No employing unit which contracts with or has under it any contractor or subcontractor who is an employer under the provisions of this title shall make any payment or advance to, or secure any credit for, such contractor or subcontractor or on account of any contract or contracts to which said employing unit is a party unless such contractor or subcontractor has paid contributions, due or to become due for wages paid or to be paid by such contractor or subcontractor for personal services performed pursuant to such contract or subcontract, or has furnished a good and sufficient bond acceptable to the commissioner for payment of contributions, interest, and penalties. Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall render said employing unit directly liable for such contributions, interest, and penalties and the commissioner shall have all of the remedies of collection against said employing unit under the provisions of this title as though the services in question were performed directly for said employing unit.

For the purposes of this section, a contractor registered under chapter 18.27 RCW or licensed under chapter 19.28 RCW shall not be responsible for any contributions for the work of any subcontractor if:

(1) The subcontractor is currently engaging in a business which is registered under chapter 18.27 RCW or licensed under chapter 19.28 RCW;

(2) There is no other person, firm or corporation doing the same work at the same time on the same project except two or more persons, firms or corporations may contract and do the same work at the same time on the same project if each person, firm or corporation has employees;

(3) The subcontractor has a principal place of business which would be eligible for a business deduction for internal revenue service tax purposes other than that furnished by the contractor for which the business has contracted to furnish services;

(4) The subcontractor maintains a separate set of books or records that reflect all items of income and expenses of the business; and

(5) The subcontractor has contracted to perform:

(a) The work of a contractor as defined in RCW 18.27.010; or

(b) The work of installing wires or equipment to convey electric current or installing apparatus to be operated by such current as it pertains to the electrical industry as described in chapter 19.28 RCW.

Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1982 1st ex.s. c 18: See notes following RCW 50.12.200.

Effective date—1973 1st ex.s. c 158: See note following RCW 50.08.020.

Music or entertainment services purchasers, liability for unpaid contributions: RCW 50.04.148.