Senate Committee recommends Commissioner Dixon

The Utah Senate Revenue and Taxation Confirmation Committee unanimously recommended Commissioner D'Arcy Dixon Pignanelli to a second 4-year term to the Utah State Tax Commission.
Senators Curtis Bramble, Howard Stephenson, Benjamin McAdams and Wayne Niederhauser voted to send Commissioner Dixon Pignanelli's name to the full State Senate for confirmation.
Commissioner Dixon Pignanelli was originally appointed to fill the unexpired term of Palmer DePaulis in March 2006. She was appointed to her first 4-year term in 2007.
She was praised by the Senate committee for her independence in applying the rule of law on her tax decisions.
Commission Chair Bruce Johnson complimented his fellow commissioner for her independence and also for her determination to implement the redaction program on the Tax Commission website.
To provide general guidance for taxpayers, under Commissioner Dixon Pignanelli's direction, the Tax Commission redacts confidential information from orders involving statutory interpretation, substantive case law and new or complex issues and posts them on the website.
Senator Bramble noted that the committee had received several letters of recommendation from business and taxpayer groups advocating Commissioner Dixon Pignanelli's reappointment to the Commission. Commissioner Dixon Pignanelli previously served as the director of Administrative Services and has a career in serving in both the public and private sectors.

Renew vehicle registraion w/mobile phone

It was just launched in March, but people already are taking advantage of a smart phone app to renew vehicle registrations.

Residents are now able to renew vehicle registration at any time using their iPad, Blackberry, or Andorid.

The Utah DMV is continually looking for ways to make the vehicle renewal process more convenient for our citizens.

With registrations renewals, there is really no need to come to our office. You can do it by snail-mail, online with your computer or mobile phone or at one of our On-The-Spot business locations.

In addition to your name and zip code, you simply enter the license plate number and last eight digits of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to begin the step-by-step process.

"Online vehicle registration has been extremely successful in Utah," says Barry Conover, executive director of the State Tax Commission.

"We recognize that citizens are busy and are increasingly utilizing mobile technology to conduct business transactions at their convenience," he adds.

Being part of the mobile innovation and expansion will also help the DMV realize more efficiences.

These actions save our citizens time and money while reducing DMV operation costs.

It has taken seven months, an intense round of interviews, consent from the Governor and confirmation by the State Senate, but today Barry Conover is officially the executive director of the Utah State Tax Commission.

"We all know Barry and we all like Barry," Commission Chair R. Bruce Johnson told a comittee of State Senators. "But we did not hire Barry because we know him and like him."

"We hired him because after an extensive search, he was found to be the best person to lead the Tax Commission," the Commission Chair explained to the Senators who unanimously recommended him for Senate confirmation.

Mr. Conover, a 38-year veteran of the Tax Commission, replaces Rodney Marrelli who passed away Oct. 30, 2010.

He expressed his support to the division directors, managers and supervisors leading the 652 full-time Tax Commission employees. The new executive director also expressed appreciation to his wife, Kathleen, the Commissioners, Governor, and State Senate for his support.

In expressing his support to the employees, he noted that Tax Commission employees impact the lives of Utah citizens more than any other state agency.

National group honors Rod Marrelli posthumously

A national tax policy group honored former Tax Commission executive director Rod Marrelli posthumosly with a special leadership aware.
The FTA Executive Committee honored Mr. Marrelli, last week. He served as the chief administrator of the agency, managing its day-to-day operations, from 1994 until his death last October.
"We are pleased to hear of this honor give to Rod," said Barry Conover, interim USTC executive director. "It is another recognition of this great man's commitment and accomplishment.
Mr. Marrelli was a member of the FTA Board of Trustees and was an active participant with the Multistate Tax Commission.
He also served as president of the Western States Association of Tax Administrators and was involved in the Northwest Regional Sales Tax Project, the forerunner for the Streamlined Sales Tax project.

Take advantage of TAP

The Utah State Tax Commission has several different systems for filing and paying taxes online. To make the process easier, we are consolidating many of those various services into one system, called Taxpayer Access Point, or TAP.

As part of this consolidation, beginning June 27, 2011, TAP will replace the current WebExpress system to file, pay, and manage the following taxes:

· Cigarette and Tobacco – mandatory electronic filing
· Corporate – view and pay only
· Fuels – view and pay only
· Municipal Energy - mandatory electronic filing
· Other Miscellaneous Taxes – pay only
· Withholding – file, pay, and upload

If you currently use WebExpress, please register in TAP by visiting https://tap.tax.utah.gov/TaxExpress/TAP.htm on or after June 27. Registering early will help prevent filing and payment delays. You will need your FEIN and 14-character account number (12345678-003-ABC).

As always, you can get to any of our online systems at taxexpress.utah.gov. This would be a good site to bookmark.

Interim executive director appointed

Utah State Tax Commissioners appointed Barry C. Conover interim executive director of the agency Tuesday.

Mr. Conover, 63, has served as deputy executive director for 23 years. He fills the position left vacant at the death of Rodney G. Marrelli. The appointment is for up to three months.

“I appreciate the confidence of the Commissioners and look forward to this opportunity,” Mr. Conover said.

Mr. Conover holds a bachelor’s of science degree in Sociology from Brigham Young University and has served in a variety of leadership positions with Tax Commission since 1973. He has been lauded for his success the past five years as the project leader of the modernization of the Commission’s major tax systems.

"We appreciate Barry's service, devotion and assistance to Rod Marrelli and to the Tax Commission during the last few years,” said Commission Chair R. Bruce Johnson. “We are confident that Barry will uphold the high ideals Rod personified."

Our friend and leader passes away

Tax Commission employees lost a great friend and colleague Saturday with the passing of Rodney G. Marrelli, our executive director.

The citizens of Utah lost a dedicated public servant whose integrity was beyond reproach and a leader who kept the best interest of the taxpayer at the forefront of every decision he made.

Rod served diligently for nearly 17 nears in a position that requires a sharp intellect, broad vision, skillfull communication and strong management.

The strides Utah made under his leadership in the areas of modernizing the State's computer tax systems and online options are recognized nationally.

Within a few days of Rod's death, our Commission Chair Bruce Johnson received condolenses from state tax leaders throughout the United States.

Rod will be remembered by the 750 employees at the Tax Commission for his strong leadership, broad vision, clear communication and witty sense of humor.

Rod was appointed by Gov. Michael O. Leavitt in 1994 when the Internet was in its infancy, personal computers a luxury and "brick" cell phones were coveted.

In the Salt Lake Tribune, Gov. Leavitt said, "Rod's policy legacy will be his emphasis of compliance over enfrocement, his protection of "Main Street" retailers and fairness through sales tax simplification and his more than decade-long effort to modernize the state's outdated computer systems."

I admired Rod's diligence in keeping his nose to grind while battling cancer and all its ugly components without ever mumbling a negative word. Even during the final months of his life, Rod placed his public trust above his personal comfort.

"Do it right the first time" was more than a goal on an employee poster, it was a creed emblazoned in Rod's daily work ethic.

We will miss you, Rod.

Peace, love and all that Jazz,
Charlie