, ch. 669, § 8(a); Oct. 21, 1972, 86 Stat. 1016, Pub. L. 92-518, title III, § 303(a); Oct. 21, 1975, D.C. Law 1-23, title V, § 501(a)(1), 22 DCR 2105; Sept. 13, 1980, D.C. Law 3-95, § 201(a), (b), 27 DCR 3509; June 22, 1983, D.C. Law 5-14, § 102, 30 DCR 2632; Oct. 1, 1987, D.C. Law 7-25, § 2, 34 DCR 5068; Sept. 20, 1989, D.C. Law 8-26, § 22, 36 DCR 4723; Aug. 17, 1991, D.C. Law 9-34, § 2, 38 DCR 4223; Sept. 10, 1992, D.C. Law 9-145, § 110(a), 39 DCR 4895; Feb. 5, 1994, D.C. Law 10-68, § 48, 40 DCR 6311; June 14, 1994, D.C. Law 10-128, §§ 106(a), 106(b), 41 DCR 2096; Apr. 18, 1996, D.C. Law 11-110, § 55, 43 DCR 530; enacted, Apr. 9, 1997, D.C. Law 11-254, § 2, 44 DCR 1575; Apr. 30, 1998, D.C. Law 12-99, § 2(b), 45 DCR 1524; Apr. 20, 1999, D.C. Law 12-264, § 52(p), 46 DCR 2118; July 18, 2000, D.C. Law 13-148, § 2(c), 47 DCR 4636; June 5, 2003, D.C. Law 14-307, § 902(d), 49 DCR 11664; Mar. 13, 2004, D.C. Law 15-105, § 86(a), 51 DCR 881; Apr. 8, 2005, D.C. Law 15-320, § 110(e), 52 DCR 1757; Sept. 19, 2006, D.C. Law 16-161, §§ 101, 201(b), 53 DCR 5392; Mar. 2, 2007, D.C. Law 16-191, §§ 79, 93, 53 DCR 6794.)

HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES

Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 47-2501.
1973 Ed., § 47-1701.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 13-148, in subsec. (a), in the introductory text deleted “, electric lighting” following “each gas”; in par. (3) substituted “for a gas company” for “for an electric lighting or gas company”; in subsec. (c) substituted “gas company, electric company” for “each gas, electric lighting” and substituted “, in addition to any tax imposed by this section,” for “, in addition to the gross receipts tax,”; and added subsec. (d-1).
D.C. Law 14-307, in subsec. (a), rewrote pars. (3) and (4); added subsec. (a-1); and in subsec. (d-1), substituted “$0.0077” for “$0.007” in par. (1)(B), and added par. (4). Prior to amendment, pars. (3) and (4) of subsec. (a) had read as follows:
“(3) After December 31, 2002, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2002, for a telephone company, 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2002, for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, or 11% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2002, for a gas company; or
“(4) After December 15, 1996, pay to the Mayor 10% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered after December 15, 1996, by any method, to an end-user located in the District.”
D.C. Law 15-105, in subsec. (a-1), substituted “§ 47-368.03” for “§ 47-143”.
D.C. Law 15-320 rewrote subsecs. (a)(2), (3), and (4); added subsec. (a-2); and rewrote subsec. (d-1)(1)(B). Prior to amendment, subsecs. (a)(2), (3), (4), and (d-1)(1)(B) read as follows:
“(2) Until May 31, 1994, pay to the Mayor 9.7% of these gross receipts;
“(3) After December 31, 2004, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a telephone company, 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, or 11% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2004 for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales determined from meters read after December 31, 2004 for residential customers for a gas company; or
“(4) After December 31, 2002, pay to the Mayor 11% of the gross receipts from the sales of natural or artificial gas by a nonpublic utility person delivered after December 31, 2002, by any method, to an end-user located in the District.
“(B) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0077 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.”
