California Form BOE-571-L is the Business Property Statement that every California business with taxable personal property must file with the county assessor in the county where the property is located on the January 1 lien date. The form reports the cost of machinery, equipment, office furniture, computers, supplies, and leasehold improvements so the assessor can value those items for the annual unsecured property tax bill.
The 2026 revision of BOE-571-L is the version most counties accept this filing season, and using an older revision can trigger a rejection that wastes weeks of mailing time. According to the California State Board of Equalization, more than 1.1 million business property statements are filed each year across California’s 58 counties, and roughly 1 in 8 are filed late or with errors that draw a 10% penalty under Revenue and Taxation Code §463.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What BOE-571-L is, who must file it, and which businesses are exempt
- 🗂️ The exact documents and records you need before you open the form
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of every part, schedule, and signature block
- 🧾 Three real filled-out examples that mirror common California businesses
- ⏰ Deadlines, penalties, county filing portals, and what happens after you file
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
BOE-571-L is the standard Business Property Statement used by 56 of California’s 58 county assessors to gather a sworn list of the taxable personal property a business owned, possessed, claimed, or controlled on the January 1 lien date. The form is authorized by Revenue and Taxation Code §441, which gives the assessor the power to demand the statement and to penalize businesses that ignore the request. The assessor uses the reported costs, applies a county-specific valuation factor table, and produces the assessed value that drives the unsecured property tax bill mailed each July.
Any business with personal property in California that cost $100,000 or more must file BOE-571-L every year, even without a request, under R&T Code §441(d). A business below that threshold must still file the statement if the assessor mails or emails a written request, and ignoring that request is what triggers the 10% penalty. The form covers sole proprietors, partnerships, LLCs, corporations, nonprofits with taxable activity, and out-of-state firms that store equipment in California.
Some filers use related forms instead of BOE-571-L. Agricultural operations file BOE-571-F, apartment owners file BOE-571-R, and vessel owners file BOE-576-D. If the county sent you a different number on the request letter, follow that letter rather than defaulting to 571-L.
The agency that receives the form is the county assessor, not the State Board of Equalization and not the Franchise Tax Board. The BOE writes the form and the statewide rules, but each county collects and audits its own statements through the county assessor’s business property division, with oversight from the county auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector who later bill and collect the tax.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Pulling records first cuts filing time from a full day to about an hour and keeps your numbers consistent with what the assessor already has in your file. The assessor compares each year’s statement to the prior year, and unexplained drops in cost are the single most common audit trigger. Use the Assessors’ Handbook Section 504 as your reference for what counts as reportable cost.
Gather these items before you begin:
- Your prior-year BOE-571-L as a baseline, because the assessor expects continuity in equipment categories and acquisition years.
- A fixed asset depreciation schedule from your accounting software or tax return, showing original cost and year of acquisition for each asset.
- Federal Form 4562 and the depreciation detail from your last filed federal return, since the cost figures must reconcile to your books.
- A supplies inventory estimate as of January 1, covering office, shop, and janitorial supplies that have not yet been used.
- Leases and rental agreements for any equipment, copiers, postage meters, or vending machines you possess but do not own.
- Leasehold improvement invoices for any structural changes you paid for inside a space you rent.
- The legal name, FEIN, and SOS number of the entity, exactly as it appears on the assessor’s request letter.
- The business location address and mailing address, including suite numbers, because the assessor indexes statements by situs.
- A list of disposed or sold equipment during the prior calendar year, with dates and buyers if known.
- The signer’s title and contact information, because an unsigned or improperly signed statement is treated as not filed under R&T Code §441.
Missing any single item creates a chain reaction. For example, Marcus, a print shop owner in Sacramento, skipped his supplies estimate one year and reported zero; the assessor compared it to his prior year’s $4,200 figure, flagged the drop, and opened a four-year audit that cost him three days of records production.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The blank PDF of BOE-571-L lives on the State Board of Equalization website, but you should rarely download it from there unless you are filing on paper in a small county. Most counties send a pre-printed copy in the mail in late January or early February with your account number, situs address, and prior-year data already populated. Filing that pre-printed copy is faster and reduces transcription errors.
