R884. Tax Commission, Property Tax.

R884-24P. Property Tax.

R884-24P-47. Uniform Tax on Aircraft Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Sections 59-2-404, 59-2-1005, 59-2-1302, and 59-2-1303.

A. Registration of aircraft requires payment of a uniform tax in lieu of ad valorem personal property tax. This tax shall be collected by the county assessor at the time of registration at the rate prescribed in Section 59-2-404.

B. The average wholesale market value of the aircraft is the arithmetic mean of the average low wholesale book value and the average high wholesale book value. This average price will be used as the basis for the initial assessment. These amounts are obtained from the fall edition of the Aircraft Bluebook Price Digest in the year preceding the year of registration for all aircraft listed in that publication.

1. The average wholesale market value of aircraft subject to registration but not shown in the Aircraft Bluebook Price Digest will be assessed according to the annual depreciation schedule for aircraft valuation set forth in Tax Commission rule R884-24P-33, "Personal Property Valuation Guides and Schedules."

2. Instructions for interpretation of codes are found inside the Aircraft Bluebook Price Digest.

a) Average low wholesale values are found under the heading "Average equipped per base avg change/invtry."

b) Average high wholesale values are found under the heading "change mktbl."

c) Aircraft values not in accordance with "average" may be adjusted by the assessor following the instructions in the Bluebook. Factors that have the greatest impact on value include: high engine time, air worthiness directives not complied with, status of annual inspection, crash damage, paint condition, and interior condition.

C. The uniform tax is due each year the aircraft is registered in Utah. If the aircraft is sold within the same registration period, no additional uniform tax shall be due. However, the purchaser shall pay any delinquent tax as a condition precedent to registration.

D. If an aircraft is purchased or moved to Utah during the year and newly registered in Utah, the uniform tax shall be prorated based on the number of months remaining in the registration period.

1. Any portion of a month shall be counted as a full month. For example, if registration is required during July, 50 percent of the uniform tax shall be paid as a condition of registration.

2. If the aircraft is moved to Utah during the year, and property tax was paid to another state prior to moving the aircraft into Utah, any property tax paid shall be allowed as a credit against the prorated uniform tax due in Utah.

a) This credit may not be refunded if the other state property tax exceeds the uniform tax due in Utah for the comparable year.

b) Proof of payment shall be submitted before credit is allowed.

E. The uniform tax collected by county assessors shall be distributed to the taxing districts of the county in which the aircraft is located as shown on the registration application. If the aircraft is registered in a county other than the county of the aircraft location, the tax collected shall be forwarded to the appropriate county within five working days.

F. The Tax Commission shall supply registration forms and numbered decals to the county assessors. Forms to assess the uniform tax shall be prepared by the counties each year. The Tax Commission shall maintain an owners' data base and supply the counties with a list of registrations by county after the first year and shall also supply registration renewal forms preprinted with the prior year's registration information.

G. The aircraft owner or person or entity in possession thereof shall immediately provide access to any aircraft hangar or other storage area or facility upon request by the assessor or the assessor's designee in order to permit the determination of the status of registration of the aircraft, and the performance of any other act in furtherance of the assessor's duties.

H. The provisions applicable to securing or collecting personal property taxes set forth in Sections 59-2-1302 and 59-2-1303 shall apply to the collection of delinquent uniform taxes.

I. If the aircraft owner and the county assessor cannot reach agreement concerning the aircraft valuation, the valuation may be appealed to the county board of equalization under Section 59-2-1005.

Effective: 8/15/95