Mid-Atlantic · DC
District of Columbia Sales Tax Guide
District-wide sales and use tax with category-specific rates
What people ask about District of Columbia sales tax
Does District of Columbia have a statewide sales tax?
District-wide sales and use tax with category-specific rates The District of Columbia has one district-wide jurisdiction rather than county and city overlays. The important distinctions are the type of sale, place of use, filing period, and the applicable FR-800 series return.
What sales tax rate and sourcing rules matter in District of Columbia?
The general rate is 6%, but restaurant meals, lodging, parking, rental vehicles, and other categories have special rates. Classification comes before calculation.
What District of Columbia sales tax return or form is used?
The principal repository-tracked return is FR-800. The reviewed filing posture requires electronic filing rather than a mailed paper return.
How are marketplace sales reported in District of Columbia?
Facilitated sales generally enter gross receipts and are removed through the state's designated deduction or exclusion workflow.
What resale or exemption certificate applies in District of Columbia?
The repository tracks District of Columbia Certificate of Resale (OTR-368). Certificate validity still depends on the purchaser, seller, claimed use, dates, signatures, and any state-specific acceptance conditions.
Does District of Columbia have a sales tax holiday?
The current Atlas research does not publish an active holiday rule for this state. Confirm the current revenue-department calendar before changing tax.
What special sales tax rates or excise layers apply in District of Columbia?
No separately verified special-rate category is published in the current member-state register for this jurisdiction. Product-specific research observations remain available below.
How can prewritten software tax treatment vary in District of Columbia?
The corpus contains 2 prewritten software observations and does not support one unconditional yes-or-no answer. It records 2 included in base. Representative condition-specific observations include: when the source record states no narrower identity condition: included in base at 6%. Review the full records and cited authority for the exact product identity, transaction facts, effective date, and local treatment before use.
How can digital audio tax treatment vary in District of Columbia?
The corpus contains 2 digital audio observations and does not support one unconditional yes-or-no answer. It records 2 included in base. Representative condition-specific observations include: when the source record states no narrower identity condition: included in base at 6%. Review the full records and cited authority for the exact product identity, transaction facts, effective date, and local treatment before use.
How can data processing tax treatment vary in District of Columbia?
The corpus contains 2 data processing observations and does not support one unconditional yes-or-no answer. It records 2 included in base. Representative condition-specific observations include: when the source record states no narrower identity condition: included in base at 6%. Review the full records and cited authority for the exact product identity, transaction facts, effective date, and local treatment before use.
How District of Columbia's tax system is organized
The District of Columbia has one district-wide jurisdiction rather than county and city overlays. The important distinctions are the type of sale, place of use, filing period, and the applicable FR-800 series return.
Rates and sourcing
The general rate is 6%, but restaurant meals, lodging, parking, rental vehicles, and other categories have special rates. Classification comes before calculation.
Tax situs is a legal determination. Mailing city, ZIP code, county proximity, and geocoding should not silently substitute for the jurisdiction rule that controls the transaction.
Product and transaction wrinkles
Product identity should be established before a rate is selected. Examples include:
- digital goods and certain data-processing services require specific analysis
- restaurant meals and alcohol can use special treatment
- resale and exempt-organization claims require District documentation
These examples are not an exhaustive taxability matrix. Bundles, customer use, delivery method, exemptions, and effective dates can change the result.
Product-treatment research coverage
The underlying research inventory contains 57 District of Columbia treatment records across 30 product families. The inventory includes effective-date, evidence, rate-class, local-interaction, and sourcing fields. Its breadth is not a claim that every observed treatment is active in production: unresolved or independently unreviewed records remain non-operative.
57 treatment records across 30 product families.
