Commercial & Business Property
Utah Commercial Property Tax Appeals
Office, retail, industrial, multifamily, and special-purpose buildings in Utah are frequently over-assessed. Here's how commercial assessments work, the deadline to challenge yours, and what it takes to win.
How commercial is assessed
Utah assesses at 100% of market value. The 45% residential exemption does not apply to commercial, so business property is taxed on full value.
Burden of proof
The property owner (or their authorized agent) bears the burden of proving the assessment exceeds market value. The assessor's value is presumed correct until rebutted with credible evidence.
Key to a Utah commercial appeal: No residential exemption on commercial
Commercial sees none of the 45% residential taxable-value reduction, so full market value hits the bill. Appeal to the County Board of Equalization (deadline ~Sep 15).
Utah Filing Deadline & Where to File
File With
County Board of Equalization
Deadline
September 15 (or within 45 days of notice for revaluation years)
Window Opens
After valuation notices (varies by county, typically mid-year)
Typical Duration
2–4 months
Utah assesses at 100% of fair market value. Primary residential gets 45% reduction in taxable value. Circuit Breaker program for low-income seniors.
How commercial value is proven
Income-producing commercial property is usually valued by capitalizing net operating income (NOI ÷ market cap rate). The strongest appeals come with a clean rent roll, a trailing-12-month operating statement, current vacancy, and market cap-rate support. Where the property is owner-occupied or special-purpose, the cost and sales-comparison approaches carry more weight.
Evidence that wins a commercial appeal
- Current rent roll and a trailing-12-month operating statement
- Actual vacancy and collection loss (vs the assessor's stabilized assumption)
- Market capitalization rate support for the property type and submarket
- Recent arm's-length sales of comparable commercial buildings
- Evidence of physical, functional, or economic obsolescence
- Any change in use, tenancy, or condition since the assessment date
How to appeal a commercial assessment in Utah
- 1Pull the assessment — confirm the assessed value, the assessment ratio/class, and how the assessor derived it (income, cost, or sales).
- 2Build the valuation — capitalize actual net operating income and gather comparable sales to establish market value as of the assessment date.
- 3File before the deadline — submit to County Board of Equalization by September 15 (or within 45 days of notice for revaluation years), with the authorization signed by someone able to bind the owning entity.
- 4Present at the hearing — commercial hearings are evidence-driven; a clean income approach and credible comps carry the day.
Think your Utah commercial property is over-assessed?
We pull the assessment, build the income-approach case, and file the appeal. Fee: 20% of first-year savings — only if we win. Nothing upfront, and the reduction can hold for years.
Assessment ratios, class rates, and deadlines in Utah are set by statute and can change year to year, and often vary by county or municipality. Verify current figures and dates with your county assessor or clerk of the board before filing. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. TaxedFairly is a product of WebLab LLC.