D.C. Law 16-161, in subsec. (a), rewrote the lead-in text, substituted “or the sale of artificial gas” for “the delivery of heating oil to an end-user in the District or sale of natural or artificial gas” in par. (1), and added pars. (5) and (6); repealed subsec. (a-1); in subsec. (a-2), substituted “pursuant to subsection (a)(3), (4), (5), and (6) of this section” for “pursuant to subsection (a)(3) and (4) of this section”, and substituted “One-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers” for ‘'One-eleventh of the total tax collected”; added subsecs. (a-3) and (a-4); in subsec. (d-1)(1)(B)(i), substituted “a tax of $0.007” for “a tax of $ 0.0077”; rewrote subsec. (d-1)(1)(B)(ii)(I); and, in subsec. (e), substituted “necessary or appropriate” for “necessary”. Prior to amendment, the lead-in text of subsec. (a), (a-1), and (d-1)(1)(B)(ii)(I) read as follows:
“(a) Before the 21st day of each calendar month, each gas and telephone company that sells public utility services or commodities within the District, each person who, by any method of delivery, delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District, and each nonpublic utility who sells natural or artificial gas that is delivered, by any method, to an end-user in the District shall:”
“(a-1) The rates of tax in subsection (a)(3) and (4) of this section shall be subject to reduction in accordance with § 47-368.03.”
“(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0007 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.”
D.C. Law 16-191, in the section name line, substituted “telecommunications, and heating oil companies” for “and telecommunications companies”; and repealed D.C. Law 15-324 which purported to amend this section.
Temporary Amendments of Section
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 20 of Toll Telecommunications Service Tax Temporary Act of 1989 (D.C. Law 8-4, May 23, 1989, law notification 36 DCR 4154).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of District of Columbia Gross Receipts and Toll Telecommunication Service Tax Temporary Amendment Act of 1991 (D.C. Law 9-34, August 17, 1991, law notification 38 DCR 5801).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of District of Columbia Gross Receipts and Toll Telecommunication Service Tax Temporary Amendment Act of 1992(D.C. Law 9-124, June 11, 1992, law notification 39 DCR 4686).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Natural and Artificial Gas and Gross Receipts Tax Temporary Amendment Act of 1996 (D.C. Law 11-260, April 25, 1997, law notification 44 DCR 6798).
Section 2(d) of D.C. Law 16-7, in subsec. (a), in par. (3), deleted “11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 31, 2002, for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District,”, and added par. (3A) to read as follows:
“(3A) After April 30, 2003, pay to the Mayor 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after April 30, 2003, for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District.”
Section 6(b) of D.C. Law 16-7 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 2(b) of D.C. Law 16-29, in subsec. (a-1), inserted “This paragraph shall expire on January 1, 2005.”; in subsec. (a-2), substituted “Beginning, January 1, 2005, one-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers” for “One-eleventh of the total tax collected”; in subsec. (d-1)(1)(B), substituted “a tax of $0.007, as of January 1, 2005,” for “a tax of $ 0.0077” in sub-subpar. (i), and rewrote sub-subpar. (ii)(I); and, in subsec. (e), substituted “necessary or appropriate” for “necessary”. Sub-subpar. (ii)(I) of subsec. (d-1)(1)(B) reads as follows:
“(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0007, as of January 1, 2005, for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.”
Section 4(b) of D.C. Law 16-29 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 2 of D.C. Law 16-48, in subsec. (a), substituted “each calendar month, each” for “each calendar month, each gas and ” and nonpublic utility who sells” for ”and nonpublic utility who sells natural or” in the lead-in language, deleted ‘or natural” following “sale of” in par. (1), and added par. (5); in subsec. (a-2), substituted “pursuant to subsection (a)(3) and (4) of this subsection and after December 1, 2005, one-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers pursuant to subsection (a)(5) of this section” for “pursuant to subsection (a)(3) and (4) of this subsection”; and added subsecs. (a-3) and (a-4). Subsecs. (a)(5), (a-3) and (a-4) read as follows:
“(5) After December 1, 2005, pay to the Mayor:
“(A) 11% of these gross receipts from the sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, for residential customers for a telephone company;
“(B) 11% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of these gross receipts from deliveries made after December 1, 2005, for residential customers for a person who delivers heating oil to an end-user in the District; or
“(C) 11% of those gross receipts from the sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after December 1, 2005, for nonresidential customers and 10% of those gross receipts from sales of artificial gas delivered by any method after December 1, 2005, for residential customers by a nonpublic utility to an end-user in the District.”
