Property Assessment Adjustment

This company is sending official looking mailings to property owners offering to provide property tax reduction assistance. Our experience with similar offers has been that they may charge hundreds of dollars for a service that is provided free to property owners by their local County Assessor’s office. Some companies even attempt to impose late fees if the application is received late.

Consumers should be aware that solicitations from private companies offering to pursue reductions in property taxes must clearly indicate that they are NOT a government agency and that their services are NOT approved or endorsed by any government agency. Failure to provide such notice is a violation of California law.
Property owners receiving legal solicitations from private companies that properly identify themselves as not being a governmental agency should be aware that their property may have already been reviewed and the value reduced by the Assessor’s Office. There is no reason to pay for a review that has already been completed.

If your property was not reduced in the Assessor’s review and you believe the assessed value of the property shown on the 2007-08 tax bill is more than the fair market value, you may be eligible to file an application for review. Homeowners should obtain a Decline-in-Value form from their County Assessor. The form is simple to complete and available online or at one of the Assessor’s District offices. They will review the application and if a reduction is warranted, the taxable value will be reduced. Please note that there is no charge for a review. If you or someone you know receives an illegal solicitation, please contact your local District Attorney, Postal Inspector, or the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer Affairs. They can be reached by phone at (800) 973-3370 or visit their website at http://dca.lacounty.gov/contact.htm.