Tar Heel Pest Management News
January 2018
PCT School Update: NCPWIPM Sponsors Coat Drive

The 2018 NCPMA Pest Control Technician's School kicks off next week (Jan. 22-25), and we hope to see you there!
 
The NC Professional Women in Pest Management Committee will be sponsoring a coat drive throughout the PCT School. So, clean out your closets and bring your extra coats to the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Durham.
 
The committee is collecting clean and gently used coats in all sizes for children and adults and will donate all coats to The Salvation Army of Wake County.
 
Coats can be dropped off at the Registration Desk throughout the PCT School.
 
For more information, visit the NC PWIPM Facebook page. 

In This Issue
PCT School App Now Available!

The PCT School App is available now for download.
The 2018 NCPMA PCT School app is now available for download!
 
We are excited to offer this option for our event attendees for the 2018 Pest Control Technician's School for the first time. You'll have the PCT School information right at your fingertips and be able to get the latest information as it's updated.
 
On our app you'll find a full agenda including session times, locations and descriptions; speaker information and bios; documents including handouts and presentations as they become available; and exhibitor information.
 
Accessing the app is easy:
  • Visit your phone's app store and search for Eventpedia.
  • Download the Eventpedia app.
  • Once you open the Eventpedia app, search for NCPMA to download the NCPMA app.
We'll continue to update this throughout the PCT School so you have the most current information at all times. To get app updates:
  • Open the NCPMA app within Eventpedia.
  • Click on the setting icon in the upper right-hand corner.
  • Choose "Download Full Event Content"
  • Click Yes.
Certain Pest Control Services May Now Be Taxable

accounts_man.jpg NCPMA Urges Companies to Check with Tax Professionals

Some, but not all, pest control services may now be subject to the North Carolina Sales and Use Tax.
The North Carolina Pest Management Association is working to get more clarity for our members, while also advocating against the tax in the North Carolina General Assembly. Senate bill 628 was enacted into law in August 2017 and redefined "pest control services" for the purposes of tax exemption eligibility. As a result of this change, pest control services that are exempt from the sales and use tax only apply to the application of pesticides to real property.
In the new law, pest control services are defined as:
"Pest control service.  For purposes of this exemption, the term 'pest control service' means the application of pesticides to real property."*
** It is important to check with your tax advisor for more information and to determine how this will directly impact your business.**

WHAT THIS MEANS

The newly written definition of "pest control services" creates uncertainty in regards to a wide range of pest management services subject to taxation. Historically, many of these services have not been taxed. The definition in the new law contradicts the statutory language that has been in place for more than six decades and is still referenced by the Department of Agriculture.
The Department of Revenue provides information defining which services are tax-exempt and which are not. It classifies Capital Improvements or Repair, Maintenance and Installation Services in  this document.

WHAT WE'RE DOING

NCPMA strongly opposed this change and continues to work diligently to get it revised.
We have proposed and are advocating for new language to legislative leaders to pass as quickly as possible. We have been assured by members in both the Senate and the House that the new definition of "pest control services" was an oversight, and they are agreeable to finding a solution and working with our association. 
Our proposed change would amend the existing statute to rewrite the definition of "pest control service" as "the gross proceeds of the sale or sales of any company providing pest control services as defined in N.C.G.S. 106-65.13 (23)."  This would clarify the question of what is or is not taxed since the statute clarifies what is or is not pest control, and we are all familiar with the enforcement authority of the Structural Pest Control Division.
This technical correction would refer back to the definition of "pest control services" that the industry has operated under for more than sixty years.

WHAT ABOUT SERVICES RENDERED OUTSIDE OF GENERAL PEST CONTROL?

