ADJUSTING PROPERTY TAXES FOR CALAMITIES

    California's property tax laws provide a mechanism for the Assessor to adjust assessed values to recognize destruction caused by a calamity or misfortune which damages real or personal property. To qualify for a calamity adjustment the property must have suffered more than $5,000 worth of damage and the owner must file a claim form with the Assessor within 6 months of the date of the calamity. Calamities do not include damage which occurs over time such as termite damage, gradual earth movements or vineyard diseases such as phylloxera. There are slightly different rules that apply depending on whether the damage is caused by a widespread event that results in a Governor's proclamation of disaster or by a specific misfortune such as fire or landslide.

    Once the Assessor discovers or is notified of the misfortune by either the property owner, the media or local authorities, a claim form is sent to the owner of the property. The claim form asks for the type of disaster, date of occurrence and an estimate of what the repair cost will be. When the claim form is returned, the real property field appraiser will visit the property to document the extent of the damage and to discuss the repair schedule with the owner. The Proposition 13 factored base year value of the property will then be reduced as of the date of damage or destruction to reflect the percentage of damage that the property suffered. If a structure was completely destroyed, the value will be removed. A roll correction will be sent to the County Auditor which will result in either a lower tax bill if still due or a refund if already paid.

    The value is reduced or removed during the time the property is in a state of disrepair and then reinstated when the property is repaired. If the structure is restored to its original condition, the original Proposition 13 base year value is enrolled plus the appropriate time factor. If a better quality or larger structure is built as a replacement, credit is given for the base year value of the original improvement and then additional value is added for the current market value of the upgraded or larger structure. In the case of a destroyed manufactured home installed before 1980 which was paying a registration fee to Sacramento, the replacement home will go on the property tax rolls but the value will be enrolled so that the property taxes do not exceed the amount of the prior registration fee.

Should you have any questions please contact Napa County Assessor-Recorder John Tuteur
at 707.253.4459 or by e-mail jtuteur@co.napa.ca.us

Copyright © 1997-2008 John Tuteur, all rights reserved.
You may freely link to this page, however, no portion of this article in part or 
in whole may be copied without permission.

This page is part of a frame set containing may other similar articles.
If you are not viewing this page in frames, click here

The information on this  page may not be duplicated in any publication or website without specific authorization from the authors.  However, you may freely reference and link to this page from your website.  

Main Category:   Napa Valley,   California