The bigger counties push filers to e-file through the Standard Data Record (SDR) network or a county-built portal. Los Angeles County uses LA County e-File, Santa Clara County uses Santa Clara SDR, San Diego County uses San Diego e-File, Orange County uses OC e-File, and Alameda County uses Alameda e-File. San Francisco, Riverside, San Bernardino, Sacramento, Contra Costa, Fresno, and Kern all run their own portals as well.
E-filing uses a BIN (Business Identification Number) and an access PIN printed on the assessor’s letter. Without that letter you must call the assessor’s business property division to get the credentials reissued, which can take 5 to 7 business days. Save the PDF receipt and confirmation number that the portal generates; that receipt is your proof of timely filing if the county later claims the statement never arrived.
If you operate in multiple counties, you file a separate BOE-571-L in each county where you had property on January 1, even if the equipment is identical. The same fixed asset cannot be reported in two counties; you allocate by physical location on the lien date, not by where the entity is headquartered.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out BOE-571-L Line by Line
The form is four pages with a front face, three numbered Parts, and three Schedules (A, B, and sometimes additional county-specific attachments). The current revision date is printed in the lower left corner of page 1, and you should confirm it reads 2026 before you start. Work top to bottom, page by page, and never skip a field even if the answer is “none.”
Name and Mailing Address Block (Top of Page 1)
This block asks for the legal name of the business and the mailing address where the assessor should send future correspondence. Enter the full legal entity name in all caps exactly as it appears on your Secretary of State filing, then the mailing address on the next lines with the suite or unit number on the same line as the street. ACME PRINT SHOP LLC, 1450 J STREET SUITE 200, SACRAMENTO CA 95814 is a clean example.
If the entity changed names during the year, write the new legal name and attach a one-line note explaining the change with the effective date. A name mismatch between BOE-571-L and the assessor’s roll triggers a manual review that delays processing by 2 to 4 weeks. The common mistake here is using a DBA or trade name instead of the legal entity; the assessor cross-checks the FEIN against the Secretary of State database, and a DBA will not match.
A common misconception is that the address block updates other county records. It does not. You must separately update the recorder, the tax collector, and the business license office, because each runs its own database.
Account Number and Location of Property (Top Right of Page 1)
This field asks for the assessor’s account number and the physical situs address of the property on January 1. Copy the account number exactly as printed on the request letter, including any leading zeros, and write the situs address on the next line even if it is the same as the mailing address. Account 123-456-7890, Property at 1450 J STREET SUITE 200, SACRAMENTO CA 95814.
If you moved equipment to a new address before January 1, report the new address as the situs and add a note with the move date. The common mistake is leaving the prior situs because the pre-printed form shows it; the assessor will then bill the wrong tax rate area, which can take a full year to correct. The misconception is that one situs covers all locations; each location needs its own BOE-571-L.
Part I — General Information (Questions 1 through 10)
Part I is a short questionnaire about ownership, accounting method, and changes during the year. Each question is a check box or one-line answer, but the answers control how the rest of the form is read. Answer every question; an unanswered box is treated as “no” and can lock you out of exemptions you actually qualify for.
Question 1 asks for the start date of business at this location, in MM/DD/YYYY format. 03/14/2018 is a valid entry. The nuance is that “start date at this location” means when the equipment arrived, not when the entity was formed. The common mistake is entering the entity formation date, which can cause the assessor to assume escape assessments for years you were not in California. The misconception is that the date resets each January 1; it does not, and you copy the same date forward every year.
