Frequently Asked Questions Brochure
Transcription
Frequently Asked Questions Brochure
Additional Suggestions for Filing Always SIGN and DATE your tax return form. Use the original tax return mailed to the taxpayer with name, parcel number and barcode pre-printed. Complete each section in detail, including your phone number. Frequently Asked Questions Important Dates During the Tax Year If you must use a computer prepared tax return form, include the parcel number assigned by the Property Appraiser. Attach a listing of the assets or depreciation schedule to your tax return. January 1st Historic St. Johns County Sharon Outland, Property Appraiser Provide the actual physical location of the assets as requested in line two. Do not use vague terms such as "average" and "various". Since depreciation on items will vary, it is to your advantage to provide as much detail as possible. Please call (904) 827-5508 if you have any questions while preparing your return. April 1st Deadline for filing tangible Report any assets that have been physically removed or added prior to January 1st. Assessment date Tax returns mailed to taxpayers Tangible Personal Property Department 4030 Lewis Speedway, Suite 203 Saint Augustine, FL 32084 Phone: (904) 827-5508 Fax: (904) 827-5580 Web Site: www.sjcpa.us Email: [email protected] Office Hours: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday (excluding holidays) personal property tax returns without penalty August Notice of proposed taxes mailed (Truth in Millage/TRIM) September Deadline for filing appeals to the Value Adjustment Board (actual date varies) November Tax bills mailed by Tax Collector’s Office Historic St. Johns County Sharon Outland, Property Appraiser Frequently Asked Questions What is tangible personal property? Tangible personal property is everything that is not real estate (land, buildings and improvements). It includes furniture, fixtures, tools, computer equipment, machinery, office equipment, supplies, leasehold improvements, leased equipment, signage, and any other equipment used in a business. Furniture and fixtures used in a rental unit (condo, apartment, house, etc.) are taxable. Who must file a tax return? All owners of tangible personal property on January 1st are required to file a tax return form DR-405 listing their property by April 1st each year in compliance with Florida Statutes 193.052 and 193.062. Return forms are mailed to taxpayers in early January. Businesses: Any business owner or self-employed contractor who owns tangible personal property, or that loan, lease or rent personal property must report such property. Mobile Home Owners: Owners of mobile homes having attachments being placed on the tax roll for the first year are required to file a tax return listing these attachments. No tax return is required for subsequent years. Rental Unit Owners: Furniture and fixtures in rental condominiums and apartments must be reported. Why must a tax return be filed? Florida law requires that all tangible personal property be reported each year to the Property Appraiser's Office. It is the duty of the Property Appraiser to assess all tangible property in St. Johns County. To facilitate this process, tax return forms are mailed to all taxpayers whom this office determines may have property to report. If you receive a tax return form and feel that the form does not apply to you, return it with an explanation. All forms must be returned. How can I obtain the tax return form? Tax return forms are mailed in early January to all property owners of record. If you do not receive a tax return form, please contact our office or obtain a DR-405 tax return form through a link on our website: www.sjcpa.us. Failure to receive a tax return form does not relieve you of the obligation to file. Please submit your completed return, along with any Excel spreadsheets and other supporting documentation, to [email protected] or to the following address: Saint Johns County Property Appraiser’s Office 4030 Lewis Speedway, Suite 203 Saint Augustine, Florida 32084 Attention: TPP How do I qualify for the $25,000 exemption on tangible personal property? In the initial year of qualification, you must file the DR-405 tax return form. This form will serve as your application to receive the $25,000 exemption. What about old equipment that is fully depreciated and no longer on my books? All personal property in your possession on January 1st must be reported even if fully depreciated on the books. Additionally, property that has been expensed under IRS Section 179 must also be reported. Do I have to report assets that I lease, rent or borrow from someone else? Yes. There is a section on the tax return form specifically for such items. You should list the name, address and other required information of the person or firm from whom you lease the equipment. If I rent my furnished home or condo for a few months during the year, do I have to file a tangible personal property tax return? Yes. You should report household furnishings such as: furniture, window treatments, fans, artwork, bedding, and appliances excluding refrigerator, dishwasher, water heater and range/oven. If I own my mobile home, but not the land, what am I required to do? In this case you are required to purchase a tag for your mobile home from the St Johns County Tax Collector's Office. Attachments such as garages, carports, sheds, screened or glassed patios are tangible personal property, and must be listed on a tax return filed with the Property Appraiser's Office the first year the attachments are completed. For subsequent years only changes, additions or removals must be reported. What happens if I do not file my tangible personal property tax return? If a tax return is not filed, this office is still required to place an assessed value on the property. We will estimate the value based on businesses with similar equipment. You will be penalized 25% of the value for failure to file and will not receive the $25,000 exemption. If I am no longer in business, am I required to file? If you were not in business on January 1st of the tax year, please indicate in writing or by email the date you went out of business and manner in which the assets were disposed of. If the business was sold, provide the name of the new owner and date sold. You may download a Declaration of Closed Business form from our website.