H.B. 316

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TAX ASSESSMENTS, REFUNDS, AND CREDITS
2 1997 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper
5 AN ACT RELATING TO REVENUE AND TAXATION; CLARIFYING TIME PERIODS AND
6 THE DETERMINATION OF TIME PERIODS FOR ASSESSMENTS, REFUNDS, AND
7 CREDITS ASSOCIATED WITH VARIOUS TAXES, SURCHARGES, AND FEES; AND
8 MAKING TECHNICAL CHANGES.
9 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
10 AMENDS:
11 19-6-410, as last amended by Chapter 1, Laws of Utah 1993, Second Special Session
12 35-1-53 (Renumbered 07/01/97), as last amended by Chapter 205, Laws of Utah 1995
13 35A-3-202 (Effective 07/01/97), as renumbered and amended by Chapter 240, Laws of Utah
14 1996
15 40-6-14, as last amended by Chapter 1, Laws of Utah 1993, Second Special Session
16 59-5-114, as repealed and reenacted by Chapter 4, Laws of Utah 1988
17 59-5-214, as last amended by Chapter 183, Laws of Utah 1988
18 59-11-113, as last amended by Chapter 127, Laws of Utah 1992
19 59-14-206, as last amended by Chapter 66, Laws of Utah 1992
20 ENACTS:
21 59-9-106, Utah Code Annotated 1953
22 59-16-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
23 REPEALS:
24 59-11-108, as renumbered and amended by Chapter 2, Laws of Utah 1987
25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26 Section 1. Section 19-6-410 is amended to read:
27 19-6-410. Environmental surcharge on petroleum.

1 (1) An environmental surcharge of one-half cent per gallon is imposed on all petroleum
2 that is sold, used, or received for sale or use in this state, except under Subsection (2).
3 (2) The environmental surcharge is not imposed on petroleum delivered to any tank that
4 is:
5 (a) not an underground storage tank, unless the petroleum is being held for subsequent
6 retail sale; or
7 (b) exempt from this part, unless the tank becomes eligible for payments from the
8 Petroleum Storage Tank Fund.
9 (3) The revenues generated by the environmental surcharge and any penalties for failure
10 to pay the environmental surcharge shall be deposited in the Petroleum Storage Tank Fund.
11 (4) The State Tax Commission:
12 (a) shall prescribe by rule the method of payment of the environmental surcharge; and
13 (b) is responsible for the enforcement of this section.
14 (5) (a) The penalties and interest for failure to pay the environmental surcharge are the
15 same as the penalties and interest for failure to pay a tax as specified in Sections 59-1-401 and
16 59-1-402.
17 (b) The State Tax Commission may also revoke any license issued by the commission to
18 distribute petroleum if the distributor is delinquent in payment of the environmental surcharge.
19 (c) Time periods for the State Tax Commission to allow a refund or assess the surcharge
20 shall be determined in accordance with Section 59-13-210.
21 Section 2. Section 35-1-53 (Renumbered 07/01/97) is amended to read:
22 35-1-53 (Renumbered 07/01/97). Assessment on employers and counties, cities,
23 towns, or school districts paying compensation direct.
24 (1) (a) An employer, including a county, city, town, or school district, who by authority
25 of the commission under Section 35-1-46 is authorized to pay compensation direct shall pay
26 annually, on or before March 31, an assessment of the same percentage as required by law to be
27 paid by an insurance company upon its premiums, based upon an amount equivalent to premiums,
28 that would be paid by the employer, if insured in the Workers' Compensation Fund of Utah; the
29 assessment is to be computed and collected by the State Tax Commission and paid by it into the
30 state treasury as provided in Subsection 59-9-101(2).
31 (b) An employer whose total assessment obligation under Subsection (1) for the preceding

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1 year was $10,000 or more shall pay the assessment in quarterly installments in the same manner
2 provided in Section 59-9-104 and subject to the same penalty provided in Section 59-9-104 for not
3 paying or underpaying an installment.
4 (2) (a) The State Tax Commission shall have access to all the records of the office of the
5 Industrial Commission for the purpose of computing and collecting any amounts described in this
6 section.
7 (b) Time periods for the State Tax Commission to allow a refund or make an assessment
8 shall be determined in accordance with Section 59-9-106.
9 Section 3. Section 35A-3-202 (Effective 07/01/97) is amended to read:
10 35A-3-202 (Effective 07/01/97). Assessment on employers and counties, cities, towns,
11 or school districts paying compensation direct.
12 (1) (a) An employer, including a county, city, town, or school district, who by authority
13 of the department under Section 35A-3-201 is authorized to pay compensation direct shall pay
14 annually, on or before March 31, an assessment of the same percentage as required by law to be
15 paid by an insurance company upon its premiums, based upon an amount equivalent to premiums,
16 that would be paid by the employer, if insured in the Workers' Compensation Fund of Utah.
17 (b) The assessment required by Subsection (1)(a) is to be computed and collected by the
18 State Tax Commission and paid by the State Tax Commission into the state treasury as provided
19 in Subsection 59-9-101(2).
20 (c) An employer whose total assessment obligation under Subsection (1)(a) for the
21 preceding year was $10,000 or more shall pay the assessment in quarterly installments in the same
22 manner provided in Section 59-9-104 and subject to the same penalty provided in Section
23 59-9-104 for not paying or underpaying an installment.
24 (2) (a) The State Tax Commission shall have access to all the records of the office of the
25 department for the purpose of computing and collecting any amounts described in this section.
26 (b) Time periods for the State Tax Commission to allow a refund or make an assessment
27 shall be determined in accordance with Section 59-9-106.
28 Section 4. Section 40-6-14 is amended to read:
29 40-6-14. Fee on oil and gas at well -- Use -- Collection -- Penalty and interest on
30 delinquencies -- Payment when product taken in-kind -- Interests exempt.
31 (1) There is levied a fee of .002 of the value at the well of oil and gas:

