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WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Valuaon
The assessor values the property at 100 percent of its
current market value. Market, or true and fair value, is the
amount that a willing and unobligated buyer will pay a
willing and unobligated seller. Aer performing a personal
property assessment, the assessor informs the property
owner of the assessed value.
Penalty for failing to le
To avoid a penalty, the assessor must receive your lisng
form by April 30. If the assessor does not receive your
form, they will esmate the value of the property based
on the best informaon available and may apply a
penalty.
Appeal of assessed value
You should contact the assessor’s oce if you believe an
assessment is incorrect. The assessor, or their
representave, can explain how the value was determined
and make correcons if appropriate.
If you sll believe the assessment is incorrect or excessive,
you have the right to appeal the assessment to the local
county board of equalizaon. Appeal forms are available
from your local county assessor’s oce.
The appeal (peon) must be led by July 1 of the
assessment year or within 30 days of the date the
assessment was mailed, whichever is later. Some counes
have extended the ling deadline to 60 days. Please check
with the board of equalizaon in the county where the
property is located to determine the ling deadline for
the appeal.
Tax liens
The amount of tax due becomes a lien on personal
property. The lien is in eect from the me the assessor
makes the assessment unl the taxes are paid. For
example, an assessor values personal property in June,
and the lien is in eect unl the taxes are paid on April 30
of the following year.
If the tax remains unpaid, the treasurer may place a lien
on the owner’s other real and personal property.
Payment of property taxes
Property tax payments are due by April 30 and October
31. If the amount of tax due is $50 or less, full payment is
due by April 30. If the tax due is more than $50, half of
the amount due may be paid by April 30 and the balance
by October 31. Personal property tax payments made
aer the due date are subject to interest and may also be
subject to a penalty. The county treasurer mails property
tax statements every February.
The owner of the property on January 1 of the
assessment year owes the tax due the following year. The
tax is due even if the business closes, or the property is
sold or transferred before the end of the year. For
example, a property owner submits a list of personal
property held as of January 1, 2010, and then sells the
property in July 2010. The property owner (seller) owes
the full amount of taxes due in 2011 for the 2010
assessment year.
The lien follows the property. This means that a new
owner can be held liable if the previous owner does not
pay the tax. Be sure to check with your local county
treasurer’s oce before buying or selling personal
property.
Distraint (seizure) of property/ advance payment
requirement
If property taxes are not paid on me, the treasurer may
take control of the personal property unl the taxes are
paid. The treasurer may also seize the property or require
an immediate tax payment and/or advance payment if it is
alleged that the property will be sold, destroyed, or
removed from the state or county before the tax is paid.
(RCW 84.56.070)
Taxable personal property
Unless specically exempt, all tangible personal property
is subject to personal property tax. The major categories
of taxable personal property include the following:
Machinery and equipment, trade xtures, and
furniture
Most machinery, equipment, and trade xtures are
considered personal property unless permanently axed
to real property. Personal property is generally
considered permanently axed to real property if it
cannot be removed without causing damage to the real
property, or if it is adapted for use only in one locaon.
The assessor’s oce can answer quesons about whether
a specic item is taxable as real or personal property.