Question 2 asks whether the business has changed legal form, owner, or name during the year. Check yes or no, and if yes attach a brief explanation. The nuance is that a change of officer is not a change of ownership; only a change in legal entity counts. The common mistake is checking yes for routine personnel changes, which triggers a change-in-ownership review under Proposition 13. The misconception is that an LLC member change is reportable here; member changes belong on BOE-100-B instead.
Questions 3 through 5 ask about accounting method, fiscal year-end, and whether your books are kept on a calendar or fiscal basis. Most small businesses check accrual and 12/31. The nuance is that even a cash-basis business must report property at full cost, not net of depreciation. The common mistake is reporting net book value; the assessor wants gross cost. The misconception is that fiscal year-end controls the lien date; it does not, and January 1 always governs.
Questions 6 through 10 cover leased equipment, leasehold improvements, prior locations, disposed assets, and related-party transfers. Check yes if any apply and complete the related schedule. The common mistake is checking no on leased equipment because the copier “belongs to the leasing company”; you still report possession on Part III. The misconception is that disposed assets disappear from the form; you report them on the disposal line so the assessor removes them from your account.
Part II — Declaration of Property Belonging to You (Schedule A Summary)
Part II is the cost summary that pulls from Schedule A on page 2. You list total cost by category and year of acquisition, and the assessor applies the county’s valuation factor table to produce assessed value. Numbers must reconcile to your federal depreciation schedule within a few percent or expect a follow-up letter.
Category 1 is Machinery and Equipment, meaning production equipment, shop tools, and similar items. Enter full original cost including freight, installation, and sales tax. A printing press purchased in 2022 for $48,000 plus $2,000 freight is reported as $50,000 in the 2022 row. The nuance is that freight and installation are included even though they sit in different general ledger accounts. The common mistake is reporting net of trade-in; you report gross cost and report the trade-in disposal separately. The misconception is that fully depreciated equipment drops off; it stays on the form at original cost as long as you still possess it.
Category 2 is Office Furniture and Equipment, covering desks, chairs, file cabinets, and similar items. Computers and peripherals go in Category 3, not here. The common mistake is mixing computers into office furniture, which distorts the valuation factor. The misconception is that personal furniture used at a home office is exempt; it is taxable if used in the trade or business.
Category 3 is Computers, broken down by acquisition year because computers depreciate faster than other equipment. Enter full cost of desktops, laptops, servers, monitors, and printers. The nuance is that software is generally not reportable, but bundled operating system software shipped with hardware is included in the hardware cost. The common mistake is including custom software; under R&T Code §995, custom application software is exempt. The misconception is that cloud subscriptions are reportable; they are services, not property, and they stay off the form.
Category 4 is Other Equipment, a catch-all for items that do not fit Categories 1 through 3. Examples include kitchen equipment, medical instruments, signage, and security systems. The common mistake is leaving Category 4 blank and forcing odd items into Category 1; the valuation factor differs, and misclassification distorts assessed value. The misconception is that signage on a leased building is real property; permanent signage attached to the structure is real property, but freestanding or removable signage is personal property and goes here.
Part III — Declaration of Property Belonging to Others
Part III lists equipment in your possession that belongs to someone else, typically leased copiers, postage meters, vending machines, and rented tools. You enter the lessor’s name and address, a description, the lease number, monthly rent, and the start date. The assessor uses this to cross-check the lessor’s own filing and to determine which party is taxed.
The nuance is that a capital lease is treated as a purchase, so the equipment moves to Part II and Schedule A instead of Part III. The common mistake is reporting an operating lease in both Part II and Part III; double reporting doubles the assessment. The misconception is that the lessor pays the tax automatically; under most California operating leases, the lessor is assessed but passes the tax through to you contractually, so accurate Part III data protects you from disputes.
Example entry: Pitney Bowes Global Financial Services, 27 Waterview Drive, Shelton CT 06484, Postage Meter Model SendPro C400, Lease #PB-789456, $89/month, started 06/15/2024.
