The primary function of the State Tax Commission is the collection of revenue for state and local governments and administering tax and motor vehicle laws. The Tax Commission handles revenue from about 40 taxes, surcharges, and fees; registers automobiles; regulates the automobile dealer industry; and provides direction and support to the local property tax process.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Tax Commission is to collect revenue for the state and local governments and to equitably administer tax and assigned motor vehicle laws.
During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $91,669,300 from all sources for Tax Commission. This is a 2.9 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $48,253,500 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 3 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.
In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:
The following are performance measures tracked within this organization.
- County Distribution from the Alcoholic Beverage Enforcement & Treatment Restricted Account
- City Distribution from the Alcoholic Beverage Enforcement & Treatment Restricted Account
- Percent of Target Reached in Implementing New Computer System
- Percent of Timely Collection Distributions to Local Entities
- Number and Percent of Appeals Cases Closed
- Audit Satisfaction Ratings
- Number of New Accounts From Discovery Activities
- Income Tax Auditing Performance
- Percent of Tax Refund Requests Processed Within 15 Working Days
- Percent of Business Tax Returns Filed Electronically
- Timeliness of Recording and Depositing of Income Tax Returns
- Cost of Collection per Delinquent Dollar Collected
- Number of Delinquent Cases Cleared to Zero
- Number of Days to Collection for Delinquent Accounts
- Percent of Centrally Assessed Company Valuations Completed On Time
- Percent of Counties Not Recieved Correction Action Orders
- Number of Personal Property Audits and Audits per Auditor
The Utah Constitution, Article XIII, Section 6, Paragraph 3 details that the State Tax Commission shall administer and supervise the State's tax laws, ensure that properties are assessed and valued equally across county lines, review proposed bond issues, revise local tax levies, and have other powers as provided by statute. Most of the broad authority granted the Tax Commission in the Constitution is detailed in Utah Annotated Code Title 59, Chapters 1 through 27, and Utah Annotated Code Title 41.
- Property Tax (59-2)
- Severance Taxes (59-5)
- Mineral Production Tax (59-6)
- Corporate Income Tax (59-11)
- Gross Receipts Tax (59-8)
- Insurance Premium Tax (59-9)
- Income Tax (59-10)
- Inheritance Tax (59-11)
- Sales Tax (59-12)
- Motor and Special Fuel Taxes (59-13)
- Cigarette and Tobacco Taxes (59-14)
- Beer, Wine, and Liquor Taxes (59-15)
- Mineral Lease (59-21)
- Brine Shrimp Tax (59-23)
- Radioactive Waste and Hazardous Waste Tax (59-24 and 59-25)
- Multi-Channel Video and Audio Services Tax (59-26)
- Sexually Explicit Business and Escort Service Tax (59-27)
Major sources of finance for the Tax Commission are the General Fund and Education Fund. The Commission also draws funding from Dedicated Credits, Restricted Revenues, and the Transportation Fund.
The Tax Commission is authorized to receive funding from the Education Fund due to its role in collecting income and corporate taxes. The Commission is also authorized funding from the Transportation Fund due to its function in collecting taxes for motor fuel, special fuel, motor vehicle registration fees, and other revenue sources that transmit to the fund.
Special Funds
The Tax Commission draws funding from four restricted accounts, which are:
Tax Commission Administrative Charge Account. Consists of a percentage of revenues collected by the commission from each qualifying tax, fee, or charge. The total percentage remitted to the account is the lesser of either 1.5% of these administrative charges, or a percentage sufficient to cover the costs of administering the qualifying taxes, fees, or charges. Please refer to UAC 59-1-306.
Uninsured Motorist Identification Account. Consists of a $1 uninsured motorist identification charge included in each motor vehicle registration fee collected by the commission; when an application has been submitted for such, a $100 registration reinstatement fee for each vehicle with a previously revoked registration; appropriations made by the Legislature; and interest earned on account funds. For further detail, please refer to UAC 41-12a-806.
Tobacco Settlement Restricted Account. Consists of a statutory appropriation of $18,500 for ongoing enforcement of business compliance with the Tobacco Tax Settlement Agreement. For further detail, please refer to UAC 51-9-201.
Electronic Payment Fee Account. Consists of fees collected on the purchases or renewals of various licenses, registrations, permits, license plates, etc. For further detail about specific licenses, registrations, permits, etc. that the commission is statutorily allowed to charge an electronic payment fee for, please refer to UAC 41-1a-121.
COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.