Section 5701.08. Used in business, business defined

As used in Title LVII [57] of the Revised Code:

(A) Personal property is "used" within the meaning of "used in business" when employed or utilized in connection with ordinary or special operations, when acquired or held as means or instruments for carrying on the business, when kept and maintained as a part of a plant capable of operation, whether actually in operation or not, or when stored or kept on hand as material, parts, products, or merchandise. Machinery and equipment classifiable upon completion as personal property while under construction or installation to become part of a new or existing plant or other facility is not considered to be "used" by the owner of such plant or other facility within the meaning of "used in business" until such machinery and equipment is installed and in operation or capable of operation in the business for which acquired. Agricultural products in storage in a grain elevator, a warehouse, or a place of storage which products are subject to control of the United States government and are to be shipped on order of the United States government are not used in business in this state.

(B) Merchandise or agricultural products shipped from outside this state and held in this state in a warehouse or a place of storage without further manufacturing or processing and for storage only and for shipment outside this state are not used in business in this state. Such property qualifies for this exception if division (B)(1) or (2) of this section applies:

(1) During any period that a person owns such property in this state:

(a) The property is to be shipped from a warehouse or place of storage in this state to the owner of the property or persons other than customers at locations outside this state for use, processing, or sale; or

(b) The property is located in public or private warehousing facilities in this state which are not subject to the control of or under the supervision of the owner of the property or manned by its employees and from which the property is to be shipped to any person, including a customer, outside this state.

(2) During the first twenty-four calendar months that a person first owns such property in this state, the property is held in a warehouse or place of storage in this state located within one mile of the closest boundary of an airport, and is shipped to any person, including a customer, outside this state.

For the purposes of division (B)(2) of this section, "airport" means any airport, as defined in division (C) of section 4561.01 of the Revised Code, which is approved by the department of transportation under section 4561.11 of the Revised Code to be used for commercial purposes, is regularly served by only one air carrier authorized to do so under 14 C.F.R., and is not a public airport as defined in 49 U.S.C. Appx. 2202(a)(17) as existing on the effective date of this amendment.

(3) For property that may meet the condition for the exception provided in division (B)(2) of this section, if it is not known at the conclusion of a reporting period whether the property yet qualifies for such exception, the owner of such property shall return it for taxation. If it is later determined that the returned property does so qualify, the owner may apply for a final assessment and refund on the property as provided in section 5711.26 of the Revised Code.

(C) Leased property used by the lessee exclusively for agricultural purposes and new or used machinery and equipment and accessories therefor that are designed and built for agricultural use and owned by a merchant as defined in section 5711.15 of the Revised Code are not considered to be "used" within the meaning of "used in business."

(D) Moneys, deposits, investments, accounts receivable, and prepaid items, and other taxable intangibles are "used" when they or the avails thereof are being applied, or are intended to be applied, in the conduct of the business, whether in this state or elsewhere.

(E) "Business" includes all enterprises, except agriculture, conducted for gain, profit, or income and extends to personal service occupations.

Effective Date: 07-26-1991