Tangible household property and personal effects; assessment and taxation; exception; valuation; rate

# (a)

Tangible household personal property and personal effects shall be assessed and taxed for local use unless the governing body of the municipality within which the same is located shall determine, by ordinance, not to tax the same, in which event such property shall not be so assessed and taxed so long as the ordinance is in effect. A certified copy of such ordinance shall be filed with the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury, and with the county board of taxation. Such property shall be assessed according to the fair value thereof, and the assessment shall be expressed at that percentage of such fair value as is established pursuant to law as the percentage level for the taxation of real property within the county in which the municipality is located. Such property shall be taxed at the general tax rate of the taxing district for the year preceding the year in which the tax is payable. The valuations of such property shall not be included in computing the "apportionment valuation" to be determined under R.S. 54:4-49 or in computing the "equalized valuation" to be determined under section 2, chapter 86 of the laws of 1954, and the revenue from such taxation shall be treated as anticipated revenue from sources other than the general taxation of property. The taxable valuations of tangible household personal property and personal effects determined under this section shall be reported by the assessor of each taxing district on a separate tax list and duplicate which shall be filed with the county board of taxation on or before January 10 in each year.

# (b)

The fair value of tangible household personal property taxable pursuant to law shall be the value thereof for each household if offered for sale as a single lot. The owner of such property may file proofs with the assessor to assist in the determination of such fair value. In the absence of such proof, or of other proof, the assessor may assess the same by estimating the fair value thereof in terms of an average value per room, taking into account the size of the household, the general economic level of the neighborhood in which it is located, and such other relevant factors as will assist him in arriving at a fair, equitable and practicable valuation; but any such assessment shall be made according to standards and practices set forth in uniform rules and regulations promulgated by the Director of the Division of Taxation.

L.1960, c. 51, s. 13. Amended by L.1961, c. 72, p. 598, s. 1, eff. June 3, 1961.