ARM 42.21.123
ARM 42.21.123. FARM MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
Cite as Mont. Admin. R. 42.21.123
(1) The department applies the valuation methods in sequential order as shown in (2) through (8).
(2) The market value for farm machinery and equipment shall be the "average wholesale" value as shown in the Iron Solutions, Northwest Region Official Guide, Fall Edition, for the year previous to the year of the assessment. This guide may be reviewed in the department or purchased from the publisher: North American Equipment Dealers Association, 1195 Smizer Mill Road, Fenton, Missouri 63026-3480.
(3) For all farm machinery and equipment that cannot be valued under (2), the department has developed a manual to value the equipment. This manual will be used in conjunction with the depreciation schedule in (5) when valuing farm equipment and machinery. The purpose of the manual developed by the department is to arrive at values which approximate average wholesale value. The department's farm machinery manual is hereby incorporated by reference. Customers can contact the department to obtain copies.
(4) For all farm machinery and equipment which cannot be valued under (2) and (3):
(a) the department shall try to ascertain the original FOB (free on board value) through old farm machinery and equipment valuation guidebooks; and
(b) if an original FOB cannot be ascertained, the department may use trending to determine the FOB.
(5) The FOB or "trended" FOB will be used in conjunction with the depreciation schedule in (8) to arrive at a value that approximates average wholesale value.
(6) A trended average wholesale value shall be applied to equipment if:
(a) the equipment cannot be valued under (2) but an average wholesale value is available for the same make and model with a different year new; and
(b) the equipment cannot be valued under (4) or the value as calculated under (4) results in a higher value being placed on a piece of farm equipment than the last year listed in the current Official Guide mentioned in (2) for the same make and model. The trended average wholesale value for farm equipment shall be ascertained by trending the average wholesale as found in the guide in (2), for the same make and model with a different year new. The trend factors are the same as those mentioned in (4).
(7) If the methods mentioned in (2) through (5) cannot be used to ascertain average wholesale value for farm machinery and equipment, the owner or applicant must certify to the department the year acquired and the acquired price before that value can be applied to the schedule in (8).
(8) The trended depreciation schedule referred to in (2) through (6) is listed below and shall be used for tax year 2014. The schedule is derived by using the guidebook listed in (2) as the data base. The values derived through use of the trended depreciation schedule will approximate average wholesale value.
YEAR NEW/ACQUIRED
TRENDED % GOOD
AVERAGE WHOLESALE
2014
80%
2013
75%
2012
66%
2011
64%
2010
61%
2009
54%
2008
53%
2007
51%
2006
48%
2005
44%
2004
43%
2003
38%
2002
33%
2001
31%
2000
29%
1999
27%
1998 and older
22%
(9) If a piece of farm machinery or equipment's market value is below $100, it is exempt from taxation.
(10) This rule is effective for tax years beginning after December 31, 2013.