Laws, Regulations and Annotations
Search
Business Taxes Law Guide—Revision 2024
Hazardous Waste Fee
Health and Safety Code
Division 20. Miscellaneous Health and Safety Provisions
Chapter 6.5. Hazardous Waste Control
Article 9.1. Facilities and Generator Fees*
Section 25205.5
Text of Section Operative January 1, 2002 Through July 11, 2021
25205.5. Generator fees; rates; exemption. (a) In addition to the fee imposed pursuant to Section 25174.1, every generator of hazardous waste, in the amounts specified in subdivision (c), shall pay the board a generator fee for each generator site for each calendar year, or portion thereof, unless the generator has paid a facility fee or received a credit, as specified in Section 25205.2, for each specific site, for the calendar year for which the generator fee is due.
(b) The base fee rate for the fee imposed pursuant to subdivision (a) is two thousand seven hundred forty-eight dollars ($2,748).
(c) (1) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, five tons, but less than 25 tons, of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay 5 percent of the base rate.
(2) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, 25 tons, but less than 50 tons, of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay 40 percent of the base rate.
(3) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, 50 tons, but less than 250 tons, of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay the base rate.
(4) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, 250 tons, but less than 500 tons, of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay five times the base rate.
(5) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, 500 tons, but less than 1,000 tons, of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay 10 times the base rate.
(6) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, 1,000 tons, but less than 2,000 tons, of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay 15 times the base rate.
(7) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, 2,000 tons of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay 20 times the base rate.
(d) The base rate established pursuant to subdivision (b) was the base rate for the 1997 calendar year and the board shall adjust the base rate annually to reflect increases or decreases in the cost of living, during the prior fiscal year, as measured by the Consumer Price Index issued by the Department of Industrial Relations or by a successor agency.
(e) The establishment of the annual operating fee pursuant to this section is exempt from Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(f) The following materials are not hazardous wastes for purposes of this section:
(1) Hazardous materials which are recycled, and used onsite, and are not transferred offsite.
(2) Aqueous waste treated in a treatment unit operating, or which subsequently operates, pursuant to a permit-by-rule, or pursuant to Section 25200.3 or 25201.5. However, hazardous waste generated by a treatment unit treating waste pursuant to a permit-by-rule, by a unit which subsequently obtains a permit-by-rule, or other authorization pursuant to Section 25200.3 or 25201.5 is hazardous waste for purposes of this section.
(g) The fee imposed pursuant to this section shall be paid in accordance with Part 22 (commencing with Section 43001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(h) (1) A generator who pays a hazardous waste generator inspection fee to a certified unified program agency, which is imposed as part of a single fee system and fee accountability program that are both in compliance with the requirements of Section 25404.5, shall be eligible for a refund of all, or part of, the generator fee paid pursuant to subdivision (a) if both of the following conditions apply:
(A) The generator received a credit pursuant to Section 43152.7 or 43152.11 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for fees paid for hazardous waste generated in 1996.
(B) The department certifies, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 25205.9, that funds are available to pay all or part of the refund.
(2) A generator who is eligible for a refund pursuant to paragraph (1) shall submit an application for that refund to the board by September 30 following the fiscal year during which the generator paid the generator fee pursuant to subdivision (a). An application for a refund postmarked after September 30 is void, shall not be processed by the board, and shall be returned to the applicant.
(i) (1) A generator who transfers hazardous materials to an offsite facility for recycling at that offsite facility or another offsite facility shall be eligible for a refund of all, or part of, the generator fee paid pursuant to subdivision (a) if all of the following conditions apply:
(A) The offsite facility to which the hazardous materials are manifested pays a facility fee pursuant to Section 25205.2.
(B) The amount of hazardous materials transferred to the offsite facility and recycled there, when deducted from the total tonnage of hazardous waste generated at the generator's site, results in the generator becoming eligible for a generator fee that is lower than the fee paid pursuant to subdivision (a).
