Manufacturers and merchants shall pay an and valorem tax, at the regular tax rate, on the greatest amount of goods, wares, and merchandise or raw material and finished products they may have on hand on any one day between the first Monday in January and the first Monday in April of the current year, as well as on the tools, machinery and appliances used in carrying on their business or owned by them on the first day of April each year.

(Code 1964, § 16.250)