Form DR-405, Tangible Personal Property Tax Return, is the return that business owners send to the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser to list the equipment, furniture, supplies and similar property they own for commercial use. It is one of the Palm Beach County property tax forms, and the version on this page is printed for tax year 2026. On FillingPDF you can fill out the form online and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by the Property Appraiser at pbcpao.gov, and the signed return goes to that office by April 1.
Last updated
What is DR-405?
Form DR-405, Tangible Personal Property Tax Return, is the confidential return on which a business owner reports the tangible personal property it owned in Palm Beach County on January 1, so the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser can assess it.
The form is issued under Rule 12D-16.002, F.A.C., and cites the Florida Statutes behind it, including §192.042 (assessment date of January 1), §193.052 (filing requirement), §193.062 (filing date of April 1), §193.063 (extensions), §193.072 (penalties) and §196.183 (exemption).
Page 1 holds the owner and business details, a Personal Property Summary Schedule (lines 10 to 25 and a TOTAL PERSONAL PROPERTY line) and the signature block. Each line asks for a taxpayer's estimate of fair market value and the original installed cost. Page 2 carries the detail: assets physically removed during the last year, leased, loaned or rented equipment you hold for others, a schedule for line 22 (equipment you own that others rent or hold) and schedules for lines 10 to 21 and 23 to 25. Pages 3 and 4 are instructions, with line-by-line and column-by-column guidance.
Tangible personal property means goods, chattels and other articles of value, except certain vehicles, that can be manually possessed and whose chief value is intrinsic to the article. The return does not cover real property already included in your business's assessed value, intangible property, household goods, most licensed vehicles or inventory held for sale.
Who needs to file DR-405?
Owners of property used for commercial purposes that is not included in the assessed value of the business's real property file Form DR-405. The form lists office furniture, computers, tools, supplies, machines and leasehold improvements as examples.
Who and what must be reported:
- Anyone who owned tangible personal property located in Palm Beach County on January 1, including fully depreciated items still in use, whether written off or not.
- Owners of personally owned property that is used in the business.
- Owners of equipment that is leased or rented out after its first lease or rental (inventory held for lease).
- Owners of rental units: on lines 16 and 16a, both residents and nonresidents must report household goods if a house, condo or apartment is rented at any time during the year.
A business files a single return for each site in the county where it transacts business. Freestanding property at other sites, such as vending machines, LP/propane tanks or billboards, goes on a separate single return for all such property in the county.
Do not include intangible property (money, debts owed to you, ownership in a corporation), household goods used only at home, most automobiles, trucks and other licensed vehicles, or inventory held for sale. If you may be entitled to a widow's, widower's or disability exemption on personal property not already claimed on real estate, consult the appraiser. A preparer other than the taxpayer may sign the preparer section.
When to file DR-405
Return Form DR-405 to the property appraiser by April 1; the form states this on page 1 and in its instructions, and property is reported as of its January 1 assessment date. Filing on time automatically applies for the exemption the form describes, and Florida law provides for losing that exemption if the return is not filed on time.
If you ask, the property appraiser will give you an extension for 30 days and may grant an additional 15 days. You must ask early enough for the appraiser to consider the request and act on it before April 1.
The form also lists penalties: one for failing to file, one for filing late that builds up for each month or part of a month and is capped, and one for unlisted property. Ask the Property Appraiser for the current figures.
Documents you need
- An itemized list or depreciation schedule showing original cost and date acquired for each item, if you do not list the detail on page 2 of the form.
- For line 20 (leasehold improvements): an itemized list or depreciation schedule of the individual improvements, grouped by type and year of installation.
- Additional pages, if needed, when the schedules on page 2 do not have room for all your property.
- A written statement is not listed; instead, consult the property appraiser if you believe you qualify for a widow's, widower's or disability exemption not already claimed on real estate.
How to fill out DR-405
Check the account, name and address block
Enter or confirm your account number, business name (DBA), mailing address, Federal Employer Identification Number and NAICS code at the top. If the printed name and address is incorrect, make the corrections there.
Enter owner and physical location
Line 1: owner or person in charge, phone and business/corporate name. Line 2: the physical location of the property; no PO Boxes.
Answer the prior-name and prior-return questions
Line 3: check Yes or No for filing a TPP return under another name and give the name on the most recent return or tax bill with its location. Line 7: check Yes or No for whether you filed a TPP return in this county last year.
Give business dates and type
Line 4: the date you began business in this county. Line 5: fiscal year end date, and check Yes or No on whether the return reflects additions/deletions through Dec 31. Line 6: check all trade levels that apply (Retail, Wholesale, Manufacturing, Professional Service, Agricultural, Leasing/rental, Other, specify).
Record former owner details
Line 8: name of the former owner of the business. Line 9: if the business was sold, to whom and the date sold.
