Oregon Statutes 285C.175 – Enterprise zone exemption; requirements; duration
(1) Property of an authorized business firm is exempt from ad valorem property taxation if:
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 285C.175
- Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
- Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
(a) The property is qualified property under ORS § 285C.180;
(b) The firm meets the qualifications under ORS § 285C.200; and
(c) The firm has entered into a first-source hiring agreement under ORS § 285C.215.
(2)(a) Except as otherwise provided in ORS § 285C.203:
(A) The exemption allowed under this section applies to the first tax year for which, as of January 1 preceding the tax year, the qualified property is in service. The exemption shall continue for the next two succeeding tax years if the property continues to be owned or leased by the business firm and located in the enterprise zone.
(B) The property may be exempt from property taxation under this section for up to two additional tax years consecutively following the tax years described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, if authorized by the written agreement entered into by the firm and the sponsor under ORS § 285C.160.
(b) If qualified property of a qualified business firm is sold or leased to an eligible business firm in the enterprise zone during the period the property is exempt under this section, the purchasing or leasing firm is eligible to continue the exemption of the selling or leasing firm for the balance of the exemption period, but only if any effects on employment within the zone that result from the sale or lease do not constitute substantial curtailment under ORS § 285C.210.
(3)(a) The exemption allowed under this section shall be 100 percent of the assessed value of the qualified property in each of the tax years for which the exemption is available.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection:
(A) If the qualified property is an addition to or modification of an existing building or structure, the exemption shall be measured by the increase in value, if any, attributable to the addition or modification.
(B) If the qualified property is an item of reconditioned, refurbished, retrofitted or upgraded real property machinery or equipment, the exemption shall be measured by the increase in the value of the item that is attributable to the reconditioning, refurbishment, retrofitting or upgrade.
(4)(a) An exemption may not be granted under this section for qualified property assessed for property tax purposes in the county in which the property is located on or before the date on which:
(A) Designation of the zone takes effect under ORS § 285C.074; or
(B) A boundary change for the zone takes effect under ORS § 285C.117 if the property is located in an area added to the zone.
(b) An exemption may not be granted for qualified property constructed, added, modified or installed in the zone or in the process of construction, addition, modification or installation in the zone on or before the date on which:
(A) Designation of the zone takes effect under ORS § 285C.074; or
(B) A boundary change for the zone takes effect under ORS § 285C.117 if the property is located in an area added to the zone.
(c) An exemption may not be granted for any qualified property that was in service within the zone for more than 12 months by January 1 of the first assessment year for which an exemption claim is made, or 24 months, in the case of a late claim under ORS § 285C.220 (9).
(d) An exemption may not be granted for any qualified property unless the property is actually in use or occupancy before July 1 of the year immediately following the year during which the property was first placed in service.
(e) Except as provided in ORS § 285C.245, an exemption may not be granted for qualified property constructed, added, modified or installed after termination of an enterprise zone.
(5) Property is not required to have been exempt under ORS § 285C.170 in order to be exempt under this section.
(6) The county assessor shall notify the business firm in writing whenever property is denied an exemption under this section. The denial of exemption may be appealed to the Oregon Tax Court under ORS § 305.404 to 305.560.
(7) For each tax year that the property is exempt from taxation, the assessor shall:
(a) Enter on the assessment roll, as a notation, the assessed value of the property as if it were not exempt under this section.
(b) Enter on the assessment roll, as a notation, the amount of additional taxes that would be due if the property were not exempt.
(c) Indicate on the assessment roll that the property is exempt and is subject to potential additional taxes as provided in ORS § 285C.240, by adding the notation ‘enterprise zone exemption (potential additional tax).’ [Formerly 285B.698; 2015 c.648 § 21; 2017 c.83 § 3]
(Qualified Property)