150-303-661 (Rev. 11-21-23)
Personal Property Assessment
and Taxation
All personal property is valued at 100 percent of its
real market value unless exempt by statutes. Per-
sonal property is taxable in the county where it is
located as of the assessment date, January 1 at 1 a.m.
Taxable personal property
Taxable personal property includes machinery,
equipment, furniture, etc., used previously or pres-
ently in a business, including any property not cur-
rently used, placed in storage, or held for sale.
Statutes state that if the item of property is “affixed
to” or “erected upon” land or buildings and isn’t
“moveable,” it’s real property. Conversely, if it’s not
“affixed to” or “erected upon” land or buildings and
is “moveable,” it’s personal property. (ORS 307.010,
307.020, OAR 150-307-0010).
Moveable. Items of property that can be and are
readily moved are personal property. A desk, though
heavy, is generally considered moveable. A chair
with casters is obviously moveable. Freestanding
appliances may be heavy but are generally classed as
personal property. (OAR 150-307-0010).
Tax–exempt personal property
These items are exempt from property tax:
• Intangible personal property. Money at interest,
bonds, notes, shares of stock, business records,
computer software, surveys and designs, and the
materials on which the data are recorded (paper,
tape, film, etc.) (ORS 307.020).
• All items held exclusively for personal use.
Household goods, furniture, clothing, tools, and
equipment used exclusively for personal use in
and around your home (ORS 307.190).
• Farm animals. Livestock, poultry, fur-bearing ani-
mals, and bees (ORS 307.394).
• Inventory. Items of tangible personal property
which are or will be sold in the ordinary course of
business (materials, containers, goods in process,
and finished goods) (ORS 307.400).
• Farm machinery and equipment (OR S 3 07. 394).
• Environmentally sensitive logging equipment
(OR S 3 07. 8 2 7 ).
• Licensed vehicles other than fixed load/mobile
equipment (ORS 801.285).
Filing your personal property tax return
Each individual, partnership, firm, or corporation
that has taxable personal property must file a return
by March 15.
Major industrial properties appraised by the Oregon
Department of Revenue will report on an industrial
property return furnished by the department.
For all other accounts appraised by the county asses-
sor, a return form may be mailed to you by the county
assessor before January 1 if you were assessed the
previous year. You must report property you own
or had in your possession as of January 1 at 1 a.m.
If you don’t receive a form from the assessor, you’re
still obligated to obtain and file a personal property
tax return. There is a penalty for late filing. If you
need help completing the form, contact your county
assessor’s office.
If you sell your business, notify the county assessor
to avoid future liability on the personal property.
Penalty for late filing
If you report taxable personal property on a Confi-
dential Personal Property Return, the penalty charge
increases periodically. If your return is filed after
March 15 but on or before June 1, a penalty of 5 per-
cent of the tax will be charged. If the return is filed
after June 1 but on or before August 1, the penalty
increases to 25 percent of the tax. After August 1, the
penalty increases to 50 percent of the tax.
If you report taxable personal property along with
real property on an industrial property return sent
to us and your return is filed late, a penalty for late
filing will be $10 for each $1,000 (or fraction) of total
assessed value. This penalty won’t be less than $10 or
more than $5,000 (ORS 308.295).
Paying your tax
Property tax statements are mailed to taxpayers in
late October. You must pay at least one-third of your
tax bill by November 15 to avoid interest charges.
You receive a 3 percent discount if you pay the full
amount due by November 15. If you pay two-thirds
of the full amount by November 15, you receive a
2percent discount. If you choose to pay in thirds, the
second payment is due by February 15 and the third
by May15.
(over)
www.oregon.gov/dor
150-303-661 (Rev. 11-21-23)
Personal property taxes become a lien on July 1 against
any and all of the assessed property, as well as on per
-
sonal property assessed in the same category. The
taxes may become a lien against all personal property
owned or in the possession of the person in whose
name the property is assessed. The taxes are a debt due
and owing from the owner of the personal property.
Appeals
If you feel the county assessor has estimated the
value of your property incorrectly, you have the
right to appeal, but your appeal must be based on the
property’s value, not on the amount of taxes owed. To
receive a change in your assessment, you must con-
vince your county property valuation appeals board
that your property is incorrectly valued. You must
support your belief with evidence such as appraisal
reports and comparable sales. You also have the right
to appeal if you believe you were charged a late filing
penalty in error.
If you report your personal property on a combined
industrial property return to us, you must appeal
to the Magistrate Division of the Oregon Tax Court
instead of your county property valuation appeals
board.
For more information on property value appeals, see
How to Appeal Your Property Value, 150-303-668.
Do you have questions or need help?
www.oregon.gov/dor
questions.dor@ dor.oregon.gov
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