Overview

By law, all tangible personal property subject to taxation must be listed and assessed as of the first of January each year in the name of the owner. Individuals, companies, and corporations that own or have tangible personal property subject to their control on January 1st , must list the property with the county appraiser on or before March 15th. When March 15th falls on a day other than a regular business day, the first business day following the deadline is considered timely.

The county appraiser may grant the taxpayer an extension to file if the taxpayer submits a request in writing on or before March 15th deadline, stating just and adequate reasons for the extension. When an extension is granted and the tax- payer fails to file by the extended deadline, penalties are calculated from March 15th deadline, not the extended deadline.

The county appraiser is required by law to apply a penalty to the assessed value of personal property that is not listed by the March 15th deadline. However, the law does not give the appraiser (or county commissioners) the authority to abate, waive or refund penalties. By law, only the State Board of Tax Appeals (BOTA) has the authority to abate or refund filing penalties whenever excusable neglect on the part of the person required to file the statement can be shown. Whenever the taxpayers do not agree with the filing penalty applied to their personal property the taxpayer must file a grievance application with the BOTA requesting that the penalty be abated or refunded. All grievance applications are filed in the county where the penalty was incurred. Grievance applications are available from the county appraiser’s office or the BOTA website here.

Commercial/Industry Machinery and Equipment

Kansas’s law requires that every business (including home based businesses) render a listing of each item that is used in that business, along with the purchase date, age at purchase and cost of each item. If you sell goods or services, or advertise your business on the internet, your personal computer and office equipment will need to be included.

Mineral Leasehold Interests (Oil & Gas)

For purposes of taxation, oil and gas leases, oil and gas wells, all casing, tubing and other equipment and materials used in operating oil and gas wells are considered personal property.

Watercraft

For valuation purposes, watercraft that is classified within the “Other” subclass of personal property is appraised at its market value as of January 1. Such water crafts includes boats, boat trailers, outboard motors and personal watercraft, just as it has in prior years.

If a sale occurs after January 1st, a proration of value, under a new law that was effective January 1, 2003, may be granted on certain types of watercraft. The type of watercraft that qualifies for proration includes any boat, boat and motor(s), and personal water- craft. The owner of record is to notify the county appraiser within 30 days of the acquisition or sale.

ATVs, Snowmobiles, Off Road Motorcycles, Motorized Bicycles (Mopeds)

Vehicles that are not designed for operation on public roads should be listed for assessment with the county appraisers office. Kansas’s statue defines a “motor vehicle” as every vehicle, other than a motorized bicycle or a motorized wheelchair, which is self –propelled. Off road vehicles such as snowmobiles, ATVs, off road motorcycles, and mopeds (50 cc or less), are appraised at market value as of January 1. ATVs used for agricultural purposes is tax exempt. The owner of record is to notify the county appraiser if purchasing or selling vehicles of these types.

Aircraft

Aircraft classified within the “Other” subclass of personal property is appraised at its market value as of January 1. An aircraft may qualify for exemption from property taxation if certain conditions are met and the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals grants then exemption.

Any aircraft that has not been granted an exemption by the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals is taxable. Exemption applications are available from the county appraisers office or the BOTA website here.

Mobile and Manufactured Homes

Owners of manufactured homes are required by law to furnish a listing of each manufactured home they own or have in their possession, to the county appraiser in the county where the home is located. In addition to the owner listing the home, an owner, lessee or operator of any manufactured home park, or the owner of any land in which one or more manufactured homes are located on, is required to furnish a listing of all manufactured homes located in the park or on the land, as of January 1st to the county appraiser.

Heavy Tagged Vehicles

Motor vehicles having a gross vehicle weight of more than 12,000 lbs. need to be listed for assessment with the county appraisers office. The owner of record is to notify the county appraiser if purchasing or selling a heavy tagged vehicle.

Late Filing Penalties

The penalty for late filing is 5% per month up to a maximum of 25%.

Date Rendition Filed	Penalty
March 16 through April 15	05%
April 16 through May 15	10%
May 16 through June 15	15%
June 16 through July 15	20%
July 16 through March 14 of the following year	25%

If within one year following the March 15th filing deadline, the county appraiser discovers property that a taxpayer has failed to file, or failed to file a complete list of, the county appraiser must determine the assessed value of the property and apply a 50% penalty for failure to file.

Forms & Publications

www.ksrevenue.org 
Tax Appeals