R865-13G. Motor Fuel Tax, R865. Tax Commission, Auditing, Utah Administrative Code

Utah Administrative Code (Current through November 1, 2019)

R865-13G-1. Carrier's Reports of Motor Fuel Deliveries Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Section 59-13-208

Latest version.

A. Carrier means every individual, firm, partnership, group, or corporation importing or transporting motor fuels into the state of Utah by means of conveyance, whether gratuitously, for hire, or otherwise. It includes both common and private carriers, as those terms are commonly used.

B. Every carrier delivering motor fuels, as defined in Utah Code Ann. Section 59-13-102, within this state must submit written reports of all deliveries from outside Utah. The Tax Commission will furnish forms and the forms must be submitted on or before the last day of each month to cover fuel imported during the previous month.

R865-13G-3. Export Sales Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Section 59-13-201

Latest version.

A. Sales and deliveries of motor fuel, by a Utah licensed distributor are exempt, provided one of the following requirements is met:

1. delivery is made to a point outside this state by a common or contract carrier to a Utah licensed distributor;

2. delivery is made to a point outside this state in a vehicle owned and operated by a Utah licensed distributor;

3. delivery is made at a point in or outside this state to a distributor or importer licensed in another state for use or sale in that state; or

4. delivery is made, in a drum or similar container, at a point in the state of Utah to a person for use in another state.

B. Each export sale must be supported by records that disclose the following information.

1. If sold to a licensed distributor, records shall show the date exported, the consignee or purchaser, and the destination of the motor fuel.

2. If the exporter is not a licensed distributor, credit must be claimed through a licensed distributor and the following requirements must be met:

(a) the exporter must furnish a licensed distributor with a completed Form TC-112 Proof of Exportation -- Motor Fuel, showing the date, the purchaser or consignee, and the destination of the motor fuel;

(b) the licensed distributor shall make note of the date this information is furnished and make claim for credit due on the motor fuel return for the same period in which the Form TC-112 was received;

(c) claims for credit or refund must be made within 180 days from date of export, whether the claim is made through a licensed distributor or directly to the Tax Commission; all persons authorized to do so must file a claim directly with the Tax Commission; and

C. motor fuel delivered into the fuel tank or auxiliary fuel tank of any vehicle owned or operated by a resident or a nonresident of this state is taxable.

R865-13G-5. Sales to Licensed Distributors Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Sections 59-13-203.1 and 59-13-204

Latest version.

(1)(a) A motor fuel dealer engaged in the business of selling motor fuel for resale in wholesale quantities may elect to become a licensed distributor under the provisions of Sections 59-13-203.1 and 59-13-204.

(b) License and bond requirements contained in Section 59-13-203.1 must be fulfilled when a dealer makes this election.

(2) A licensed distributor wishing to purchase motor fuel without payment of tax at the time of purchase must furnish each of the distributor's suppliers with a signed letter containing the following information:

(a) a statement advising that the purchaser is the holder of a valid motor fuel tax license;

(b) the number of the license; and

(c) a statement that the purchaser will assume the responsibility and liability for the payment of motor fuel tax on all future purchases of motor fuel.

(3) The letter from the purchaser must be retained by the seller as part of the seller's permanent records.

R865-13G-6. Product Considered Exempt Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Section 59-13-210

Latest version.

A. Volatile or inflammable liquids which qualify as motor fuels under Utah laws but which in their present state are not usable in internal combustion engines and in fact are not used as motor fuels in internal combustion engines are exempt if sold in bulk quantities of not less than 1,000 gallons at each delivery.

B. The licensed motor fuel importer, refiner, or licensed distributor shall submit specifications and other related data to the Tax Commission. If the Tax Commission agrees that the product is not a taxable motor fuel in its current state, it may be sold exempt provided it is determined that all of the product sold will be used for other than use in an internal combustion engine.

C. The Tax Commission may set reporting and verification requirements for nontaxable products if additional sales are made to the same purchaser for identical use. Failure to submit reports, verification, or specifications upon request by the Tax Commission will result in the product losing its exempt status.

D. Sellers and purchasers of the exempt product must maintain records to show the use of the product together with laboratory specifications to indicate its quality. These records must be available for audit by the Tax Commission.

E. Any exempt products subsequently sold in their original state for use as a motor fuel, or to be blended with other products to be used as a motor fuel, will be subject to the motor fuel tax at the time of sale.