Schedule A — Cost Detail by Year of Acquisition
Schedule A is the engine of the form. It is a grid where rows are years of acquisition (current year, then each prior year back at least 10 years, then a “prior years” catch-all) and columns are the four equipment categories from Part II. Every dollar of cost in Part II must trace to a specific year-and-category cell in Schedule A.
Enter cost in whole dollars, no commas, no cents. 48,000 becomes 48000. The nuance is that the “year of acquisition” means the year you placed the asset in service in California, not the year the manufacturer made it; used equipment carries the year you bought it, not its original build year. The common mistake is using the federal MACRS class life year; use the calendar year you acquired the asset.
A second common mistake is leaving the “prior years” row blank and rolling old assets into the oldest individual year row. The assessor’s valuation factor for “prior years” is set to a floor value, and shifting old assets up artificially inflates your assessed value. The misconception is that small additions can be averaged; each addition belongs in its actual year, and averaging is grounds for a correction.
Schedule B — Buildings, Building Improvements, and Leasehold Improvements
Schedule B captures structural improvements you paid for, even if you do not own the underlying real estate. Tenant build-outs, walk-in coolers, custom lighting, and specialized HVAC for server rooms all belong here. Enter cost by year of acquisition and category, similar to Schedule A.
The nuance is that leasehold improvements are personal property to the tenant but real property to the landlord, and they are assessed only once. The common mistake is reporting routine repairs and maintenance; only capital improvements with a useful life over one year belong on Schedule B. The misconception is that the landlord always reports leasehold improvements; the tenant who paid for them reports them until ownership transfers under the lease terms.
Signature, Title, and Declaration Under Penalty of Perjury
The bottom of page 1 has the declaration that the statement is true, correct, and complete, signed under penalty of perjury under California law. The signer must be the assessee, a partner, a corporate officer, an LLC manager, or a duly authorized agent with a written authorization on file. The signature line wants a wet or electronic signature, the printed name, the title, the date, and a daytime phone.
The nuance is that an outside CPA or bookkeeper can sign only if a written agency authorization is on file with the assessor; otherwise the statement is treated as unsigned. The common mistake is having an office manager sign without authorization; the assessor will treat the form as not filed and assess the 10% penalty. The misconception is that an electronic signature in a county portal needs notarization; it does not, but the BIN and PIN serve as the authentication.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Example 1: Maria Lopez, Single-Location Coffee Shop in Los Angeles County
Maria runs Lopez Coffee Roasters LLC at one storefront in Pasadena with an espresso machine, a roaster, café furniture, two laptops, and a small supplies inventory. Her total cost is under $100,000, but the assessor mailed her a request, so she must file. She uses LA County e-File with the BIN from her letter.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Legal Name | LOPEZ COFFEE ROASTERS LLC |
| Mailing Address | 85 N RAYMOND AVE, PASADENA CA 91103 |
| Account Number | Account 9988-7766-5500 |
| Part I, Q1 Start Date | 04/01/2021 |
| Part I, Q2 Ownership Change | No |
| Part II Cat. 1 Machinery (roaster, espresso) | $32,000 |
| Part II Cat. 2 Office Furniture (café tables, chairs) | $11,500 |
| Part II Cat. 3 Computers (2 laptops, POS terminal) | $4,200 |
| Part II Supplies | $850 |
| Part III Leased Equipment (Square POS hardware lease) | Square Capital, Model S3, $39/mo, started 04/01/2023 |
| Schedule A, 2024 row Cat. 1 | $14,000 |
| Schedule A, 2021 row Cat. 1 | $18,000 |
| Signature Block | Maria Lopez, Managing Member, 02/12/2026, (626) 555-0142 |
Example 2: Carlos Nguyen, Tech Startup in Santa Clara County
Carlos is CFO of Nguyen Robotics Inc., a 22-person hardware startup in Sunnyvale with prototyping equipment, leased copiers, custom server room HVAC, and roughly $480,000 in total cost. He must file regardless of a request because cost exceeds $100,000. He uses Santa Clara SDR.
