Take care of this little known business tax to avoid penalties!
In California, business personal property (which means any kind of property that is not real estate) is subject to an annual tax. Business owners must file Form 571-L with the county in which they are located every year. Business owners must file this property statement which details costs of all supplies, equipment and fixtures at each location. The form for Alameda County businesses can be downloaded at www.acgov.org or it is possible to e-file via the SDR (standard data record) system at www.calbpsfile.org. However, you must first set up a business account with the Assessor’s office to complete the filing. You can contact the Alameda County Assessor’s Business Property Tax office at (510) 272-3836 for more information or to set up an account.
