For purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the respective meanings ascribed by this section:

(1) BUSINESS. All activities engaged in, or caused to be engaged in, by any person with the object of gain, profit, benefit, or advantage, either direct or indirect to such person.

(2) COMMISSIONER. The Commissioner of Revenue of the state.

(3) DEPARTMENT. The Department of Revenue of the state.

(4) GROSS PROCEEDS. The value proceeding or accruing from the leasing or rental of tangible personal property, including any license or privilege taxes passed on to a lessee by a lessor, without any deduction on account of the cost of the property so leased or rented, the cost of materials used, labor or service cost, interest paid, or any other expense whatsoever, and without any deductions on account of loss, and shall also include on the part of any person claiming exemption under subdivision (4) of Section 40-12-223 an amount equal to the amount of rental paid on any tangible personal property acquired under such exemption and thereafter diverted to the use of such person.

(5) LEASING or RENTAL. A transaction whereunder the person who owns or controls the possession of tangible personal property permits another person to have the possession or use thereof for a consideration and for the duration of a definite or indefinite period of time without transfer of the title to such property. The detention by the user thereof of freight cars, oxygen and acetylene tanks, and similar property, in respect of which detention a demurrage or per diem charge is made against the user of such property, shall not be deemed to constitute a transaction whereunder property is leased or rented to another within the meaning of this article.

(6) PERSON. Any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, receiver, trust, estate, or other entity, or any other group or combination of any thereof acting as a unit.

(7) STATE. The State of Alabama.

(8) TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY. Personal property which may be seen, weighed, measured, felt, or touched, or is in any other manner perceptible to the senses. The term "tangible personal property" shall not include stocks, bonds, notes, insurance or other contracts, or securities.