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Legal Name | NGUYEN ROBOTICS INC |
| Mailing Address | 1200 KIFER RD, SUNNYVALE CA 94086 |
| Part I, Q1 Start Date | 09/15/2019 |
| Part I, Q6 Leased Equipment | Yes |
| Part I, Q7 Leasehold Improvements | Yes |
| Part II Cat. 1 Machinery (3D printers, CNC, test rigs) | $285,000 |
| Part II Cat. 3 Computers (servers, workstations) | $142,000 |
| Part II Cat. 4 Other (lab benches, ESD flooring equipment) | $38,000 |
| Part III Leased (Ricoh MP C6004 copier) | Ricoh USA, $312/mo, started 01/10/2023 |
| Schedule B Leasehold Improvements (server room HVAC, 2022) | $96,000 |
| Schedule A, 2025 row Cat. 3 | $58,000 |
| Signature Block | Carlos Nguyen, Chief Financial Officer, 03/03/2026, (408) 555-0199 |
Example 3: Janet Park, Family Restaurant in San Diego County
Janet owns Park Family Kitchen, a sole proprietorship operating one restaurant in Chula Vista with a full commercial kitchen, walk-in cooler built into a leased space, dining room furniture, and a small POS system. Her cost is about $135,000, so she files automatically. She uses San Diego e-File.
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Legal Name | JANET PARK DBA PARK FAMILY KITCHEN |
| Mailing Address | 480 BROADWAY, CHULA VISTA CA 91910 |
| Part I, Q1 Start Date | 07/20/2015 |
| Part I, Q3 Accounting Method | Cash |
| Part II Cat. 1 Machinery (range, fryers, dishwasher) | $68,000 |
| Part II Cat. 2 Office Furniture (dining tables, chairs, host stand) | $24,500 |
| Part II Cat. 3 Computers (POS, kitchen display) | $9,800 |
| Part II Cat. 4 Other (small wares, signage) | $7,200 |
| Part II Supplies | $3,400 |
| Schedule B Leasehold Improvements (walk-in cooler, 2018) | $22,000 |
| Schedule A, 2015 row Cat. 1 | $42,000 |
| Signature Block | Janet Park, Sole Proprietor, 04/01/2026, (619) 555-0177 |
How to File the Completed Form
You can file BOE-571-L through three channels in most counties, and the channel you pick controls the proof of filing you keep. Pick one channel and stay with it; mixing paper and electronic submissions in the same year creates duplicate records that take months to untangle.
E-filing through your county’s SDR portal or a county-built system is free, available 24 hours a day until 11:59 PM Pacific on May 7, and produces an instant PDF receipt with a confirmation number. Accepted credentials are the BIN and PIN from the assessor’s letter; no payment is needed because the filing itself is free, and the assessor mails the tax bill in July. Processing time is immediate, and the receipt is your proof of filing.
Mail filing uses the pre-printed paper form sent in late January, returned to the address printed on the form, with no fee. The post office must postmark the envelope by May 7 for the filing to be timely under R&T Code §441; metered mail dated May 7 but actually entered into the mail stream on May 8 is treated as late. Use certified mail with return receipt for proof of filing, and keep the green card with your tax records for at least four years.
In-person filing is accepted at every county assessor’s business property counter during regular business hours, and a date-stamped copy serves as proof. There is no filing fee. Many counties have closed walk-in counters in favor of drop boxes; call the office before driving over.
Fax filing is still accepted in a handful of smaller counties (Tehama, Glenn, Modoc, Plumas, and a few others), but no major county accepts faxed statements anymore because the signature authentication requirements changed in 2020.
The hard deadline is April 1 to file without explanation and May 7 to file without penalty, per R&T Code §441(b). On May 8 the assessor adds a 10% penalty to the assessed value, and that penalty becomes part of the unsecured tax bill that hits in July.
