Protect your rights! Render your taxable property by April 15

A new law was passed that requires all business owners to file an annual report of their business personal property (called a rendition) with the appraisal district each year. This new law will impose tough penalties on those who fail to file the report and it will impose even tougher penalties for those who attempt to evade taxes through fraudulent or incomplete reporting. A “rendition” is a report to the appraisal district that lists all the taxable property you owned or controlled on January 1st of this year. The rendition form is available at your local appraisal district office… or you may draft a similar form.

Who must file a rendition?

You must file a rendition if you own tangible personal property that is used to produce income -- such as the inventory and equipment used by a business.

Are there any advantages to you?

The advantages of filing a rendition are:

F You give your opinion of your property’s value. If the appraisal district believes the value is higher, it must notify you in writing of the higher value and explain how you can protest that value to the appraisal review board.

F You record your correct mailing address so your tax bills will go to the right address. If your bill is mailed to the wrong address, the law still holds you responsible for paying your taxes on time or paying extra charges for late payments.

F You can also file a “report of decreased value” to notify the appraisal district of significant depreciation of the value of your property in 2003. The district will look at your property before assigning a value in 2004.

What’s the deadline?

The last day for filing 2004 renditions is April 15. Call your appraisal district for the last date the rendition may be postmarked, if mailing. You can get an automatic 30-day extension if you ask for it in writing by the April 15 deadline.

Where do you file?

File renditions with your local appraisal district at:

Shelby County Appraisal District

724 Shelbyville Street

Center, Texas 75935

(936) 598-6171

For more information, stop in or call for a free copy of

“Texas Property Taxes: Taxpayers’

Rights, Remedies & Responsibilities”

or contact:

Texas Comptroller’s Property Tax Division

P.O. Box 13528

Austin, Texas 78711-3528

1-800-252-9121