Letter carriers have been busy of late, delivering more than 101,200 personal property assessment declaration forms to mailboxes all around Jefferson County.
The Jefferson County Assessor’s Office sent out the forms, which ask county residents to declare what personal property they owned as of Jan. 1.
The 2022 list of personal property each taxpayer owns is due by March 1 and for most residents asks about cars, trucks, SUVs and boats.
However, the list also asks for information about trailers, livestock, farm machinery and business-related equipment, all of which are considered taxable personal property.
That personal property list will be used to prepare personal property tax bills due by next New Year’s Eve.
Assessor Bob Boyer said it’s important for all county residents to return their list properly and promptly because about 20 percent of the property taxes paid to schools, fire protection districts and ambulance districts come from personal property.
Boyer said more and more county residents are using an electronic option to file their declarations.
This is the fourth year e-filing has been offered, and about 35,000 residents used the electronic option last year, he said.
The process to file online should take about 15 or 20 seconds for those who had the same property on Jan. 1, 2022, as they did on Jan. 1, 2021, Boyer said.
The declaration form that was recently mailed out includes a website address and PIN for those who wish to file electronically.
Those needing to add vehicles are advised to have the vehicle information number (VIN) for the new vehicle at hand.
Under state law, those who delay returning their declaration until after March 1 will be charged a late fee.
The traditional alternatives to electronic filing – mailing back the form or dropping it by the Assessor’s Office at the Jefferson County Administration Center, 729 Maple St., in Hillsboro, are still available.
Those who do not receive a property tax declaration form or who have questions about the process may call the Assessor’s Office at 636-797-5343 or send an email to ppassessor@jeffcomo.org.