Question:
Is it possible to lower my property taxes?
In many cases it is possible to lower your property taxes for both real estate and personal property.
The reduction might be for as long as one owns the property or for only one year. Under Proposition 13 a county in California is not allowed to assess or tax a person based on a properties value that is greater than what that property would sell for as of the lien date of each year. By statue the lien data is January 1, of each tax year.
In order to see if you might qualify for lower taxes you should look at the value that the county says your property is worth and determine if your property would sell for that value or more. If your property would sell for less than what the county believes then you are entitled under Proposition 13 to a lower property tax bill for that year.
Most counties do not automatically reduce your value and subsequently your property taxes. There are a number of actions and dates that a property owner needs to take in order to have a reduction in property taxes.
Related Questions:
What is a Base Year Value?
If I remodel my house, will my property taxes go up?
Can the county assess me for more than what I paid for my property?