Wildfire Victims' Tax Refunds Returned Due to Invalid Addresses
Los Angeles County officials are urging wildfire victims to update their mailing addresses after hundreds of property tax refund checks were returned due to invalid addresses.
The Los Angeles County Assessor's Office has processed relief for homeowners affected by devastating wildfires that began earlier this year, but many notices and refund checks are being returned because original mailing addresses were destroyed in the fires.
Since January, the Assessor's Office has mobilized teams and developed streamlined processes to assess property damage and expedite disaster relief. The office proactively evaluated all properties within declared disaster zones, even when property owners didn't submit Misfortune & Calamity tax relief claims.
"Getting relief into the hands of wildfire victims is a top priority for our Office," said Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang. "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. But we need their help in updating contact information so that relief can reach them without delay."
Hundreds of affected homeowners have already received relief through coordinated efforts between the Assessor's Office, Treasurer and Tax Collector, and Auditor-Controller. The relief includes temporary reductions in assessed value, property tax refunds, deferrals of property tax payments and cancellation of late-payment penalties.
However, many "Notices of Assessed Value Change" and property tax refund checks are now being returned because recorded mailing addresses are no longer valid. In numerous cases, the original property and its recorded mailing address were destroyed in the wildfires.
Property owners can update their mailing address at assessor.lacounty.gov/homeowners/change-mailing-address. Updating a mailing address does not change official records or the property's physical location status but ensures important tax notices and refunds reach recipients.
For more information on disaster relief programs, including Misfortune & Calamity claims and other tax savings programs, visit assessor.lacounty.gov/tax-relief/disaster-relief.
Edited by SMDP Staff