UT Tax & Accounting Services
Kurt Simmons CPA provides comprehensive tax and financial services to individuals and businesses throughout Utah (UT). With its thriving tech corridor and outdoor recreation economy, we understand the unique financial landscape that comes with doing business in Utah.
Under the CPA Mobility Act, our CPA — licensed in Maryland, Delaware, and Florida — is authorized to provide the full range of attestation, tax, and advisory services to Utah clients without the need for an additional state license. This means Utah individuals and businesses receive the same comprehensive service as our home-state clients: financial statement audits, tax strategy, IRS representation, virtual CFO services, and every other service we offer — delivered through our technology-forward, virtual-first practice model.
CPA Services Available in Utah (UT)
UT Individual Tax Preparation
Comprehensive federal and Utah state tax return preparation, including complex returns with investments, rental properties, and self-employment income.
Learn More →UT Business Tax Services
Tax preparation and planning for Utah-based businesses including S-Corps, C-Corps, partnerships, LLCs, and sole proprietorships.
Learn More →UT Cryptocurrency Tax
Specialized crypto tax services for Utah investors and traders. DeFi, NFTs, staking rewards, and exchange reporting handled with expertise.
Learn More →UT Trader Tax Services
Mark-to-market elections, wash sale tracking, and tax optimization strategies for active traders in Utah.
Learn More →UT IRS Resolution
Professional representation before the IRS for Utah taxpayers facing audits, collections, liens, levies, or offers in compromise.
Learn More →UT 83(b) Elections
Equity compensation planning and 83(b) election filing for Utah startup employees and founders receiving restricted stock.
Learn More →UT Financial Statement Audits
Full-scope GAAS-compliant financial statement audits for businesses, nonprofits, and organizations requiring independent assurance.
Learn More →UT Review Engagements
Limited assurance engagements providing meaningful confidence in financial statements for lender requirements and stakeholder reporting.
Learn More →UT Compilations
Professionally prepared financial statements from management-provided data for internal reporting, small business needs, and bank presentations.
Learn More →UT Agreed-Upon Procedures
Targeted, customized engagements designed to address specific areas of concern with flexible scope tailored to stakeholder needs.
Learn More →UT Employee Benefit Plan Audits
DOL-compliant audits for 401(k), pension, and employee benefit plans meeting ERISA filing requirements and fiduciary obligations.
Learn More →UT Tax Strategy & Advisory
Proactive, year-round tax planning that identifies savings opportunities. Entity structure optimization, multi-state planning, and strategic initiatives.
Learn More →UT Cost Segregation Studies
Engineering-based analysis to accelerate depreciation deductions on commercial and residential rental properties, maximizing cash flow.
Learn More →UT Virtual CFO Services
Fractional CFO capabilities including financial modeling, cash flow management, KPI dashboards, and strategic financial leadership.
Learn More →UT Business Consulting
Operational assessments, process improvement, internal control design, and strategic planning to drive efficiency and profitability.
Learn More →UT Estate & Succession Planning
Comprehensive estate planning, business succession strategies, and wealth transfer optimization for business owners and high-net-worth individuals.
Learn More →UT Capital Markets Advisory
Securities compliance, FINRA regulatory guidance, and capital markets advisory for businesses navigating public offerings, private placements, and broker-dealer requirements.
Learn More →Utah Audit Services in Detail
Utah businesses, nonprofits, federal contractors, and benefit plan sponsors typically need an independent audit when state law, federal rules, lenders, grantmakers, or boards require external assurance. We perform GAAS-compliant attest engagements scoped to the specific assurance need — most commonly:
Hill AFB & Utah Federal Contractor Audits
Hill Air Force Base (Ogden — 75th Air Base Wing; Ogden Air Logistics Complex which provides depot maintenance for F-16s, F-22s, F-35s, A-10s, ICBMs, and other major weapons systems; one of the largest U.S. Air Force installations) anchors a substantial defense contractor ecosystem in northern Utah, including Northrop Grumman Roy (Sentinel ICBM program), L3Harris, BAE Systems Ogden, and Boeing Ogden. We support Utah defense contractors with GAAS-compliant audits, indirect rate calculations and DCAA-compliant accounting systems, Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) compliance, and audits prepared for security-cleared business operations.
