97-0235

Income Tax

Signed 6/23/97

 

 

BEFORE THE UTAH STATE TAX COMMISSION

____________________________________

PETITIONER, :

:

Petitioner, : ORDER

:

v. :

:

AUDITING DIVISION OF THE : Appeal No. 97-0235

UTAH STATE TAX COMMISSION, : Account No. #####

:

Respondent. : Tax Type: Income Tax

_____________________________________

STATEMENT OF CASE

This matter came before the Utah State Tax Commission upon a Petition for Reconsideration, filed May 9, 1997, by Petitioner's representative as a result of the Commission's final decision dated May 1, 1997. The final decision was an Order of Default against Petitioner and was issued because Petitioner or Petitioner's representative failed to appear at the Status Conference.

Petitioner's representative requested reconsideration due to the condition of Petitioner who is 97 years old and mentally incapable of proceeding with the appeal. Petitioner's representative states in the request that she was not aware of the hearing date and she also states that she was unable to attend. However, our records indicate that notice of the Status Conference was mailed to Petitioner's representative at her CITY, STATE address.

The purpose of the Status Conference is to determine if some or all of the issues can be resolved between the parties without requiring a hearing and if it appears a hearing will be necessary then to determine a reasonable period of time for the parties to prepare for the hearing.

APPLICABLE LAW

Utah Administrative Rule R861-1-5A(P) provides that a Petition for Reconsideration "will allege as grounds for reconsideration either a mistake in law or fact, or the discovery of new evidence." Under this rule, the Tax Commission may exercise its discretion in granting or denying a Petition for Reconsideration.

DECISION AND ORDER

Based upon Petitioner's illness, it is the decision and order of the Utah State Tax Commission that the Petition for Reconsideration is granted. A further Status Conference will be scheduled in this matter. However, Petitioner's representative must appear in person or by telephone conference call at the Status Conference if she wishes to pursue this appeal for Petitioner. Failure to appear a second time will result in a default against Petitioner. It is so ordered.

DATED this 23 day of JUNE, 1997.

BY ORDER OF THE UTAH STATE TAX COMMISSION.

W. Val Oveson Richard B. McKeown

Chairman Commissioner

Joe B. Pacheco Alice Shearer

Commissioner Commissioner