§45-27-245. Levy and collection of taxes on gross sales or gross receipts.

Subject to the provisions of Section 45-27-245.06, there is hereby levied, in addition to all other taxes of every kind now imposed by law, and shall be collected as herein provided, a privilege or license tax against the person on account of the business activities and in the amount to be determined by the application of rates against gross sales, or gross receipts, as the case may be, as follows:

(1) Upon every person, firm, or corporation (including the State of Alabama, the University of Alabama, Auburn University, and all other institutions of higher learning in the state, whether such institutions be denominational, state, county, or municipal institutions, and any association or other agency or instrumentality of such institutions) engaged or continuing within Escambia County in the business of selling at retail any tangible personal property whatsoever, including merchandise and commodities of every kind and character (not including, however, bonds or other evidences of debts or stocks, nor sale or sales of material and supplies to any person for use in fulfilling a contract for the painting, repair, or reconditioning of vessels, barges, ships, and other watercraft of over 50 tons burden), an amount equal to one percent of the gross proceeds of sales of the business except where a different amount is expressly provided herein. Provided, however, that any person engaging or continuing in business as a retailer and wholesaler or jobber shall pay the tax required on the gross proceeds of retail sales of such business at the rates specified, when the books are kept so as to show separately the gross proceeds of sales of each business, and when the books are not so kept he or she shall pay the tax as retailer on the gross sales of the business.

(2) Upon every person, firm, or cooperation engaged, or continuing within Escambia County, in the business of conducting, or operating, places of amusement or entertainment, billiard and pool rooms, bowling alleys, amusement devices, musical devices, theaters, opera houses, moving picture shows, vaudevilles, amusement parks, athletic contests, including wrestling matches, prize fights, boxing and wrestling exhibitions, football and baseball games (including athletic contests, conducted by or under the auspices of any educational institution within Escambia County, or any athletic association thereof, or other association whether such institution or association is a denominational, a state, or county, or a municipal institution or association or a state, county, or city school, or other institution, association, or school), skating rinks, race tracks, golf courses, or any other place at which any exhibition, display, amusement, or entertainment is offered to the public or place or places where an admission fee is charged, including public bathing places, public dance halls of every kind and description within Escambia County, an amount equal to one percent of the gross receipts of any such business.

(3) Upon every person, firm, or corporation engaged or continuing within Escambia County in the business of selling at retail machines used in mining, quarrying, compounding, processing, and manufacturing of tangible personal property, an amount equal to one-half percent of the gross proceeds of the sale of such machines; provided, that the term machines, as herein used, shall include machinery which is used for mining, quarrying, compounding, processing, or manufacturing tangible personal property, and the parts of such machines, attachments, and replacements therefor which are made or manufactured for use on or in the operation of such machines and which are necessary to the operation of such machines and are customarily so used.

(4)a. Upon every person, firm, or corporation engaged or continuing within Escambia County in the business of selling at retail any automotive vehicle or truck trailer, semi-trailer, or house trailer, an amount equal to one-half percent of the gross proceeds of sale of the automotive vehicle or truck trailer, semi-trailer, or house trailer. If the person withdraws from his or her stock in trade any automotive vehicle or truck trailer, semi-trailer, or house trailer for use by him or her or by his or her employee or agent in the operation of such business, there shall be paid, in lieu of the tax levied herein, a fee of two dollars fifty cents ($2.50) per year or part thereof during which such automotive vehicle, truck trailer, semi-trailer, or house trailer shall remain the property of such person. Each such year or part thereof shall begin with the day or anniversary date, as the case may be, of such withdrawal and shall run for the 12 months or part thereof during which such automotive vehicle, truck trailer, semi-trailer, or house trailer shall remain the property of such person.

b. Where any used automotive vehicle or truck trailer, semi-trailer, or house trailer is taken in trade or in a series of trades, as a credit or part payment on the sale of a new or used vehicle, the tax levied herein shall be paid on the net difference, that is, the price of the new or used vehicle sold less the credit for the used vehicle taken in trade.

(5)a. Upon every person, firm, or corporation engaged or continuing within Escambia County in the business of selling at retail any machine, machinery, or equipment which is used in planting, cultivating, and harvesting farm products, or used in connection with the production of agricultural produce or products, livestock or poultry on farms, and the parts of such machines, machinery, or equipment, attachments, and replacements therefor which are made or manufactured for use on or in the operation of such machine, machinery, or equipment, and which are necessary to and customarily used in the operation of such machine, machinery, or equipment, an amount equal to one-half percent of the gross proceeds of the sale thereof. Provided, however, the one-half percent rate herein prescribed with respect to parts, attachments, and replacements shall not apply to any automotive vehicle or trailer designed primarily for public highway use, except farm trailers used primarily in the production and harvesting of agricultural commodities.

b. Where any used machine, machinery, or equipment which is used in planting, cultivating, and harvesting farm products, or used in connection with the production of agricultural produce or products, livestock and poultry on farms is taken in trade or in a series of trades as a credit or part payment on a sale of a new or used machine, machinery, or equipment, the tax levied herein shall be paid on the net difference, that is, the price of the new or used machine, machinery, or equipment sold, less the credit for the used machine, machinery, or equipment taken in trade.

(6) Upon every person, firm, or corporation engaged or continuing within Escambia County in the business of selling through coin-operated dispensing machines, food and food products for human consumption, not including beverages other than coffee, milk, milk products and substitutes therefor, there is hereby levied a tax equal to one percent of the cost of such food, food products, and beverages sold through such machines, which cost for the purpose of this subsection shall be the gross proceeds of sales of such business.

(Act 97-549, p. 962, §1.)