Examples of researched product families
- telecommunications
- manufacturing input
- shipping
- utilities energy
- building material
- candy
Explore all 57 District of Columbia research records
general tangible personal property
Research observation — independent review required
The general District sales and use tax rate is 6 percent through 2026-09-30.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 6%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: retail sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: standard transaction record
- Effective start: 2018-10-01
- Effective end: 2026-09-30
- Effective-window status: start and end verified
- Runtime boundary: identity and effective window required
- Before operational use: independent semantic review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3
general tangible personal property
Research observation — independent review required
The general District sales and use tax rate becomes 7 percent beginning 2026-10-01.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 7%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: retail sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: standard transaction record
- Effective start: 2026-10-01
- Effective-window status: future start verified
- Runtime boundary: future effective window required
- Before operational use: independent semantic review; future effective-date regression
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3
data processing
Research observation — independent review required
District data processing services are taxable at the general rate, subject to the official taxable and non-taxable examples.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 6%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: service charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: dc data processing service classification
- Effective start: 2018-10-01
- Effective end: 2026-09-30
- Effective-window status: general rate start and end verified semantic boundary open
- Runtime boundary: semantic boundary and effective window required
- Before operational use: encode service boundary; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3 · State authority research source 4
data processing
Research observation — independent review required
Taxable data processing services move with the general District rate to 7 percent beginning 2026-10-01.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 7%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: service charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: dc data processing service classification
- Effective start: 2026-10-01
- Effective-window status: future start verified
- Runtime boundary: semantic boundary and future window required
- Before operational use: encode service boundary; independent review; future effective-date regression
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3 · State authority research source 4
prewritten software
Research observation — independent review required
Canned or prepackaged software is identified as taxable data processing at the general rate.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 6%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: software charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: software origin and charge record
- Effective start: 2018-10-01
- Effective end: 2026-09-30
- Effective-window status: general rate start and end verified software taxability predates window
- Runtime boundary: software identity and effective window required
- Before operational use: independent software-boundary review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3 · State authority research source 4
prewritten software
Research observation — independent review required
Taxable prewritten software moves with the general District rate to 7 percent beginning 2026-10-01.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 7%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: software charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: software origin and charge record
- Effective start: 2026-10-01
- Effective-window status: future start verified
- Runtime boundary: software identity and future window required
- Before operational use: independent software-boundary review; future effective-date regression
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3 · State authority research source 4
custom software
Research observation — independent review required
Customized software is identified as taxable data processing, while separately described non-software professional work requires boundary review.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 6%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: software charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: customization scope and charge record
- Effective start: 2018-10-01
- Effective end: 2026-09-30
- Effective-window status: general rate start and end verified customization boundary open
- Runtime boundary: customization boundary and effective window required
- Before operational use: adjudicate customization versus professional-service boundary; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3 · State authority research source 4
custom software
Research observation — independent review required
Taxable customized software moves with the general District rate to 7 percent beginning 2026-10-01.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 7%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: software charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: customization scope and charge record
- Effective start: 2026-10-01
- Effective-window status: future start verified
- Runtime boundary: customization boundary and future window required
- Before operational use: adjudicate customization versus professional-service boundary; independent review; future effective-date regression
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3 · State authority research source 4
digital audio
Research observation — independent review required
Digital audio works, including downloaded or streamed music, became taxable digital goods on 2019-01-01.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 6%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: digital goods sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: digital product type and delivery record
- Effective start: 2019-01-01
- Effective end: 2026-09-30
- Effective-window status: start and end verified
- Runtime boundary: identity and effective window required
- Before operational use: independent digital-product review; source final statutory future-rate linkage
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2
digital audio
Research observation — independent review required
Taxable digital audio moves with the general District rate to 7 percent beginning 2026-10-01.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 7%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: digital goods sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: digital product type and delivery record
