The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-06-13
NEW ASSESSMENT Law.
from the CompfroIIer.


NEW ASSESSMENT LAW.
Circular from tine Comptroller.
To tss Tag Assesso,s and Tag Pqgers Of tke State:
tIensTal npon ali n,,b %1 ohe
to me in the construction OF the assessment
law, submit the following for the instruc-
ton of the Tax Assessors, and information
of the taxpayers of the State:
l. 1t is not necessary for the Assessors to
furnish schedule to, and require return
and not over thousand dollars worth of
personal property. All such, however,
should be reported by the Assessor on his
assessment book for the payment of a poll
tax. Before reporting person for the pay
ment OF only poll tax, the Assessor should
be fully satisfied, either from his own know
ledge or the best information he can obtain,
that such person has no real estate, and not
over thousand dollars worth Of personal
property.
Ifthe Assessor has a reasonable doubt up
on this point, he should furnish the citizen
with blank schedule, and require of him
il shows no real estate and not more than a
thousand dollars worth of personally,
should be entered upon his assessment book
and otherwise be treated as any other re-
turned schedule, unless the Assessor is fully
satisfied of its correctness. Each person
owning real estate should be furnished with
a schedule and required to return his real
ty. 1t is the duty of the Assessor to furnish
blank schedules to the TAXPAYERS, but the
failure OF the Assessor 10 DO SO does not
lieve the taxpayer from the duty of return
ing his property nor from the penalties
imposed on those failing to make a return.
2. Property is to be assessed to the party
who owned or claimed to own it on the IOtq
day OF January. Any change Of property
or ownership since that time does not affect
this rule.
3. II a religious, charitable, scientific,
literary or educational institution has more
than fifty thousand dollars worth of proper
ty, the excess in value is taxable, though
used for tie purpose for which such institu-
ton was created.
4. II an AGRICULTURAL or mechanical associa-
ton owns real estate, worth more than ten
thousand dollars, the excess in Yalue is tax
able, though used for agricultural or me
chanical purposes.
II the Assessor has reasonable doubt about
the property owned by any of the inStitu-
tions mentioned in the third paragraph be-
ing of less value than fifty thousand dollars,
or about the real estate owned by any agri-
cultural or mechanical association being of
less value than ten thousand dollars, he
tuition or 6sAoeiation, blank schedule, and
require return OF tue property Ofthe insti-
tuition or association, which return, even
scribed above, should be entered upon his
assessment book, and otherwise treated as
any other schedule, unless the Assessor is
fully satisfied of its correctness,
). Any person entitled to an exemption,
must claim 1t in the district or ward where
ton or association, where IL is located. If
such person has in the district or ward
where such exemption is claimed, property
entitledto exemption less in value than the
amount of the exemption, and also proper
ty entitled to exemption in another district
or ward, he may obtain certlhcate from
claimed of the amount of the exemption re-
ceiVed on the schedule returned to him,
and upon presentation of the certificate to
the Assessor of another district or ward
where he has property entitled to exemp-
ton, said person may be allowed the bal
ance of the exemption to which he is EMIT
led. The Assessor last allowing such re-
mainder of exemption must attach the GER
tifioate OF the first Assessor to the schedule,
and return il, with the schedule to the
County Court Clerk, No exemption is to be
allowed in any other district or ward than
where the applicant resides without such
certificate from the Assessor of his district.
Ifn merchant has not a thousand dollars
worth of personal property outside of his
business as merchant, then he IS entitled
to an exemption before the County Court
Clerk. But to obtain that, he must bring to
the Clerk the statement OF the Assessor of
the district or ward where he resides, show
ing the amount of the exemption he has re-
ceived. The Clerk will then allow him
the remainder of the exemption to which
he Is entItled, and will 6le with his return
the statement Of the Assessor.
q. All growing crops. Of whatever nature
or kind, are exempt from taxation, SO, al !
SO, is the direct product Of the soil of this /
Sta,e, in the hands of the producer or his |
Immediate vendee. The latteI includes |
crops gathered. In addition, no article |
manufactured of the produce of this State |
shall be taxed otherwise than to pay in
spection fees.
= Property must be assessed in the district |
or ward in which il lies at the time of Assess-
Bent, except stocks in banks, banking asSo
Citations OF other corporations of Joint stock |
copnpanies, which have to be assessed in the /
district or yard where such bank, banking
association OF other corporation is located.
the 10th of January and the tlIns of ASSESS
ment, il must be retuEned in the ward or
district where the e person g1vinS ~ IN re
bills, accounts, and like chooses in action in
the eyes of the law, lie in the district or
ward where the owner resides, and must be
returned there if he be resident of the
state ifa nonresident, then in the district
lr ward where his agenet or attorney re-
,Ides.
s. If the description OF real estate cannot
De written out, as required by law, in the
blank form furnished by the Assessor, then
he tax payer can write II out on separate
piece of paper, and make il part of his
schedule by attaching il to the blank.
9. Uuder section Z, subsection ], of the act,
,ach bank or incorporated company must
export the amount OF capital stock paid in.
pom this amount the bank or Incorporated
,ompany Il not taxable. But unless ex-
,mpt from taxation by some other law, the
lanlS or other corporation must also report
eSteCl, bonds, bills receivable, money, real
state aud other assets, with the value OF
each. The real estate must be taxed as
lther real estate. Tits remaining assets do
lot exceed in value the amount of its capt.
al stock, they are not taxable but il they
10 exceed in value the amount of the
4
hould be taxed. Notes, due bills, negotia-
de paper, accounts and other assets, includ- |
ng cash ON hand or on deposit in this state
,r elsewhere, mentioned in section T,sub-
ection 4, refer to such as is owned by mer- |
,hants as well as other persons. 1t is not
necessary to return such az are of no value. !
Notes, accounts, etc, for rent or real estate |
ire subject TO taxation without deduction |
or Insurance, taxes and repairs of the prop
,rty. These are items which should be !
AIKEN into consideration in estimating the |
Talue OF the property. Notes given for the
purchase of property of any character are
IA able. There is no change of the law in |
his respect There are certain reductions
@ be made which are specified in treating
lfthe I'D section of the act. Notes, bonds,
took, and other securities unless exempt
ly law from taxation) or property deposited
Is cellateTals, are taxable.
II. The "OtheT assets" mentioned in sub | ,
lection of section :, refer to ''other assets
If like character TO those mentioned in |
in other su b-sectiops of the same |
ectiou. With this explanation, all the
TENS of the properly mentioned in this
ourth subsection owned Oy citizens of the
state are taxable, whether or not the notes. |
,tc., are in the Stateor are ON persons in or
nut OF the State. =
les ON persons or corporations located in |
n this State unless exempt BY the laws of
he United States or OF this State, have to be
eturned for taxation ad rdt0reai. The
mount of income from such OF these as are
huS exempt, must be returned under the |
18th subsection Of the 7Lh section. This in
months previous TO the 10Th day of January
asst. I
Is. Mules are taxable, and should be so | ,
The failure to return them will !
nbject the owner TO anindictment for pur- |
ury in swearing to a false return See OATH
Sec. l5). Such failure to return Will also au-
horize the Assessor, under Section Ii, TO in
-eStigate and make such an'assessment as
he facts warrant, and will further subject |
UGH citizen to the additional tax imposed |
N Section Is on those who cOnniVe at or
,urposely evade an assessment, or know
a in0daOnofQ assessment to /.
10 made, The Supreme Court recognizes
- Sr,oI, la0al distinction between mares I