R865-13G-8. Nonhighway Agricultural Use Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Section 59-13-202

Latest version.

A. Every person who purchases motor fuel within this state for the operation of farm engines, including self-propelled farm machinery, used solely for nonhighway agricultural purposes, is entitled to a refund of the Utah Motor Fuel Tax paid thereon.

1. Agricultural purposes relate to the cultivation of the soil for the production of crops, including: vegetables, sod crops, grains, feed crops, trees, fruits, nursery floral and ornamental stock, and other such products of the soil. The term also includes raising livestock and animals useful to man.

2. Refunds are limited to the person raising agricultural products for resale or performing custom agricultural work using nonhighway farm equipment. It is further limited to persons engaged in commercial farming activities rather than those engaged in a hobby or farming for personal use.

3. Fuel used in the spraying of crops by airplanes does not ordinarily qualify for refund since aviation fuel tax rather than motor fuel tax normally applies to the sale of this fuel.

R865-13G-9. Solid Hydrocarbon Motor Fuel Exemptions Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Section 59-13-201

Latest version.

A. Motor fuels refined in Utah from solid hydrocarbons located in Utah are exempt from the motor fuel tax. If any exempt product is blended into gasoline refined from oil or into gasohol produced by blending gasoline and alcohol, the resulting product will be exempt only to the extent of the exempt hydrocarbon fuel included in the final blended product.

1. For example, if the motor fuel produced from solid hydrocarbons is blended with product containing 90 percent motor fuel produced from oil, 10 percent of the total product will be exempt from the motor fuel tax. To the extent possible, the solid hydrocarbon exemption should be claimed by the person refining or distilling the exempt product.

B. If the resulting blended motor fuel is exported from Utah or sold to a tax-exempt government agency, the exemption claimed as a result of the export or government sales must be reduced by the amount of exemption claimed for the motor fuel produced from solid hydrocarbons in Utah.

C. In order for this adjustment to be made in cases where the export or exempt sale is made by someone other than the refiner or blender, the invoice covering the sale of the fuel must designate the amount of exempt product included in the motor fuel sold. This must be shown whether sold to a licensed distributor or to an unlicensed distributor.

1. If the exempt, or partially exempt product is sold to a licensed distributor, the distributor must make the adjustment on the form used to claim credit for the government sale or the export.

2. If sold to an unlicensed distributor, the export form or government sale form submitted to a licensed distributor for a claim must contain a statement disclosing the amount of exempt motor fuel included.

3. If the records are insufficient to disclose the identity of the exempt purchaser on a direct basis, an adjustment shall be made multiplying the exempt product by a percentage factor representing the government and export sales portion of total motor fuel sales for the same period.

R865-13G-10. Exemption For Purchase of Motor Fuels by State and Local Government Agencies Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Section 59-13-201

Latest version.

(1) Sales to an Indian tribe for its exclusive use, acting in its tribal capacity, are exempt from taxation. Sales to individual tribal members, to Indian businesses operating on or off tribal territory, or to other nontribal organizations for personal use, retail sales purposes, or distribution to third parties do not qualify for the exemption for sales to Indian tribes.

(2) Licensed distributors may claim the exemption on sales to government agencies by taking the deduction on their motor fuel tax return for the month in which the sales occurred.

(a) Nonlicensed distributors making qualifying sales to government agencies must obtain credit for the exemption through the return of the licensed distributor supplying them with the fuel for the sales.

(b) A licensed distributor shall support each sale claimed as a deduction by retaining a copy of the sales invoice. The sales invoice must be in proper form and must contain sufficient information to substantiate the exemption status of the sale according to this rule.

(3) The fuel tax exemption for motor fuel sold to the United States, this state, or a political subdivision of this state shall be administered in the form of a refund if the government entity purchases the motor fuel after the tax imposed by Title 59, Chapter 13, Part 2 was paid. For refund procedures, see rule R865-13G-13.

R865-13G-11. Consistent Basis for Motor Fuel Reporting Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Section 59-13-204

Latest version.

A. Definitions:

1. "Gross gallon" means the United States volumetric gallon with a liquid capacity of 231 cubic inches.