- Effective start: 2026-10-01
- Effective-window status: future start verified
- Runtime boundary: identity and future effective window required
- Before operational use: independent digital-product review; future effective-date regression
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3 · State authority research source 4
digital audio visual
Research observation — independent review required
Digital audiovisual works, including downloaded or streamed video, became taxable digital goods on 2019-01-01.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 6%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: digital goods sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: digital product type and delivery record
- Effective start: 2019-01-01
- Effective end: 2026-09-30
- Effective-window status: start and end verified
- Runtime boundary: identity and effective window required
- Before operational use: independent digital-product review; source final statutory future-rate linkage
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2
digital audio visual
Research observation — independent review required
Taxable digital audiovisual works move with the general District rate to 7 percent beginning 2026-10-01.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 7%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: digital goods sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: digital product type and delivery record
- Effective start: 2026-10-01
- Effective-window status: future start verified
- Runtime boundary: identity and future effective window required
- Before operational use: independent digital-product review; future effective-date regression
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3 · State authority research source 4
digital book
Research observation — independent review required
Digital books became taxable digital goods on 2019-01-01.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 6%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: digital goods sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: digital product type and delivery record
- Effective start: 2019-01-01
- Effective end: 2026-09-30
- Effective-window status: start and end verified
- Runtime boundary: identity and effective window required
- Before operational use: independent digital-product review; source final statutory future-rate linkage
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2
digital book
Research observation — independent review required
Taxable digital books move with the general District rate to 7 percent beginning 2026-10-01.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 7%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: digital goods sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: digital product type and delivery record
- Effective start: 2026-10-01
- Effective-window status: future start verified
- Runtime boundary: identity and future effective window required
- Before operational use: independent digital-product review; future effective-date regression
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3 · State authority research source 4
maintenance service
Research observation — independent review required
Real property maintenance services are enumerated as taxable at the general District rate.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: real property maintenance
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 6%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: service charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: service scope and property location
- Effective start: 2018-10-01
- Effective end: 2026-09-30
- Effective-window status: general rate start and end verified service boundary open
- Runtime boundary: service subtype condition and effective window required
- Before operational use: encode service subtype; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3
maintenance service
Research observation — independent review required
Taxable real property maintenance services move to 7 percent beginning 2026-10-01.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: real property maintenance
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- State rate: 7%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: service charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: service scope and property location
- Effective start: 2026-10-01
- Effective-window status: future start verified
- Runtime boundary: service subtype condition and future window required
- Before operational use: encode service subtype; independent review; future effective-date regression
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3
prepared food
Research observation — independent review required
Restaurant meals, take-out food, and qualifying prepared food and beverages are taxed at 10 percent.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: special rate required
- Rate class: special
- State rate: 10%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: prepared food and beverage sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: prepared food or beverage classification
- Effective-window status: current authority verified start not pinned
- Runtime boundary: special rate resolver and effective start required
- Before operational use: pin governing effective start; adjudicate prepared-food boundary; implement special-rate resolver; independent review
lodging
Research observation — independent review required
The temporary total tax rate for rooms, lodging, and accommodations is 15.95 percent through 2027-09-30.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: special rate required
- Rate class: special
- State rate: 15.95%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: room occupancy charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: temporary lodging charge and stay record
- Effective start: 2023-04-01
- Effective end: 2027-09-30
- Effective-window status: temporary total start and end verified
- Runtime boundary: special rate resolver lodging boundary and effective window required
- Before operational use: adjudicate lodging boundary; implement special-rate resolver; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3
vehicle
Research observation — independent review required
A motor-vehicle sale subject to the District motor-vehicle title tax is exempt from Chapter 20 sales tax; 10.25 percent is a rental-vehicle rate, not a vehicle-sale sales-tax rate.
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: sale subject to District motor vehicle title tax
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: vehicle identity and title tax applicability
- Effective-window status: current authority verified start not pinned
- Runtime boundary: separate title excise resolver required sales tax must not apply rental rate
- Before operational use: implement separate title-excise resolver; encode title-tax applicability; independent review
rental
Research observation — independent review required
Rentals of motor vehicles and utility trailers are taxed at 10.25 percent.
