The deal - which would allow the House and Senate to each cut $105 million as it chooses with full support from Republicans in the other body - will be voted on next week by the full GOP caucuses that control the Legislature.

"We want to get soccer and [school] vouchers out of the way before we take that on," said House Revenue and Taxation Committee Chairman John Dougall, R-Highland.

One crucial aspect of the deal, however, has been reached between the leaders of the two houses, Senate President John Valentine said. "Whatever the tax cuts, they all will be built into one bill," he said. "It's going to be combined omnibus bill. It's going to be painful to read it, but it'll be one bill."

At this point in negotiations, Valentine said, a major hang-up for senators is that some think a $210 million tax cut is too high. "That issue is a sticking point," Valentine said.

House members think the foundation for that combined tax cut bill could be Dougall's HB123, which has already been introduced in the House. The proposal would offer a "sales-tax credit" taken from the general fund to encourage a third of filers to switch to a 4.9 percent flat tax. As HB123 stands, it would return about $300 million to taxpayers.

"It offers cuts from income tax and cuts from sales tax. You could argue it has something for everyone," Dougall said.

Another hurdle in the House and Senate coming to agreement is history. Last year, a mid-session tax cut deal between Republican lawmakers and the governor collapsed in the House, leaving many senators feeling betrayed.

This year, both sides are optimistic an acrimonious replay can be avoided. A big step toward "healing," leaders say, was the Senate's cooperation and good will on the Salt Lake Real soccer deal.

"Soccer was an issue that was very important for the House and not so big for the Senate. The Senate worked diligently and hard and were ahead of the House," said House Majority Leader David Clark, R-Santa Clara. "It went a long way to heal the wound. It built great trust with the Senate."

Another way to put it is the Senate, led by Valentine, now has a pile of chips to cash in with House Speaker Greg Curtis.

Faced with a $1.6 billion revenue surplus when the session began, the House Republicans called for $300 million in tax cuts, without specifying details.

The Senate GOP Caucus followed with a goal of $150 million in reductions.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. is pushing for a 5 percent flat rate income tax change that would return $110 million to taxpayers.