R884.  Tax Commission, Property Tax.

R884-24P.  Property Tax.


R884-24P-33.  2008 Personal Property Valuation Guides and Schedules Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Section 59-2-301.

              (1)  Definitions.

              (a) "Acquisition cost" means all costs required to put an item into service, including purchase price, freight and shipping costs; installation, engineering, erection or assembly costs; and excise and sales taxes.

              (i) Indirect costs such as debugging, licensing fees and permits, insurance or security are not included in the acquisition cost.

              (ii) Acquisition cost may correspond to the cost new for new property, or cost used for used property.

              (b) (i) "Actual cost" includes the value of components necessary to complete the vehicle, such as tanks, mixers, special containers, passenger compartments, special axles, installation, engineering, erection, or assembly costs.

              (ii) Actual cost does not include sales or excise taxes, maintenance contracts, registration and license fees, dealer charges, tire tax, freight, or shipping costs.

              (c) "Cost new" means the actual cost of the property when purchased new.

              (i) Except as otherwise provided in this rule, the Tax Commission and assessors shall rely on the following sources to determine cost new:

              (A) documented actual cost of the new or used vehicle; or

              (B) recognized publications that provide a method for approximating cost new for new or used vehicles.

              (ii) For the following property purchased used, the taxing authority may determine cost new by dividing the property's actual cost by the percent good factor for that class:

              (A) class 6 heavy and medium duty trucks;

              (B) class 13 heavy equipment;

              (C) class 14 motor homes;

              (D) class 17 vessels equal to or greater than 31 feet in length;

              (E) class 21 commercial trailers; and

              (F) class 23 aircraft subject to the aircraft uniform fee and not listed in the aircraft bluebook price digest.

              (d) "Percent good" means an estimate of value, expressed as a percentage, based on a property's acquisition cost or cost new, adjusted for depreciation and appreciation of all kinds.

              (i) The percent good factor is applied against the acquisition cost or the cost new to derive taxable value for the property.

         (ii) Percent good schedules are derived from an analysis of the Internal Revenue Service    Class Life, the Marshall and Swift Cost index, other data sources or research, and vehicle valuation guides such as Penton Price Digests.


              (2)  Each year the Property Tax Division shall update and publish percent good schedules for use in computing personal property valuation.

              (a) Proposed schedules shall be transmitted to county assessors and interested parties for comment before adoption.

              (b) A public comment period will be scheduled each year and a public hearing will be scheduled if requested by ten or more interested parties or at the discretion of the Commission.

              (c) County assessors may deviate from the schedules when warranted by specific conditions affecting an item of personal property.  When a deviation will affect an entire class or type of personal property, a written report, substantiating the changes with verifiable data, must be presented to the Commission.  Alternative schedules may not be used without prior written approval of the Commission.

              (d) A party may request a deviation from the value established by the schedule for a specific item of property if the use of the schedule does not result in the fair market value for the property at the retail level of trade on the lien date, including any relevant installation and assemblage value.

              (3)  The provisions of this rule do not apply to:

              (a)  a vehicle subject to the age-based uniform fee under Section 59-2-405.1;

              (b)  the following personal property subject to the age-based uniform fee under Section 59-2-405.2:

              (i)  an all-terrain vehicle;

              (ii)  a camper;

              (iii)  an other motorcycle;

              (iv)  an other trailer;

              (v)  a personal watercraft;

              (vi)  a small motor vehicle;

              (vii)  a snowmobile;

              (viii)  a street motorcycle;

              (ix)  a tent trailer;

              (x)  a travel trailer; and

              (xi)  a vessel, including an outboard motor of the vessel, that is less than 31 feet in length;

              (4)  Other taxable personal property that is not included in the listed classes includes:

              (a) Supplies on hand as of January 1 at 12:00 noon, including office supplies, shipping supplies, maintenance supplies, replacement parts, lubricating oils, fuel and consumable items not held for sale in the ordinary course of business.  Supplies are assessed at total cost, including freight-in.

              (b) Equipment leased or rented from inventory is subject to ad valorem tax.  Refer to the appropriate property class schedule to determine taxable value.

              (c) Property held for rent or lease is taxable, and is not exempt as inventory.  For entities primarily engaged in rent-to-own, inventory on hand at January 1 is exempt and property out on rent-to-own contracts is taxable.

              (5)  Personal property valuation schedules may not be appealed to, or amended by, county boards of equalization.