- Identity or conditions: rented product: motor vehicle or utility trailer
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: special rate required
- Rate class: special
- State rate: 10.25%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: motor vehicle or utility trailer rental charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: rented product identity and rental contract
- Effective-window status: current authority verified start not pinned
- Runtime boundary: rental condition special rate resolver and effective start required
- Before operational use: pin governing effective start; encode rented-product condition; confirm rental boundary; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3
grocery
Research observation — independent review required
Federally eligible food is outside retail sale regardless of SNAP tender, except prepared food and soft drinks.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: eligible food under 7 CFR 271 2
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: eligible food excluded from retail sale
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: federal food eligibility and preparation record
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: food eligibility and preparation condition required
- Before operational use: encode food eligibility boundary; independent review
grocery
Research observation — independent review required
- Identity or conditions: sale context: noneligible food
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: retail sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: food eligibility record
- Before operational use: encode food eligibility boundary; independent review
candy
Research observation — independent review required
DC has no candy carve-out; candy is excluded only when it satisfies the federally eligible-food rule.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: eligible food under 7 CFR 271 2
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: eligible food excluded from retail sale
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: candy food eligibility record
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: food eligibility condition required
- Before operational use: independent candy eligibility review
candy
Research observation — independent review required
- Identity or conditions: sale context: noneligible or prepared candy item
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: retail sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: candy food eligibility record
- Before operational use: independent candy eligibility review
soft drink
Research observation — independent review required
Statutory soft drinks are excluded from the food rule and taxed at 8 percent.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: special rate required
- Rate class: special
- State rate: 8%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: soft drink sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: statutory soft drink identity
- Effective-window status: current rate verified original start not pinned
- Runtime boundary: soft drink definition and special rate resolver required
- Before operational use: pin original special-rate start; implement special-rate resolver; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2
saas
Research observation — independent review required
- Identity or conditions: sale context: software or digital application access
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: software or application access charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: software application or data processing identity
- Before operational use: fail closed on generic SaaS labels; encode incidental professional-service boundary; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3
prescription drug human
Research observation — independent review required
Medicines, pharmaceuticals, and drugs are exempt whether or not sold by prescription.
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: qualifying medicine drug or pharmaceutical sale
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: human drug identity
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: drug identity required
- Before operational use: independent medical-product review
nonprescription drug human
Research observation — independent review required
The medicine, pharmaceutical, and drug exemption expressly applies whether or not a prescription exists.
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: qualifying medicine drug or pharmaceutical sale
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: human drug identity
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: drug identity required
- Before operational use: independent medical-product review
durable medical equipment
Research observation — independent review required
Listed medical devices are exempt only when sold to an individual for personal use under a written prescription or order.
- Identity or conditions: purchaser use: individual personal use; required certificate: written prescription or order
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: listed or qualifying medical device
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: device identity personal use and written order
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: device list personal use and order conditions required
- Before operational use: encode medical-device list and documentation; independent review
durable medical equipment
Research observation — independent review required
- Identity or conditions: sale context: nonqualifying equipment or missing conditions
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: retail sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: device identity personal use and written order
- Before operational use: encode medical-device qualification; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2
manufacturing input
Research observation — independent review required
A purchase for resale or incorporation as a material or part of manufactured property for sale is outside retail sale.
- Identity or conditions: qualifying use: resale or ingredient component
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: purchase for resale or incorporation into manufactured product
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: input role and resale documentation
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: input role and documentation conditions required
- Before operational use: encode input role and resale evidence; independent review
manufacturing input
Research observation — independent review required
Gas, oil, electricity, solid fuel, or steam directly used in manufacturing for sale is exempt.
- Identity or conditions: qualifying use: direct manufacturing energy
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: energy directly used in manufacturing for sale
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: energy type and direct manufacturing use
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: direct manufacturing use condition required
- Before operational use: encode direct-use boundary; independent review
manufacturing input
Research observation — independent review required
- Identity or conditions: sale context: machinery or other nonqualifying consumable
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: retail sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: input role and use record
- Before operational use: do not infer a broad machinery exemption; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2
rental
Research observation — independent review required
- Identity or conditions: rented product: general tangible personal property
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: general tangible personal property rental charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: rented product identity and rental contract
- Before operational use: encode rented-product subtype; independent review
resale
Research observation — independent review required
A purchase for resale in the same form or incorporation into manufactured property for sale is outside retail sale.
