Deadline for return of tax assessment list to county approaches

By Ben Holman

Nevada Herald

According to Vernon County Assessor Cherie Roberts, Vernon County residents have one month remaining to turn in their 2005 personal and business assessment lists used by the assessor's office to determine personal property taxes.

The forms, which all area residents should have received in the mail earlier this month, must be filled out with information regarding all vehicles, trailers, mobile homes, livestock and farm machinery that the taxpayer owns as of Jan. 1.

While it has been standard practice on the business form for several years, Roberts said that her office is not accepting the response, "same as last year," on the 2005 personal forms either. This is because past experience has taught her that people often forget about changes that may have taken place over the last year -- someone may not realize that the car they are driving now is not the same car that is on the 2004 assessment list.

All vehicles that require licensing, including farm-use ATVs, must be listed on the assessment form.

If they are not listed correctly, when a person tries to get tags for the vehicle that was not listed on the form, they will find that they have to fill out further paperwork and possibly pay late fees.

Roberts said that she doesn't want to make things more difficult for taxpayers, she just wants residents to be sure that they are listing thing accurately so that they avoid any possible penalties. "Someone figured out, a few years ago, that for every mistake that is made on an assessment form that needs correction, it costs Vernon County $10," she noted.

She said that if someone does not list their possessions and instead writes, "same as last year," then that's exactly what will be used for 2005 taxes. "There will be no depreciation applied if people write, 'same as last year.' They will be assessed at the same values they were for 2004."

Forms must be turned in by March 1 or late fees from $10 to $100 could apply.