The Assessor is required to annually assess most taxable personal property at 100% of its fair market value on the lien date. We often rely on various trade publications and "Blue Books" that provide current, open market sales prices and/or cost data for various types of new and used equipment. Often actual owner-reported costs are trended forward to a present replacement cost estimate using trending tables provided by the State Board of Equalizations or developed in-house. The trended costs are then reduced to reflect normal or actual depreciation to arrive at a market value estimate.

If you were the owner as of January 1st (the lien date), you are responsible for the taxes for the full year. 

If you sold or disposed of the property before that date, please return the form with the date of sale and who the buyer is to the Assessor's Office or provide an explanation of what happened to the property you no longer have in your possession.

Yes, a business does not have to be in open for its taxable business property to be subject to assessment.

Agricultural Business Personal Property is property owned or leased by a business. This does not include real property, which is separately assessed. Business inventory is considered personal property, but it is 100% exempt from taxation. Business Personal Property and fixtures are valued annually as of the January 1st lien date.

Examples of business personal property include all supplies, equipment and fixtures used in the operation of a business.

The California Constitution states in part, "Unless otherwise provided by the Constitution or the laws of the United States, All property is taxable..."  That means that, unless otherwise exempted, tangible personal property owned, claimed, possessed or controlled in the conduct of a profession, trade or business may be subject to property taxes, as well as privately or business owned boats and aircraft.

For Agricultural business equipment you received as a gift, report your estimate of its current market value on the Agricultural Property Statement, or what you think it would sell for on the open market. Enter the estimated value in the most current year's cost line and add a note indicating that the value entered is an estimate.

If you have moved or changed your business mailing address, draw a single line through the incorrect information (Please DO NOT make the pre-printed information unreadable), then clearly print the new information on the form. Provide the effective date of the move or the date the change became effective. If you sold the business, include the new owner's name and address. If you closed the business, provide the date you closed and information relating to the sale or disposal of any personal property. Complete the Agricultural Business Property Statement, sign and return to our office.

You were sent a statement because our records indicate that you were in business on the lien date January 1st. We are required to assess any taxable business personal property in your possession on that date.

If the Assessor's Office sends you an Agricultural Property Statement, the law requires that you complete, sign, and return the statement to the Assessor's Office within the time period specified. In addition, any business that owns personal property and/or fixtures having a total combined value of $100,00 or more is required to file a Agricultural Property Statement, whether the Assessor sends the statement or not.