Revised Code of Washington
Wash. Rev. Code § 82.08.080 (2026)
Vending machine and other sales
✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) The department of revenue may authorize a seller to pay the tax levied under this chapter upon sales made under conditions of business such as to render impracticable the collection of the tax as a separate item and waive collection of the tax from the customer. Where sales are made by a vending machine that results in delivery of the merchandise in single purchases of smaller value than the minimum sale upon which a one cent tax may be collected from the purchaser, according to the schedule provided by the department under authority of RCW 82.08.060, and where the design of the sales device is such that multiple sales of items are not possible or cannot be detected so as practically to assess a tax, in such a case the selling price for the purposes of the tax imposed under RCW 82.08.020 shall be sixty percent of the gross receipts of the vending machine through which such sales are made.
(2) No such authority shall be granted except upon application to the department and unless the department, after hearing, finds that the conditions of the applicant's business are such as to render impracticable the collection of the tax in the manner otherwise provided. The department, by rule, may provide that the applicant, under this section, furnish a proper bond sufficient to secure the payment of the tax.
(3) "Vending machine" means a machine or other mechanical device that accepts payment and:
(a) Dispenses tangible personal property;
(b) Provides facilities for installing, repairing, cleaning, altering, imprinting, or improving tangible personal property; or
(c) Provides a service to the buyer.
[ 2004 c 153 s 409; 1986 c 36 s 2; 1975 1st ex.s. c 278 s 48; 1963 c 244 s 2; 1961 c 15 s 82.08.080. Prior: 1937 c 227 s 8; 1935 c 180 s 24; RRS s 8370-24.]
Notes:
Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.
Construction—Severability—1975 1st ex.s. c 278: See notes following RCW 11.08.160.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4
cases, 1957–2012 · leading case: White v. State, 306 P.2d 230 (Wash. 1957).
White v. State, 306 P.2d 230 (Wash. 1957). “None of them made application to the tax commission for authority to pay the tax themselves on their sales made through vending machines, pursuant to the provisions of RCW 82.08.080, and no such authority was granted to any of them by the tax commission.”
Kitsap-Mason Dairymen's Ass'n v. Washington State Tax Comm'n, 467 P.2d 312 (Wash. 1970). “050 also provides in part: “In case any seller fails to ■collect the tax herein imposed or having collected the tax, fails to pay it to the commission in the manner prescribed by this chapter, whether such failure is the result of his own acts or the result of acts or…”
Canteen Serv., Inc. v. State, 522 P.2d 847 (Wash. 1974). “of the cost of tangible property sold, the cost of materials used, labor costs, interest, discount, delivery costs, taxes, or any other expenses whatsoever paid or accrued and without any deduction on account of losses; but shall not include the amount of cash discount actually…”
Dep't of Revenue v. Bi-Mor, Inc., 286 P.3d 417 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “RCW 82.08.080. But the legislature has provided no similar exception, or alternative means of calculating sales tax liability, for either tax-included or seller-absorption sales.”
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