BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
Tax relief available for winter storms
By JEFF PRANG
Los Angeles County Assessor
The year 2022 was a challenging year concerning our weather. Through the waning weeks of 2022, Los Angeles County experienced precious little rain. In its place there was extreme heat warnings with 3-digit temperatures the common denominator. When we experienced extremely dry conditions last fall, there was always the con- cern with flooding, especially since we’ve experienced recent torrential winter rain storms.
Along those lines, I want to remind property owners that tax relief is available in the event of damage to property not only by fires and other natural disasters but rain damage and/or flooding. By filing a claim for Misfortune & Calamity relief within one year of the incident, properties that have sustained a minimum of $10,000 in damage or destroyed may be eligible for a refund of taxes already paid and lower annual tax bills until the property is repaired or rebuilt.
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Assessor Jeff Prang
You must file the Application for Reassessment—Misfortune and Calamity claim, which is available online at https://assessor.lacounty.gov/tax-relief/disaster-relief or by phone: (213) 974-8658; by social media at @lacassessor.
Again, the claim has to be filed with my office within 12 months of the rain damage or flooding or any other natural disaster. The savings can be for a total loss of the property or a percentage of the damage as long as it’s $10,000 or more. Sometimes, the tax relief may not be a significant amount but it most assuredly helps in a time of need and can come in handy when you are planning on rebuilding or replacing. The percentage is calculated by the appraiser using a standard formula, oftentimes in conjunction with other factors such as existing insurance.
As just one example, our reassessments led to more than $3 million in tax relief a few years back during the Woolsey Fire. This relief was by way of refunds and adjustments to the 2018/2019 tax bills. The Woolsey Fire had 1,328 homes and businesses affected. Of those, 797 were entirely destroyed.
We believe that every property was identified. Dozens of appraisers were at work around the clock to ensure people received the required reassessment of the property that led to the tax relief. I estimate for that fire alone my staff logged more than 2,500 hours on the job. We are on the job again this winter.
I’m going to be sharing with you several other savings programs that we offer. Those programs include the Homeowners’ Exemption and Senior Replacement to name just a few of those we offer.
The recent rains were a welcomed relief from the extreme heat and dry weather conditions but they proved to be too much for a parched land as there has been significant damage and even loss of life.
Again, the M&C claim forms can be obtained online at https://assessor.lacounty.gov/tax-relief/disaster-relief or by phone at (213) 974-8658. If ever needed, please avail yourself of this tax relief program.