(C) The hazardous materials transferred to the offsite facility are not burned in a boiler, industrial furnace, or an incinerator, as those terms are defined in Section 260.10 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, used in a manner constituting disposal, or used to produce products that are applied to land.
(D) The department certifies, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 25205.9, that funds are available to pay all or part of the refund.
(2) A generator who is eligible for a refund pursuant to paragraph (1) shall submit an application for that refund to the board by September 30 following the fiscal year during which the generator paid the generator fee pursuant to subdivision (a). An application for a refund postmarked after September 30 is void, shall not be processed by the board, and shall be returned to the applicant.
(j) (1) The amendment of this section made by Chapter 1125 of the Statutes of 1991 does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.
(2) The amendment of subdivision (a) of this section made by Chapter 259 of the Statutes of 1996 does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.
Text of Section Operative July 12, 2021 Through December 31, 2021
25205.5. Generator fees; rates; exemption. (a) In addition to the fee imposed pursuant to Section 25174.1, every generator of hazardous waste, in the amounts specified in subdivision (c), shall pay the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration a generator fee for each generator site for each calendar year, or portion of a calendar year, unless the generator has paid a facility fee or received a credit, as specified in Section 25205.2, for each specific site, for the calendar year for which the generator fee is due.
(b) The base fee rate for the fee imposed pursuant to subdivision (a) is five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(c) (1) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, five tons, but less than 25 tons, of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay 5 percent of the base rate.
(2) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, 25 tons, but less than 50 tons, of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay 40 percent of the base rate.
(3) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, 50 tons, but less than 250 tons, of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay the base rate.
(4) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, 250 tons, but less than 500 tons, of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay five times the base rate.
(5) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, 500 tons, but less than 1,000 tons, of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay 10 times the base rate.
(6) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, 1,000 tons, but less than 2,000 tons, of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay 15 times the base rate.
(7) Each generator who generates an amount equal to, or more than, 2,000 tons of hazardous waste during the prior calendar year shall pay 20 times the base rate.
(d) The base rate established pursuant to subdivision (b) is the base rate for the 2021 calendar year.
(e) The establishment of the annual generator fee pursuant to this section is exempt from Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(f) The following materials are not hazardous wastes for purposes of this section:
(1) Hazardous materials that are recycled, and used onsite, and are not transferred offsite.
(2) Aqueous waste treated in a treatment unit operating, or which subsequently operates, pursuant to a permit-by-rule, or pursuant to Section 25200.3 or 25201.5. However, hazardous waste generated by a treatment unit treating waste pursuant to a permit-by-rule, by a unit which subsequently obtains a permit-by-rule, or other authorization pursuant to Section 25200.3 or 25201.5 is hazardous waste for purposes of this section.
(g) The fee imposed pursuant to this section shall be paid in accordance with Part 22 (commencing with Section 43001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(h) (1) A generator who pays a hazardous waste generator inspection fee to a certified unified program agency that is imposed as part of a single fee system and fee accountability program that are both in compliance with the requirements of Section 25404.5 shall be eligible for a refund of all, or part of, the generator fee paid pursuant to subdivision (a) if both of the following conditions apply:
(A) The generator received a credit pursuant to Section 43152.7 or 43152.11 of the Revenue and Taxation Code for fees paid for hazardous waste generated in 1996.
(B) The department certifies, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 25205.9, that funds are available to pay all or part of the refund.
(2) A generator who is eligible for a refund pursuant to paragraph (1) shall submit an application for that refund to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration by September 30 following the fiscal year during which the generator paid the generator fee pursuant to subdivision (a). An application for a refund postmarked after September 30 is void, shall not be processed by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, and shall be returned to the applicant.
(i) (1) A generator who transfers hazardous materials to an offsite facility for recycling at that offsite facility or another offsite facility shall be eligible for a refund of all, or part of, the generator fee paid pursuant to subdivision (a) if all of the following conditions apply:
(A) The offsite facility to which the hazardous materials are manifested pays a facility fee pursuant to Section 25205.2.
