The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-04-03
COUNTY AUDITOR
Chief OFFICIAL
Provisions Of New Tax Law
Adopted By Assembly.

Ohio's new tax law was passed as
an emergency measure after it had
been drawn by bipartisan COM
mittee of both houses and two attor-
neys. 1t takes the place Of the Par
Whittemore law which the su-
preme court held unconstitutional and
is not in effect.
In as plain English and as simple
form as it can be told, the new tax
alton system is as follows:
The county auditor is the chief tax
ing official of each county, which is
the unit for taxation purposes. He
is the assessor Of all real estate in the
county Of which he is an elected Of
fetal. He is required annually to list
/ all property, real and personal. This
must be done by the first Monday in
August. In tabular form and alpha
betical order, he must make lists of
the "names of persons. companies,
firms, partnerships, associations and
corporations in whose names real or
personal property has been listed in
each township, city, village, special
district or separate school district in
his county" giving the description
and value of all real estate and the
aggregate value of all personal prop
erty owned by each person, firm or
corporation.
Personal property-moneys credits,
investments in bonds, stocks and the
like-is to be listed between the sec
ond Monday of April and the first
Monday of June, in each year.
Taxpayer Makes Own Returns.
The most pronounced phase of the
new law is that each taxpayer must
submit the value Of his property him
self, and is required to make oath
that his return is true and honest. In
this respect, the new law is patterned
after the federal law pertaining to in
come taxes. On printed blanks or
forms, provided by the state tax COM
mission, each property owner is re-
quired to answer list of questions,
for the purpose of giving the county
auditor full list of his taxable
property.
| EIetaDlc properly.
:. These questions must elicit the fol
lowing information: The dates and
amounts of all inventories by mer.
, chants and manufacturers within the
year preceding the second Monday il
April, with the number of months il
which each merchant and manufac
n turer was engaged in such busnes!
c during the current year; the value o.
d all raw materials in process of manu-
= facture, all finished articles, all tools
$ AMI machinery owned and leased, will
h the average monthly value of sucl
stock of merchandise, raw materials
c and finished articles; whether tn,
u person in question had any money il
= the bank, subject to check and OIL
r certificates of deposit, and how mucl
g of each; what investments in Juld
s ing and loan companies; the amount
C of credits due the person in question
n secured by liens on real estate or pei
a sonal property, and the amount O
credits owing in the form of note!
s. book accounts or other claims; tn
d total amount of all debts, includin
s. mortgage indebtedness against res
) estate; the value of all taxable bond
II and stocks; annuities and the amour
@ of the annual payments thereon
&c whether the person has puuhase
a any non-taxable property during tn
u year and If so, of whom. The lis
must also include all live stock, a
a vehicles, tools and machinery, house
u hold goods and furnishings, jewelr!
moneys, credits, stocks and bonds, an
D. nuities and the value of each.
'e Such lists of property, submitted b
the owners are subject TO the inquir
= of the assessors, who after receivin
'r their instructions from the count
es auditor, on the first Monday of Ma.
10 shall examine the lists and ascertai
" il any property has been omitted.
co the event, any property-holder sha
m refuse to list his belongings or sha
81 give false return, the auditor is en-
IT. powered to list that persons propert
n and to add to the tax the legal PEI
l. atty.
p The assessors returns--such as
shall be required to make-must
l. in the hands of the auditor not lat
is than the first Monday of June On
a before August 10, the auditor mu
es have printed list showing ,
re changes in assessments and must 70
Of ward to each person affected by 4
m change a copy of the list
nc Assessors Elective.
The new law validates the electi
u. OF assessors under the Parrett-Whitt