Section 50IAC4.2-4-2. Book cost determinative

   (a) The cost of depreciable property, both real and personal, as recorded on the taxpayer's books and records, must be utilized in determining the value of the depreciable personal property subject to assessment.

  (b) The cost of all depreciable property of a taxpayer shall be the total amount reflected on the books and records of the taxpayer as of the assessment date except as provided in section 3 of this rule. Per the provisions of this article and the Internal Revenue Code, the cost of depreciable personal property must include, but not be limited to, direct costs and an appropriate portion of indirect costs attributable to its production or acquisition and preparation for use. The cost of machinery, furniture, tools, computers (excluding application software), and other plant assets includes all costs necessary to place the asset in condition and in place, ready for use. These costs include, but are not limited to, the purchase price, transportation costs to the place of use, and installation costs, foundations and electrical wiring, interest incurred during construction and installation, and sales tax. If the asset is constructed by the company, the original cost must be made up of, but not limited to, the following costs:

(1) Direct and indirect labor costs and fringe benefits.

(2) Direct material costs.

(3) Designing.

(4) Supervision.

(5) Insurance.

(6) Depreciation of equipment used in construction.

(7) Claims for damage during construction not compensated for by insurance.

(8) Taxes and insurance during construction.

(9) Interest incurred during construction.

(10) Sales taxes.

(11) Other costs directly chargeable to construction.

No profit should be added to the actual costs since the company cannot make a profit on itself. Any credits in the form of sales of scrap materials, discounts received on purchases of materials, and return premiums on surrender of insurance policies should be subtracted from the gross costs of construction to determine the actual cost of the asset.

  (c) The cost of additions and betterments must be added to the original cost of the asset. If an additional part is added or some other change is made in the fixed asset which increases its estimated useful life, its production, or efficiency, or changes it to a different use, such an expenditure is a betterment and should be capitalized by adding it to the original cost of the asset. If a part is replaced with a similar part, the new part would be shown as a new acquisition while the part replaced would be removed from the original cost of the asset when acquired. The cost of additions, betterments, or replacements would be reported as an addition, betterment, or replacement in the year the actual expenditure occurred.

  (d) In the event a taxpayer cannot determine from its books and records the cost of the depreciable property on the assessment date, they must use:

(1) the cost per books as of the close of its annual financial period immediately prior to the assessment date and so indicate on their return;

(2) the book cost as of the close of its last financial period will then be adjusted to reflect all acquisitions and disposals of depreciable property which have occurred between such date and the assessment date;

(3) this adjustment should be taken as provided in section 4 of this rule; and

(4) installation costs and foundations applicable to machinery and equipment shall be reported and assessed on the same basis as the asset to which they apply.

  (e) A taxpayer must be able to reconcile the cost of the depreciable personal property reported on the tax returns required to be filed with the cost of all depreciable property as recorded on the taxpayer's books and records on the assessment date. A personal property and real property guide is included in section 10 of this rule to assist in the reconciliation.

  (f) Taxpayers with locations in more than one (1) taxing district in this state may fulfill the requirements of this section by making one (1) computation as required in subsection (e) for the entire state, provided that the cost of the depreciable personal property for each taxing district where the taxpayer has property on the assessment date is identified in such computation. (Department of Local Government Finance; 50 IAC 4.2-4-2; filed Dec 7, 1988, 9:35 a.m.: 12 IR 839, eff Mar 1, 1989; reinstated by IC 6-1.1-3-22, eff Jul 1, 2003; filed Feb 26, 2010, 2:43 p.m.: 20100324-IR-050090576FRA)