Complimentary Items – Ground, Air, and Rail

The transportation company must pay tax on items it gives passengers as part of the ticket price. The company must:

  • Pay Idaho sales or use tax on the sales price of items it buys in Idaho, even if the items aren’t distributed to passengers in Idaho
  • Pay Idaho use tax on the cost of items distributed in Idaho if both of the following apply:
    • The company didn’t pay sales tax in the state where it bought the items
    • Passengers receive the items during trips that begin or end in Idaho

If Idaho use tax is due on complimentary items, it’s calculated in either of these ways:

  • On the actual cost of the items distributed in Idaho
  • If records aren’t accurate, the company should multiply the cost of items it gave passengers by the percentage of Idaho miles in the trip