Fairway Outdoor Advertising Has Removed Old Signs, Illuminated Third Side of Sign On Epps Bridge Parkway

Fairway Outdoor Advertising removed its three signs at Ruth Jackson Road and U.S. 78 earlier this month and has illuminated the third side of its LED sign at Epps Bridge Parkway and the Oconee Connector.

Despite what county officials said would be the case, however, the county will see no increase in sales tax revenue as a result of the new, large illuminated signs Fairway has installed at two locations on Epps Bridge Parkway.

Advertising is considered a service, not a product, and is not subject to sales tax, according to Amy Oneacre at the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Any agreement that calls for the furnishing of advertising displays is considered a service that is not taxable as a lease, the state taxing regulations Oneacre gave me state. An agreement that requires an “outdoor advertising company to display an advertiser’s message” also is not taxable.

For details on the permit, pictures of the signs before and after, and an explanation of false expectations about tax revenue, go to Oconee County Observations.