Third Party Designee

• What is a Third Party Designee?
• How do I select a Third Party Designee?
• What does the designation do?
• How long does the designation last?

What is a Third Party Designee?

Sometimes a question arises when the Tax Commission is processing your tax return. Sometimes you have a question about the processing of your return, but don't know how to resolve it.

What can you do?

You may designate someone to receive calls from the Tax Commission or to make calls to the Tax Commission on your behalf to resolve these problems. You may appoint someone – a friend, family member or any other person you choose – to discuss your Utah tax return with the Tax Commission by completing the Third Party Designee information on your TC-40.

How do I select a Third Party Designee?

To designate a third party to discuss your return with the Tax Commission, all you need to do is enter the person’s name and telephone number in the "Third Party Designee" area on page 2 of your Utah return. You (or they) also need to select a personal identification number (PIN) of up to 9 digits that becomes the password to exchange information concerning your return. This is to assure that the Tax Commission does not disclose your personal tax return information to an unauthorized person.

You can designate the "third party" to be your paid preparer who signed your return by writing "Preparer" in the third party designee space on your return.

What does the designation do?

If you make entries in the "Third Party Designee" area, you, and your spouse if filing a joint return, are authorizing the Tax Commission to call the designee to answer any questions that may arise during the processing of your return. You are also authorizing the designee to:

• Give the Tax Commission any information missing from your return;
• Call the Tax Commission for information about the processing of your return or the status of your refund or payment(s);
• Receive copies of notices or transcripts related to your return, upon request; and
• Respond to certain Tax Commission notices about math errors, offsets and return preparation.

You are not authorizing the designee to receive any refund, bind you to anything (including any additional tax liability), or otherwise represent you before the Tax Commission. If you want to expand the designee's authorization, complete and submit to the Tax Commission form TC-737, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative.

How long does the designation last?

The authorization will automatically end no later than the due date (without regard to extensions) for filing your 2007 tax return. This is April 15, 2008, for most people. If you wish to revoke the authorization before it ends, submit your request in writing to the Tax Commission, attention Taxpayer Services.