- Identity or conditions: required certificate: valid resale evidence
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: purchase for resale or incorporation
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: purchaser intent and resale documentation
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: resale documentation required
- Before operational use: encode resale documentation; independent review
building material
Research observation — independent review required
- Identity or conditions: sale context: District construction or repair material
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: construction or repair material sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: material destination and storage record
- Before operational use: encode destination and storage facts; independent review
building material
Research observation — independent review required
The narrow temporary-storage exemption requires outside-District use and no more than 90 days of District storage.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: temporary storage for export not over 90 days
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: qualifying temporary storage for outside District use
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: outside District destination and storage duration
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: destination and 90 day limit required
- Before operational use: encode destination and duration; independent review
construction service
Research observation — independent review required
Construction, major repair, painting, and wallpapering are outside the taxable real-property-maintenance category.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: construction major repair painting or wallpapering
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: nonenumerated construction service charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: service scope and real property location
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: construction versus maintenance boundary required
- Before operational use: encode service boundary; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2
construction service
Research observation — independent review required
- Identity or conditions: sale context: real property maintenance or landscaping
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: enumerated service charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: service scope and real property location
- Before operational use: encode service boundary; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2
utilities energy
Research observation — independent review required
Qualifying residential gas, electricity, heating oil, and related public utility commodities are exempt.
- Identity or conditions: purchaser use: residential
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: residential public utility or heating energy sale
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: utility product and residential use
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: residential use condition required
- Before operational use: encode residential-use proof; independent review
utilities energy
Research observation — independent review required
- Identity or conditions: purchaser use: commercial or nonresidential
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: utility sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: utility product and customer use
- Before operational use: encode customer-use proof; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2
utilities energy
Research observation — independent review required
Qualifying energy directly used in manufacturing for sale is exempt.
- Identity or conditions: qualifying use: direct manufacturing process
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: energy directly used in manufacturing for sale
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: energy type and direct manufacturing use
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: direct manufacturing use condition required
- Before operational use: encode direct-use boundary; independent review
telecommunications
Research observation — independent review required
- Identity or conditions: sale context: local or enumerated nonresidential service
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: telecommunications service charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: service type customer use and service address
- Before operational use: encode service and customer boundary; independent review
telecommunications
Research observation — independent review required
Qualifying residential telephone service is exempt under Chapter 20.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: qualifying residential local service
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: residential telephone service exemption
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: local service and residential use
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: service type and residential use required
- Before operational use: encode residential service boundary; independent review
telecommunications
Research observation — independent review required
Qualifying residential toll or mobile telecommunications are taxed at 10 percent under Chapter 39.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: residential toll or mobile service
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: special rate required
- Rate class: special
- State rate: 10%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: toll or mobile service charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: service type primary use customer use and service address
- Effective-window status: current rate verified original start not pinned
- Runtime boundary: chapter 39 service and sourcing resolver required
- Before operational use: pin original rate start; implement Chapter 39 resolver; independent review
telecommunications
Research observation — independent review required
Qualifying nonresidential toll or mobile telecommunications are taxed at 11 percent under Chapter 39.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: nonresidential toll or mobile service
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: special rate required
- Rate class: special
- State rate: 11%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: toll or mobile service charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: service type primary use customer use and service address
- Effective-window status: current rate verified original start not pinned
- Runtime boundary: chapter 39 service and sourcing resolver required
- Before operational use: pin original rate start; implement Chapter 39 resolver; independent review
telecommunications
Research observation — independent review required
Internet access is outside the enumerated taxable telecommunications and must not be conflated with taxable data processing or digital goods.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: internet access
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: internet access outside taxable telecommunications
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: internet access service identity
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: internet access boundary required
- Before operational use: encode Internet-access boundary; independent review
professional service
Research observation — independent review required
A true professional service is not made taxable by an inconsequential, unseparated property transfer; taxable data processing is a different identity.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: ordinary professional incidental property
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: nonenumerated professional service charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: professional service scope and charge structure
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: professional service versus data processing boundary required
- Before operational use: encode professional versus data-processing boundary; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2
repair service
Research observation — independent review required
- Identity or conditions: sale context: tangible personal property repair or alteration
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: repair or alteration service charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: property type and work scope
- Before operational use: encode property and work scope; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2
repair service
Research observation — independent review required
Major real-property repair is excluded from taxable real-property maintenance and is not TPP repair.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: major real property repair
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: major real property repair charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: property type and work scope
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: TPP versus real property repair boundary required
- Before operational use: encode property and work scope; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2
installation service
Research observation — independent review required
Separately stated installation labor is excluded from sales price.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: separately stated new installation labor
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: separately stated installation charge excluded from sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: work scope and separate charge record
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: new installation and separate statement conditions required
- Before operational use: encode charge structure and work scope; independent review
installation service
Research observation — independent review required
- Identity or conditions: sale context: repair or replacement part installation
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: repair or replacement installation charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: work scope and charge record
- Before operational use: encode charge structure and work scope; independent review
shipping
Research observation — independent review required
- Identity or conditions: sale context: separately charged District delivery for retail sale
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: District delivery charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: delivery location timing charge and underlying sale
- Before operational use: encode delivery and underlying-sale facts; independent review
shipping
Research observation — independent review required
Separately stated transportation after the sale is excluded from sales price.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: separately stated transportation after sale
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: transportation after sale excluded from sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: transport timing and separate statement
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: transport timing and separate statement required
- Before operational use: encode transport timing; independent review
shipping
Research observation — independent review required
The delivery-charge enumeration excludes delivery for resale and newspaper transactions.