(B) The amount of hazardous materials transferred to the offsite facility and recycled there, when deducted from the total tonnage of hazardous waste generated at the generator’s site, results in the generator becoming eligible for a generator fee that is lower than the fee paid pursuant to subdivision (a).
(C) The hazardous materials transferred to the offsite facility are not burned in a boiler, industrial furnace, or an incinerator, as those terms are defined in Section 260.10 of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, used in a manner constituting disposal, or used to produce products that are applied to land.
(D) The department certifies, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 25205.9, that funds are available to pay all or part of the refund.
(2) A generator who is eligible for a refund pursuant to paragraph (1) shall submit an application for that refund to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration by September 30 following the fiscal year during which the generator paid the generator fee pursuant to subdivision (a). An application for a refund postmarked after September 30 is void, shall not be processed by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, and shall be returned to the applicant.
(j) (1) The amendment of this section made by Chapter 1125 of the Statutes of 1991 does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.
(2) The amendment of subdivision (a) of this section made by Chapter 259 of the Statutes of 1996 does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, existing law.
(k) This section applies only to fees due for the 2021 reporting period, including the prepayments due during each reporting period and the fee due and payable by February 28 of the year following each reporting period.
(l) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2022, and as of that date is repealed.
Text of Section Operative January 1, 2022
25205.5. Generation and handling fees; rates; exemption. (a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a generator of hazardous waste shall pay to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration a generation and handling fee for each generator site that generates an amount equal to, or more than, five tons for each calendar year, or portion of the calendar year.
(2) For the 2022–23 fiscal year, the fee rate shall be forty-nine dollars and twenty-five cents ($49.25) for each ton or fraction of a ton of hazardous waste generated in calendar year 2021.
(3) Commencing July 1, 2023, the fee rates established pursuant to Section 25205.5.01 shall apply.
(4) For purposes of calculating the amount of the fee imposed pursuant to paragraph (1), a generator of hazardous waste that is issued a hazardous waste facilities permit from the department and that pays the annual facility fee, as specified in Section 25205.2, may deduct, from the amount of hazardous waste otherwise subject to this subdivision that is generated per calendar year, the amount of hazardous waste that is stored, bulked, or transferred solely through the location of the permitted hazardous waste facility and that is in route to another facility that is authorized to do any of the following:
(A) Manage the hazardous waste for reclamation and recovery, including fuel blending before energy recovery at another site.
(B) Manage the hazardous waste through destruction methods or treatment before disposal at another site.
(C) Manage the hazardous waste by any form of treatment.
(D) Dispose of the hazardous waste.
(b) The following materials are not hazardous wastes for purposes of this section:
(1) Hazardous materials that are recycled, and used onsite, and are not transferred offsite.
(2) Aqueous waste treated in a treatment unit operating, or that subsequently operates, pursuant to a permit-by-rule, or pursuant to Section 25200.3 or 25201.5. However, hazardous waste generated by a treatment unit treating waste pursuant to a permit-by-rule, by a unit that subsequently obtains a permit-by-rule, or other authorization pursuant to Section 25200.3 or 25201.5 is hazardous waste for purposes of this section.
(c) The fee imposed pursuant to this section shall be paid in accordance with Part 22 (commencing with Section 43001) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code.
(d) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2022, and shall apply to the generation and handling fees imposed pursuant to subdivision (a).
* SEC. 29. It is the intent of the Legislature that any provision of Section 25205.2, 25205.17, 25205.21, or 25205.22 of the Health and Safety Code, as amended or added at the 1993 session of the 1993–94 Regular Session of the Legislature, that reduces or eliminates hazardous waste facility fees required to be paid under existing law, shall provide amnesty from those fees not yet paid for all persons who failed to pay the required fee under that law. It is the further intent of the Legislature that, except as otherwise provided in subdivision (f) of Section 25205.2 of the Health and Safety Code, those persons who paid the then applicable fees are not entitled to any refund of the fees paid.