(1) The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(a) "Applicant" means a person applying for a tax deferral under this chapter.

(b) "Eligible investment project" means an investment project for qualified buildings and machinery and equipment on two new, renovated, or expanded manufacturing operations per calendar year, one of which must be located east of the crest of the Cascade mountains and one of which must be located west of the crest of the Cascade mountains. The deferral provided in this section only applies to the state and local sales and use taxes due on the first ten million dollars in costs for qualified buildings and machinery and equipment.

(c) "Initiation of construction" has the same meaning as in RCW 82.63.010.

(d) "Investment project" means an investment in qualified buildings or qualified machinery and equipment, including labor and services rendered in the planning, installation, and construction of the project.

(e) "Manufacturing" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.04.120.

(f) "Person" has the same meaning as provided in RCW 82.04.030.

(g) "Qualified buildings" means construction of new structures, and expansion or renovation of existing structures for the purpose of increasing floor space or production capacity, used for manufacturing, including plant offices and warehouses or other buildings for the storage of raw material or finished goods if such facilities are an essential or an integral part of a factory, mill, plant, or laboratory used for manufacturing. If a qualified building is used partly for manufacturing and partly for other purposes, the applicable tax deferral must be determined by apportionment of the costs of construction under rules adopted by the department.

(h) "Qualified machinery and equipment" means all new industrial fixtures, equipment, and support facilities that are an integral and necessary part of a manufacturing operation. "Qualified machinery and equipment" includes: Computers; software; data processing equipment; laboratory equipment; manufacturing components such as belts, pulleys, shafts, and moving parts; molds, tools, and dies; operating structures; and all equipment used to control, monitor, or operate the machinery.

(i) "Recipient" means a person receiving a tax deferral under this chapter.

(2) This section expires January 1, 2026.

Effective date—2017 3rd sp.s. c 37 ss 101-104, 403, 503, 506, 508, 510, 512, 514, 516, 518, 520, 522, 524, 526, 703, 705, 707, and 801-803: See note following RCW 82.04.2404.

Effective dates—2015 3rd sp.s. c 6: See note following RCW 82.04.4266.