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TAXATION AND REVENUE SYSTEMS—INDIANA.
mines a rate per cent to be added to or deducted from
the various classes of property throughout the township.
If necessary, the board may set aside the assessment
of the whole county and order a new one, but it has
no power to depart from the true cash value in fixing
assessments.
A feature of equalization in practice is the annual
meeting of the county assessors of the state, called by
the state board of tax commissioners for purposes
of conference.
The state board of tax commissioners hears appeals
from the county boards of review. It equalizes its
own assessments of railroad property. In the years
that real estate is assessed it equalizes real property
assessments. It also equalizes the assessment lists
between the several counties, adding or deducting a
rate per cent according to classes of property consid
ered separately.
The state board of tax commissioners also has
certain powers which work effectual equalization,
though not so called. It has powers of supervision
and examination over the county and township
assessors. Each county is to be visited once in each
year by the state board.
2. Rate—
The rate for state taxation, expressed in cents upon
each $100 valuation for state expenditures, is fixed
by the legislature.
3. Collection—
All taxes on property, whether for state, county,
school, road, or other purposes, are collected by the
county treasurer. One-lialf the taxes, including all
the road tax, is to be paid on or before the first Mon
day in May, the remainder by the first Monday in
November. Taxes become a lien on all real estate
from the 1st of March, and continue for 10 years, and
such lien is a state lien and is for all taxes, state,
county, school, road, or township.
The penalty for delinquency in the payment of any
installment of taxes is an addition of 10 per cent and
a further penalty of 6 per cent if not paid before the
next installment is due.
If not paid on January 1 after two years from the
beginning of such delinquency, the taxes bear interest
at 6 per cent in addition to former penalties for delin
quency.
B. POLL TAXES.
The poll tax is assessed on every male inhabitant of
the state between the ages of 21 and 50 years, except
officers and enlisted men of the active militia, and
such persons as the board of county commissioners
may deem unable to pay it. Every person is listed
for his poll tax in the county of his residence. The
amount to be charged on each poll is fixed by the
general assembly for state purposes and for schools.
Collection is made by the county treasurer.
C. THE INHERITANCE TAX.
There is no inheritance tax. The property of the
decedent’s estate in the hands of the administrator or
executor is subject to the general property tax, and
penalties are imposed on such officer personally for
delinquency. The administrator or executor is also
liable for back taxes unpaid during the life of decedent.
In the case of a legacy to any literary, scientific, or
charitable institution, that portion of the estate is
exempt.
D. CORPORATION TAXES.
All corporations are taxed under the general prop
erty tax.
Foreign insurance companies pay a tax of $3 on each. $100 excess
of premiums received over losses paid in the state. (This is an
exception to the system of the state.)
In addition to the general property tax domestic corporations are
also taxed upon the excess of the cash value of their capital stock
over the assessed value of their property.
Foreign bridge companies are taxed on their gross earnings as
well as on property.
Navigation companies organized under the laws of the state pay
a tax of 3 cents per net ton of the registered tonnage of all vessels
owned by such companies. In addition to this tonnage tax such
companies are taxed on all personal property except vessels and
other tangible property outside the state. All ships registered
under the navigation laws of the United States at any port in Indiana
are taxed 3 cents per net ton of registered tonnage.
Joint stock associations, companies engaged in carrying freight
under contract with railroad companies, copartnerships, or associa
tions pay to the state a sum in the nature of an excise tax equal to
1 per cent of the amount fixed by the state board of tax commis
sioners as the value of the proportion of the capital stock represent
ing the capital and property of the company in Indiana after deduct
ing the value of the real estate of such company in Indiana assessed,
and taxed locally.
E. BUSINESS TAXES, LICENSES, AND FEES.
These are collected by the county treasurer mainly for the benefit
of the state school fund.—To keep a ferry, $2 to $50; in each county
from traveling merchants and peddlers not residents and selling
foreign merchandise when capital is not over $1,000, $5; capital,
$1,000 to $2,000, $7.50; capital, $2,000 to $5,000, $10; capital over
$5,000, $20. (Peddlers of tea and coffee are exempt.) Soldiers
and sailors are given a license for the payment of a fee. Brokers,
per annum, $100. The secretary of state is authorized to issue
a license of $500 per annum to sell prison-made goods.
Fees are payable to state officials as follows:
For a commission to a notary public, $1; for a commission to a
commissioner of deeds, $5; for each attestation and seal, not ex
empted, 50 cents; for fifing and recording each article, charter, etc.,
not exceeding 200 words, $1; for fifing, etc., articles of incorporation
where the capital stock is $10,000 or less, $10; where the capital stock
exceeds $10,000, $10 and one-tenth of 1 per cent of the capital stock
in excess of $10,000. For an increase of capital stock or the merging
of two or more companies, the fees are the same as for fifing original
papers. Mutual insurance companies’ charters, $25; religious and
other corporations’ charters, $5; building and loan associations,
where the stock is $50,000 or less, $10; where the stock is more than
$50,000, $10 and one twenty-fifth of 1 per cent of the capital stock in
excessof $50,000. For a reduction of capitalstock, $5; foradecree of
court changing name of a corporation, $5; for amendments to char