Utah Nonprofit Audits
Audited financial statements for UT charities are routinely required by major Utah funders — including the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation (Salt Lake City — among the largest UT private foundations), the Sorenson Legacy Foundation, the Marriner S. Eccles Foundation, the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation, the Sorenson Impact Foundation, the United Way of Salt Lake, and federal subrecipient grantors. We do not audit the LDS Church (which is not subject to nonprofit financial reporting requirements applicable to public charities) but we do work with LDS-affiliated educational and humanitarian nonprofits.
Utah 401(k) & Employee Benefit Plan Audits
Utah plan sponsors filing Form 5500 generally require an ERISA-compliant audit when the plan has 100 or more participants with account balances at the start of the plan year. We perform full-scope and §103(a)(3)(C) limited-scope benefit plan audits for 401(k), 403(b), and defined-benefit plans across Utah, including plans sponsored by Adobe Lehi (substantial Utah workforce), Qualtrics (Provo/Lehi), Domo (American Fork), Pluralsight (Draper), Ancestry (Lehi), BambooHR (Lindon), MX Technologies (Lehi), Lucid Software (South Jordan), Recursion Pharmaceuticals (SLC), Goldman Sachs Salt Lake City (one of GS's largest U.S. campuses outside NYC), Zions Bancorporation, Intermountain Healthcare, HCA Mountain Division, Vivint Smart Home, doTERRA and Young Living essential oils (Pleasant Grove area), Northrop Grumman Sentinel, Vail Resorts Park City and Deer Valley, and Utah's substantial credit union sector (Mountain America, America First).
Utah Single Audits (Uniform Guidance)
Utah nonprofits, counties, school districts, and pass-through subrecipients that expend $1,000,000 or more in federal awards in a fiscal year are subject to the Single Audit requirements of 2 CFR Part 200.
Utah Reviews & Compilations
Where a full audit is not required, we deliver review engagements (limited assurance) and compilations (no assurance) — both routinely accepted by Utah lenders (Zions Bank, Mountain America Credit Union, KeyBank Utah, America First Credit Union) and stakeholders requiring CPA-prepared financial statements.
Utah (UT) Tax & Business Landscape
Key Utah Tax Numbers. Personal income tax: 4.55% flat (reduced from 4.85% under recent reform — among the most competitive U.S. rates). Corporate income tax: 4.55% flat. Sales and use tax: 4.85% state, plus city/county/transit; combined often 6.1%–9.05%. Estate tax: none. Pass-through entity (PTE) elective tax: 4.55% flat, available since tax year 2022. Utah offers a Retirement Tax Credit for taxpayers age 65+.
Filing Mechanics. Individuals (residents and nonresidents/PY) file Form TC-40. C-corporations file Form TC-20. Partnerships and S-corps file Form TC-65. PTE election is made on partnership/S-corp returns. Returns are due April 15 and administered by the Utah State Tax Commission.
Silicon Slopes — Utah's Tech Corridor. Utah's Silicon Slopes tech corridor stretches from Salt Lake City through the Wasatch Front (Lehi, American Fork, Pleasant Grove, Draper, South Jordan, Provo) and is one of the fastest-growing U.S. tech ecosystems. Major Silicon Slopes employers include Adobe Lehi (massive Adobe campus — second only to Adobe HQ in San Jose), Qualtrics (acquired by SAP for $8B in 2018; spun back out at $12.5B), Domo (American Fork — business intelligence), Pluralsight (Draper — tech learning), Ancestry (Lehi — owned by Blackstone), BambooHR (Lindon — HR software), MX Technologies (Lehi — fintech), Lucid Software (South Jordan — Lucidchart), Recursion Pharmaceuticals (SLC — AI drug discovery), Vivint Smart Home, Weave, and many startups. We support equity-comp issues common to Silicon Slopes employees: RSU and PSU vesting, 83(b) elections for early-stage founders, ISO/NQSO exercise planning with AMT, ESPP qualifying vs. disqualifying disposition, and the multi-state issues facing remote employees of California-headquartered companies (Adobe, Workday, Salesforce, etc.) working from Utah.
