Personal tangible property taxes: A basic guide for home & business owners

by John Shea 06/10/2024

Personal tangible property is a tax term referring to physical property used in running your commercial or rental business. While general property taxes concern the actual land and buildings, personal tangible property taxes are related to equipment, furnishings, vehicles and more. If you own a business or rental property, it's important to understand how these taxes work. Here is some basic info to know:

Examples of tangible personal property

Tangible personal property is any asset used for your rental or commercial business. To qualify as tangible personal property, the assets must have a physical existence. Therefore, important assets like copyrights or patents do not count. Here are some examples of common forms of tangible personal property:

  • office furniture
  • equipment and machinery
  • computers, cell phones and other digital devices
  • delivery vehicles

Some other examples of tangible personal property can include:

  • jewelry
  • collectables
  • sports & hobby memorabilia 

How tangible personal property is taxed

Tangible personal property is taxed in a similar way to land or building property. Landlords and companies must determine the value of their business assets and report them in a separate tax return. Depending on the state, the value might be dependent on the purchase price, assessed value or appraisal. Assets are taxed based on a percentage of their value. Depending on the asset, you may have to pay taxes on personal tangible property annually or only once.

If you're a property or business owner, it's important to be aware of what qualifies as personal tangible property. If you're not sure if your assets qualify, you can consult with your local tax authority to find out the specific requirements of your state and municipality.

About the Author
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John Shea

Hi, I'm John Shea and I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.