Section 130.350  Coal Exploration, Mining, Off Highway Hauling, Processing, Maintenance and Reclamation Equipment

 

a)         General.  The exemption provided in this Section terminated on June 30, 2003, pursuant to P.A. 93-24.  P.A. 98-456, effective August 16, 2013, reinstated the coal exemption retroactive to July 1, 2003.  The Department, however, will not approve any claims or refunds on or after August 16, 2013, for taxes due or paid during the period beginning July 1, 2003 through August 16, 2013.  The exemption for coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation equipment will terminate by operation of the sunset provisions of Section 2-70 of the Retailers' Occupation Tax Act on August 16, 2018.  Pursuant to P.A. 100-0594, effective June 29, 2018, the exemption provided in this Section is extended until July 1, 2023.  Pursuant to P.A. 102-0700, effective April 19, 2022, the exemption provided in this Section is extended until July 1, 2028.  The exemption does not apply to motor vehicles required to be registered pursuant to the Illinois Vehicle Code [625 ILCS 5]. This exemption applies only to equipment used primarily in coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation.  Equipment used 50% or less in exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation will not qualify for this exemption.  Excluded from this exemption are motor vehicles required to be registered pursuant to the Illinois Vehicle Code.  Special mobile equipment other than motor vehicles may qualify for the exemption if it is used primarily in coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation.  This exemption does not include supplies (such as chemicals, rust inhibitors and adhesives), coolants, lubricants, inert limestone, magnetite and other materials added to the coal washing medium, reclamation materials (such as seed, plants and limestone), items of personal apparel (such as gloves, shoes, hats, helmets, coveralls, masks, mask air filters, belts, harnesses or holsters) or fuel of any type.

 

b)         Definitions

 

1)         "Coal" means a mineral deposit or finished product comprised of combustible, carbon based plant fossil matter used as fuel.

 

2)         "Coal Exploration" means the search for coal.  Exploration includes, but is not limited to, geophysical exploration, excavating and drilling to locate coal deposits.

 

3)         "Kits" means commercially-packaged sets of parts that are ordered from a manufacturer, inventoried and sold by a retailer as a single item. An example would be a "tire assembly" comprised of the rim, tire, foam filling and valve stem.

 

4)         "Maintenance" means keeping coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation equipment in a state of repair and efficiency.

 

5)         "Mining" means the extraction of coal from the earth by underground and surface mining and includes the extraction of coal by the mine owner or operator.

 

6)         "Off Highway Hauling" means carrying or transporting and would include transport of overburden, waste material, including gob from the processing facility for disposal, and coal from the coal seam to the processing facility by conveyors or unlicensed vehicles, and conveying coal from the beginning of the processing cycle through the last stage of coal production, which ends at the time the coal is stored.

 

7)         "Processing" means preparation activities performed directly on the coal which are necessary for converting coal into a finished product so that it is ready for sale or the reprocessing of coal mine waste to extract and recycle coal from the waste by the mine owner, operator or a third party contractor or successor.  Processing includes, but is not limited to, sizing, crushing, drying and washing.

 

8)         "Reclamation" means conditioning areas affected by mining operations. Examples of reclamation activities include, but are not limited to, backfilling, grading, seeding and planting.

 

9)         "Replacement Parts" means parts that are used to replace parts of qualifying equipment and that require periodic replacement.  To be considered a replacement part, the part must be purchased for the purpose of being installed and must, in fact, become a physical component part of coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance or reclamation equipment.

 

10)         "Used primarily" means equipment that is used more than 50% of the time in coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation.

 

c)         Exempt Activities

By way of illustration and not limitation, the following activities will be considered to constitute coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation:

 

1)         Coal is produced in a surface mining operation that begins with locating the coal deposit to be mined, clearing of surface obstacles and overburden from the land above the coal deposit to be mined, continues with the removal of waste material and with the extraction of the coal, continues with the transportation from the coal seam to the processing facility, continues further with the refilling and grading of the mined area with overburden and waste material from a subsequently mined area, continues further with the processing of the coal, and ends with the stockpiling of the coal to allow moisture to drain and evaporate from the washed coal.  By way of illustration and not limitation, the following equipment is exempt:

 

A)        Geophysical surveying, excavating, dredging and drilling machinery and equipment used primarily to locate surface mine coal deposits (e.g., data logger transducer; photoionization detector; optical televiewer; acoustic televiewer; petrographic survey equipment; and inclinometer survey equipment).

 

B)        Equipment used primarily to drill and load holes for blasting material to dislodge the overburden, blasting agents (such as ammonium nitrate and fuel oil or ANFO); equipment used primarily to ignite blasting agents, including, but not limited to, high explosives, detonators, lead-in lines and blasting machines; and equipment used primarily to transport the blasting material.

 

C)        Equipment used primarily to remove overburden and other waste materials from the pit to be mined.

 

D)        Equipment used primarily to modify the energy purchased for the surface mining process if the equipment is used to modify the energy for use on exempt equipment (e.g., transformers, capacitors and other equipment used to reduce, increase, stabilize or otherwise control the amperage, voltage or frequency of the electric current and transmit the electrical current to coal mining and processing equipment).

