TITLE public-finance

Part 1. COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS

Chapter 9. PROPERTY TAX ADMINISTRATION

Subchapter H. TAX RECORD REQUIREMENTS

34 TAC §9.3015

The Comptroller of Public Accounts adopts an amendment to §9.3015, concerning the report of decreased value forms, with changes to the proposed text as published in the October 29, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 9589).

This rule is being amended to add sworn statement language to the model forms for renditions as required by Senate Bill 1359, 76th Legislature, 1999, effective September 1, 1999.

Comments were received from the chief appraiser of Gray County Appraisal District suggesting a clarification of wording in subsection (e)(1)-(3). The comptroller accepts that change and has changed the language in the subsections to clarify this point.

This amendment is adopted under the Tax Code, §22.24, which requires the comptroller to prescribe and approve appropriate forms for filing a rendition or report.

The amendment implements the Tax Code, §§22.03, 22.23, 22.24, and 22.27.

§9.3015.Report of Decreased Value Forms.

(a)

All appraisal offices shall prepare and make available forms for the report of decreased value by any property owner.

(b)

All forms for the report of decreased value by any property owner shall provide for the following information:

(1)

a statement indicating that the report form is to be filed by the property owner after January 1 and not later than April 15;

(2)

the year for which the report of decreased value is filed;

(3)

the name of any taxing units to which the report of decreased value is filed;

(4)

the identification of the property owner filing the report of decreased value (name and address);

(5)

the legal description of the property involved in the filing of the report of decreased value and its location;

(6)

the name and address of a person to contact for additional information;

(7)

the date of the report of decreased value;

(8)

the signature of the property owner, or the authorized officer or agent, filing the report of decreased value; and

(9)

a statement that the report of decreased value is confidential and not open to public inspection, except for those instances set forth in the Tax Code, §22.27(b).

(c)

In order to determine the appraised value of property that is the subject of a completed and timely filed report of decreased value, the report form will provide for the following necessary information:

(1)

a statement indicating the nature and cause of decreased value of the property subject to the report; and

(2)

a statement indicating that the property owner may state his or her opinion about the market value of the property subject to the report.

(d)

All forms for the report of decreased value by any property owner shall require the property owner to state that the information contained in the form is true and correct to the best of the property owner's knowledge and belief. If the report is filed by someone other than the property owner, an employee of the property owner, or an employee of a property owner on behalf of an affiliated entity of the property owner, the report must be sworn before an officer authorized by law to administer an oath.

(e)

All forms for the report of decreased value by any property owner shall make provision for the following information on the back of the form:

(1)

the name of the person from the appraisal office who reviews the property to verify any change in value;

(2)

the date the person from the appraisal office views the property subject to the report or, in the case of an oil and gas property, reviews the appraisal of the property; and

(3)

the determination of any decrease in appraised value and its cause and nature by the person from the appraisal office who views the property to verify any change in value.

(f)

Appraisal offices failing to establish a form for the report of decreased value as required in this section may be judged to be in compliance upon a showing to the board that a form for the report of decreased value substantially equivalent to that required in this section has been established.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 21, 1999.

TRD-9908930

Martin Cherry

Special Counsel

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Effective date: January 10, 2000

Proposal publication date: October 29, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 463-3699


34 TAC §9.3031

The Comptroller of Public Accounts adopts an amendment to §9.3031, concerning rendition forms, without changes to the proposed text as published in the October 29, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 9589).

This rule is being amended to add sworn statement language to the model forms for renditions as required by Senate Bill 1359, 76th Legislature, 1999, effective September 1, 1999.

Comments were received from Harris County Appraisal District Chief Appraiser Jim Robinson requesting that each model rendition be referred to as a "form" rather than an "application." The comptroller has changed the language as requested.

Comments were received from Michael Saegert, legal counsel for Harris County Appraisal District, requesting numerous specific changes to the body of the comptroller's General Business Personal Property Rendition, the Business Personal Property Rendition of Taxable Property, the Report of Leased Personal Property, and the Confidential Aircraft Rendition. The requested changes are not required by new laws or by statute. The requested changes have been made on Harris County Appraisal District renditions and the comptroller has approved these renditions as in substantial compliance with the comptroller's adopted renditions, provided certain specific items were marked "optional."

The commentor requests that the General Business Personal Property Rendition require the following information from the taxpayer: the date of appraisal; whether the taxpayer is in business and if the assets have been moved to a different location; requiring both the home and business address of the taxpayer; requiring that the taxpayer report unusual accrued depreciation for inventory, raw materials, goods in process, finished goods, and consigned goods; requiring information concerning markdowns of retail inventory; that the taxpayer separately itemize fuels and replacement parts; that taxpayers group furniture, fixtures, machinery, and equipment by year of acquisition; addition of a separate specific category for computerized equipment; that the general rendition inform taxpayers that they need not report on this rendition vehicles to which the special inventory tax applies; addition of a column for age or year or acquisition of special equipment; and separate treatment of business vehicles. The comptroller declines to make these changes, as they are outside the scope of the originally proposed changes. The comptroller's rendition forms are general forms intended to apply to appraisal districts and taxpayers throughout the state and are sufficient to determine the property's ownership, taxability, and situs. The comptroller approves different renditions for different types of property if the forms are in substantial compliance with the comptroller's general renditions. An appraisal district that believes it would benefit from additional information may request that the comptroller determine if the appraisal district's rendition is in substantial compliance with the comptroller's general rendition.

