The Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office is warning wildfire victims that they may be missing out on important tax relief or refund checks due to invalid addresses.
Officials said Tuesday that while many property owners have already received lower property tax bills or even partial refunds through state disaster relief programs, hundreds of those checks and notices are now being returned to the county because the listed mailing addresses are no longer valid.
“In numerous cases, the original property—and with it, the recorded mailing address—was destroyed in the wildfires,” the assessor’s office said.
“Getting relief into the hands of wildfire victims is a top priority for our Office,” said County Assessor Jeff Prang. “But we need their help in updating contact information so that relief can reach them without delay.”
After the fires, the Assessor’s Office says it took a proactive approach in reviewing damage across all areas included in the official disaster declarations. All properties, even those in which the owner didn’t file paperwork, have received lower property values if any damage was found.
That decrease in property value results in a lower tax bill for homeowners and, in many cases, tax refunds.
Homeowners whose properties were affected may have already received a Notice of Assessed Value Change, which is a letter that explains how much their property’s taxable value has been temporarily reduced due to damage. This can significantly reduce their property tax bills until the home is repaired or rebuilt, officials said.
But to get refund checks or future notices without delay, homeowners must make sure their current mailing address is on file with the county.
The Assessor’s Office stresses that a change in address does not change the location of the property, but simply ensures that important documents and refunds are delivered to where the owner can actually receive them.
“We understand how devastating these fires have been, and we are committed to making sure impacted property owners receive the support they’re entitled to,” Prang said.
Los Angeles County homeowners can update their mailing address by visiting the County Assessor’s website. For more details about wildfire-related tax relief, click here.
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