By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor
Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang has requested property owners update their mailing address, as some wildfire victims’ “Notices of Assessed Value Change” and property tax refund checks have been returned due to invalid addresses.
Following the Palisades fire, the LA County Assessor’s Office has been working to provide property tax relief to impacted homeowners. However, individuals may not be receiving the fire relief due to invalid addresses and are urged to update their mailing addresses.
“Since January, the office has mobilized teams, reassigned resources, and developed streamlined processes to assess property damage and expedite disaster relief for eligible properties,” according to a statement on May 27. “[These efforts] will ensure that all qualifying property owners receive the full benefits provided for under California law, including temporary reductions in assessed value and, in many cases, property tax refunds.”
The Treasurer and Tax Collector is applying deferrals of property tax payments and cancellation of late-payment penalties. The office is also working with the Auditor-Controller to ensure revised property valuations are applied to future tax bills, and facilitate the issuance of property tax refunds to those whose property was “damaged, destroyed or negatively impacted by the fires.”
As a result, affected individuals have already received relief—however, “Notices of Assessed Value Change” and property tax refund checks are being returned to the county because the mailing addresses on record are no longer valid.
“In numerous cases, the original property—and with it, the recorded mailing address—was destroyed in the wildfires,” the statement continued. “Homeowners who have experienced property loss are urged to update their current mailing address to ensure delivery of important property assessment and tax-related documents, including property tax refunds.”
Updating a mailing address will not change the official records or status of the property’s physical location. It ensures that tax notices and documents are delivered to an address where they can be retrieved.
“Getting relief into the hands of wildfire victims is a top priority for our office,” Prang said in a statement. “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.”
To update a mailing address, visit assessor.lacounty.gov/homeowners/change-mailing-address. For additional information on all disaster relief programs available, including the Misfortune & Calamity claim or any other tax savings programs, visit assessor.lacounty.gov/tax-relief/disaster-relief.
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