It is the duty of every person in every election precinct to attend in person before the assessor on the first day of the appointment in the precinct of the taxpayer’s residence and then and there to render to the assessor under oath a full and complete list of all property of which he was owner, or in which he had any interest whatever, or of which he was trustee or agent on October 1 of that year. The land and improvements thereon and homesteads must be separately listed and valued. On failure of the taxpayer for 30 days after demand or notice by the tax assessor to furnish a sufficient description of his real estate, said tax assessor shall secure such description from the records of conveyance in the office of the probate court of his county, and if he is unable to get a sufficient description from such records, then by a survey of property by the county surveyor or otherwise, and the reasonable expenses incident thereto shall be allowed by the county commission and paid out of the general fund of the county wherein the property involved is located, and such amount as is allowed shall be added as costs to the taxes assessed against such taxpayer and, when collected, shall be covered into the general fund of the county.