By Jeff West

SDN Staff Writer

For many business owners in the state, April 15 wasn’t just the deadline for the IRS, it was also the deadline to file renditions with the local county appraisal district.

Renditions are forms listing everything the business owns and that it uses in the production of income, according to Gloria Lopez of the Scurry County Appraisal District.

This amount is used to help determine taxes for a business.

The forms were mailed out to Scurry County business owners earlier this year with instructions on how to file them, but many have not been returned.

The good news is that, unlike the Internal Revenue Service, any business that files before the appraisal district takes legal action is usually in the clear.

But Lopez said delaying filing could be costly.

If the rendition has not been filed, a letter will be sent to the tardy business owner reminding them and warning that a 10 percent penalty will be added if not filed. Then a suit can filed in district court to compel the filing of the rendition.

Within 30 days of receipt of the letter from the appraisal district, a business owner can request a waiver of the penalty.

If a waiver is not granted, an appeal can be filed with the appraisal review board, and that decision can be appealed, by either party, to district court. If the appraisal district prevails in district court it keeps up to 20 percent of the taxes and penalties and sends the remaining money to the taxing entities involved.

Any local business owners who has any questions are urged to call the appraisal district.