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1 (a) produced and saved;
2 (b) sold; or
3 (c) transported from the premises in Utah where the oil or gas is produced.
4 (2) (a) The State Tax Commission shall administer the collection of the fee, including any
5 penalties and interest.
6 (b) The monies collected shall be deposited as fixed collections to be used by the Division
7 of Oil, Gas and Mining for the purposes specified in Section 40-6-14.5.
8 (c) Time periods for the State Tax Commission to allow a refund or assess the fee shall
9 be determined in accordance with Section 59-5-114.
10 (3) (a) Each person having an ownership interest in oil or gas at the time of production
11 shall be liable for a proportionate share of the fee equivalent to his ownership interest.
12 (b) As used in this section "ownership interest" means any:
13 (i) working interest;
14 (ii) royalty interest;
15 (iii) interest in payments out of production; or
16 (iv) any other interest in the oil or gas, or in the proceeds of the oil or gas, subject to the
17 fee.
18 (4) The operator, on behalf of himself and any person having an ownership interest in the
19 oil or gas, shall pay the assessed fee quarterly to the State Tax Commission on or before the 45th
20 day following the quarter in which the fee accrued.
21 (5) (a) Any fee not paid within the time specified shall:
22 (i) carry a penalty as provided in Section 59-1-401; and
23 (ii) bear interest at the rate and in the manner prescribed in Section 59-1-402.
24 (b) The fee, together with the interest, shall be a lien upon the oil or gas against which it
25 is levied. The operator shall deduct from any amounts due to the persons owning an interest in the
26 oil or gas, or in the proceeds at the time of production, a proportionate amount of the charge before
27 making payment to the persons.
28 (6) (a) When product is taken in-kind by an interest owner who is not the operator and the
29 operator cannot determine the value of the in-kind product, the operator shall:
30 (i) report 100% of the production;
31 (ii) deduct the product taken in-kind; and

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1 (iii) pay the levy on the difference.
2 (b) The interest owner who takes the product in-kind shall file a report and pay the levy
3 on his share of production excluded from the operator's report.
4 (7) This section shall apply to any interest in oil or gas produced in the state except:
5 (a) any interest of the United States;
6 (b) any interest of the state or its political subdivisions in any oil or gas or in the proceeds;
7 (c) any interest of any Indian or Indian tribe in any oil or gas or in the proceeds produced
8 from land subject to the supervision of the United States; or
9 (d) oil or gas used in producing or drilling operations or for repressuring or recycling
10 purposes.
11 Section 5. Section 59-5-114 is amended to read:
12 59-5-114. Limitation of actions.
13 (1) An action for the recovery of any severance tax due and unpaid or to foreclose the lien
14 for the payment of the tax as provided in Section 59-5-108 may be brought by the commission in
15 any court of competent jurisdiction at any time within six years after the cause of action has
16 accrued.
17 (2) The commission may not make a credit or refund unless the taxpayer files a claim with
18 the commission within six years of the date of overpayment.
19 Section 6. Section 59-5-214 is amended to read:
20 59-5-214. Limitation of actions.
21 (1) An action for the recovery of any severance tax imposed under this chapter upon the
22 business of mining or extracting metalliferous minerals due and unpaid, or to foreclose the lien
23 upon the mine or mining claim from which the mineral is extracted for the payment of the tax as
24 provided in Section 59-5-208, may be brought by the commission in any court of competent
25 jurisdiction at any time within three years after the cause of action has accrued.
26 (2) The commission may not make a credit or refund unless the taxpayer files a claim with
27 the commission within three years of the date of overpayment.
28 Section 7. Section 59-9-106 is enacted to read:
29 59-9-106. Action for collection of tax -- Action for refund or credit of tax.
30 (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2), the commission shall assess a tax under this
31 chapter within three years after a taxpayer files a return.

