Written statement concerning personal property: Demand; contents; return of statement; valuation of unlisted property claimed by absent or unknown person; penalties.
1. To enable the county assessor to make assessments, he shall demand from each natural person or firm, and from the president, cashier, treasurer or managing agent of each corporation, association or company, including all banking institutions, associations or firms within his county, a written statement, signed under penalty of perjury, on forms and in the format prescribed by the county assessor of all the personal property within the county, owned, claimed, possessed, controlled or managed by those persons, firms, corporations, associations or companies.
2. The statement must include:
(a) A description of the location of any taxable personal property that is owned, claimed, possessed, controlled or managed by the natural person, firm, corporation, association or company, but stored, maintained or otherwise placed at a location other than the principal residence of the natural person or principal place of business of the firm, corporation, association or company;
(b) The cost of acquisition of each item of taxable personal property including the cost of any improvements of the personal property, such as additions to or renovations of the property other than routine maintenance or repairs; and
(c) If the natural person, firm, corporation, association or company owns at least 25 mobile or manufactured homes that are being leased within the county for commercial purposes, and those homes have not been converted to real property pursuant to NRS 361.244, the year, make or model, size, serial number and location of each such mobile or manufactured home.
3. The statement must be returned not later than July 31, except for a statement mailed to the taxpayer after July 15, in which case it must be returned within 15 days after demand for its return is made. Upon petition of the property owner showing good cause, the county assessor may grant one or more 30-day extensions.
4. If the owners of any taxable property not listed by another person are absent or unknown, or fail to provide the written statement as described in subsection 1, the county assessor shall make an estimate of the value of the property and assess it accordingly. If the name of the absent owner is known to the county assessor, the property must be assessed in his name. If the name of the owner is unknown to the county assessor, the property must be assessed to “unknown owner,” but no mistake made in the name of the owner or the supposed owner of personal property renders the assessment or any sale of the property for taxes invalid.
5. If any person, officer or agent neglects or refuses on demand of the county assessor or his deputy to give the statement required by this section, or gives a false name, or refuses to give his name or sign the statement, he is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Last modified: February 27, 2006