GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Section 5502 Title 30 of the Delaware Code was amended on three separate occasions to provide for a reduction of the
public utility tax on the consumption of electricity and gas commodities or services from 4.25% to 2.00% for qualified
licensed manufacturing, food or agri-business processing facilities within Delaware.
The reduction of the public utility tax is effective for all electricity commodities or services distributed after September 30,
1994, to business locations used primarily for manufacturing goods within this State. The definition of “Manufacturers”
does not include scientific, agricultural or industrial research, development or testing. The definition of manufacturing is
the same as defined in 30 Del. C. §2701.
The reduction of the public utility tax for food and agri-business processing or the hatching of chickens in conjunction with
either food processing or agri-business processing is effective for all electricity commodities or services distributed on or
after January 1, 1995. The definition of “Food Processing” is the same as defined in 30 Del. C. §2901. “Agri-business
Processing” is defined as any processing, working, development, change, conditioning or reconditioning of raw materials
or products into products of a different character, or effecting any combination or composition of materials, the inherent
nature of which is changed such that the resulting product is food for consumption by livestock or is fertilizer for agricultural
use. The term “business location” shall mean all adjoining real property in which the manufacturer, food or agri-business
processor or any of its affiliates has an interest, including a possessory interest.
The reduction of the public utility tax is effective for all gas commodities or services distributed after December 31, 1997,
to business locations used primarily for manufacturing goods, food processing, agri-business processing or hatching of
chickens in conjunction with either food processing or agri-business processing within this State.
The business location must employ over 70% of its personnel exclusively in the manufacturing, food or agri-business
process, including the hatching of chickens in conjunction with operating a food or agri-business processing business
within this State. Personnel employed in the management or administrative support of the business location or another
Delaware business location which is a manufacturing, food or agri-business processing or chicken hatching in conjunction
with operating a food or agri-business processing facility are considered employed in a qualified process. Personnel employed
at this business location which perform any services related to, or in support of, any business activities conducted outside
Delaware are not considered employed in a qualified process within this State.
To qualify, each Delaware business location must submit a completed Form 5502TR-9811, Application For Reduction Of
Public Utility Tax, to the State of Delaware Division of Revenue, 820 N. French St., PO Box 2340, Wilmington, DE 19899-
2340. All inquiries regarding qualification should be addressed to Delaware Division of Revenue, Michael R. Smith,
Business Audit Bureau Manager, 302-577-8445. All inquiries regarding billing should be addressed to the public utility
supplying electricity and gas commodities and services to the qualified business location.
SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS
Line 1:
Enter in the blocked area the Federal Identification Number or Social Security Number of the business entity.
Line 2:
Enter the name of the business entity.
Line 3:
Enter the address of the business entity.
Line 4:
Enter the address, if different from Line 3, of the qualifying business location.
Line 5:
Enter the current year’s business license number issued by the State of Delaware Division of Revenue to the
qualifying business location.
Line 6:
Check the box or boxes which describe the business activity conducted at this facility. In order to qualify for the
utility tax reduction, chicken hatching must be conducted in conjunction with either food processing or agri-
business processing within this state.
Line 7:
Enter the name of the utility which is supplying electricity and gas commodities and services to the qualifying
business location and the customer account number(s) assigned to the business location.
Line 8:
Enter the number of employees located at this facility who are engaged exclusively in the management or
administrative support of or employed exclusively in manufacturing, food or agri-business processing or chicken
hatching in conjunction with operating a food or agri-business processing business for any business location
within Delaware.
Line 9:
Enter the number of employees located at this facility who perform services related to or in support of any
business activity conducted outside Delaware.
Line 10: Total number of employees at this facility. The total number of employees must equal the sum of Lines 8 & 9.
Line 11: Divide Line 8 by Line 10 and enter the percentage here. The percentage on Line 11 must be greater than 70%
for the business location to be eligible for the public utility t ax reduction.