 

E)        Pumps and hoses used primarily to remove water or to divert water from the active pit area.

 

F)         Equipment used primarily to load the overburden, waste material or coal to be transported to the processing facility into off highway haulage trucks or onto a conveyor system.

 

G)        Equipment used primarily to extract coal from the earth.

 

H)        Unlicensed off highway haulage trucks or a conveyor system to transport overburden, waste material or coal to the processing facility.

 

I)         Equipment used primarily to backfill, grade, seed, plant or otherwise reclaim previously mined land.

 

J)         Equipment used primarily in a coal wash plant to clean the coal prior to sale to customers.  Equipment used primarily in the cleaning, sizing or grading of coal in a coal preparation plant may qualify as manufacturing machinery and equipment (see Section 130.330).

 

K)        Equipment used primarily to blend different grades of coal together so that the final product meets customer specifications regarding quality and sulfur content.

 

L)        Electrical cable that is part of an electrical distribution system supplying electricity to exempt equipment in the field (e.g., draglines and shovels that move and load overburden and shovels that load coal in the pit).

 

M)       Computers and electrical control panels integral to and used primarily to operate exempt equipment used in coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation.

 

N)        Remote audio visual equipment integral to and used primarily in connection with coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation.

 

O)        Electric generators used primarily to power exempt coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation equipment.

 

P)         Communication equipment integral to and used primarily in production and operation activities in connection with coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation equipment.

 

2)         Coal is produced in an underground mining operation that begins with locating the coal deposit to be mined, continues with the boring of a shaft from the surface to the coal deposit to be mined, continues with the removal of waste material and the extraction of coal, continues further with the transportation from the coal seam to the processing facility, continues further with the installation of roof supports and the coating of walls with rock dust to prevent mine explosions and collapse, continues further with the processing of coal and disposal of waste material from the mine and processing facility, and ends with the stockpiling of coal to allow moisture to drain and evaporate from the washed coal.  By way of illustration and not limitation, the following equipment is exempt:

 

A)        Geophysical surveying, excavating and drilling machinery and equipment used primarily to locate underground mine coal deposits (e.g., data logger transducer; photoionization detector; optical televiewer; acoustic televiewer; petrographic survey equipment; and inclinometer survey equipment).

 

B)        Equipment used primarily to create access to the coal deposit (e.g., a rotary drill or a track drill), equipment used primarily to sever coal from the deposit (e.g., continuous miners and long wall mining equipment), and equipment used primarily to load coal onto conveyor belts, into trucks or other conveyances used to transport coal from the deposit to the processing operation (e.g., shuttle cars and battery powered haulers). 

 

C)        Shuttle cars used primarily to transport the coal from the point of severance to the feeder-breaker at the end of a conveyor belt or other transportation system.

 

D)        The feeder-breaker which breaks the large lumps of coal and feeds the coal onto the conveyor belt which carries the coal outside the mine where it is temporarily stockpiled or transported to the processing facility.

 

E)        Equipment used primarily to modify the energy purchased for the underground mining process if the equipment is used to modify the energy for use on exempt equipment, e.g., transformers, capacitors and other equipment used to reduce, increase, stabilize or otherwise control the amperage, voltage or frequency of the electrical current and transmit the electrical current to mining and processing equipment.

 

F)         Pumps and hoses, piping and discharge apparatus used primarily in the movement or removal of water or to divert water from the underground mine area.

 

G)        Equipment used primarily to install roof bolts, roof bolt supports and side rib bolt supports and in scaling (e.g., the removal of loose rock and slabs of rock) prior to roof bolting to prevent mine collapse.

 

H)        Roof bolts and plates, side rib bolts and plates, and epoxy resin cartridges used primarily to secure roof bolts and side rib bolts installed to prevent mine collapse.

 

I)         Equipment used primarily to coat mine walls with inert limestone as the coal is removed to prevent explosions caused by the escape of volatile materials.

 

J)         Equipment installed as improvements to real estate in underground mining such as elevators, rail, ventilating and illuminating systems, including the foundations for that equipment as long as those foundations are located within the underground mine.

 

K)        Equipment used primarily in the construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, servicing, repairing, maintenance or improvement of underground mine structures.  Materials, such as lumber, steel, concrete, rock and other building materials, qualify for the exemption only when used in underground mine structures, including use as roof support to prevent mine collapse.

 

L)        Additions to exempt underground rail conveyors, ventilating and illumination systems due to the progression of mining.

 

M)       Longwall equipment consisting of shields, shearers, face conveyors and equipment used primarily for recovery, handling and transportation of longwall equipment.

 

N)        Machinery and equipment used primarily to transport coal to aboveground facilities.

 

O)        Machinery and equipment used primarily to convey coal from the beginning of the processing cycle through the last stage of coal production.

 

P)         Equipment used primarily in a coal wash plant to clean the coal prior to sale to customers.  Equipment used primarily in the cleaning, sizing, or grading of coal in a coal preparation plant may qualify as manufacturing machinery and equipment (see Section 130.330).

