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LOS ANGELES, CA - If your property was damaged or destroyed in the January wildfires, the Assessor’s Office wants to help you get the property tax relief you’re entitled to. However, to ensure a smooth process, it’s important that our records correctly show who owns the property.
Why does this matter?
Sometimes, our records don’t reflect the actual owner because a property was inherited but never officially reported to us. This happens when a property owner passes away, and their heirs don’t notify the Assessor’s Office of the transfer. If this information isn’t updated, it can lead to unexpected tax issues, including back taxes for multiple years if we later discover the change in ownership.
What should you do?
If you inherited a property but never reported the transfer, we encourage you to check our records and submit the necessary forms to avoid surprises. The required form is the Change in Ownership Statement/Death of Real Property Owner, available here.
Special Circumstances That Could Help You:
Certain transfers from a parent to a child may qualify for tax relief under:
- Proposition 58 (for transfers before February 15, 2021): If you inherited property from a parent before this date, you may qualify to keep the existing tax assessment. Learn more here.
- Proposition 19 (for transfers on or after February 15, 2021): If you inherited a home and now live in it, you may qualify for tax relief. Learn more here.
By ensuring our records are up to date, you can avoid unexpected tax bills and make sure you receive the relief available to you. If you’re unsure about your property’s ownership status, we recommend checking with the Assessor’s Office as soon as possible.
Other Impacts
As impacted property owners begin the debris removal process, residents have the option to participate in the government-run program or manage the cleanup independently by opting out.
Residents affected by the wildfires have two choices for managing debris removal from their property. For those who choose to opt-in to the government-run debris removal program, property owners will need to complete the Los Angeles County Public Works Right-of-Entry Form which verifies ownership of the property.
Property owners can learn more about the debris removal process at the LA County Recovers website here.
More information, including a full checklist of required documents, about the LA County Public Works Right of Entry Form can be found here.
The deadline to opt into the government sponsored debris removal program is March 31, 2025.
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