Business owners- tax on property/equipment - new thing?

[barronj]

I've had a small real estate office for about 5 years now, and this year, I get something from the Central Appraisal District assessing a tax on my business's equipment. I called them to ask a few questions, they acted like it had been happening since the signing of the constitution & that I would pay $.03 for every $100 worth of value of equipment (office furniture/supplies, in my case).

Have I been lucky to escape this nonsense for the last 5 years, or how has it just now come about?

Anyone else get caught off guard by this?

I bought all of my desks/chairs/phone system used, so my tax is going to be really low, but it chaps me regardless.

[Sean88gt]

How do they determine value? Texas has a shitload of nickel and dime taxes that affect small businesses.

[Broncojohnny]

Been going on forever. Be glad you don't have a massive inventory!

[Sean88gt]

Been going on forever. Be glad you don't have a massive inventory!

The inventory tax is bullshit too. Any stock we held was shipped out of state upon completion.

[thesource]

Been going on for years. I was sued by Bexar County a few years ago for property tax from 1999-2001. The original amount was a couple hundred bucks. Naturally they couldn't find me until it amounted to about $1500 in taxes, penalty, interest and lawyer fees...... once that happend, well hell they just looked up my info on my drivers license and what do you know, I lived there and had been for years.

[Dave586]

It's a yearly county thing. Just be glad they don't audit you for the years you didn't pay.....

[GrayStangGT]

Nothing new, its always entertaining to see what they decide to value our equipment/trucks at.

They want a list of everything or they charge you a 10% penalty

[barronj]

I was sure that it was trotted out as a back-end money grab part of the new health care legislation. I'm glad I "missed out" on so many years. It's going to amount to about $15 dollars in tax. So worth my time & theirs.