 

Q)        Equipment used primarily to blend different grades of coal together so that the final product meets customer specifications regarding quality and sulfur content.

 

R)        Equipment, other than motor vehicles required to be registered pursuant to the Illinois Vehicle Code, used primarily to transport miners into and out of an underground mine (e.g., mantrips, utility vehicles, mobile equipment and scoops).

 

S)         Electrical cable that is part of an electrical distribution system supplying electricity to exempt equipment at the mine site (e.g., draglines and shovels that move and load overburden and shovels that load coal in the pit).

 

T)         Computers and electrical control panels integral to and used primarily to operate exempt equipment used in coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation.

 

U)        Remote audio visual equipment integral to and used primarily in connection with exempt coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation equipment.

 

V)        Electrical generators used primarily to power exempt coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation equipment.

 

W)       Communication equipment integral to and used primarily in production and operation activities in connection with exempt coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation equipment.

 

3)         By way of illustration and not limitation, the following maintenance equipment is exempt:

 

A)        Unlicensed maintenance and welding trucks used primarily for field repair of exempt equipment.

 

B)        Lathes, drill presses, air compressors and welders used primarily to build, modify or rework exempt repair parts or equipment.

 

C)        Mobile and overhead cranes and manlifts used primarily in connection with exempt coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation.

 

4)         By way of illustration and not limitation, the following coal exploration equipment is exempt unless registered pursuant to the Illinois Vehicle Code:

 

A)        Drill rigs used primarily to drill exploration core holes.

 

B)        Water trucks used primarily in the drilling process.

 

C)        Winch and casing trucks used primarily in the drilling process.

 

D)        Field maintenance trucks used primarily to make repairs on exempt field equipment.

 

E)        Air compressors used in connection with exempt coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation.

 

d)         Nonexempt Activities

By way of illustration and not limitation, the following activities will not be considered to constitute coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation:

 

1)         The use of equipment in the construction, reconstruction, alteration, remodeling, servicing, repairing, maintenance or improvement of real estate except for underground mine structures.  Material, such as lumber, steel, concrete, rock and other building materials, will not qualify for the exemption except when used in underground mine structures, such as roof support to prevent mine collapse;

 

2)         the use of equipment in research and development for new uses of coal;

 

3)         the use of equipment, trailers, sheds or structures in management, sales or other nonproduction, nonoperational activities including production or extraction scheduling, purchasing, receiving, accounting, fiscal management, communications equipment (e.g., radios and phones), security, marketing, product exhibition and promotion, personnel recruitment, selection or training;

 

4)         the use of equipment to prevent or fight fires or other mining hazards, protective supplies such as face masks, gas masks, helmets, gloves, coveralls, goggles, or first aid equipment and supplies, rescue chambers, self-rescuers, protective mine shelters or tracking devices (e.g., Global Positioning Systems or similar devices) even though such equipment and supplies may be required by law;

 

5)         the use of equipment for general ventilation, heating, cooling, climate control or general illumination not specifically required for the exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation operation;

 

6)         the use of facilities for storing coal after extraction and processing;

 

7)         the use of front-end loaders, cranes, equipment used to load coal onto trucks, railcars or barges for delivery to customers;

 

8)         the use of concrete foundations and support structures for ventilation equipment used aboveground.

 

e)         Sales to Lessors of Coal Exploration, Mining, Off Highway Hauling, Processing, Maintenance and Reclamation Equipment

 

1)         For the exemption to apply, the purchaser need not, himself, employ the equipment in coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation.  If the purchaser leases the equipment to a lessee who uses it primarily in a qualified manner, the sale to the purchaser-lessor will be eligible for the exemption. A supplier may exclude these sales from taxable gross receipts if the purchaser-lessor provides the supplier with a properly completed certificate and the information contained in the certificate would support an exemption if the sale were made directly to the lessee.

 

2)         Should a purchaser-lessor subsequently lease the equipment to a lessee who does not use it primarily in a way that would qualify for the exemption, the purchaser-lessor will become liable for the tax he or she previously did not pay.

 

f)         Purchaser Certification

Certificates must be executed by the purchaser.  The certificate must include the seller's name and address, the purchaser's name and address and a statement that the property purchased will be used primarily for coal exploration, mining, off highway hauling, processing, maintenance and reclamation.  If a purchaser can claim either the exemption under this Section or the Manufacturing Machinery and Equipment exemption, the purchaser must specify on the certificate which exemption the purchaser is claiming.  Sellers may accept blanket certificates, but have the responsibility to obtain and keep all certificates as part of their books and records.  If a retailer accepts the certificate and the purchaser does not, in fact, use the equipment in a qualifying manner, the purchaser will be liable to the Department for the tax.  Equipment that is initially used primarily in a qualifying manner and, having been so used for less than one-half of its useful life, is converted to nonqualified uses, will become subject to tax at the time of conversion.  Replacement parts purchased initially for use in a qualifying manner and used in a nonqualifying use will become subject to tax at the time of use.

 

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 6068, effective April 12, 2023)