Prop 13 & Assessment Appeal Services

Most California property owners do not pay taxes on market value.  Under Prop 13 property is only valued at market value when it changes ownership and when market value drops below the Prop 13 taxable value.

 Prop 13 is the taxable/market value of the property when acquired, plus a (CPI) Consumer Price Index of up to 2% per year, plus the value of any new construction.

 How does the market value of your property compare to the Prop 13 taxable value on January 1 each year.

  1.  If the market value is LOWER than the Prop 13 value, the Assessor will use the lower market value, and your property taxes should go down.

  2.  If the market value has Dropped, but IS STILL HIGHER than the Prop 13 value, the Assessor is required to use the Prop 13 value. 

  3.  The Prop 13 annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment was negative for the first time in 2010.  Instead of going up 2%, the Prop 13 value went down by -0.237%.  The property tax savings should be about $7 for every $250,000 in taxable value.

  4.  While your basic property tax levy may be reduced, your overall tax bill may increase if you have special assessments, bonds, or Mello-Roos charges.

                ​Call Sue @ OC-Appraisals.   715-328-3115   to help answer your questions.

The Assessor values property each year as of January 1. 

The Assessment Appeal Filing period is July 2 through September 15.

The Assessor compares the taxable value to the market value. 

The Lower Value is used for property tax calculations each tax year.  Sales transactions and market activity through March 31 are considered to help determine market value.

Most localities determine your property tax burden based on an ad valorem assessment of the property's value.
ad valorem by the assessor office to do "Mass Assessments".  This process is not based on each individual property, but all of the sales transaction and market activity through March 31, of each year. 

If you get an unwanted surprise in the mail stating your taxes are going up, you may have good reason to differ with their assessment. Sometimes, matters like this can be solved with a phone call. However, if after discussing your assessment with your local taxing authority you still feel your property was overvalued, an independent, third-party appraiser is often your best bet in proving your case.

OC-Appraisals can help you thru the Assessment Appeal process.
Call Sue @ OC-Appraisals.   715-328-3115   to help answer your questions.

Having an Independent 3rd party professional appraisal, we are able to professionally and persuasively testify at your Appeal Hearings.

Orange County Assessor Department

714-834-2727

www.ocgov.com/assessor

625 N. Ross St. Room 142

Santa Ana, Ca 92702