Personal Property
Information


Personal Property Tax

 Department of Revenue's Website

Personal Property Valuation Guidelines

The Personal Property Valuation Guidelines are posted on the Department of Revenue’s website.  The Indicators can be accessed by clicking on the above links, and are available in a PDF format.

Personal property in Washington is subject to property tax just like real property.  Although most personal property is subject to the same tax rate as real property, the distinguishing characteristic of personal property is its mobility.

In general, real property includes land, improvements to land, structures and certain equipment affixed to structures.  Personal property includes machinery, equipment, furniture and supplies of businesses and farmers, and improvements to land that is leased from the government.  Household goods, certain intangibles, and business inventories are specifically exempt from personal property tax. 

Affidavits:

Property owners are required to file an annual listing of all taxable personal property that was located in the county as of January 1 of the current year by April 30.  Owners of personal property must list each item, its acquisition cost and the year acquired for all taxable personal property.  The Assessor then determines the value for assessment purposes based on the information provided.  Should an affidavit not be provided, the Assessor is required to estimate the value of all personal property based on the best information available.

The affidavit must: 

  • Identify each personal property category.  For example, office equipment must be separately identified as computers, desks, facsimile machines, etc.

  • Include date of acquisition for each item.

  • Total purchase cost of each item, excluding sales tax.  The total purchase cost of an item includes all costs associated with making the property operational. For example, installation, freight and engineering charges are costs that may be incurred while placing property into operation.  The value of any trade-ins is to be included as part of the total purchase cost.

  • Include supplies on hand as of January 1, including office and retail (cash register  tapes, bags, etc.) supplies.

Once property is assessed and listed on the tax rolls, the Assessor mails the property owner a new affidavit at the beginning of each calendar year.  The property owner must verify the list, add or delete property as appropriate, sign and return the affidavit to the County Assessor by      April 30th.

Please note: property owners are responsible for filing a personal property affidavit every year, even if the property owner does not receive an affidavit in the mail.

Penalty for Failing to File Affidavit:

The Assessor may impose a penalty if the personal property affidavit is filed late.  The penalty is five percent of the tax due per month, up to maximum penalty of 25 percent.  In the event that an owner does not file or report personal property, the Assessor is required to estimate the value of personal property based on the best information available to them.

Payment of Property Taxes:

The person who owns the property as of January 1 of the assessment year owes the tax.  The tax is due even if the business closes and the owner sells or transfers the property prior to the end of the year.  (For example if you owned the business on 1/1/2004 you are responsible for the 2005 taxes.)  It is important to notify the Assessor in advance of any business closure or sale of personal property.

It is important to note the lien follows the property.  This means a new owner can be held liable if the previous owner did not pay the tax.

For more information, contact the Pacific County Assessor’s Office at (360) 875-9300 Ext. 2203 or e-mail cwilliams@co.pacific.wa.us, or see the Department of Revenue website at www.dor.wa.gov.

 

  



 ASSESSOR HOME | INFORMATION ON THIS SITE | PACIFIC COUNTY HOME | TAXSIFTER | LEVY WORKSHEETS


Pacific County