“(a-3)(1) For sales included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, before the 21st day of each month beginning January 2006, each gas company that provides distribution services to District customers shall:
“(A) File an affidavit with the Mayor indicating the number of therms of natural gas delivered for final consumption in the District for the preceding billing period; and
“(B)(i) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0703, as of December 2, 2005, for each therm of natural gas delivered to end-users in the District for the preceding billing period; and
“(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.00983, as of December 2, 2005, for each therm of natural gas delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District for the preceding billing period.
“(II) Revenues received by the District pursuant to this sub-subparagraph shall be deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund established by § 10-1601.02. Payments under this sub-subparagraph shall be in addition to any other payments under this section.
“(2) Each gas company that provides distribution services to District customers shall be allowed to recover the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this section in its rates as a surcharge on customers' bills.
“(3) The tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be reflected as a separate line item on each bill for distribution services sent by each gas company that provides distribution services to District.
“(4) The amount of the tax imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be in effect during Fiscal Year 2006.
“(a-4) Any gross receipts from sales made on or after November 1, 2005, that are not included in bills rendered after December 1, 2005, and taxed under subsection (a-3) of this section shall be taxed at the appropriate rates provided in subsection (a)(4) of this section and reported in the affidavit due on December 21, 2005.”
Section 4(b) of D.C. Law 16-48 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 2(g) of D.C. Law 16-102 repealed subsec. (a-1); in subsec. (a-2), substituted “One-eleventh of the total tax collected from nonresidential customers” for “One-eleventh of the total tax collected”; in subpar. (d-1)(1)(B)(i), substituted “a tax of $0.007” for “a tax of $0.0077”; in subsec. (e), substituted “necessary or appropriate” for “necessary”; and rewrote subpar. (d-1)(1)(B)(ii)(I) to read as follows:
“(ii)(I) Pay to the Mayor a tax of $0.0007 for each kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered to nonresidential end-users in the District of Columbia for the preceding calendar month.”
Section 11(b) of D.C. Law 16-102 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Temporary Enactment
Section 2 of D.C. Law 16-44 enacted provisions to read as follows:
“Sec. 2. Fuel cost reduction plan.
“(a) The Mayor shall submit a comprehensive plan to the Council setting forth the most appropriate method or methods that may be executed to address increasing costs associated with motor vehicle fuel and natural gas. The report shall, at a minimum examine the following methods: moving price ceilings; elimination of the gas tax in whole or in part; establishing gasoline sales-tax holidays; gas vouchers; and examining the city's buying power to purchase home heating fuel.
“(b) The report shall include:
“(1) Historical fuel (motor vehicle, natural gas, heating oil) cost trends in the District of Columbia from calendar year 2003 through December 2005;
“(2) An assessment concerning the multiple variables that have influenced the cost shifts through the designated period; and
“(3) An assessment concerning possible price gouging, by local motor vehicle fuel retailers, and wholesalers.
“(c) The report shall be due on December 15, 2005.”
Section 4(b) of D.C. Law 16-44 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 2 of D.C. Law 16-45 enacted provisions to read as follows:
“Sec. 2. Increased funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Utility Discount Programs.
“Except for the funds which are deposited in the Ballpark Revenue Fund under D.C. Official Code § 47-2501(a-2), for fiscal year 2006, the portion of the funds collected with respect to sales of heating oil and artificial gas under D.C. Official Code § 47-2501(a) which exceed the amount which is estimated, as of the September 2005 revenue estimates, to be collected with respect to such sales in the budget and financial plan shall be used for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Utility Discount Programs administered by the District of Columbia Office of Energy.”
