Office of the Commission

General Information

If the parties waive the Initial Hearing, or if either party appeals the decision from the Initial Hearing, a Formal Hearing will be scheduled. The Commission will notify you of the hearing date at least 10 days in advance of the hearing, although generally the notice period will be substantially longer.

The purpose of the Formal Hearing is to receive evidence and hear legal arguments regarding the petitioner’s request for agency action. The Formal Hearing will be conducted by an Administrative Law Judge or a Tax Commissioner. All Formal Hearings are recorded and witness testimony and evidence, if received, become part of the hearing record. Witnesses should be present, either in person or by telephone, to testify under oath subject to cross examination. A representative generally may not proffer testimony for a witness at a Formal Hearing. For more information on Formal Hearing procedures and admissible evidence, you should refer to the Administrative Procedures Act, specifically Utah Code §§63G-4-204 through 63G-4-209 and Utah Admin Rules R861-1A-26 through 29.

Participating Parties

Each party attending the hearing should have a thorough knowledge of the case and should be prepared to discuss it and to make stipulations or admissions if appropriate. Legal counsel or any other representative appearing on behalf of a party must have full authority to act in compliance with this order. In cases involving income, corporate franchise and corporate income tax, legal counsel is required to submit a Power of Attorney before they can appear and represent a party at a hearing. All other representatives are required to submit a Power of Attorney in all cases before they can represent a party at a hearing. See Utah Admin. Rule R861-1A-26(4).

Evidentiary Documents

The parties must submit copies of any documents which will be introduced as evidence at the hearing to the Tax Commission Appeals Unit  and to the opposing party no later than 10 business days prior to the hearing. Failure to provide the documents in advance in accordance with this requirement may result in the exclusion of such evidence from consideration. A party who presents evidence for the first time at the hearing shall provide copies for the presiding officer and the opposing parties. Opposing parties shall have an opportunity to review the evidence and to register any objection to its admission.

Submittal of Documents

The Tax Commission Appeals Unit will accept all written submissions and forms by facsimile, e-mail, or mail.

Fax: 801-297-3919 

E-mail: [email protected] 

Mailing Address:

Utah State Tax Commission Appeals Unit
1950 West 210 North
Salt Lake City, Utah 84134

Commission Decision

The Commission issues written decisions based on the evidence and the applicable law following the Formal Hearing. The Decision and Order will become the Final Decision.

Notice of Appeal Rights

You have twenty (20) days after the date of the Commission's Formal Hearing Decision to file a Request for Reconsideration with the Tax Commission Appeals Unit pursuant to Utah Code Ann. §63G-4-302 and Utah Administrative Rule R861-1A-29(3). A Request for Reconsideration must allege newly discovered evidence or a mistake of law or fact. A decision on a Request for Reconsideration is generally made from the written submissions of the parties, without an additional hearing being scheduled. Therefore, you need to present the basis for the request in writing. If you do not file a Request for Reconsideration with the Commission, the order constitutes final agency action. You have thirty (30) days after the date of the order to pursue judicial review in accordance with Utah Code Ann. §59-1-601 et seq. and §63G-4-401 et seq.