Business Personal Property Assessment and Taxation

Personal property, by Oregon law, is taxable in the county where it is located as of January 1st at 1:00am.  Each individual, partnership, firm, LLC, or corporation that possesses taxable personal property must file a Confidential Business Personal Property Return by March 15th - there are no extensions.

For more information please visit the Oregon Department of Revenue Personal Property Assessment & Taxation Website. 

Confidential Personal Property Return forms are due on March 15.  Link to form for 2024/25 tax year.

Please note: all returns that are filed late receive a penalty. The penalty is a percentage of the taxes and is 5%, 25%, or 50% depending on how late the return is filed.

Taxable Business Personal Property

What is taxable Business Personal Property?

Taxable personal property includes machinery, equipment, furniture, leaseholds, etc., used previously or presently in a business, (including any property not currently being used, placed in storage, or held for sale).

For more information:

Personal Property Assessment & Taxation
Department of Revenue Personal Property Valuation Guidelines
Department of Revenue Fixed Vehicle Manual

Business Personal Property Exempt From Taxation

What is exempt from property tax?

• Intangible personal property. Money at interest, bonds, notes, shares of stock, business records, canned computer software, surveys and designs, and the materials on which the data are recorded (paper, tape, film, etc.) (ORS 307.020).
• All items held exclusively for personal use. Household goods, furniture, clothing, tools, and equipment used exclusively for personal use in and around your home (ORS 307.190).
• Farm animals. Livestock, poultry, fur-bearing animals, and bees (ORS 307.394).
• Inventories. Items of tangible personal property which are or will be sold in the ordinary course of business (materials, containers, goods in process, and finished goods) (ORS 307.400).
• Farm machinery and equipment (ORS 307.394).
• Licensed vehicles other than fixed load/mobile equipment (ORS 801.285).
• Environmentally Sensitive Logging Equipment. (ORS 307.827)

For additional information on the above referenced statutes, please browse the ORS Chapters

 Buying or Selling a Business

What if I'm buying or selling a business?

• Delinquent taxes become a lien on the personal property of a business. If you are buying or selling a business, it is important you contact the assessor's office to insure there are not any outstanding taxes due on the equipment you are buying/selling.
• Anyone buying or starting a business should notify the county assessor. This will allow an account to be established and a personal property return can be requested.  It is the business owners responsibility to obtain a Personal property return and file by March 15th.