Section 4(b) of D.C. Law 16-45 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Section 8 of D.C. Law 16-102 added Sec. 4a to D.C. Law 16-102 to read as follows:
“Sec. 4a. Applicability.
“Section 2(d) shall apply for the period beginning May 1, 2003 and ending December 31, 2004.”
Section 11(b) of D.C. Law 16-102 provides that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.
Emergency Act Amendments
For temporary amendment of section, see § 2 of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Emergency Amendment Act of 1996 (D.C. Act 11-508, January 17, 1997, 44 DCR 1227), and § 2 of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1997 (D.C. Act 12-51, March 31, 1997, 44 DCR 2201).
For temporary policy statement of act, see § 4 of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Emergency Amendment Act of 1996 (D.C. Act 11-508, January 17, 1997, 44 DCR 1227).
For temporary policy statement of act, see § 4 of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1997 (D.C. Act 12-51, March 31, 1997, 44 DCR 2201).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 2(b) of the Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1998 (D.C. Act 12-304, March 20, 1998, 45 DCR 1898).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 902(d) and 903 of Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Support Amendment Emergency Act of 2002 (D.C. Act 14-544, December 4, 2002, 49 DCR 11700).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 902(d) and 903 of the Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Support Amendment Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-27, February 24, 2003, 50 DCR 2151).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 902(d) and 903 of Fiscal Year 2003 Budget Support Amendment Second Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2003 (D.C. Act 15-103, June 20, 2003, 50 DCR 5499).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(d) of Finance and Revenue Technical Corrections Emergency Amendment Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-51, March 17, 2005, 52 DCR 3164).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Utility Taxes Technical Corrections Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-86, May 18, 2005, 52 DCR 5265).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(b) of Utility Technical Corrections Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-177, October 4, 2005, 52 DCR 9074).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Natural Gas Taxation Relief Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-186, October 28, 2005, 52 DCR 10012).
For temporary (90 day) enactment, see § 2 of Gasoline Fuel Tax Examination Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-188, October 28, 2005, 52 DCR 10017).
For temporary (90 day) enactment, see § 2 of Heating Oil and Artificial Gas Consumer Relief Emergency Act of 2005 (D.C. Act 16-189, October 28, 2005, 52 DCR 10019).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2 of Natural Tax Taxation Relief Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-258, January 26, 2006, 53 DCR 774).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(g) of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-260, January 26, 2006, 53 DCR 780).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 8 of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-260, January 26, 2006, 53 DCR 780).
For temporary (90 day) enactment, see § 2 of Gasoline Fuel Tax Examination Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-279, February 27, 2006, 53 DCR 1624).
For temporary (90 day) enactment, see § 2 of Heating Oil and Artificial Consumer Relief Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-282, February 27, 2006, 53 DCR 1631).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 2(g) of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-361, April 26, 2006, 53 DCR 3619).
For temporary (90 day) addition, see § 8 of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-361, April 26, 2006, 53 DCR 3619).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 101, 201(b), 202 of Natural Gas and Home Heating Oil Taxation Relief and Ratepayer Clarification Emergency Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-376, May 19, 2006, 53 DCR 4392).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see §§ 101, 201(b), and 202(a) of Natural Gas and Home Heating Oil Taxation Relief and Ratepayer Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-443, July 21, 2006, 53 DCR 6436).
For temporary (90 day) repeal of D.C. Law 15-324, see § 11 of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-585, December 28, 2006, 54 DCR 340).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 19 of Finance and Revenue Technical Amendments Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-585, December 28, 2006, 54 DCR 340).