Complete the summary schedule on page 1
For lines 10 to 25, enter the totals of each category under Taxpayer's Estimate of Fair Market Value and Original Installed Cost, using page 2 or an attached itemized list. Leave the Appraiser Use Only column blank and enter the TOTAL PERSONAL PROPERTY line.
Itemize property on page 2 schedules
In the schedules for lines 10 to 21 and 23 to 25, enter the page 1 line number, then description, age, year acquired, estimate of fair market value, original installed cost and condition (good, avg or poor). Group assets by year of acquisition and enter totals on page 1.
Report removed and leased equipment
In the first section of page 2, list assets physically removed during the last year, including to whom they were disposed, sold or traded. In the second section, list equipment belonging to others that you hold: owner or lessor name and address, description, years, monthly rent, original cost and purchase option Yes or No.
Complete the line 22 schedule
For equipment you own that is rented, leased or held by others, enter the lease term, lessee name and address, actual physical location, description, age, year acquired, monthly rent, estimate of fair market value, condition and original cost new. Enter the total on line 22 of page 1.
Apply the cost and value rules
Report original installed cost with sales tax, transportation, handling and installation, before depreciation. Enter expensed items at original installed cost and give your own estimate of current fair market value.
Review, sign and download the PDF
Check the exemption box information, sign and date as taxpayer (and preparer, if any), and confirm every column is filled in. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and send the original as described under How to submit.
How to submit DR-405
The form names one channel: mailing the signed original to the county property appraiser.
- By mail: Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, 5th Floor Government Center, 301 North Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401-4793, the address printed at the top of the form. The original must reach the office by April 1.
- Extension requests: the instructions say to ask the property appraiser; do it early enough for the office to act before April 1.
- Questions: the instructions tell you to contact your local property appraiser.
Sign and date the return before sending it; unsigned returns cannot be accepted by the appraiser's office. Keep a copy for your records. Attach an itemized list or depreciation schedule if you do not use page 2 for the detail of each category. If the name or address printed on the form is wrong, correct it in the box at the top. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Sending the return unsigned. The form says unsigned returns cannot be accepted by the appraiser's office.
- Filing after April 1 without an approved extension, which risks penalties and the loss of the exemption that timely filing applies automatically.
- Writing "various" or "same as last year" in any column; the instructions call these inadequate responses that may bring penalties for failure to file.
- Reporting depreciated or adjusted figures as Original Installed Cost; the instructions require 100% of the original cost before depreciation, including sales tax, freight-in, handling and installation.
- Leaving out fully depreciated items still in use; they must be reported at original installed cost, whether written off or not.
- Listing inventory held for sale, household goods used at home, intangible property or most licensed vehicles, which the form says not to include.
- Entering a P.O. Box on the Physical location line (line 2), which says no PO Boxes.
- Combining several business sites on one return when the instructions call for a single return for each site where you transact business.
- Waiting until the last days of March to ask for an extension; it must be requested in time for the appraiser to act before April 1.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form DR-405 used for?
Form DR-405 is the Tangible Personal Property Tax Return. Business owners use it to report to the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser the commercial property they owned on January 1, such as office furniture, computers, machinery, tools, supplies and leasehold improvements.
When is the Palm Beach County DR-405 due?
April 1. The form says to return it to the property appraiser by April 1 to avoid penalty, and property is reported as of January 1. Filing on time also automatically applies for the exemption that Florida law provides for each return.
Can I get an extension to file DR-405?
Yes, if you ask. The property appraiser will give you a 30-day extension and may grant an additional 15 days. You must request it early enough for the appraiser to consider and act on the request before April 1.
What happens if I file DR-405 late or not at all?
The form lists penalties for failure to file, for filing late (growing each month or part of a month, up to a cap) and for unlisted property. Florida law also provides for the loss of the exemption if you do not file on time. Ask the appraiser for details.
What property do I report on DR-405?
Report tangible personal property located in the county on January 1, including fully depreciated items still in use, inventory held for lease and property you own personally but use in the business. Do not report intangibles, household goods, most licensed vehicles or inventory held for sale.
How do I report the cost of my equipment on the form?
Enter 100% of the original installed cost, including sales tax, freight-in, handling and installation, with no depreciation allowance. Include fully depreciated items at original cost, and give your own estimate of current fair market value in the other column.
Do I file one DR-405 for all my locations?
No. File a single return for each site in the county where you transact business. Freestanding property at other sites, such as vending machines or billboards, goes on a separate single return for all such property in the county.
Where do I mail Form DR-405?
Mail the signed original to the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser, 5th Floor Government Center, 301 North Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401-4793, so it arrives by April 1. The form states that unsigned returns cannot be accepted.
Can I fill out DR-405 online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the return with the Property Appraiser; you send the signed original through the agency's channels.
Ready to fill out DR-405?
Fill out DR-405 now