Failure of officer to list or properly value, assess or equalize property for taxation unlawful; penalties; variance in appraisal permitted

79-1426. Failure of officer to list or properly value, assess or equalize property for taxation unlawful; penalties; variance in appraisal permitted. Any county assessor, deputy assessor, member of the state board of tax appeals, director of property valuation, or member of any county board of equalization, and every other person whose duty it is to list, value, assess or equalize real estate or tangible personal property for taxation, who shall knowingly or willfully fail to list or return for assessment or valuation any real estate or personal property, or who shall knowingly or willfully list or return for assessment or valuation any real estate or personal property at other than as provided for by law, or any assessing officer who shall willfully or knowingly fail to appraise, assess or to equalize the values of any real estate or tangible personal property, which is subject to general property taxes as required in K.S.A. 79-1439, and amendments thereto, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not exceeding $500 or imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding 90 days, and in addition thereto shall forfeit his or her office if an officer mentioned herein. A variance of 10% in the appraisal at fair market value in money shall not be considered a violation of this section. History: L. 1907, ch. 408, § 39; L. 1909, ch. 251, § 8; R.S. 1923, 79-1426; L. 1963, ch. 460, § 6; L. 1969, ch. 433, § 4; L. 2008, ch. 109, § 85; L. 2014, ch. 141, § 94; July 1. Attorney General's Opinions: Powers and responsibilities of county boards of equalization. 81-69. CASE ANNOTATIONS 1. Taxpayer's property assessed at 30 percent of value, other property in county at 12 percent; assessment fraudulent and invalid. Addington v. Board of County Commissioners, 191 Kan. 528, 533, 382 P.2d 315. 2. Mentioned; assessment schedules of property valuation department invalid; failure to consider factors prescribed by K.S.A. 79-503. Garvey Grain, Inc. v. MacDonald, 203 Kan. 1, 12, 453 P.2d 59. 3. Cited in holding that assessment of oil and gas properties at statutory rate, while real estate was knowingly assessed by the same officials at fourteen percent, was so grossly discriminatory and oppressive as to constitute constructive fraud. Beardmore v. Ling, 203 Kan. 803, 805, 457 P.2d 117. 4. Cited in discussion of responsibility for administration of assessment and tax laws of the state. McManaman v. Board of County Commissioners, 205 Kan. 118, 127, 468 P.2d 243. 5. Deviation in assessment from 30% of value considered in action alleging discrimination in valuation and assessment of property (dissenting opinion). Northern Natural Gas Co. v. Williams, 208 Kan. 407, 431, 432, 493 P.2d 568. 6. Referred to in finding assessment of property at 43% of fair market value arbitrary and oppressive; constructive fraud. Gordon v. Hiett, 214 Kan. 690, 697, 522 P.2d 942. Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Archived School Finance Documents USEFUL LINKS Session Laws Kansas Administrative Regulations OTHER LEGISLATIVE SITES Kansas Legislature Administrative Services Division of Post Audit Research Department Contact Us PDF Help www.ksrevisor.gov 2026