Legislative History of Laws
Law 1-23, the “Revenue Act of 1975,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 1-47, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first, amended first, and second readings, and reconsideration of second reading, on April 15, 1975, June 1, 1975, June 24, 1975 and July 11, 1975, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 23, 1975, it was assigned Act No. 1-34 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
For legislative history of D.C. Law 3-95, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 47-2510.
Law 5-14, the “District of Columbia Revenue Act of 1983,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 5-74, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on April 12, 1983 and April 26, 1983, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on May 4, 1983, it was assigned Act No. 5-29 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 7-25, the “Gross Receipt Tax Amendment Act of 1987,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 7-186, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 30, 1987 and July 14, 1987, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 17, 1987, it was assigned Act No. 7-47 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 8-26, the “Toll Telecommunications Service Tax Act of 1989,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 8-166, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on May 30, 1989 and June 13, 1989, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on June 27, 1989, it was assigned Act No. 8-48 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
For legislative history of D.C. Law 9-145, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 47-2501.01.
Law 10-68, the “Technical Amendments Act of 1993,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 10-166, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on June 29, 1993, and July 13, 1993, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on August 23, 1993, it was assigned Act No. 10-107 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 10-68 became effective on February 5, 1994.
Law 10-128, the “Omnibus Budget Support Act of 1994,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 10-575, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on March 22, 1994, and April 12, 1994, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on April 14, 1994, it was assigned Act No. 10-225 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 10-128 became effective on June 14, 1994.
Law 11-110, the “Technical Amendments Act of 1996,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 11-485, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 5, 1995, and January 4, 1996, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 26, 1996, it was assigned Act No. 11-199 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 11-110 became effective on April 18, 1996.
Law 12-99, the “Natural and Artificial Gas Gross Receipts Tax Amendment Act of 1998,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 12-150, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 4, 1997, and January 6, 1998, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 26, 1998, it was assigned Act No. 12-273 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 12-99 became effective on April 30, 1998.
Law 12-264, the “Technical Amendments Act of 1998,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 12-804, which was referred to the Committee of the Whole. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 10, 1998, and December 1, 1998, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on January 7, 1999, it was assigned Act No. 12-626 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 12-264 became effective on April 20, 1999.
Law 13-148, the “Electricity Tax Act of 2000,” was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 13-280, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and Revenue. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on March 7, 2000, and April 4, 2000, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on July 18, 2000, it was assigned Act No. 13-335 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 13-148 became effective on July 18, 2000.
For Law 14-307, see notes following § 47-903.
For Law 15-105, see notes following § 47-902.
For Law 15-320, see notes following § 47-368.03.
For Law 16-29, see notes following § 47-368.03.
For Law 16-161, see notes following § 47-368.03.
For Law 16-191, see notes following § 47-2425.
References in Text
“This act”, referred to in (b)(1)(B) and two places in (b)(3)(D), is D.C. Law 7-25.
Section 47-1501, referred to in subsections (b)(3)(C) and (c) of this section, was repealed by § 24 of D.C. Law 6-212.
Editor's Notes
D.C. Law 15-324, § 2, purports to amend par. (3) of subsec. (a) without reference to the prior amendment by D.C. Law 15-320, § 110(e). The amendment by D.C. Law 15-324, § 2, was not effective.
Delegation of Authority
Delegation of authority under Law 5-14, see Mayor's Order 83-190, July 25, 1983.
Delegation of authority pursuant to D.C. Law 7-25, the “Gross Receipts Tax Amendment Act of 1987”, see Mayor's Order 94-120, May 16, 1994 (41 DCR 3240).
Miscellaneous Notes
Mayor authorized to issue rules: Section 1102 of D.C. Law 5-14 provided that the Mayor shall issue rules necessary to carry out the provisions of the act.
Section 903 of D.C. Law 14-307 provides:
“Sec. 903. Applicability.
“Section 902 shall apply as of January 1, 2003.”
Applicability: Section 202(a) of D.C. Law 16-161 provides that section 201(a) and (b)(1) through (3) shall apply as of January 1, 2005.

Current through September 13, 2012