Transfer of Business Liability

One mechanism to aid in the collection of personal property tax is the requirement which requires the purchaser of a business to check for unpaid personal property taxes of the business. Under this procedure any taxpayer who sells or terminates a business must notify the assessor and pay all outstanding personal property taxes within 15 days of the sale or termination. The buyer must withhold sufficient funds from the purchase price to pay the tax liability, retaining those funds until the seller produces a certificate of compliance from the assessor and receipts from the trustee for the payment of all taxes. If the buyer does not withhold this amount, the buyer becomes personally liable for these unpaid taxes.¹