The commentor requests that the Business Personal Property Rendition of Taxable Property require that the taxpayer report each vehicle's model type and mileage. The commentor requests changes to the Report of Leased Personal Property that would require a general description of property under lease, bailment, consignment, or other arrangement. The commentor requested that changes to the Confidential Aircraft Rendition form be made, permitting the listing of more than one aircraft on the form and the addition of a section to address the allocation of value for both business and commercial aircraft. The comptroller declines to make the changes because the comptroller's rendition forms are general forms intended to apply to appraisal districts and taxpayers throughout the state and the current form's requirements are sufficient for the appraisal district to determine ownership, taxability, and situs; also, these changes are outside the scope of the originally proposed changes. The comptroller approves different renditions for different types of property if the forms are in substantial compliance with the comptroller's general rendition forms. An appraisal district that believes it would benefit from additional information may request that the comptroller determine if the appraisal district's rendition is in substantial compliance with the comptroller's general rendition.

Comments were received from Aransas County Appraisal District requesting that portions of the model renditions asking the taxpayer for an opinion of value be in bold type. The comptroller declines to make the requested change because the taxpayer's opinion of value is an optional item. Placing this optional item in bold type could cause confusion.

This amendment is adopted under the Tax Code, §22.24, which requires the comptroller to prescribe and approve appropriate forms for filing a rendition or report.

The amendment implements the Tax Code, §22.24 and §22.27.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 21, 1999.

TRD-9908931

Martin Cherry

Special Counsel

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Effective date: January 10, 2000

Proposal publication date: October 29, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 463-3699


Subchapter I. VALIDATION PROCEDURES

34 TAC §9.4035

The Comptroller of Public Accounts adopts amendments to §9.4035, concerning special types of personal property inventory, with changes to the proposed text as published in the October 29, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 9590).

The amendments are adopted to make changes in model forms for a dealer's motor vehicle inventory declaration and dealer's motor vehicle inventory tax statement in response to Senate Bill 3033, 76th Legislature, 1999, which clarified the date on which a motor vehicle dealer is presumed to have commenced business. Amendments are also proposed to the model forms for a dealer's heavy equipment inventory tax statement and dealer's heavy equipment inventory declaration, in response to Senate Bill 1435, 76th Legislature, 1999, which changed the definition of "heavy equipment inventory" and the heavy equipment "sale price," and states when a sale of heavy equipment is considered to have occurred. Amendments are proposed to the model form for retail manufactured housing inventory declaration and retail manufactured housing inventory tax statement in response to House Bill 3197, 76th Legislature, 1999, which amended the definitions of certain manufactured homes and substituted the term "unit of manufactured housing" for the term "manufactured home."

Changes were made to subsection (a) of the proposed rule to correct statutory references. The reference to Tax Code, §23.12D and §23.12E was changed to Tax Code, §23.124 and §23.125, respectively. These references were also changed on the forms listed in subsection (f)(3) and (f)(4); subsection (f) of the proposed rule has been changed to reflect the revision of these two forms.

Comments were received from T-K-O Equipment Co. suggesting that the definition of "sales price" be added to the instructions on the dealer's heavy equipment inventory declaration form as it is on the dealer's heavy equipment inventory tax statement. The comptroller accepts that change and has added the definition to the instructions on the dealer's heavy equipment inventory declaration form.

The amendments are adopted under the Tax Code, §5.07, which requires the comptroller to prescribe the contents and form for the administration of the property tax system, Tax Code, §23.121(f), which requires the comptroller to promulgate a form entitled "Dealer's Motor Vehicle Inventory Declaration," Tax Code, §23.122(e), which requires the comptroller to promulgate a form entitled a "Dealer's Motor Vehicle Inventory Tax Statement," Tax Code, §23.124(f), which requires the comptroller to promulgate a form entitled "Dealer's Vessel and Outboard Motor Inventory Declaration," Tax Code, §23.1241(f), which requires the comptroller to adopt a dealer's heavy equipment inventory declaration form, Tax Code, §23.1242(e), which requires the comptroller to adopt a dealer's heavy equipment inventory tax statement form, Tax Code, §23.125(e), which requires the comptroller to promulgate a form entitled "Dealer's Vessel and Outboard Motor Inventory Tax Statement," Tax Code, §23.127(f), which requires the comptroller to adopt a form entitled "Retail Manufactured Housing Inventory Declaration," and Tax Code, §23.128(e), which requires the comptroller to adopt a form entitled "Retail Manufactured Housing Inventory Tax Statement." The amendments implement Tax Code, §§23.121(f), 23.122(e), 23.124(f), 23.1241(f), 23.1242(e), 23.125(e), 23.127(f), and 23.128(e).

