The tangible personal property tax is a tax on businesses operating in Ohio.

What is tangible personal property? Every tangible thing that is owned by the business, except real property, is personal property. In contrast, real property is defined as land, growing crops, all buildings, structures, improvements and fixtures attached to land. Tangible personal property used in a business and taxed as personal property includes machinery and equipment, furniture and fixtures, small tools, supplies and inventory held for manufacture or resale.

There are two types of taxpayers: inter-county and single-county. An inter-county taxpayer is any business holding taxable tangible personal property in more than one county in Ohio. A single –county taxpayer is a business holding taxable tangible personal property in only one county in Ohio.

Inter-county taxpayers file 945 forms directly to the State of Ohio and the single-county taxpayers file 920 forms directly to the County Auditor. When filing a 920 form with the County Auditor, ½ of the total is due at the time of filing. The filing due date is April 30th of each year unless an extension is granted giving the company until June 15th of that year.

Concluding tax bills are mailed from the Treasurer’s office after the third week in August with a due date of September 20th (or the first following business day if the 20th falls on a weekend or a holiday) each year.

Personal Property Tax Due Dates

Each year, businesses that have taxable personal property located entirely in Franklin County must file the following forms in duplicate with the County Auditor between February 15th and April 30th each year:

• Form 920 - County Return of Taxable Property
• Form 921 - Ohio Balance Sheet, in duplicate with the Franklin County Auditor.

The due date for the first-half 2008 personal property collection is April 30, 2008. An extension of this filing deadline to June 15th may be requested and granted by the County Auditor. One-half of the total tax must be paid within 5 days of the time of filing.

The County Treasurer will mail a bill in late August for the second-half personal property taxes that are due. Each year the payment due date for the second half personal property collection is September 20th (or the first following business day if the 20th falls on a weekend or a holiday).

The due date for the second half 2007 personal property collection is September 20, 2007.
The due date for the second half 2008 personal property collection is September 20, 2008.