Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25
MOORE REVIEWS ~r,
TAX LEGISLATION
CONTINUED from First Page.)


assessors OF land. and examiners Of
records faithfully perform tho duties
put upon them by tho act approved
March II, 1916, creating tho State Ad-
visory Board on Taxation and Local
Boards OF Review.
LOCAL BOARDS FOR
COUNTIES AND CITIES
The local boards OF review Ito be
appointed by the Judges of Circuit and
corporation Courts) are to review as
sessment; to direct the commissioners
OF the revenue TO enter the assessment
or any property, real or personal, found
TO have been omitted. to direct the
commissioners OF the revenue to correct
any entries found TO be errone0us
either as to over or differentiation; to
cancel duplicate assessments: to hear
and deternine complaints OF taxpayers
boards Of Supervisors. City or Town
councils, or other governing bodies Of
city, or any member Of those bodies
or the Commo wealth's attorney. with
respect TO unequal or unjust valuation
or assessment. and to direct corrections;
10 review assessments of real estate
made by assessors OF land. raising or
lowering the assessment, as their judg-
ment may determine.
Said board shall, upon it's own motion,
and may upon the motion OF the Board
OF Supervisors, or tho Council. or other
governing body OF city or town. or
I,
change an assessment by raising or
lowering II, II II deem the assessment
erroneous.
The local board OF review may apply
10 the Circuit Court OF a county or to
the Corporation Cor HustngsJ Court
OF city. or the Circuit Court Of a
city having no other court OF record
Tor the correction Of erroneous assess
ment OF lands or other property. either
as to over or undervaluation the at.
tOrneS 10 m
resent the board In such procedure
Inc board Is required annually to
review the reports OF purchases BY
merchants. and TO determine the proper
amount OF State license tax to be paid;
10 review the returns Of Intangible
personal property, money and income
OF all Taxpayers. Increasing or reducing
the assessed value. as their Judgment
may determine
In all this work II Is made the duty
OF the examiner OF records Of each
judicial circuit 10 assist tho board and
TO aid them in making Investigations
ana examinations.
MAY EXAMINE TAXPAYERS Il
AND OTHERS UNDER OATH
Tho board is authorized to summon
taxpayers or their agents, or any other
person having information on the sub
)ect. before them, and can require per
sons summoned n answer under oath,
and II Is made the duty OF the local
board or review. or it's chairman, upon
request OF the examiners OF record, TO
summon taxpayers or their agents or
other persons having information on
the subject, under examination
Any person, arm, corporation. agent
or witness refusing to furnish the In
formation requested In liable to a fne
OF not less than $40 nor more than 800.
each days refusal being a separate
offense.
The answers required under oath
hal
oE court Of record or by the State
ADVISORY Board on Taxation. or any
local board of review
Any person. hrm or corporation az
sriered b. the Assessment or valuation
can apply to the Circuit Court OF n /,
county or the Corporation Cor Hust- !
.ngs) Court OF A city. or the Circuit
Court OF city having no other cour,
OF record. for relief from such assess |
ment. application being made in ac- /
S6' and 5sS OF the Code OF Virginia.
commissioners OF the revenue are
required. on or before the first day of
June, 1913, and annually thereafter on
or before the first day OF April. TO place I
the tnterroRator!es relating to intangl-
bio personal property money and in
come and the reports OF purchases
o! merchants in the hands OF ex-
aniners OF records for examination
and Investigation by those onlcors, and
o.
Eether with their report TO the local
hoard OF review. The local board OF
review will report to the several com
n'issioners OF the revenue the values
upon which taxes are to be assessed
ADVISORY RATHER THAN
ARBITRARY POWERS !
The new law does not provide CEN
trail authority at the seat OF governr,en.
9!th arbitrary powers. which was
largely and properly apprehended but
provides State advisory board on
taHation.
The ascertainment and determination
of tho values of real estate and tan
Eiole personal property Ia TO be made
b. nfcials chosen by the citizens OF
tho localities and appointed by the
courts. with authority In the courts, |
upon application to raise or lower the
assessments. This Is a wise provision,
because the assessment OF this prom.
erty 10 placed in the hands OF those best
aeauainted with the property to be
assumed and best qualified to assess It, |
both with respect to individual assess
ments and with respect to the assess
mont As whole for the locality. enab-
ling tho assessing authorities to Ak
the fair market value and TO make the
assessments uniform. All OF this prop
erty ia visible and can be located for
the purpose OF taxation.
Tho discovery of and the assessment
OF intangible personal property Is
more dificult matter; therefore tho
state heraelf has undertaken to dis
cover and assess such property and
whilst the State will act through ofi-
cora chosen by the localities and an
pointad by the courts, she has laid
down SPECIFIC directions for discovering
such property and for assessing II.
Tho local boards of review must an
nually examine returns OF Intangible
PERSONAL property. income and money of
all taxpayers in their respective coun-
ties and cities as made or required to
be made. to the commissioners OF the
revenue before the taxes on intangible
personal property, income and money
are entered or extended on tho books
OF the said commissioners Of the reve-
nue.: and to this end they shall direct
tho examiner OF records Of the judicial
cucuit In which any such county or
city Is located and 1t shall be the duty
OF said examiners, in addition to the