Wyoming Business Personal Property Tax: List by March 1, 9.5% Taxable Value and the New $75,000 Exemption
If your business owns equipment, machinery, tools, computers or furniture in Wyoming, that property may be subject to a county property tax, even though Wyoming levies no corporate income tax, no personal income tax and no franchise tax. This is the business personal property tax. The county assessor values your property as of January 1 each year, and you report it on a personal property list due March 1. This guide covers the filing dates, what is taxable, how the 9.5% taxable value works, and the new $75,000 exemption that took effect January 1, 2026.
Disclaimer: This article is informational only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice. Rules, rates and exemptions can change, and the county assessor is the final authority on how your property must be listed. Consult a qualified attorney or CPA for complex situations, such as multi-county operations, large asset portfolios or a mix of taxable and exempt property.
Key Dates at a Glance
The calendar is short and fixed. Mark these dates before the year starts.
| Date | What Happens |
|---|---|
| January 1 | Assessment date. The county assessor values your property as of this day. |
| February 15 | Last day to make a written request to extend the list deadline. |
| March 1 | Personal property list due to the county assessor. |
| April 1 | Extended deadline, available only if you made a written request by February 15. |
If you miss March 1 without a timely extension, the assessor assesses your property from the best information available (W.S. 39-13-103(b)(v)). That estimate may not match your own records, so the safer path is always to file on time.
What Counts as Business Personal Property
Business personal property is tangible property you own and use in a business, other than real estate. In practice, that covers manufacturing and shop equipment, construction tools, office furniture, computers and copiers, restaurant equipment and similar assets. Each asset is valued individually, so a complete list with purchase dates, installed costs and locations is the foundation of an accurate filing.
What Is Exempt
Several categories are exempt by statute:
- Inventories, such as goods held for sale and raw materials (W.S. 39-11-105(a)(xii)).
- Personal property held for personal or family use.
- Registered vehicles (W.S. 39-11-105(a)(xiii)).
- Livestock.
- Intangible property.
Exempt status depends on the statute and how the property is used, not on what your business calls it. Confirm borderline items with the county assessor before you leave them off the list.
Mobile Machinery
Mobile machinery is handled differently. Instead of being reported and taxed as standard business personal property, it registers annually with the county treasurer in lieu of property tax under W.S. 31-18-203 through 31-18-208. Ask the county treasurer whether a given machine qualifies before assuming it falls under that process.
How the 9.5% Taxable Value Works
Assessors value each asset at fair market value as of January 1. Depreciation can reduce that value over time, but the assessed value cannot fall below 20% of the installed cost of the property.
Taxable value is a percentage of fair market value, and the percentage depends on the type of property:
- Most business personal property: 9.5% of fair market value.
- Industrial property: 11.5% of fair market value.
- Mineral gross product: taxable value is 100% of the mineral gross product.
Property tax is then calculated using the mill levy set for your county:
Fair market value x 9.5% x mill levy
Mill levies differ from county to county, so get the current figure from your county assessor. Do not use a neighboring county's levy or a figure from a prior year.
The New $75,000 Exemption
Starting January 1, 2026, the first $75,000 of fair market value of business property owned by a person in each county is exempt under Enrolled Act 19 (2025 SF0048) and W.S. 39-11-105(a)(xlii). Before this change, the exemption applied only if the total was $2,400 or less. The new exemption applies per person in each county, so property you hold in two counties is measured separately in each.
This is a value exemption, not an income deduction. It removes the first $75,000 of value from what is assessed, so the taxable amount is the value above that threshold. Confirm with the county assessor exactly how the exemption is applied on your list. The calculation then looks like this:
(Fair market value minus $75,000) x 9.5% x mill levy
Whether you must file when your holdings fall under $75,000 depends on the county process. If the assessor sends a list form, file it. If you own property under $75,000 and do not receive a form, call the assessor's office and ask whether you still need to report. Do not assume silence means you are off the hook.
Step-by-Step Filing
- Build your asset list as of January 1. Record each asset, its purchase date, installed cost and location. Keep invoices and depreciation records.
- Check for the assessor's list form. If you receive one, file it. If you expect to be under the $75,000 exemption and have no form, confirm the filing requirement by phone or in writing.
- Request an extension in writing if you need more time. The request must be made by February 15. Keep a copy and any confirmation.
- File by the correct deadline. File by March 1, or by April 1 if your written request was made by February 15.
- Respond to assessor questions and keep records. Retain your supporting documents for the assessor's review, so the valuation reflects your actual figures.
Where to File and Related Registrations
You file business personal property with the county assessor in the county where the property is located. Counties do not issue business licenses. Licensing questions go to the city where you operate, usually the city clerk, as the Wyoming Secretary of State recommends for licenses tied to a specific business purpose.
Your entity is registered separately with the Wyoming Secretary of State, Business Division. You can search existing names on the business filing search at https://wyobiz.wyo.gov/Business/FilingSearch.aspx, and find general information at https://sos.wyo.gov/. Entity registration and property tax are separate obligations, and a filing with one does not satisfy the other.
Keep Property Tax Separate From Sales Tax
Business personal property tax is a county property assessment. Sales tax is a different obligation. The state sales tax rate is 4%, with county option taxes and resort district taxes added where they apply. Wyoming has no city sales tax. County rates change quarterly, so check the current rate chart at the Wyoming Department of Revenue, Excise Tax Division, at https://excise-tax-div.wyo.gov/, and record the date of any rate you apply to a sale.
Common Mistakes
- Missing March 1 and not making the extension request in writing by February 15.
- Treating the $75,000 exemption as an income deduction. It is a value exemption.
- Leaving out small assets. They count toward the $75,000 exemption total and toward your filing.
- Using another county's mill levy or last year's figure.
- Assuming an asset is exempt because it resembles inventory. Check the statute or ask the assessor.
Your Next Step
Pull your asset list now. Then confirm your county's current mill levy and list form status with the county assessor, and decide early whether you need an extension. If your business owns real estate, leases equipment, operates in more than one county or holds a mix of exempt and taxable property, have a qualified CPA or attorney review your filing before March 1.