§9.4035.Special Types of Personal Property Inventory.

(a)

A property owner subject to Tax Code, §§23.121, 23.122, 23.124, 23.1241, 23.1242, 23.125, 23.127, and 23.128, may use comptroller Model Forms 50-244 and 50-246 to file a dealer's motor vehicle inventory tax statement and inventory declaration; Model Forms 50-259 and 50-260 to file a dealer's vessel and outboard motor inventory tax statement and inventory declaration; Model Forms 50-267 and 50-268 to file a retailer's manufactured housing inventory tax statement and inventory declaration; and Model Forms 50-265 and 50-266 to file dealer's heavy equipment inventory tax statement and inventory declaration. Except as provided by law, all information contained on these forms is confidential.

(b)

A property owner subject to this section may use an inventory tax statement form that sets out the information in the same language and sequence as the model form. A property owner may use an inventory declaration form that sets out the information in the same language and sequence as the model form.

(c)

In order to assist in the accurate reporting of taxable inventories and if the form is provided by the appraisal district, the inventory tax statement and the inventory declaration shall provide both the appraisal district's and the county tax office's names, addresses, and telephone numbers.

(d)

A chief appraiser shall make available to a property owner Model Forms 50-244, 50-246, 50- 259, 50-260, 50-265, 50-266, 50-267, and 50-268. A chief appraiser may make available a different form for the inventory tax statement and inventory declaration that sets out the information in the same language and sequence as the model form.

(e)

In special circumstances, the chief appraiser may use forms that provide additional information, delete information required by this section, or set out the required information in different language or sequence than that required by this section if the form has been previously approved by the Comptroller of Public Accounts.

(f)

The Comptroller of Public Accounts amends the model forms listed in paragraphs (1)-(8) of this subsection by reference. Copies of these forms are available for inspection at the office of the Texas Register or can be obtained from the Comptroller of Public Accounts, Property Tax Division, P.O. Box 13528, Austin, Texas 78711-3528. Copies may also be requested by calling our toll-free number 1-800-252-9121. In Austin, call (512) 305-9999. From a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD), call 1-800-248-4099, toll free. In Austin, the local TDD number is (512) 463-4621.

(1)

Dealer's Motor Vehicle Inventory Declaration (Form 50-244);

(2)

Dealer's Motor Vehicle Inventory Tax Statement (Form 50-246);

(3)

Dealer's Vessel, Trailer, and Outboard Motor Inventory Declaration (Form 50-259);

(4)

Dealer's Vessel, Trailer, and Outboard Motor Inventory Tax Statement (Form 50-260);

(5)

Dealer's Heavy Equipment Inventory Declaration (Form 50-265);

(6)

Dealer's Heavy Equipment Inventory Tax Statement (Form 50-266);

(7)

Retail Manufactured Housing Inventory Declaration (Form 50-267); and

(8)

Retail Manufactured Housing Inventory Tax Statement (Form 50-268).

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 21, 1999.

TRD-9908932

Martin Cherry

Special Counsel

Comptroller of Public Accounts

Effective date: January 10, 2000

Proposal publication date: October 29, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 463-3699


Part 5. TEXAS COUNTY AND DISTRICT RETIREMENT SYSTEM

Chapter 107. MISCELLANEOUS RULES

34 TAC §107.8, §107.9

The Texas County and District Retirement System adopts new §107.8 concerning the electronic transfer of funds and new §107.9 concerning the electronic filing of documents without changes to the proposed text as published in the November 12, 1999, issue of the Texas Register (24 TexReg 9961). The rules are adopted to implement the authority granted to the retirement system by Section 49, Senate Bill 1129, 76th Legislature (1999), to establish rules and procedures for the electronic filing of documents and the electronic transfer of funds. New §107.8 sets out definitions and procedures applicable to subdivisions for the electronic payment of required contributions using the ACH Debit process. New §107.8 prohibits using the ACH Credit process and the wire transfer process for electronically transferring funds to the retirement system. New §107.9 sets out definitions and procedures for the electronic filing of administrative forms by or on behalf of a member, beneficiary, annuitant or subdivision.

These rules permit the use of modern technologies that will make interaction with the System quicker and more convenient for the membership and the subdivisions.

No comments were received regarding the adoption of these rules.

The rules are adopted under the Government Code, §845.102, which provides the board of trustees of the Texas County and District Retirement System with the authority to adopt rules necessary or desireable for efficient administration of the system, and §845.116, which provides the board with authority to adopt rules and procedures specifically relating to the electronic transfer of funds and the electronic filing of documents.

The Government Code, §845.116 is affected by these rules.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on December 23, 1999.

TRD-9909029

Terry Horton

Director

Texas County and District Retirement System

Effective date: January 12, 2000

Proposal publication date: November 12, 1999

For further information, please call: (512) 328-8889