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1 (b) If the commission does not assess a tax under this chapter within the three-year period
2 provided in Subsection (1)(a), the commission may not file an action to collect the tax.
3 (2) The commission may assess a tax at any time if a taxpayer:
4 (a) files a false or fraudulent return with intent to evade; or
5 (b) does not file a return.
6 (3) The commission may not make a credit or refund unless the taxpayer files a claim with
7 the commission within three years of the date of overpayment.
8 Section 8. Section 59-11-113 is amended to read:
9 59-11-113. Administration by commission -- Action for collection of tax -- Action for
10 refund or credit of tax -- Appeal.
11 (1) The commission is charged with the administration and enforcement of this chapter
12 and may promulgate rules under Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to
13 effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
14 (2) The commission shall collect the tax provided for under this chapter, including
15 applicable interest and penalties, and shall represent this state in all matters pertaining to
16 collection, either before courts or otherwise. The commission may institute proceedings for the
17 collection of this tax, and any interest and penalties on the tax, in the district court of any county
18 in which any portion of the property is situated. For this purpose the commission may call to its
19 assistance the attorney general and the various county attorneys throughout the state.
20 (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4), the commission shall assess a tax under this
21 chapter within three years after a taxpayer files a return.
22 (b) If the commission does not assess a tax under this chapter within the three-year period
23 provided in Subsection (3)(a), the commission may not file an action to collect the tax.
24 (4) The commission may assess a tax at any time if a taxpayer:
25 (a) files a false or fraudulent return with intent to evade; or
26 (b) does not file a return.
27 (5) A taxpayer shall:
28 (a) notify the commission within 90 days after a final determination of a change made in
29 a taxpayer's net income on the taxpayer's federal estate tax return if:
30 (i) the change is made because:
31 (A) the taxpayer filed an amended federal return; or

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1 (B) of an action by the federal government; and
2 (ii) the change affects the taxpayer's state tax liability; and
3 (b) if the taxpayer is required to notify the commission of a change as provided in
4 Subsection (5)(a)(i), file a copy of:
5 (i) the amended federal return; and
6 (ii) an amended state return which conforms to the changes on the federal return.
7 (6) (a) The commission may assess a deficiency in state estate taxes as a result of a change
8 in a taxpayer's net income under Subsection (5):
9 (i) within three years after a taxpayer files an amended return under Subsection (5)(b) if
10 the taxpayer files an amended return; or
11 (ii) within six years after the change if a taxpayer does not file an amended return under
12 Subsection (5)(b).
13 (b) The amount of a deficiency assessed under Subsection (6)(a) may not exceed the
14 amount of the increase in Utah tax attributable to the change in the taxpayer's net income under
15 Subsection (5)(a).
16 (7) The commission may not make a credit or refund unless the taxpayer files a claim with
17 the commission within three years of the date of overpayment.
18 [(3)] (8) Any party to a proceeding before the district court concerning the tax imposed
19 by this chapter, including the commission, may appeal from the order, judgment, or decree entered
20 by the district court.
21 Section 9. Section 59-14-206 is amended to read:
22 59-14-206. Sales of stamps -- Deposit of revenues -- Redemption of unused stamps
23 -- Discount on lump purchases of stamps -- Unlawful acts.
24 (1) The commission may prepare stamps for use on packages and containers of cigarettes
25 according to its specifications, designs, and denominations and shall keep an accurate record of
26 all stamps for which the commission is responsible. The cost of the stamps shall be charged to any
27 appropriation made to defray the costs of administering this chapter.
28 (2) The commission shall sell stamps only to persons holding licenses issued as provided
29 in this chapter.
30 (a) The money received from the sale of the stamps, and all other money received from
31 penalties, fees, and taxes provided by this chapter shall be deposited in the General Fund.

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1 (b) The commission may deliver stamps in face value not to exceed 90% of the penal sum
2 of the licensee's bond to any licensee without payment. The licensee shall pay for stamps within
3 60 days of the date the stamps were delivered on credit to the licensee.
4 (c) Unused stamps may be redeemed within [two] three years of their purchase by
5 presentation to the commission of a claim by the person to whom they were originally sold. The
6 redemption claim shall be accompanied by the unused stamps.
7 (d) The commission shall certify a redemption claim with its approval to the state auditor,
8 who shall draw a warrant upon the state treasurer for the payment of the claim.
9 (3) The commission shall allow a discount of 4% upon the entire amount to each licensee
10 for each single purchase of stamps amounting to $25 or more.
11 (4) It is unlawful for any person to sell or dispose of stamps to any other person. However,
12 stamps may be distributed to the various places of sale by the main office whenever a person owns
13 or operates more than one place of sale. Each place of sale shall have a separate license and
14 cancellation stamp.
15 Section 10. Section 59-16-102 is enacted to read:
16 59-16-102. Action for collection of tax -- Action for refund or credit of tax.
17 (1) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2), the commission shall assess a tax under this
18 chapter within three years after a taxpayer files a return.
19 (b) If the commission does not assess a tax under this chapter within the three-year period
20 provided in Subsection (1)(a), the commission may not file an action to collect the tax.
21 (2) The commission may assess a tax at any time if a taxpayer:
22 (a) files a false or fraudulent return with intent to evade; or
23 (b) does not file a return.
24 (3) The commission may not make a credit or refund unless the taxpayer files a claim with
25 the commission within three years of the date of overpayment.
26 Section 11. Repealer.
27 This act repeals:
28 Section 59-11-108, Amended returns -- Payment of additional taxes -- Notice of
29 deficiency.


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Legislative Review Note
as of 2-17-97 12:07 PM

A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

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