Apr
30
Need to appeal your Los Al prop tax today? Easy 1 minute test:
Filed Under News you can use, Real Estate
It's your money!
(by Dave Emerson) Yesterday I gave you detailed information about filing to get your Los Alamitos Property Tax reduced.
Since informal appeals for the 2009-2010 tax year must be postmarked today, here’s the instant version:
3 Quick steps to find out if you should file:
- Do you own Orange County, California real estate that was purchased or reassessed (i.e., change in ownership) between 1/1/2001 and 1/1/2008? (If so, go to step 2, if not, there’s probably no need to file an appeal.)
- Click here for a link to the Orange County Assessor’s Office that will tell you if your Orange County Property is scheduled for an automatic review this year. All you need is the property address, and the info is then just 2 clicks away. If you’re scheduled for an automatic review, you’re probably fine, but you can file an informal review (see below for how) if you want to make sure they have your comparable sales data. If you’re not scheduled for an automatic review and you bought between 1/1/01 (or maybe 2002) and 1/1/08, go to step 3.
- Go to EasyTaxFix.com, complete step 1 only to find out what, if any, they estimate your likely savings at if you do appeal. Again, all you need is the property’s address, and it’s free, but their info isn’t always that accurate. For example, they weren’t even close my current tax assessment–if you don’t remember, look at last year’s tax bill. If your estimated savings aren’t worth the hassle, skip it. If they are, proceed to the next section before closing the window on your computer
Update from Dave: In this article I’ve referenced several resources for reducing your property tax bill and assessment. There are many more. One of the advantages of the Google ads on this site is that the ads are triggered by the topics discussed in the article. If you use the right or left arrows to scroll through the ads Google Adworks selected for this article, you’ll find several additional resources, as well as one of the firms mentioned in this article. I’d encourage you to explore further if you find a resource of interest. As long as it’s not another Realtor! Just use the “contact us” in the masthead at the top of this page if that’s what you need!
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Options on how to file an Informal Appeal for OC property:
You have several choices now, but your paperwork needs to be postmarked today, Thursday, April 30:
- $40 option (fastest & cheapest–but do you get what you pay for?): Click the “apply now” box on your computer screen that’s still open from step 3 above and for $40.00 EasyTaxFix.com’s computer will prepare the appeal (including the comparable sales) and give you instructions. All you have to do is pay, print, sign, and get into today’s mail.
- $65 option (if you’re not sure the appeal’s needed or don’t want to go with the cheapest option): Go to CaPropertyTaxSavers.com, click on “order your kit” on the right, and they’ll essentially do the same thing, but supposedly using some additional data. I’d recommend you first click the “Quick Analysis” box, which will give you their computer’s assessment of what you’ll save on your taxes. It only costs $11, and that will be applied to the cost of your $65 personalized tax appeal kit.
- Free option for do-it-yourselfers with free time today: Click here for a link to a pdf file of the one page informal appeal form from the Orange County Assessor. Complete, sign, & mail to the address given, with today’s postmark (4/30/09). They request 3 comparable sales, but the Assessor was quoted in the Register as saying they’ll process the form with or without your comparables. At this late date, I’d just let them do the work. For more on options for obtaining comparables, see my post from yesterday.
There it is. As simple and easy as I can make it.
You’re welcome! Just remember which Realtor took care of you when you or a friend need to buy or sell. Dave Emerson, 562.822.7653. Go ahead–put it in your cell under “Realtor.”
And thank you!
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Comments
2 Responses to “Need to appeal your Los Al prop tax today? Easy 1 minute test:”
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Thanks dave for doing this; only trouble, you give one day’s notice, but complain about everything else before it happens. Sorry, I find your site lacking the “lets fix los al” namesake. Its more like “lets kick los al for everything thats wrong” and yeah, while were at it, blame the council whomever they may be. Maybe if we tear people down enough, no one will run in the future and we can just shut the doors and let the state take over; oh that would be fun. Maybe the County would want to run us as an unincorporated plot of land?
Keep up the good work, Dave.
For those who missed the OC deadline for informal appeals,
Well, as “Thanks Dave” pointed out, the deadline for filing an informal assessment appeal for OC property has now passed. You can still file a formal appeal, once you receive your notice of assessed value.
First, you’ll want to wait until you receive your notice of assessed value from the tax assessor around July 1.
Then you’ll want to follow the steps I outlined above, except you can skip step 2 of the first section, since any automatic review should be reflected in the notice of assessed value you receive around 7/1/09. Instead, compare the listed assessed value with what EasyTaxFix.com or CAPropertyTaxSavers.com say your home should be assessed at. You can then use either of those sites to file a formal assessment appeal, or go to the County Assessor’s office and file your own.
You have a limited time (about 2 months, as I recall) after 7/1, but you can’t file before then. Additional information will also be included on your Notice of Assessed Value.
If the property isn’t in Orange County, you still have time to file an informal appeal in many counties. I hope to get a post up shortly on SoCalRealEstateNews.com detailing the deadlines and options for other counties.
Hope that helps.