Goldman Sachs Salt Lake City. Goldman Sachs operates one of its largest U.S. campuses outside New York City in downtown Salt Lake City — a strategic operations center hosting thousands of GS employees in technology, operations, internal audit, and investment management functions. We support GS Salt Lake City professionals with executive comp (RSUs, deferred comp under §409A, long-term incentive plans) and partner-track tax planning.
Park City & the Utah Ski Industry. Utah's ski industry centers on Park City Mountain Resort and Deer Valley (both operated by Vail Resorts and Alterra respectively), Snowbird, Alta, Solitude, Brighton, Sundance, and Powder Mountain — among the most prestigious U.S. ski markets. Park City and Deer Valley are among the most expensive U.S. resort real estate markets. We handle short-term rental issues including Schedule E vs. Schedule C analysis (the substantial-services test), Section 469 passive activity rules, the §469(c)(7) real estate professional safe harbor, Section 280A vacation home rules, Utah Transient Room Tax (TRT) compliance, and bonus depreciation/cost segregation planning for high-value resort properties.
Hill AFB & Utah Defense. Hill AFB (Ogden — 75th Air Base Wing) is one of the largest U.S. Air Force installations and the location of the Ogden Air Logistics Complex (depot maintenance for F-16s, F-22s, F-35s, A-10s, ICBMs). The Sentinel ICBM program (replacement for Minuteman III) is being developed by Northrop Grumman with substantial work at Hill AFB and the Roy/Clearfield region.
Utah Economy & Who We Serve. Utah's economy spans technology (Silicon Slopes — Adobe, Qualtrics, Domo, Pluralsight, Ancestry), financial services (Goldman Sachs SLC, Zions Bancorporation, the credit union sector — Mountain America, America First), healthcare (Intermountain Healthcare, HCA Mountain), tourism and skiing (Park City, Deer Valley, Snowbird, Alta; Mighty 5 national parks — Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Arches, Canyonlands), defense (Hill AFB, Sentinel ICBM program), direct selling and wellness (doTERRA, Young Living, Nature's Sunshine, Nu Skin — Utah is the U.S. center of MLM/direct-selling industry), mining (Kennecott Bingham Canyon — one of the largest open-pit copper mines), and education (BYU Provo, University of Utah, Utah State, Utah Valley University). Our typical UT clients include Silicon Slopes tech professionals, Goldman Sachs SLC executives, Park City/Deer Valley vacation rental owners, Hill AFB military and federal contractor families, real estate investors along the Wasatch Front, doTERRA/Young Living/Nu Skin direct-selling consultants, and high-net-worth families.
CPA Mobility in Utah. Utah has adopted CPA mobility provisions under the Uniform Accountancy Act. Kurt Simmons holds active CPA licenses in Maryland, Delaware, and Florida, and we confirm all applicable Utah Division of Professional Licensing mobility and firm registration requirements before commencing any engagement.
Cities and Communities We Serve. Our virtual-first practice serves clients across all of Utah, including Salt Lake City (largest city; Goldman Sachs SLC; downtown finance), West Valley City, West Jordan, Provo/Orem (BYU; Utah Valley University), Lehi (Silicon Slopes — Adobe, Qualtrics, Ancestry), American Fork (Domo), Sandy, Ogden (Hill AFB; Weber State), St. George (retiree/snowbird), Park City (resort/HNW), Layton, South Jordan (Daybreak; Lucid Software), Riverton, Logan (USU), Pleasant Grove (doTERRA), the Wasatch Front, the Wasatch Back (Park City), the Utah ski resorts, and every Utah county.
