Letter Ruling

Letter Ruling  Letter Ruling 84-95: Medicine and Medical Devices: Kidney Dialysis Machines and Supplies

Date: 10/24/1984
Organization: Massachusetts Department of Revenue
Referenced Sources: Massachusetts General Laws

Sales and Use

October 24, 1984

On behalf of ("Company"), you inquire whether the Massachusetts sales tax applies to sales of kidney dialysis machines and replacement parts, other kidney dialysis equipment, and disposable dialysis supplies. The Company sells these items separately. Through its * * * * Division, it also sells or leases them as a package to kidney patients for use in their homes on its invoices to customers who purchase the package, the Company states separate charges for each item it provides.

It is assumed that the sales about which you inquire are not exempt under General Laws Chapter 64H, Section 6(e), which provides that sales to certain religious, educational, charitable and scientific organizations are not subject to the sales tax.

General Laws Chapter 64H, Section 6(l) provides that the sales tax does not apply to

Sales of medicine ... on prescriptions of registered physicians ... ; sales of artificial devices individually designed, constructed or altered solely for the use of a particular crippled person so as to become a brace, support, supplement, correction or substitute for the bodily structure including the extremities of the individual; [and] sales of artificial limbs, artificial eyes, hearing aids and other equipment worn as a correction or substitute for any functioning portion of the body.

Sale is defined in Chapter 64H, Section 1(12)(a) as including leases and rentals.

Based on the foregoing, it is ruled that the Company's sales and leases of kidney dialysis machines and replacement parts, other kidney dialysis equipment, and disposable dialysis supplies are subject to the sales tax, whether the items are sold or leased separately or as part of a package.

Very truly yours,

Commissioner of Revenue

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LR 84-95

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