What Happens After You File
The assessor’s office logs your statement, runs automated edits against the prior-year data, and assigns it to an appraiser for review. Most statements clear automatically within 30 to 45 days, especially e-filed ones, and the next thing you hear is the Notice of Assessment mailed between June and July showing the assessed value the appraiser produced.
If the appraiser has questions, you get a request for information letter asking for invoices, depreciation schedules, or clarification on specific lines. Respond within the 30-day window stated in the letter, because non-response converts the request into an escape assessment under R&T Code §531 covering up to four prior years. The assessor can also open a mandatory audit for accounts with cost of $1 million or more under R&T Code §469; these audits run every four years and cover the prior four assessment years.
The unsecured property tax bill arrives in late July with a payment due August 31 and a delinquency date of August 31 at 5 PM. Pay through your county treasurer-tax collector’s online portal; the Los Angeles Treasurer-Tax Collector is a typical example. Late payment adds a 10% penalty plus 1.5% per month until paid.
If you disagree with the assessed value, you can file an Application for Changed Assessment with the county assessment appeals board between July 2 and either September 15 or November 30 depending on the county; the California State Board of Equalization lists each county’s filing window.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
These errors come up in nearly every audit and they are easy to avoid with one extra review pass before you sign.
- Reporting net book value instead of full original cost; the assessor wants gross, and netting triggers a correction adding back the depreciation.
- Leaving Part I questions blank; blanks are treated as “no” and can cost you legitimate exemption claims.
- Missing the supplies line; the assessor uses industry averages to fill in a zero, almost always higher than your real number.
- Reporting leased equipment in Part II; that double-counts the asset and inflates your assessment.
- Using the DBA name instead of the legal entity; the FEIN cross-check fails and the form gets kicked back.
- Mixing computers into office furniture; the wrong valuation factor applies and the assessed value comes out wrong.
- Skipping leasehold improvements on Schedule B; the assessor finds them during the next mandatory audit and adds escape assessments for up to four years.
- Forgetting to remove disposed assets; you keep paying tax on equipment you no longer own.
- Letting an unauthorized employee sign; the statement is treated as not filed and the 10% penalty applies.
- Filing on an old revision of the form; counties reject prior-year forms and the rejection often arrives after May 7.
- Reporting custom software; software is generally exempt under R&T Code §995 and reporting it overpays the tax.
- Postmarking the envelope on May 7 at the self-service kiosk after the last mail pickup; the actual postmark is May 8 and the penalty applies.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- File even if you received no request when cost exceeds $100,000, because the statute requires it and the penalty applies anyway.
- Keep a PDF copy of the signed statement and the confirmation receipt for at least four years to cover the audit window.
- Reconcile the totals on Part II to your federal depreciation schedule before you sign.
- Use the pre-printed county form when available, because it carries the correct account number and situs.
- Report disposals on the disposal line so the assessor removes them from your account in the next year’s pre-print.
- Call the assessor’s business property division before May 1 if you cannot find your BIN, because reissue can take a week.
Don’t:
- Don’t guess at supplies; estimate from a recent purchase order or invoice cycle.
- Don’t sign as “Manager” if you are not on the LLC’s Statement of Information; the assessor checks the SOS database.
- Don’t file the same form in two counties; allocate by physical location on January 1.
- Don’t ignore a request-for-information letter; non-response converts it to an escape assessment.
- Don’t paper-file in a major county; e-filing reduces error rates by roughly half and produces instant proof.
- Don’t round cost figures; report whole dollars exactly from your fixed asset schedule.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing on your own:
- You save the $300 to $1,500 a CPA or property tax consultant would charge for a small business return.
- You learn your own fixed asset records, which makes your federal depreciation schedule cleaner.
- You control the timing and can file the day records are ready instead of waiting on a third party.