              (6) All taxable personal property, other than personal property subject to an age-based uniform fee under Section 59-2-405.1 or 59-2-405.2, is classified by expected economic life as follows:

              (a) Class 1 - Short Life Property.  Property in this class has a typical life of more than one year and less than four years. It is fungible in that it is difficult to determine the age of an item retired from service.

              (i) Examples of property in the class include:

              (A) barricades/warning signs;

              (B) library materials;

              (C) patterns, jigs and dies;

              (D) pots, pans, and utensils;

              (E) canned computer software;

              (F) hotel linen;

              (G) wood and pallets;

              (H) video tapes, compact discs, and DVDs; and

              (I) uniforms.

              (ii) With the exception of video tapes, compact discs, and DVDs, taxable value is calculated by applying the percent good factor against the acquisition cost of the property.

              (iii) A licensee of canned computer software shall use one of the following substitutes for acquisition cost of canned computer software if no acquisition cost for the canned computer software is stated:

              (A) retail price of the canned computer software;

              (B) if a retail price is unavailable, and the license is a nonrenewable single year license agreement, the total sum of expected payments during that 12-month period; or

              (C) if the licensing agreement is a renewable agreement or is a multiple year agreement, the present value of all expected licensing fees paid pursuant to the agreement.

              (iv) Video tapes, compact discs, and DVDs are valued at $15.00 per tape or disc for the first year and $3.00 per tape or disc thereafter.

 

TABLE 1

 

       Year of            Percent Good

     Acquisition       of Acquisition Cost

 

           07                      72%

           06                      42%

           05 and prior      11%

 

              (b) Class 2 - Computer Integrated Machinery.

              (i) Machinery shall be classified as computer integrated machinery if all of the following conditions are met:

              (A) The equipment is sold as a single unit.  If the invoice breaks out the computer separately from the machine, the computer must be valued as Class 12 property and the machine as Class 8 property.

              (B) The machine cannot operate without the computer and the computer cannot perform functions outside the machine.

              (C) The machine can perform multiple functions and is controlled by a programmable central processing unit.

              (D) The total cost of the machine and computer combined is depreciated as a unit for income tax purposes.

              (E) The capabilities of the machine cannot be expanded by substituting a more complex computer for the original.

              (ii) Examples of property in this class include:

              (A) CNC mills;

              (B) CNC lathes;

              (C)  MRI equipment;

              (D) CAT scanners; and

              (E) mammography units.

              (iii) Taxable value is calculated by applying the percent good factor against the acquisition cost of the property.

 

TABLE 2

 

       Year of            Percent Good

     Acquisition       of Acquisition Cost

           07                    91%

           06                    81%

           05                    71%

           04                    63%

           03                    52%

           02                    42%

           01                    28%

           00 and prior    14%

 

              (c) Class 3 - Short Life Trade Fixtures.  Property in this class generally consists of electronic types of equipment and includes property subject to rapid functional and economic obsolescence or severe wear and tear.

              (i) Examples of property in this class include:

              (A) office machines;

              (B) alarm systems;

              (C) shopping carts;

              (D) ATM machines;

              (E) small equipment rentals;

              (F)  rent-to-own merchandise;

              (G)  telephone equipment and systems;

              (H)  music systems;

              (I)  vending machines;

              (J)  video game machines; and

              (K) cash registers and point of sale equipment.

              (ii) Taxable value is calculated by applying the percent good factor against the acquisition cost of the property.

 

TABLE 3

 

       Year of            Percent Good

     Acquisition       of Acquisition Cost

 

            07                     86%

            06                     73%

            05                     57%

            04                     41%

            03 and prior     21%

 

              (d) Class 5 - Long Life Trade Fixtures.  Class 5 property is subject to functional obsolescence in the form of style changes.

              (i) Examples of property in this class include:

              (A) furniture;

              (B) bars and sinks:

              (C) booths, tables and chairs;

              (D) beauty and barber shop fixtures;

              (E) cabinets and shelves;

              (F) displays, cases and racks;

              (G) office furniture;

              (H) theater seats;

              (I) water slides; and

              (J) signs, mechanical and electrical.

              (ii) Taxable value is calculated by applying the percent good factor against the acquisition cost of the property.

