Personal property filing deadline for 2015 is May 15
County assessor Holly Van Der Aa is reminding taxpayers (business owners, individual entrepreneurs and farmers) it is that time of year to file personal property forms. Forms can be obtained from the assessor’s office or online through www.IN.Gov/dlgf.
Indiana is a self-assessment state, thus, making the responsibility of filing the personal property forms the taxpayer’s responsibility. Personal property forms are needed for business owners and farmers. Forms are to be filed in the taxing district where the personal property is located on March 1 or the majority of the year. Failure to file the forms in a timely manner can result in penalties. Also, completion of the form is a must to avoid a $25 penalty. Some items usually overlooked are: signature, 911 addresses, federal identification number (Social Security numbers are no longer acceptable), taxing district and the business activity code.
Pursuant to legislation the township trustees no longer handle personal property or real property assessing. The assessor’s office will continue to help guide a property owner in the filing of the personal property forms during business hours. Office hours for the county assessor’s office are: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (If someone is in need of assistance through the office, plan to be in the office before 3:30 p.m.) Location of the office is in the basement of the Pulaski County Courthouse on U.S. 35, Winamac.
When filling out business or farm returns, if in need of help from the office please bring the federal depreciation schedule. Additionally while auditing personal property returns, the assessor’s office has noted that many returns have been filing “same as last year” for several years. Assessors are encouraging depreciation schedules to be brought in to assure proper filing of items are being reported in the correct pools and years.
Personal property forms are due on May 15. Extensions will not be granted due to the timetable placed upon the assessor’s office, by the State of Indiana, to get values to the auditor’s office.