How to Request a Decline in Value Review
The Assessor is now preparing the 2008-09 Assessment Roll. Due to market conditions, properties purchased since 2004 will be reviewed to determine if they qualify for a decline in value assessment as of January 1, 2008.
Ventura County has completed the current 2007-08 assessment roll and tax bills were sent out in October 2007. For 2007-08, the Assessor reviewed over 15,000 properties for Declines in value with approximately 9,000 receiving reductions in their taxable value. If the market value of your property as of January 1, 2007 and/or January 1, 2008, was below the total assessed value as shown on your 2007-08 annual property tax bill, your property may qualify for a temporary assessed value reduction. If you believe your property qualified, please submit an "Application for Decline in Value Review" form to their office.
Applications for review of the January 1, 2007 values will be accepted up to December 31, 2007. Applications for review of the January 1, 2008 values will be accepted up to December 31, 2008.
Your January 1, 2008 value will automatically be reviewed if you timely submitted an application for review of your January 1, 2007 value. In addition, the Assessor will review your home or condominium if it was purchased after December 31, 2003 and prior to January 1, 2008.
Their staff will review your request and you will be notified by mail of the results. The following pages provide explanations and examples that I hope you will find informative.
Assessor forms are available upon request.
Important Factors to Remember
This type of property tax relief generally applies to more recently purchased or constructed property.
The Assessor will be valuing the property as of the most recent January 1st. Proposition 8 does not allow for relief pertaining to other dates nor to supplemental assessments.
The total assessed value will be reviewed. There is no legal provision to review separate land and/or improvement assessments; only the total assessed value.
Our certified Appraisers will analyze sales and other information for Comparable properties that would indicate market value.
Comparable sales utilized to appraise your property must be recorded no more than 90 days after January 1.
Property tax payments are due as indicated on your property tax bill. If a reduction in assessed value is warranted, a notice of correction and revised tax bill or refund will be processed by the County Tax Collector and County Auditor.
Proposition 8 'Decline in Value' Reassessment Program
"If the market value of your property as of January 1, 2008, was below the total assessed value as shown on your 2007-08 annual property tax bill, your property may qualify for a temporary assessed value reduction."
Proposition 8 - Temporary Decline in Value Proposition 8 was passed in 1979 and allows the Assessor to temporarily lower the assessed value of property. Under Proposition 8, the Assessor may review the market value as of January 1, and enroll for the following tax year the lesser of the:
Reductions in assessed value under Proposition 8 are temporary and are reviewed annually until the Factored-Base-Year value is again lower than market value and then the factored-base-year value is reinstated.
Unless there is a change in ownership or new construction, the assessed value can never increase above the base-year value, plus the appropriate annual cost of living increase not to exceed 2 percent per year, allowed by Proposition 13.
Proposition 13 - Base Value Proposition 13, passed in 1978, established the base-year value concept for property tax assessments. Under Proposition 13, assessments for the year 1975-76 serve as the original base year values. Thereafter, a new base-year value is established whenever a property is purchased, newly constructed or changes ownership. The base-year value is increased a maximum of 2 percent per year.
Protect Your Rights You have the right to file an appeal with the Assessment Appeals Board. The filing period is from July 2 through November 30, inclusive. Assessment appeal applications are available from that office.
It is important to note that if you have not received a response from our office by the assessment appeals deadline date or do not agree with the response you must file a timely "Application for Changed Assessment" in order to protect your appeal rights. The Assessment Appeals Board is an independent body appointed by the Board of Supervisors to serve as the local Board of Equalization. The Assessment Appeals Board will determine the value of the property after hearing evidence from the applicant and a representative of the Assessor's Office.
IMPORTANT!
See filing dates below before completing application for changed assessment
Regular Assessment Appeal: Filing dates are July 2 through November 30 of the current year.
Supplemental Assessment Appeal: Filing dates are within 60 days after the mailing date printed on the Notice of Supplemental Assessment or the postmark date on the envelope in which the notice was mailed, whichever is later.
Escape Assessments: Filing dates are within 60 days after the mailing date printed on the Notice of Enrollment of Escape Assessment or postmark date on the envelope in which the notice was mailed, whichever is later.
Other assessments made outside of the regular assessment period: Appeal filing dates are within 60 days after the mailing date printed on the assessment notice or postmark date on the envelope in which the notice was mailed, whichever is later.
Last Updated March 25, 2008