A come on looking to separate homeowners from $179 is inducing them with an official looking "property tax reassessment" mailing that may not be illegal but is certainly duplicitous. Don't fall for it.
by Broderick Perkins
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com
Unauthorized use of this story is a copyright violation -- a federal crime
Deadline Newsroom - Some San Jose, CA area homeowners, and likely homeowners elsewhere, just received a dubious "Property Tax Reassessment" mailing from a company looking to net $179 per mailing.
It and similar mailings -- typically timed when real property taxes are due -- are quite bogus.
It's not a property tax reassessment, but a well-crafted come-on to get you to send the company $179 for a real property tax reassessment you may not need, is no longer available or you can otherwise obtain for free.
San Jose, CA is in Santa Clara County where appealing your property tax assessment is free and often granted without the homeowner doing anything. The Assessor periodically examines the property tax rolls and lowers property tax assessments as needed.
For property taxes due now, however, it's too late to file for a reassessment.
See a similar story: "Consumer Alert: Property Tax Reduction Offers"
The cunning company takes advantage of the fact that parcel numbers are a matter of public record to create a devious come on that may not be illegal but is certainly deceptive.
You can choose to pay someone to help you with your property tax assessment appeal, but why would you if it's free? Trickery could induce you to pony up.
The single-page, double-sided mailing (front) (back) from "Property Tax Reassessment, P.O. Box 25519, Los Angeles, CA 90025" comes with the homeowner's address, the correct parcel number and a claim that the property may be over assessed.
"Due to this estimated decline in market value, Property Tax Reassessment shows an estimated property tax savings of $1,532.76 annually," the come on goes on in one mailing.
Further attempting to separate a homeowner from $179 the mailing warns "Your reply is due Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009."
The second installment of bona fide property taxes in Santa Clara County was due for the 2008-2009 tax year beginning on Feb. 1. The tax is late if it isn't paid by April 10.
It's already too late in Santa Clara County to file to appeal a reassessment. The county's assessment notices go out in May and appeals can be filed from July 2 to September 15 of the same year.
The bogus mailing comes in a plain white business envelope that also contains a green, business-size, addressed, return envelope.
Return nothing.
Report such mailings to your assessor or tax collector and always beware of unsolicited fee-based offers to reduce your property tax -- especially those that arrive with an official-looking letterhead, right at property tax time.
Get the facts from your local tax office or assessor.
© 2008 DeadlineNews.Com
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Broderick Perkins, an award-winning consumer journalist, parlayed 30 years of old-school journalism into a digital real estate news service, the San Jose, CA-based DeadlineNews Group -- DeadlineNews.Com, a real estate news and consulting service and Web site and the Deadline Newsroom, DeadlineNews.Com's news back shop. Perkins is also a National Real Estate Examiner. All the news that really hits home from three locations -- that's location, location, location!
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