(e) Upon proof of ownership, the department of revenue shall deliver to the owner any vending machine seized under paragraph (c) of this subsection (1) after payment of the twenty-five-dollar penalty and seizure costs, if the owner is liable therefor, and upon registration of the machine. At the expiration of sixty days after the date of notice, any unregistered vending machine and the contents therein still in the possession of the department may be sold at public sale to the highest bidder, but, prior to any such sale, ten days' notice of the sale shall be given by first-class mail as set forth in section 39-21-105.5 to those entitled to notice under paragraph (c) of this subsection (1).
(2) On and after January 1, 2000, all sales and purchases of food, as defined in section 39-26-102 (4.5), by or through vending machines shall be exempt from taxation under the provisions of part 1 of this article; except that, on and after May 1, 2010, sales and purchases of candy and soft drinks by or through vending machines shall be subject to state sales taxation. Absent an express provision in the contract to the contrary, any vending machine contract that references the price at which products shall be sold from a vending machine shall be interpreted to include any applicable sales tax as an addition to the referenced price.
(3) On and after January 1, 2000, the storage, use, or consumption of food, as defined in section 39-26-102 (4.5), purchased by or through vending machines shall be exempt from taxation under the provisions of part 2 of this article; except that, on and after May 1, 2010, the storage, use, or consumption of candy and soft drinks purchased by or through vending machines shall be subject to state use taxation.
(4) For the purposes of this section:
(a) Candy means a preparation of sugar, honey, or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruit, nuts, or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops, or pieces. Candy shall not include any preparation containing flour and shall require no refrigeration.
(b) Soft drinks means nonalcoholic beverages that contain natural or artificial sweeteners. Soft drinks do not include beverages that contain milk or milk products, soy, rice, or similar milk substitutes, or greater than fifty percent of vegetable or fruit juice by volume.
(5) The department of revenue shall promulgate rules, in accordance with article 4 of title 24, C.R.S., to provide a means by which a person who sells candy or soft drinks purchased by and through vending machines may, if necessary, reasonably estimate the amount of sales taxes due on such candy and soft drinks. For any return made prior to August 1, 2010, a person who sells candy or soft drinks at retail shall not be liable for any interest or other penalty imposed as a result of an error made in connection with the elimination of the exemption from state sales tax for sales of candy and soft drinks, as defined in subsection (4) of this section, by House Bill 10-1191, enacted in 2010.