Personal Property & Business Listings

Personal property is movable business property. It includes items used to run your business such as machinery, equipment, furniture, and supplies of businesses and farmers. It also includes any improvements made to land leased from the government (leasehold improvements).

Personal property tax does not apply to business inventories, or intangible property such as copyrights and 
trademarks.

Most personal property owned by individuals is exempt. For example, household goods and personal effects are not subject to property tax. However, if these items are used in a business, property tax applies.

This is different from real property, which includes land, structures and improvements to land and certain equipment affixed to the land or structures.

For more information refer to this pamphlet from the State Department of Revenue or contact our office.

All businesses in Grays Harbor County are responsible for filing a personal property listing each year. (RCW 84.40.185).

If you own or operate a business, the assessed value of the equipment you use to run your business is subject to personal property tax.

Even if your business made no income, you may still need to file.

To complete your listing, gather:

• A list of business equipment and supplies

• The year you purchased each item

• The original cost of each item

• Lease information (if applicable)

You must report what you owned as of January 1st.

Personal Property values are based on reported cost, year of acquisition, and type of asset. Valuation Tables are provided by the Washington State Department of Revenue and are used to determine the market value. Change of Value Notices are mailed to the property owner each year after the property has been assessed.

According to Washington State Law RCW 84.40.030, the Assessor is required to value all taxable property at 100% of true and fair market value taking into consideration its highest and best use of the property, this includes personal property.  Personal property is generally subject to the same levy rate as real property. 

You are still responsible for filing by April 30th.

Yes. Include leased or rented equipment used in your business.

Contact our office as soon as possible.

The person who owns the property as of January 1st of the assessment year owes the tax. The tax is due even if the business closes and the owner sells or transfers the property prior to the end of the year.

It is important to know that the lien follows the property. This means a new owner can be held liable if the previous owner did not pay the outstanding property tax balance.

By law, property owners are responsible for filing the Personal Property Listing every year. This is true even if the property owner does not receive a listing in the mail. The penalty for failing to file a Personal Property Listing is 5% of the tax due per month, up to a maximum of 25% of the total assessed tax.

You must report all taxable business property located in Grays Harbor County as of noon on January 1 of the reporting year.

Yes. You must file a separate listing for each business location in Grays Harbor County.
This is required because property values must be assigned to the correct taxing district.