Wildfire Property Tax Relief

I want to share some vital information for those impacted by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles. If your property has been damaged or lost value, the LA County Assessor’s Office offers programs that can provide tax relief.

One program is the Decline-in-Value Review, provides for a temporary reduction to the property’s assessed value for reasons other than misfortune, calamity or disaster. However, in this case, if your property was damaged by the fires, you’ll want to focus on the Misfortune and Calamity Reassessment which is specifically for properties damaged or destroyed by disasters like fires, earthquakes, or landslides. If the damage to your property exceeds $10,000, you may qualify. For this program, you’ll need to file Form ADS-820 within 12 months of the damage occurring. Once approved, your property’s assessed value will reflect the loss until it’s repaired or rebuilt. If restoration happens within the same tax year, you may also receive a supplemental tax bill for the restoration period.

To access the forms and detailed instructions, visit assessor.lacounty.gov/disaster. If you have questions or need help, you can reach out to the Assessor’s Office for support.

And one last thing—beware of scams during this vulnerable time. If someone claims to represent the Assessor, make sure they have proper County identification. If something sounds too good to be true, it just might be. 

Please share this information with anyone who might need it. Together, we can support our neighbors and communities through recovery. Stay safe, and take care!