 

TABLE 5

 

       Year of            Percent Good

     Acquisition       of Acquisition Cost

 

            07                      92%

            06                      87%

            05                      80%

            04                      74%

            03                      62%

            02                      51%

            01                      38%

            00                      26%

            99 and prior      13%

 

              (e) Class 6 - Heavy and Medium Duty Trucks.

              (i) Examples of property in this class include:

              (A) heavy duty trucks;

              (B) medium duty trucks;

(C) crane trucks;

(D) concrete pump trucks; and

(E) trucks with well-boring rigs.

              (ii) Taxable value is calculated by applying the percent good factor against the cost new.

              (iii) Cost new of vehicles in this class is defined as follows:

              (A) the documented actual cost of the vehicle for new vehicles; or

              (B) 75 percent of the manufacturer's suggested retail price.

              (iv) For state assessed vehicles, cost new shall include the value of attached equipment.

              (v) The 2008 percent good applies to  2008 models purchased in 2007.

              (vi) Trucks weighing two tons or more have a residual taxable value of $1,750.

 

TABLE 6

 

                               Percent Good

      Model Year     of Cost New

 

          08                   90%

          07                   82%

          06                   76%

          05                   69%

          04                   63%

          03                   56%

          02                   50%

          01                   44%

          00                   37%

          99                   31%

          98                   25%

          97                  18%

          96                  12%

          95 and prior    6%

 

              (f) Class 7 - Medical and Dental Equipment.  Class 7 property is subject to a high degree of technological development by the health industry.

              (i) Examples of property in this class include:

              (A) medical and dental equipment and instruments;

              (B) exam tables and chairs;

              (C) high-tech hospital equipment;

              (D) microscopes; and

              (E) optical equipment.

              (ii) Taxable value is calculated by applying the percent good factor against the acquisition cost of the property.

 

TABLE 7

 

       Year of            Percent Good

     Acquisition       of Acquisition Cost

 

             07                    94%

             06                     91%

             05                     86%

             04                     82%

             03                     73%

             02                     63%

             01                     53%

             00                     43%

             99                     33%

             98                     22%

             97 and prior     11%

 

              (g) Class 8 - Machinery and Equipment.  Property in this class is subject to considerable functional and economic obsolescence created by competition as technologically advanced and more efficient equipment becomes available.

              (i) Examples of property in this class include:

              (A) manufacturing machinery;

              (B) amusement rides;

              (C) bakery equipment;

              (D) distillery equipment;

              (E) refrigeration equipment;

              (F) laundry and dry cleaning equipment;

              (G) machine shop equipment;

              (H) processing equipment;

              (I) auto service and repair equipment;

              (J) mining equipment;

              (K) ski lift machinery;

              (L) printing equipment;

              (M) bottling or cannery equipment;

              (N) packaging equipment.; and

              (O)  pollution control equipment.

              (ii)  Except as provided in Subsection (6)(g)(iii), taxable value is calculated by applying the percent good factor against the acquisition cost of the property.

              (iii) (A) Notwithstanding Subsection (6)(g)(ii), the taxable value of the following oil refinery pollution control equipment required by the federal Clean Air Act shall be calculated pursuant to Subsection (6)(g)(iii)(B):

              (I)  VGO (Vacuum Gas Oil) reactor;

              (II)  HDS (Diesel Hydrotreater) reactor;

              (III)  VGO compressor;

              (IV)  VGO furnace;

              (V)  VGO and HDS high pressure exchangers;

              (VI)  VGO, SRU (Sulfur Recovery Unit), SWS (Sour Water Stripper), and TGU; (Tail Gas Unit) low pressure exchangers;

              (VII)  VGO, amine, SWS, and HDS separators and drums;

              (VIII)  VGO and tank pumps;

              (IX)  TGU modules; and

              (X)  VGO tank and air coolers.

              (B)  The taxable value of the oil refinery pollution control equipment described in Subsection (6)(g)(iii)(A) shall be calculated by:

              (I)  applying the percent good factor in Table 8 against the acquisition cost of the property; and

              (II)  multiplying the product described in Subsection (6)(g)(iii)(B)(I) by 50%.

 

TABLE 8

 

       Year of            Percent Good

     Acquisition       of Acquisition Cost

 

             07                    94%

             06                    91%

             05                    86%

             04                    82%

             03                    73%

             02                    63%

             01                    53%

             00                    43%

             99                    33%

             98                    22%

             97 and prior    11%

 

              (h) Class 9 - Off-Highway Vehicles.

