H. B. 2994
(By Delegate Hartman)
[Introduced March 9, 2009; referred to the
Committee on Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §11-13A-3b of the Code of West
Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to eliminating the one
and twenty-two hundredths percent severance tax on timber for
five years.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §11-13A-3b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 13A. SEVERANCE TAXES.
§11-13A-3b. Imposition of tax on privilege of severing timber.
(a) Imposition of tax. -- For the privilege of engaging or
continuing within this state in the business of severing timber for
sale, profit or commercial use, there is hereby levied and shall be
collected from every person exercising such privilege an annual
privilege tax.
(b) Rate and measure of tax. -- The tax imposed in subsection (a) of this section shall be three and twenty-two hundredths
percent of the gross value of the timber produced, as shown by the
gross proceeds derived from the sale thereof by the producer,
except as otherwise provided in this article:
Provided, That as to
timber produced after December 31, 2006, the rate of the tax
imposed in subsection (a) of this section shall be one and
twenty-two hundredths percent of the gross value of the timber
produced, as shown by the gross proceeds derived from the sale
thereof by the producer, except as otherwise provided in this
article:
Provided, however, That beginning July 1, 2009, there
shall be a five-year moratorium on the tax imposed in subsection
(a) of this section.
(c) Tax in addition to other taxes. -- The tax imposed by this
section shall apply to all persons severing timber in this state
and shall be in addition to all other taxes imposed by law.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to eliminate the one and
twenty-two hundredths percent severance tax on timber for five
years beginning July 1, 2009.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.