- You build a direct relationship with the county appraiser, which helps if questions come up later.
- You avoid the conflict of interest some property tax firms create when they file dozens of statements with the same county.
Cons of filing on your own:
- You may miss legitimate exemptions and exclusions, like the §995 software exemption or the small-business low-value ordinance, which a specialist would catch.
- You bear the full risk of the 10% penalty, the escape assessment, and any mandatory audit.
- You spend 4 to 20 hours per location, time that scales poorly across multi-county operations.
- You may misclassify equipment categories, costing more in assessed value than the help would have cost.
- You miss the chance to appeal because you do not know the local assessment appeals board calendar.
Choosing Between Paper and E-Filing
| Feature | Paper Filing | E-Filing |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Postage only | Free |
| Proof of filing | Certified mail green card | Instant PDF receipt with confirmation number |
| Available counties | All 58 | The 30 largest counties, including all major metros |
| Processing time | 4 to 8 weeks | Same day |
| Error rate | About 14% kicked back | About 7% kicked back |
| Last-minute filing | Risky after May 5 | Safe until 11:59 PM May 7 |
FAQs
Is BOE-571-L the same form in every county?
Yes. The State Board of Equalization writes one statewide form under R&T Code §452, and every county must accept it, though counties may add a county-specific cover sheet or supplemental schedule.
Do I have to file if my business owns less than $100,000 in equipment?
No filing is required automatically, but yes you must file if the county assessor mails a written request; ignoring the request triggers the 10% penalty under R&T Code §463.
What is the deadline for BOE-571-L in 2026?
Yes there are two; April 1 is the statutory filing date, and May 7 is the last day to file without the 10% late penalty under R&T Code §441(b).
Do I report the gross cost or the net book value in Part II?
Yes report gross original cost including freight, installation, and sales tax; net book value is never used on BOE-571-L because the assessor applies its own depreciation factors.
Should I list my leased copier in Part II or Part III?
No, an operating-lease copier goes on Part III, Declaration of Property Belonging to Others, with the lessor’s name, lease number, and monthly rent.
Do I have to report software I bought for the business?
No, custom and most application software is exempt under R&T Code §995; only operating system software bundled with hardware is included, and it stays inside the hardware cost line.
What year do I use in Schedule A for used equipment I bought in 2024?
Yes use 2024, the year you placed the asset in service in California, not the manufacturer’s build year or the original first-owner purchase year.
Can my outside bookkeeper sign the form for me?
Yes, but only if a written agency authorization is on file with the county assessor; without it, the signature is invalid and the statement is treated as not filed.
Do I file a separate BOE-571-L for each county where I have property?
Yes, each county assessor requires its own statement for the equipment physically located in that county on January 1, even if all locations belong to one entity.
Is the 10% late penalty negotiable?
No, the 10% penalty under R&T Code §463 is mandatory once the statement is late, and only a successful appeal to the county assessment appeals board can remove it.
Do I write my DBA or my legal entity name in the name block?
Yes write the legal entity name first, exactly as registered with the Secretary of State, and add “DBA [trade name]” only if the county pre-print uses the trade name.
Does the assessor remove fully depreciated equipment from my account automatically?
No, fully depreciated equipment stays at original cost on Schedule A as long as you possess it; it only comes off when you report a disposal on the disposed-assets line.
Can I amend a BOE-571-L after I file it?
Yes, file a corrected statement clearly marked “AMENDED” with a brief cover letter explaining the change, ideally before the Notice of Assessment is mailed in June or July.
Does e-filing count as a signed statement under penalty of perjury?
Yes, the BIN and PIN combination plus the portal’s electronic signature checkbox satisfy the R&T Code §441 signature requirement in every county that offers e-filing.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out California Form BOE-19-B (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form BOE-261-G (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form BOE-266 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form BOE-267 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form BOE-305-AH (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form BOE-502-A (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form 100 (w/Examples) + FAQs