97-1272

INCOME

Signed 2/17/97

 

BEFORE THE UTAH STATE TAX COMMISSION

____________________________________

 

PETITIONERS, )

:

Petitioners, ) DECISION

:

v. ) Appeal No. 97-1272

:

AUDITING DIVISION OF THE ) Account No. #####

UTAH STATE TAX COMMISSION, :

STATE OF UTAH, )

:

Respondent. ) Tax Type: Income Tax

_____________________________________

 

STATEMENT OF CASE

This matter came before the Utah State Tax Commission pursuant to the provisions of Utah Code Ann. '59-1-502.5 An Initial Hearing was held on October 29, 1997. Gail S. Reich, Administrative Law Judge, heard the matter for and on behalf of the Commission. Present and representing Petitioner was PETITIONERS REP., Attorney at Law. Present and representing Respondent was Mr. Frank Hales, of the Auditing Division.

Based upon the evidence in the file and presented at the hearing, the Commission makes its:

FINDINGS


This appeal involves a request for waiver of penalty and interest associated with the additional assessment of $$$$$ of tax as a result of an adjustment made at the federal level for the 1992 income tax return. The penalty was imposed according to statute due to Petitioners failure to file an amended return within 90 days of an adjustment made at the federal level. The penalty is approximately $$$$$. Approximately $$$$$ of interest has accrued on the amount of additional tax due and owing since April 15, 1993. The record indicates that this constitutes the first time that Petitioners were required to file an amended return within 90 days of the time that an adjustment was made on the federal return.

APPLICABLE LAW

The Tax Commission is granted the authority to waive, reduce, or compromise penalties and interest upon a showing of reasonable cause. (Utah Code Ann. '59-1-401(10).)

DECISION AND ORDER

A thorough review of the entire matter has been conducted and the issues raised by each of the parties has been considered. Since this constitutes the first time the Petitioner was required to file an amended return within 90 days of an adjustment at the federal level, the Commission finds justification to waive the penalty in this instance. However, since the interest simply reflects the fact that the taxpayer and not the Commission had the benefit of the funds during the interim period, no grounds exist to justify waiver of the interest. The interest and the underlying tax remain due and owing. It is so ordered.


This Decision does not limit a party=s right to a Formal Hearing. Any party to this case may file a written request within thirty (30) days of the date of this decision to proceed to a Formal Hearing. Such a request shall be mailed to the address listed below and must include the Petitioner's name, address, and appeal number:

Utah State Tax Commission

Appeals Division

210 North 1950 West

Salt Lake City, UT 84134

 

Failure to request a Formal Hearing will preclude any further appeal rights in this matter.

DATED this 17 day of February, 1997.

BY ORDER OF THE UTAH STATE TAX COMMISSION.

 

GAIL S. REICH

Administrative Law Judge

 

The agency has reviewed this case and the undersigned concur in this decision.

DATED this 17 day of February, 1997.

 

BY ORDER OF THE UTAH STATE TAX COMMISSION.

 

W. Val Oveson Richard B. McKeown

Chairman Commissioner

 

Joe B. Pacheco Pam Hendrickson

Commissioner Commissioner

^^