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Utah County, UT Hotels & Lodging: Transient Occupancy Tax (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Tax rate
4.5% of room charges
Covers
Motels, hotels, inns, tourist homes, trailer courts
Collected by
Utah State Tax Commission
Funds go to
Convention Bureau Special Reserve Fund
Appeal deadline
30 days, filed with County Auditor
Governing section
UCC 3.01.040
Applies only in
Unincorporated Utah County

Summary

Unincorporated Utah County levies a 4.5% transient room tax on hotels, motels, inns, tourist homes and trailer courts under UCC 3.01.040. The Utah State Tax Commission collects it alongside sales tax and remits proceeds to the County's Convention Bureau Special Reserve Fund.

City-specific rules exist: Orem, Provo, and Lehi have their own transient occupancy tax rules that differ from Utah County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

There is hereby levied on all persons, companies, corporations, or other like and similar persons, groups or organizations doing business in the County as motor courts, tourist homes, motels, hotels, inns, trailer courts or like and similar public accommodations a transient room tax at the rate of four and one half percent (4.5%) of the amounts paid or charged for short-term rentals of tourist home, hotel, motel, or trailer court accommodations and services.

Full Breakdown

5% of amounts paid for accommodations and services. This applies only within unincorporated Utah County; Provo, Orem, Lehi and the county's other incorporated cities administer their own transient room taxes separately. 050 excludes from the taxable rent any state or other governmental sales/use tax already charged and any receipts for food, beverage or room-service charges billed alongside the room. A retailer already holding an annual sales tax license under Utah Code Section 59-12-106 does not need a separate county license but must give the County a copy of that license within 30 days of the ordinance's effective date. 020. 090.

Violations & Fines

Under UCC 3.01.110, any operator who fails to file a required tax return, fails to pay the tax due, or pays late is subject to penalties and interest imposed under Utah Code Sections 59-1-401 and 59-1-402, as updated by County Ordinance 2022-971 on October 12, 2022. A taxpayer disputing an assessment or a Notice of Deficiency must file a written Request for Redetermination and Hearing with the Utah County Auditor within 30 days under Section 3.01.100, with further administrative appeal rights under state law.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Utah County's transient room tax rate?
Unincorporated Utah County charges a 4.5% transient room tax on amounts paid for motor courts, tourist homes, motels, hotels, inns and trailer courts under UCC 3.01.040. The rate is capped at 4.5% by Utah Code Chapter 59-12 Part 3, which the county ordinance tracks exactly.
Does this tax apply in Provo or Orem?
No. Utah County's transient room tax under Chapter 3.01 only reaches unincorporated areas of the county. Provo, Orem, Lehi, American Fork and the county's other incorporated cities administer and collect their own transient room taxes independently under their own municipal codes.
Who actually collects the tax from guests?
The operator collects it from guests, but the Utah State Tax Commission handles filing, collection and remittance to the county under Utah Code Section 59-12-302, per UCC 3.01.090. The Commission also audits records under Section 59-12-209 as authorized by UCC 3.01.080.
What happens if an operator doesn't pay on time?
UCC 3.01.110 subjects late filers and non-payers to penalties and interest under Utah Code Sections 59-1-401 and 59-1-402, with the penalty schedule last updated by County Ordinance 2022-971 on October 12, 2022. Operators disputing a deficiency notice have 30 days to request a hearing.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Utah County

All Utah County rules

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