Iowa Admin. Code r. 701-206.2

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 701-206.2 - Bundled transaction

A "bundled transaction" is the retail sale of two or more products where the products are otherwise distinct and identifiable and the products are sold for one nonitemized price.

(1)Distinct and identifiable product. "Distinct and identifiable product" does not include any of the following:

a. Packaging or other materials that accompany the retail sale of the products and are incidental or immaterial to the retail sales of the products. Packaging or other materials include but are not limited to containers, boxes, sacks, bags, bottles, envelopes, wrapping, labels, tags, twine, garment hangers, and instruction guides.

EXAMPLE 1: Seller Z provides paper and plastic bags for purchasers to use to carry away their purchased items. The bags are incidental or immaterial to the retail sales of the products and are not distinct and identifiable products. Seller Z's retail sale of purchased items in the provided bags does not constitute a bundled transaction.

EXAMPLE 2: Seller X sells brownies and offers purchasers the option of adding a premium box for an increased price. The sales price of the brownies is the same whether they are sold on their own or with a standard box, but the total sales price increases if the purchasers select a premium box. The premium box is distinct and identifiable from the food product because it requires separate shopping preferences and product selection by the purchaser and is not standard with every order of food product. The retail sale of the brownies and the premium box may constitute a bundled transaction if the other requirements pursuant to Iowa Code section 423.2(8) are satisfied.

EXAMPLE 3: Seller A offers purchasers the option to buy reusable, long-lasting grocery bags to use to carry away purchased grocery items. If the reusable grocery bags are purchased with other items and separately itemized, they are taxable and the sale does not constitute a bundled transaction.

b. A product that is provided free of charge to the consumer in conjunction with the required purchase of another product, if the sales price of the other product does not vary depending on whether the product provided free of charge is included in the transaction. Examples include a free car wash with the purchase of gasoline or free dinnerware with the purchase of groceries.

c. Items specified in the definition of "sales price" in Iowa Code section 423.1.

(2)One nonitemized price. "One nonitemized price" does not include the following:

a. A price that is separately identified by product on a binding sales document, or other sales-related documentation, that is made available to the customer in paper or electronic form, including but not limited to an invoice, a bill of sale, a receipt, a contract, a service agreement, a lease agreement, a periodic notice of rates and services, a rate card or a price list.

b. A price for which the sales price varies or is negotiable based on the purchaser's selection of the products included in the transaction even if the seller only provides one price on its invoice to the purchaser.

EXAMPLE 1: Seller A sells a bakery item as part of a meal which consists of taxable prepared food. The purchaser selects items from a list of options of prepared food to be included in the meal. The individual items of the meal are not itemized on the receipt and the meal is always the same price, notwithstanding the items selected by the purchaser. The meal is sold for one nonitemized price, and the sales price of the meal is subject to tax as a bundled transaction.

EXAMPLE 2: Seller B enters into a contract with buyer D to provide various information technology services. Buyer D selects the information technology services it wants from seller B. Through negotiation, buyer D and seller B agree on a price based on the services selected and seller B bills buyer D one price for all of the services, some of which are taxable and some of which are not taxable. Although the invoice from seller B to buyer D only contains one price for all of the services, since the price was based on the products selected by buyer D, the price is not one nonitemized price and the sale does not constitute a bundled transaction.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 701-206.2

ARC 8153C, IAB 7/24/24, effective 8/28/24