The department shall not enter into the streamlined sales and use tax agreement unless the agreement requires each state to abide by the requirements in this section.

(1) The agreement must set restrictions to limit over time the number of state rates.

(2) The agreement must establish uniform standards for:

(a) The sourcing of transactions to taxing jurisdictions;

(b) The administration of exempt sales; and

(c) Sales and use tax returns and remittances.

(3) The agreement must provide a central, electronic registration system that allows a seller to register to collect and remit sales and use taxes for all signatory states.

(4) The agreement must provide that registration with the central registration system and the collection of sales and use taxes in the signatory states will not be used as a factor in determining whether the seller has nexus with a state for any tax.

(5) The agreement must provide for reduction of the burdens of complying with local sales and use taxes by:

(a) Restricting variances between the state and local tax bases;

(b) Requiring states to administer any sales and use taxes levied by local jurisdictions within the state so that sellers collecting and remitting these taxes will not have to register or file returns with, remit funds to, or be subject to independent audits from local taxing jurisdictions;

(c) Restricting the frequency of changes in the local sales and use tax rates and setting effective dates for the application of local jurisdictional boundary changes to local sales and use taxes; and

(d) Providing notice of changes in local sales and use tax rates and of changes in the boundaries of local taxing jurisdictions.

(6) The agreement must outline any monetary allowances that are to be provided by the states to sellers or certified service providers. The agreement must allow for a joint public and private sector study of the compliance cost on sellers and certified service providers to collect sales and use taxes for state and local governments under various levels of complexity.

(7) The agreement must require each state to certify compliance with the terms of the agreement before joining and to maintain compliance, under the laws of the member state, with all provisions of the agreement while a member.

(8) The agreement must require each state to adopt a uniform policy for certified service providers that protects the privacy of consumers and maintains the confidentiality of tax information.

(9) The agreement must provide for the appointment of an advisory council of private sector representatives and an advisory council of nonmember state representatives to consult with in the administration of the agreement.

Retroactive effective date—Effective date—2004 c 153: See note following RCW 82.08.0293.