Planning and Development Committee
AN ACT AUTHORIZING ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES ON DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL PROPERTY
SUMMARY: By law, owners of taxable personal property (e. g. , commercial furniture, fixtures, and equipment) must file an annual personal property declaration with municipal assessors for property tax purposes. This act allows them to electronically file and sign the declaration on a form the assessor provides, as long as the municipality (1) has the technological capability to accept electronic signatures and (2) agrees to accept electronic signatures.
By law, assessors must mail blank declaration forms to nonresident property owners or the attorney or agent that has custody of the taxpayer's property. The act allows assessors to do so electronically, as long as the taxpayer has made a written request to receive the electronic forms. It requires assessors to mail or electronically send the blank declaration forms at least 30 days before the filing deadline, rather than 15 days before as required under prior law.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2011, and applicable to assessment years beginning on or after that date.
OLR Tracking: RP: JO: PF: ro