2. "Net gallon" means the gross metered gallon with temperature correction in volume to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

B. All Utah licensed distributors shall elect to calculate the tax liability on the Utah Motor Fuel Tax Returns on a consistent and strict gross gallon or net gallon basis. The election must be declared in writing and must be sent to the Tax Commission. The declared basis must be the exclusive basis used for 12 consecutive months. Any licensed distributor failing to make an election will default to the gross gallon basis and must then report and pay the excise tax on that basis. Requests for changes in the reporting basis must be submitted in writing and approved by the Tax Commission prior to any change in the reporting basis. Changes in basis may occur only on January 1 and must remain in effect 12 consecutive months.

C. If the election is made to purchase under the net gallon basis, all invoices, bills of lading, and motor fuel tax returns must include both the gross and net gallon amounts. Conversion from gross to net must conform to the ASTM-API-IP Petroleum Measurement Tables.

D. All transactions such as purchases, sales, or deductions, reported on the Motor Fuel Tax Return must be reported on a consistent and exclusive basis. The taxpayer shall not alternate the two methods on any return or during any 12-month period.

E. This rule shall take effect January 1, 1992.

R865-13G-13. Refund of Motor Fuel Taxes Paid Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Section 59-13-201

Latest version.

(1) Governmental entities entitled to a refund for motor fuel taxes paid shall submit a completed Utah Application for Fuel Tax Refund, form TC-116, to the commission.

(2) A government entity shall retain the following records for each purchase of motor fuel for which a refund of taxes paid is claimed:

(a) name of the government entity making the purchase;

(b) license plate number of vehicle for which the motor fuel is purchased;

(d) invoice number;

(e) supplier;

(f) vendor location;

(g) fuel type purchased;

(h) number of gallons purchased; and

(i) amount of state motor fuel tax paid.

(3) Original records supporting the refund claim must be maintained by the governmental entity for three years following the year of refund.

R865-13G-15. Reduction in Motor Fuel Tax for Distributors Subject to Navajo Nation Fuel Tax Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Section 59-13-201

Latest version.

(1) The purpose of this rule is to provide procedures for administering the reduction of motor fuel tax authorized under Section 59-13-201.

(2) The reduction shall be in the form of a refund.

(3) The refund shall be available only for motor fuel:

(a) delivered to a retailer or consumer on the Utah portion of the Navajo Nation; and

(b) for which Utah motor fuel tax has been paid.

(4) The refund shall be available to a motor fuel distributor that is licensed as a distributor with the Office of the Navajo Tax Commission.

(5) The refund application may be filed on a monthly basis on the Utah Application for Fuel Tax Refund, form TC-116.

(6) Original records supporting the refund claim must be maintained by the distributor for three years following the year of refund. These records include:

(a) proof of payment of Utah motor fuel tax;

(b) proof of payment of Navajo Nation fuel tax;

(c) documentation that the motor fuel was delivered to a retailer or consumer on the Utah portion of the Navajo Nation; and

(d) a completed copy of the Navajo Tax Commission Monthly Fuel Distributor Tax Return, form 900, along with the required schedules and manifests.

R865-13G-17. Motor Fuel Tax License Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Section 59-13-203.1

Latest version.

(1) The holder of a license issued under Section 59-13-203.1 shall notify the commission:

(a) of any change of address of the business;

(b) of a change of character of the business; or

(2) The commission may determine that a person has ceased to do business or has changed that person's business address if:

(a) mail is returned as undeliverable as addressed and unable to forward;

(b) the person fails to file four consecutive motor fuel tax returns;

(d) the person fails to renew its local business license.

(3) If the requirements of Subsection (2) are met, the commission shall notify the license holder that the license will be considered invalid unless the license holder provides evidence within 15 days that the license should remain valid.

(4) A person may request the commission to reopen a motor fuel tax license that has been determined invalid under Subsection (3).

(5) The holder of a license issued under Section 59-13-203.1 shall be responsible for any motor fuel tax, interest, and penalties incurred under that license whether those taxes and fees are incurred during the time the license is valid or invalid.

R865-13G-18. Definition of Statewide Average Rack Price of a Gallon of Motor Fuel Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. Sections 59-13-201 and 59-13-210

Latest version.

(1) For purposes of the fuel tax imposed under Section 59-13-201, "statewide average rack price of a gallon of motor fuel" shall be determined by calculating the average of the Salt Lake City and Cedar City terminal prices of the average daily average net closing price of a gallon of branded regular, 10% ethanol, 9.0 Reid Vapor Pressure unleaded motor fuel for each terminal.

(2) Pursuant to Section 59-13-301, the tax rate calculated using the statewide average rack price of a gallon of motor fuel shall be the tax rate for special fuel.