*Audio clip included at bottom of release
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is encouraging all commercial agricultural producers who wish to claim an agricultural sales tax exemption to obtain a Texas Agriculture and Timber Exemption Registration Number before the end of the year.
Under a new law (HB 268), a registration number will be required by all producers who claim an exemption beginning Jan. 1, 2012.
The registration number is free and good for 4 years. Producers will need to provide their registration number to anyone they do business with, including electric companies, in order to claim the exemption.
Producers can register for the registration number online at GetReadyTexas.org or they can download the registration form from that page and mail or fax the completed form to the Comptroller’s office.
Basic points of HB 268:
• If someone wishing to claim an agricultural sales tax exemption does not have a registration number, they will be required to pay sales tax but can apply for a refund, like current law, to the Comptroller’s office.
• One registration number can be used per agricultural operation. HB 268 allows multiple people associated with that operation to use the same registration number.
• HB 268 does not remove any agricultural items or production qualifications that qualify for the agricultural sales tax exemption.
• Commercial producers who lease pasture may claim the exemption. When registering, they should mark; I raise and sell hay or grasses (alfalfa, clover, grass, etc.), in Section 18 of the registration form.