Some personal property — such as off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and scooters, and watercraft — will cease to be taxed by the state of Kansas starting in the new year.
The Douglas County Appraiser’s Office is notifying residents that, starting Jan. 1, some categories of personal property will be exempt from taxation due to changes from Kansas lawmakers.
According to a news from the county, the list of exempt personal property includes water and marine aircraft; off-road vehicles; motorized bicycles, scooters and mopeds; and trailers weighing a total of 15,000 pounds or less that only see personal use.
If owned before Jan. 1, these items will still be taxed for that time prior to the new year. Starting in 2026, county residents don’t need to notify the appraiser’s office of changes to these property types.
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The office will mail letters to personal property owners to further explain these changes in early January.
Douglas County Appraiser Brad Eldridge said that, under the new law, around 38% of the county’s personal property assets will now be exempt.
“These changes significantly reduce the amount of personal property that residents will need to report each year,” Eldridge said in the release. “Our goal is to make sure people understand what is still taxable and what no longer requires any action on their part.”
Personal property like mobile homes, tiny homes, aircraft, antique and salvage-title vehicles, vehicles with heavy tags and oil and gas leases will still be taxed. People will get value notices in May 2026 and tax bills in November 2026.
Owners of qualifying property will need to report if they’ve purchased or sold personal property, as well as changes in use or changes in where the property is stored.
Learn more about property taxes at the County Appraiser’s website here.
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Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