- Identity or conditions: sale context: delivery for resale or newspaper
- Treatment: excluded from base
- Rate application: no rate
- Rate class: no rate
- State rate: 0%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: delivery charge statutory exception
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: underlying resale or newspaper record
- Effective-window status: current codification verified original start open
- Runtime boundary: underlying sale condition required
- Before operational use: encode underlying-sale condition; independent review
clothing
Research observation — independent review required
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: general rate lookup
- Rate class: ordinary
- Taxable base: retail sales price
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: clothing product identity
- Before operational use: independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2
lodging
Research observation — independent review required
After the temporary 1 percent lodging component ends, the remaining statutory components total 14.95 percent beginning 2027-10-01.
- Treatment: included in base
- Rate application: special rate required
- Rate class: special
- State rate: 14.95%
- Local rate: 0%
- Taxable base: room occupancy charge
- Local interaction: no local rate
- Sourcing: standard situs
- Evidence required: temporary lodging charge and stay record
- Effective start: 2027-10-01
- Effective-window status: future temporary surcharge end verified
- Runtime boundary: future special rate window required
- Before operational use: future effective-date regression; independent review
State authority research source 1 · State authority research source 2 · State authority research source 3
Returns and filing workflows
The principal repository-tracked return is FR-800. The reviewed filing posture requires electronic filing rather than a mailed paper return.
- Tracked form version: 2026 (2026 FR-800 MQA Instructions, v1.0; publication dated June 10, 2026)
- Paper filing posture: not accepted
- Account data required: state tax account number, filing frequency
Repository-verified workflow outputs
- Worksheet for portal entry
- Portal upload file
Marketplace-facilitated sales
Facilitated sales generally enter gross receipts and are removed through the state's designated deduction or exclusion workflow.
Tracked reporting location: FR-800 rate block column C
Registration, nexus thresholds, zero-return obligations, facilitator certifications, and direct sales must be evaluated separately.
Exemption documentation
The repository tracks District of Columbia Certificate of Resale (OTR-368). Certificate validity still depends on the purchaser, seller, claimed use, dates, signatures, and any state-specific acceptance conditions.
A certificate should be tied to the correct customer, seller, state, reason, product use, effective period, and transaction population.
How Prophit supports the work
Prophit currently structures District of Columbia transaction data for worksheet for portal entry, portal upload file. Availability is kept separate from customer credentials, state acceptance, and direct transmission authority.
- Research coverage — Inventory tracked: 57 treatment records across 30 product families
- Jurisdiction logic — Evidence-gated: State, local, sourcing, and special-regime facts require current situs evidence
- Workflow output — Available: Worksheet for portal entry, Portal upload file
- Direct transmission — Authority-gated: Not represented by this public guide as authorized or available
Product availability varies by jurisdiction and customer configuration. Workflow support does not establish registration, filing authority, credentials, agency acceptance, or tax advice.
Official and reviewed sources
Rules change. Confirm the current source and effective period before acting.