Why Utah Clients Choose Us
- GAAS-compliant audit, review, and compilation experience for nonprofits, federal contractors (Hill AFB, Sentinel ICBM), benefit plans, and privately held businesses
- Deep expertise in UT-specific issues: Utah's 4.55% flat tax, UT PTE elections, Silicon Slopes equity compensation (Adobe Lehi, Qualtrics, Domo, Pluralsight, Ancestry — RSUs, ISOs, ESPP, 83(b) elections), Goldman Sachs SLC executive compensation, Park City and Deer Valley short-term rental tax planning (Schedule E/C, §469, §280A, TRT), Hill AFB federal contractor accounting (CAS, DCAA), and Utah direct-selling industry (doTERRA, Young Living, Nu Skin) consultant tax
- Capital markets background — Kurt Simmons has passed the Series 65 examination (Passed; not currently held as an active license) in addition to holding the CPA
- Specialized practices in cryptocurrency taxation, active trader tax, and 83(b) elections for UT Silicon Slopes startup employees
- Technology-forward, virtual-first delivery — secure client portal, e-signature, and video consultations
- Transparent, fixed-fee engagements where possible — no surprise hourly invoices
Utah CPA — Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Utah-licensed CPA?
Utah has adopted CPA mobility provisions under the Uniform Accountancy Act. Kurt Simmons holds active CPA licenses in Maryland, Delaware, and Florida, and we confirm any applicable Utah Division of Professional Licensing firm-registration requirements before commencing attest engagements.
What is Utah's income tax rate?
Utah has a flat 4.55% individual and corporate income tax (reduced from 4.85% under recent reform), making it one of the most competitive rates in the country. Form TC-40 is due April 15. Utah also offers a Retirement Tax Credit for taxpayers age 65+.
Does Utah have a SALT-cap workaround?
Yes. Utah enacted an elective Pass-Through Entity Tax effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2022. Eligible S-corps and partnerships pay an entity-level tax at 4.55% on Utah-source taxable income, and members receive a corresponding credit on Form TC-40.
I work at Adobe Lehi, Qualtrics, Domo, or another Silicon Slopes company. What special tax issues apply?
Utah's Silicon Slopes corridor (Lehi, American Fork, Pleasant Grove, Provo, Draper) hosts Adobe Lehi (massive Adobe campus), Qualtrics, Domo, Pluralsight, Ancestry, BambooHR, MX Technologies, Lucid Software, Recursion Pharmaceuticals, and many startups. We handle equity-comp issues common to Silicon Slopes employees: RSU and PSU vesting, 83(b) elections for early-stage startup founders and employees, ISO/NQSO exercise planning with AMT considerations, ESPP qualifying vs. disqualifying disposition planning, and the multi-state issues facing remote employees of California-headquartered companies (Adobe, Workday, Salesforce, etc.) working from Utah.
I own a Park City or Deer Valley ski lodge or vacation rental. What special tax issues apply?
Park City, Deer Valley, and Snowbird are among the most expensive resort markets in the U.S. We handle short-term rental issues including Schedule E vs. Schedule C analysis (the substantial-services test under Reg. §1.469-1T(e)(3)(ii)), Section 469 passive activity rules, the §469(c)(7) real estate professional safe harbor, Section 280A vacation home rules (when personal use exceeds the greater of 14 days or 10% of rental days), Utah Transient Room Tax (TRT) compliance, and bonus depreciation/cost segregation planning for high-value resort properties.
I'm a Utah doTERRA, Young Living, or Nu Skin direct-seller. What special tax issues apply?
Utah is the U.S. center of the direct-selling/MLM industry, with doTERRA, Young Living, Nature's Sunshine, Nu Skin, and many other direct-sales companies headquartered in the state. Independent consultants/distributors face specialized tax issues: Schedule C self-employment reporting, distinguishing genuine business from hobby (§183), home-office deduction, mileage and travel deductions, inventory accounting under §263A, downline-payment treatment, and self-employment tax. We support Utah direct-selling consultants with comprehensive tax planning.
Do you serve Utah clients outside Salt Lake City?
Yes. Our practice is virtual-first, so we serve clients across all of Utah — including Salt Lake City (largest city; downtown finance and government), the Silicon Slopes corridor (Lehi, American Fork, Pleasant Grove, Draper, Sandy), Provo/Orem (BYU; Utah Valley University), Ogden (Hill AFB; Weber State), Park City (resort/HNW), Deer Valley, St. George (retiree/snowbird), Logan (USU), Layton, South Jordan, Riverton, and rural Utah.