34,000 missing: Residents reminded to declare personal property

As required by state law, the St. Charles County Assessor’s Office plans to mail approximately 34,000 personal property declaration forms by the end of March to taxpayers who failed to respond to the initial January mailing.

Declaration forms were due by March 1.  Late filing penalties ranging up to $100 may be applied after May 1.

Residents who do not file a declaration form each year find themselves at the Assessor’s Office during the end-of-the-year rush, mainly for three reasons:

• New residents are not familiar with the personal property declaration requirement.
• Current residents do not complete and return the declaration form to the Assessor.
• Residents experience difficulties renewing vehicle licenses.

The intention is to help citizens avoid problems at the end of the year when they realize they have not received a personal property bill.  Declaration forms filed by May 1 avoid late filing penalties and also provide the ability to appeal the value if necessary.

“Completion of the form by deadline is especially important because it assures a fair and equitable distribution of the tax burden,” said Scott Shipman, St. Charles County assessor.

St. Charles County residents who did not receive an assessment form to declare their personal property may download a blank assessment form from the county’s website www.sccmo.org  or contact the Personal Property Department at 949-7420 or 1-800-822-4012, ext. 7420.  The Assessor’s Web site includes both individual and business personal property assessment forms.