Property Owners Affected By CA Wildfires Can Get Tax Relief

CALIFORNIA — Property owners who have been affected by the wildfires that have raged across the state in the last week maybe eligible for tax relief, the State Board of Equalization said Friday.

Anyone whose home, business or property was destroyed or damaged in the wildfires should contact their County Assessor's Office to find out about tax relief options, the board said in a release.

Property owners can get tax refunds by having their damaged property reappraised in its current condition. Then, if the property is rebuilt, its pre-damaged value can be restored.

A loss estimate must be at least $10,000 of current market value to qualify for relief, and the disaster must have been caused by a Governor-proclaimed state of emergency — as is the case for the recent wildfires.

Property owners can also apply for property tax deferrals without interest or penalties, the board said. This would allow the next property tax payment to be deferred until the county assessor has reassessed the property and sent a corrected tax bill.

More information on property tax disaster relief can be found at the Board of Equalization website.