Nebraska Sales and Use Tax Guide on Leased Motor Vehicles Information Guide, June 10, 2014, Page 2
Collecting the Tax. Lessors are agents of the state for purposes of collecting sales tax. The tax collected by lessors is
a trust fund owned by the State of Nebraska. The taxes collected should be kept separate from other business receipts
and retained or deposited in a specic account.
Lessors of motor vehicle leases or rentals are required to collect sales tax on the total amount of the lease or rental.
The total amount includes any deposits, down payments, initial payments, services, and any other taxable charges
related to the lease or rental (for example, charges for refueling and insurance). Amounts paid by the lessee for in
lieu of property taxes are not taxable.
Short-term Rentals. Lessors who rent motor vehicles not requiring recurring periodic payments are required to
collect sales tax at the rate in effect at the location in Nebraska where the motor vehicle is received by the lessee. An
example of this type of rental would be the rental of a car from an airport car rental facility for a one week trip.
Long-term Leases. Lessors who lease motor vehicles requiring recurring periodic payments must collect sales
tax on the total amount of each periodic payment at the rate in effect at the primary property location. The primary
property location is the address for the property that is provided by the lessee. Use of the last address provided to
the lessor by the lessee is acceptable. This location is not altered by the intermittent use of the motor vehicle at
different locations. The lessor must collect the tax beginning with the date the motor vehicle is delivered to the
lessee, and for the entire period of the lease. An example of a lease requiring recurring periodic payments
would be a three-year lease of a car where the lessee is making monthly payments. More information is available in
Reg-1-019, Rental or Lease of Vehicles.
Remitting the Tax. Lessors remit the sales tax collected by ling a Nebraska and Local Sales and Use Tax Return,
Form 10. Returns may be led electronically from the Department’s website. Lessors who lease motor vehicles for
periods of 31 days or more to the same customer must complete the Nebraska Schedule I - MVL.
Purchase of Repair Parts for Leased Motor Vehicles. Lessors who are responsible for the upkeep of leased
motor vehicles may purchase sales tax exempt (for resale) the repair and maintenance parts for the leased vehicles,
provided the repair and maintenance parts become a physical part of the leased vehicle. To purchase these items tax
exempt, the lessor must issue to the seller a properly completed Nebraska Resale or Exempt Sale Certicate for Sales
Tax Exemption, Form 13, Section A.
Lease Originating in Nebraska
When a lease originates in Nebraska, the Nebraska and any applicable local sales tax continues to apply to the lease
payments unless the lessee moves and re-registers the vehicle in another state or taxing jurisdiction within Nebraska.
Upon the re-registration and notication of an address change to the lessor, the sales tax rate may change. Unless
the lease is amended or renegotiated in some way (for example, a move requiring the vehicle to be re-registered) the
original terms of the lease are in effect until the lease expires.
Lease Originating in Another State
When a lease of a motor vehicle originates in another state and the vehicle is registered in Nebraska at a later date,
the Nebraska and any applicable local sales tax applies to all lease payments due after the vehicle is registered in
Nebraska. If the state of origin continues to tax the lease payments, Nebraska allows a credit for properly paid sales
tax to the state of origin. If the tax paid to the other state is greater than or equal to the Nebraska and local sales tax,
no additional tax is due in this state. If the tax paid to the other state is less than the Nebraska and local tax due, the
lessee owes the difference to this state.
An out-of-state lessor who leases motor vehicles in Nebraska must le a Nebraska Tax Application, Form 20, to
obtain a Nebraska Sales Tax Permit. The lessor must collect and remit the Nebraska and local sales tax on the
recurring periodic payments at the primary property location of the lessee in Nebraska.
Nebraska use tax is due when a lessee, who lives in Nebraska, takes possession of a motor vehicle under a lease
agreement outside Nebraska from an unlicensed lessor, and then brings the motor vehicle into Nebraska and registers
it for operation on the highways of Nebraska. Use tax is due on the total dollar amount paid by the lessee to the
lessor. A credit will be allowed for the amount of tax properly paid to the state where the motor vehicle was delivered
to the lessee.