              (i)  Because Section 59-2-405.2 subjects off-highway vehicles to an age-based uniform fee, a percent good schedule is not necessary.

              (i) Class 10 - Railroad Cars.  The Class 10 schedule was developed to value the property of railroad car companies.  Functional and economic obsolescence is recognized in the developing technology of the shipping industry.  Heavy wear and tear is also a factor in valuing this class of property.

              (i)  Taxable value is calculated by applying the percent good factor against the acquisition cost of the property.

 

TABLE 10

 

       Year of            Percent Good

     Acquisition       of Acquisition Cost

 

            07                   96%

            06                   94%

            05                   91%

            04                   90%

            03                   83%

            02                   76%

            01                   68%

            00                   60%

            99                   52%

            98                   44%

            97                   35%

            96                   27%

            95                    18%

            94 and prior    10%

 

              (j) Class 11 - Street Motorcycles.

              (i)  Because Section 59-2-405.2 subjects street motorcycles to an age-based uniform fee, a percent good schedule is not necessary.

         (k) Class 12 - Computer Hardware.

              (i) Examples of property in this class include:

              (A) data processing equipment;

              (B) personal computers;

              (C) main frame computers;

              (D) computer equipment peripherals;

              (E) cad/cam systems; and

(F) copiers.

              (ii) Taxable value is calculated by applying the percent good factor against the acquisition cost of the property.

 

TABLE 12

 

     Year of               Percent Good

     Acquisition       of Acquisition Cost

          07                       62%

          06                       46%

          05                       21%

          04                        9%

          03 and prior        7%

         

               (l) Class 13 - Heavy Equipment.

               (i) Examples of property in this class include:

               (A) construction equipment;

               (B) excavation equipment;

               (C) loaders;

               (D) batch plants;

               (E) snow cats; and

               (F) pavement sweepers.

               (ii) Taxable value is calculated by applying the percent good factor against the acquisition cost of the property.

               (iii)  2008 model equipment purchased in 2007 is valued at 100 percent of acquisition cost.

 

TABLE 13

 

       Year of            Percent Good

     Acquisition       of Acquisition Cost

 

             07             61%

             06             57%

             05             54%

             04             51%

             03             47%

             02             44%

             01             41%

             00             37%

             99             34%

             98             30%

             97             27%

             96             24%

             95             20%

             94 and prior       17%

 

              (m) Class 14 - Motor Homes.

              (i) Taxable value is calculated by applying the percent good against the cost new.

              (ii) The 2008 percent good applies to 2008 models purchased in 2007.

              (iii) Motor homes have a residual taxable value of $1,000.

 

TABLE 14

 

                                   Percent Good

      Model Year         of Cost New

 

           08              90%

           07              64%

           06              61%

           05              58%

           04              55%

           03              51%

           02              48%

            01              45%

           00              42%

           99              39%

           98              35%

           97              32%

           96              29%

           95              26%

           94              23%

           93             19%

           92 and prior        16%

 

              (n) Class 15 - Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment.  Class 15 applies only to equipment used in the production of semiconductor products.  Equipment used in the semiconductor manufacturing industry is subject to significant economic and functional obsolescence due to rapidly changing technology and economic conditions.

              (i) Examples of property in this class include:

              (A) crystal growing equipment;

              (B) die assembly equipment;

              (C) wire bonding equipment;

              (D) encapsulation equipment;

              (E) semiconductor test equipment;

              (F) clean room equipment;

              (G) chemical and gas systems related to semiconductor manufacturing;

              (H) deionized water systems;

              (I) electrical systems; and

              (J) photo mask and wafer manufacturing dedicated to semiconductor production.

              (ii) Taxable value is calculated by applying the percent good factor against the acquisition cost of the property.

 

TABLE 15

 

       Year of            Percent Good

     Acquisition      of Acquisition Cost

 

             07            47%

             06            34%

             05            24%

             04            15%

             03 and prior    6%

 

               (o) Class 16 - Long-Life Property.  Class 16 property has a long physical life with little obsolescence.

               (i) Examples of property in this class include:

               (A) billboards;

               (B) sign towers;

               (C) radio towers;

               (D) ski lift and tram towers;

               (E) non-farm grain elevators; and

               (F) bulk storage tanks.

               (ii) Taxable value is calculated by applying the percent good factor against the acquisition cost of the property.

 

TABLE 16