Sec. 31. (a) As used in this section, "free distribution newspaper" means any community newspaper, shopping paper, shoppers' consumer paper, pennysaver, shopping guide, town crier, dollar stretcher, or other similar publication which:
(1) is distributed to the public on a community-wide basis, free of charge;
(2) is published at stated intervals of at least once a month;
(3) has continuity as to title and general nature of content from issue to issue;
(4) does not constitute a book, either singly or when successive issues are put together;
(5) contains advertisements from numerous unrelated advertisers in each issue;
(6) contains news of general or community interest, community notices, or editorial commentary by different authors, in each issue; and
(7) is not owned by, or under the control of, the owners or lessees of a shopping center, a merchant's association, or a business that sells property or services (other than advertising) whose advertisements for their sales of property or services constitute the predominant advertising in the publication.
(b) The term "free distribution newspaper" does not include mail order catalogs or other catalogs, advertising fliers, travel brochures, house organs, theater programs, telephone directories, restaurant guides, shopping center advertising sheets, and similar publications.
(c) Transactions involving manufacturing machinery, tools and equipment, and other tangible personal property are exempt from the state gross retail tax if the person acquiring that property acquires it for his direct use, or for his direct consumption as a material to be consumed, in the direct production or publication of a free distribution newspaper, or for incorporation as a material part of a free distribution newspaper published by that person.
(d) Transactions involving a sale of a free distribution newspaper, or of printing services performed in publishing a free distribution newspaper, are exempt from the state gross retail tax if the purchaser is the publisher of the free distribution newspaper.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.80, SEC.2.
Structure Indiana Code
Article 2.5. State Gross Retail and Use Taxes
Chapter 5. Exempt Transactions of Retail Merchant
6-2.5-5-0.4. Intent of General Assembly Adding Section 36 of This Chapter
6-2.5-5-1. Animals, Feed, Seed, and Chemicals; Race Horse in a Claiming Race
6-2.5-5-2. Agricultural Machinery, Tools, and Equipment
6-2.5-5-3. Exemption; Acquisition for Direct Use in Direct Production
6-2.5-5-4. Property for Use in Producing Machinery, Tools, or Equipment
6-2.5-5-6. Exemption; Acquisition for Incorporation Into Product for Sale
6-2.5-5-7. Materials Used in Construction Business, Public Street, or Utility Service
6-2.5-5-8.5. Power Subsidiary; Public Utility
6-2.5-5-9. Returnable Containers; Nonreturnable Packaging
6-2.5-5-10. Electric or Steam Utilities; Production Plant or Power Production Expenses
6-2.5-5-11. Gas Utilities; Production or Storage Plants and Expenses
6-2.5-5-12. Water Utilities; Plants and Expenses
6-2.5-5-12.5. Wastewater Utilities; Plants and Expenses
6-2.5-5-14. Public Utilities; Acquisitions of Personal Property
6-2.5-5-15.5. Motor Vehicles; Intrafamilial Title Transfers
6-2.5-5-16. State or Local Government Acquisitions
6-2.5-5-18. Drugs, Medical Equipment, Supplies, and Devices; Acquisition by Patient
6-2.5-5-19. Drugs, Insulin, Oxygen, Blood, or Blood Plasma; Acquisition by Licensed Practitioner
6-2.5-5-19.5. Drugs; Insulin; Oxygen; Blood Glucose Monitoring Supply; Blood or Blood Plasma
6-2.5-5-20. "Food and Food Ingredients for Human Consumption"
6-2.5-5-22. Exemption; Sales of Meals; Schools; Fraternities; Sororities; Student Cooperatives
6-2.5-5-23. School Building Materials
6-2.5-5-29. Manufactured Homes; Industrialized Residential Structures
6-2.5-5-30. Environmental Quality Compliance; Manufacturing, Mining, Agriculture, or Recycling
6-2.5-5-31. Free Distribution Newspaper; Related Transactions
6-2.5-5-33. Tangible Personal Property Purchased With Food Stamps
6-2.5-5-34. Sale of Lottery Tickets; Gross Retail Tax
6-2.5-5-35. Tangible Personal Property Transactions
6-2.5-5-36. Commercial Printing Contracts
6-2.5-5-38.1. Qualified Computer Equipment Sales
6-2.5-5-38.2. Vehicle Lease Transactions
6-2.5-5-39. Cargo Trailers and Recreational Vehicles Registered for Use Outside Indiana
6-2.5-5-40. Research and Development Property
6-2.5-5-42. Aircraft Titled, Registered, or Based Outside Indiana
6-2.5-5-43. Type Ii Gambling Games
6-2.5-5-44. Sales to City or Town for Municipal Golf Course
6-2.5-5-45. Gross Retail and Use Tax Exemption; Cigarette and Tobacco Tax Meter Machines
6-2.5-5-45.8. Recycling and Recycling Materials
6-2.5-5-46. Aircraft Repair and Maintenance
6-2.5-5-47. Coins, Bullion, and Legal Tender
6-2.5-5-48. Drainage Water Management System
6-2.5-5-50. Required Product Labels
6-2.5-5-52. Hot Mix Asphalt Plant Equipment; Trucks; Pavers
6-2.5-5-54. Special Rule for Sharing of a Passenger Motor Vehicle for Fewer Than 15 Days
6-2.5-5-55. "Public Safety Equipment and Materials"; Exemption