I'm just venting...

Ok, so this summer when I was sick I apparently got a tax bill form from the Utah County assessors. I never even saw it until a few weeks ago when I was cleaning off the computer desk. I had no idea what is was and actually assumed that it was sent to me in error - I've been in business about 5 years and have never seen a form like that. So yesterday another one was sent by certified mail. Apparently the government NOT ONLY taxes you on your income, but also on all the personal property you own for your business. That's double taxation after sales tax. And they retax you every year for the same items on a depreciated scale. I had NO idea that I had to pay taxes on my preschool property. Somehow I missed the list the first 3 years, but now I have to go through every receipt for the last 5 years and write down EVERYTHING I own for the preschool, when I purchased it and how much it cost. I called to complain/ask about how to do this. She said I had to include everything even if it's primarily for home use, if it was dontated (I have to guess a figure), if I bought it at a yard sale, etc. It really sounds like an unsurmountable task to me. Most of my stuff has been donated, or I owned it before preschool, or I bought it for the family and just use it for preschool, or I bought it at a yard sale or DI or the dollar store (all of which give generic receipts or no receipts.) So anyway, I was ticked off. Luckily Steve agreed with me when I told him about it. (It's great to have a husband who sympathizes with you.) Anyway, am I wrong in thinking that a small home business shouldn't have to deal with this? I barely make enough after expenses anyway! Now I'm going to be taxed more. Plus, I think it's a bad way for the government to want to stimulate the economy - if a business is double taxed for everything they buy and retaxed yearly, they will want to buy less. Anyway, I'm on the assessors naughtly list and I'm sure I'll be audited. But actually I'd be happy to have them figure it out and not me!