Washington Administrative Code › Title 458 - Revenue, Department of › Chapter 458-12 - Property tax division-Rules for assessors › Section 458-12-060 - Listing of personal property

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
(1)
Introduction.
This rule provides information about the listing of
			 personal property subject to ad valorem taxation. This rule also provides
			 specific information about the listing of personal property by manufacturers.
			 For information about the listing of ships and vessels subject to property
			 taxation, refer to WAC
			 458-17-101.
(2)
Who is required to list personal
			 property with the county assessor?
Every person is required to list all
			 taxable (i.e., nonexempt) personal property in the person's ownership,
			 possession, or control.
			 RCW
			 84.40.185 and
			 84.40.190. Every person required
			 to list personal property must deliver to the county assessor a form listing
			 all of the person's taxable personal property that was located in the county as
			 of 12:00 p.m. on January 1st of the assessment year. The listing may be
			 delivered to the assessor either in person, by mail, or by electronic
			 transmittal (e.g., internet-based application, e-mail, or facsimile) if
			 available. The listing does not need to be signed or verified under penalty of
			 perjury. (Chapter 302, Laws of 2003.)
For purposes of this rule, the term "person" includes natural
				persons and artificial persons such as partnerships, corporations, limited
				liability companies, associations, trusts, and estates.
(a)
How should property be identified
			 on the listing form?
Each item of taxable personal property may, but
			 need not, be separately identified on the listing form. At a minimum, however,
			 each category of taxable personal property must be separately identified on the
			 listing form. For example, office equipment must be separately identified as
			 personal computers and peripherals, facsimile machines, copiers, telephone
			 equipment, office furniture, supplies, and the like.
			 RCW
			 84.08.020 and
			 84.40.040.
(b)
What other information must be
			 included in the personal property listing?
In addition to a listing of
			 all categories of taxable personal property, a listing form must also include:
(i) The year of acquisition for each category
			 of personal property; and
(ii) The
			 total original cost of each category of personal property. The value of any
			 trade-in is not to be deducted from the acquisition cost. For purposes of
			 listing taxable personal property, the total original cost includes all costs
			 associated with making the property operational but excludes sales tax. For
			 example, installation, freight, and engineering charges are costs that may be
			 incurred while placing property into operation.
			 RCW
			 84.08.020 and
			 84.40.040.
(c)
When are personal property listings
			 due?
RCW 84.40.040 provides that
			 personal property listings are due on or before April 30th. A penalty may be
			 added to the amount of tax assessed if listing is not made by the due date.
			 RCW
			 84.40.130. Refer to WAC
			 458-12-110 for detailed
			 information about the penalties imposed under
			 RCW
			 84.40.130.
(d)
How do the exemptions for household
			 goods, furnishings, and personal effects and for the head of a family affect
			 listing?
RCW 84.36.110
			 provides exemptions for the head of a family and for household goods,
			 furnishings, and personal effects. Information about these exemptions and their
			 effect on listing is provided in WAC
			 458-16-115.
(e)
What if the assessor believes that
			 an incomplete or inaccurate listing has been made?
When the assessor
			 believes that an incomplete or inaccurate listing has been made, the assessor
			 has the following options:
(i) If the assessor
			 believes that a person listing personal property for himself or herself, or on
			 behalf of a principal (e.g., any other person, company, or corporation), has
			 not made a full, fair, and complete listing of such property, the assessor may
			 examine the person under oath in regard to the amount of the property the
			 person is required to list. If the person refuses to answer under oath, the
			 assessor may list the property of that person, or of that person's principal,
			 according to the assessor's best judgment and information.
			 RCW
			 84.40.110. Any oath authorized to be
			 administered under
			 Title
			 84 RCW may be administered by
			 any assessor or deputy assessor, or by any other officer having authority to
			 administer oaths. Any person willfully making a false list, schedule, or
			 statement under oath is subject to the penalties of perjury.
			 RCW
			 84.40.120.
(ii) For the purpose of verifying any list,
			 statement, or schedule required to be furnished to the assessor by any
			 taxpayer, any assessor or the assessor's trained and qualified deputy may
			 visit, investigate, and examine any personal property at any reasonable time.
			 For the purposes of this verification, the records, accounts, and inventories,
			 which will aid in determining the amount and valuation of the property, will
			 also be subject to visitation, investigation, and examination. The visitation,
			 investigation, and examination may be performed at any office of the taxpayer
			 in this state. The taxpayer is required to furnish or make available all the
			 information pertaining to property in this state to the assessor even though
			 the records may be maintained at any office outside this state.
			 RCW
			 84.40.340.
(f)
What if the owner of personal
			 property moves to another county or into this state after January 1st?
The owner of taxable personal property who moves from one county to another
			 between January 1st and July 1st will be assessed in the county whose assessor
			 first calls upon the owner to make a listing. The owner of personal property
			 who moves into this state from another state between January 1st and July 1st
			 must make a listing of taxable personal property that the person owned on
			 January 1st of the assessment year with the assessor in the county in which the
			 person resides.
If the owner of personal property moves to another county or
				into this state after January 1st and can satisfy the assessor that the owner's
				property has been assessed and will be held liable for the tax on the current
				year in another state or county, the owner cannot be assessed again for the
				current year.
				RCW
				84.44.080.