Many of our member companies offer additional services that do not include pesticide applications.
It is recommended that each company consult their own attorney and/or tax advisor about what services should or should not be taxed.  Below are a few guidance documents published by the Department of Revenue clarifying which services are and are not subject to the sales tax.
Form E-505 (9-17) - Section "Certain Repair, Maintenance, and Installation Services and Service Contract Exemptions"
  • Section d speaks to the cleaning of real property
  • Section f speaks to the removal of waste, trash, debris, grease, snow and other similar items from property (NCPMA is working to get clarity on if this includes moisture control since it is the removal of water)
  • Section g speaks to inspections where the results are included in a report for the sale or financing of real property
  • Section i. Pest control service.  For purposes of this exemption, the term 'pest control service' means the application of pesticides to real property

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Join us  Tuesday, Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at the NCPMA 2018 Pest Control Technician's School to learn more about how this will impact our industry. We will be discussing this issue and will have representatives from the N.C. Department of Revenue on hand to answer questions. More details to follow soon!
As NCPMA continues to talk with our legislative leaders and discuss a revision to this new language, talk with your tax advisor and financial professional about how this may impact your business.
We have included some information below for review:

Login to MyNCPMA for the Latest Updates

Have you checked out MyNCPMA?
 
MyNCPMA is an online community for NCPMA members only! Visit it to connect with your colleagues in the industry, search job postings, browse the NCPMA resource library and more.  You'll find:
 
  • Discussion Forum: A place where you can ask questions of fellow NCPMA members and talk about industry ideas.
  • Career Connection: Here you'll find job postings for companies seeking employees in North Carolina.
  • Announcements: This is where we'll post the latest announcements about NCPMA's events, registrations and more.
  • Library: Ever wondered where you can find some of the NCPMA marketing materials? Here's a one-stop place for logos, brochures, press releases and more.
  • Tools and Resources: Looking for applications for the NCPMA scholarship or Technician of the Year Awards? Interested in a presentation or handout from a NCPMA event? Or just looking for some pest pictures from the National Pest Management Association? It's all here.
To access MyNCPMA, visit http://my.ncpestmanagement.org and sign in using your NPMA login and password. Once you're signed in, you'll be able to access all of the site's features.

Meet the Board
Preston Brown
Region Four Director

Preston Brown of Wheeler Exterminating Company has served as the Region Four Director of NCPMA for eight years.  Additionally, he's been active in the Public Policy and Public Relations Committees.

An active member of NCPMA for nearly 30 years, Preston has never missed a PCT School in his time with the association. 

Preston's pest management career began more than 30 years ago when he joined Wheeler Exterminating Company looking for a winter job. He quickly realized that he loved the industry and the people he interacted with and helped daily .

In his spare time, you'll find Preston with his family either boating, hunting or fishing. He's an NRA-certified shotgun and rifle instructor and shooter.


NCPMA Insider: Building Wildlife Services to Grow Revenue 
By: Maria Miller

A pest control operator, whether be it the technician or the owner, is always striving to outpace the challenges faced in meeting his or her revenue growth goals.  Generating new business, retaining existing business, and increasing the amount of revenue per stop are key.  For some of you, wildlife is a service you currently offer, for others, it is something you've considered or want to know more about. Either way, there's no question that this segment of our industry offers some real opportunities to address each of these key factors and stay ahead of the game.

So you ask, "Where do I begin?"

So as a distributor rep for Univar, I can tell you that I sell the concept of exclusion work first. It is proactive, profitable and a foundation you can easily expand upon. Exclusion work itself requires no additional permitting or licensing. As things develop, a logical progression would be to offer crossover sales in things you already know, for example; rats, mice, birds and bats. Taking the next step means considering things like advanced training, licensing, permitting and more. How will you market your expanded offerings, price your services, handle emergency calls effectively, or up fit your first full-fledged wildlife truck? Reach out to your pest control distributor representative who will have a list of agencies specifically educating and governing this market segment and who can help you with the products you'll need to be a success in wildlife control.

  --Maria Miller is a member of the NCPMA Board of Directors and serves as a Sales Representative for Environmental Sciences at Univar
Upcoming Events

Don't miss these upcoming events:

Jan. 22-25, 2018
Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center
Durham, NC

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