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The deadline to file a tax appeal for your 2008 property taxes was December 1st.  One of most asked questions is ....What happens now, we filed for 2008 what about 2009?

Basically it's a waiting game from here for the 2008 appeal.  We are awaiting to hear back from the county to determine if we will negotiate the new assessed value or go to an appeal hearing where your case will be heard by the appeals board.

Now that doesn't mean you don't qualify to file for 2009.  Per the rules and regulations of the counties, the value of your home for a 2008 tax appeal is as of January 1st, 2008.  So if your homes value has decreased, you may file an appeal every year, and actually you must file every years to obtain a new lower assessed value.

As an example if your 2008 assessed value was $700,000 and as of January 1st 2008 we had determined it was only $625,00 we need to review your current assessed value (as of Jan 1st 2009).  If your home has decreased in value you can reapply for a lower assessed value which will decrease you property taxes even lower.

Starting on January 2nd and ending in May, almost every county in California has a  review period.  This is a courtesy period where the counties allow us to submit paperwork to determine if your assessed value should be decreased prior to the end of the tax year and printing of the new tax bills.  What is very nice about this process is if you are reassessed at a lower value your 2009 tax bill will automatically be lower and you will not have to submit for an appeal and wait for a refund check.

Don't wait call us ASAP to see if you qualify and we can answer all your property tax questions! 

One of the most common questions we get is "how do I know you're not a scam." 

The answer is easy.  First, unlike some other tax appeal companies, we do not solicit by phone or mail.  We don't send out letters asking for money or to let you know that your home value has dropped.  Our clients call us, and many are refferalls from past clients.

Most people do not know that anyone can be a "tax agent." There are no licenses or other certifications that are needed to be your "tax agent".  We are licensed real estate appraisers and specialize in real estate evaluations and property tax appeals.  We are also accredited with the Better Business Bureau.

There are definite things to look for when hiring a professional company to help with property tax assessments.

1.  How are they qualified?  An accountant, attorney, CPA, a loan officer or even a real estate agent does not automatically qualify someone to accurately perform valuations on real estate.  Several real estate agents that we know have tried to have their own property taxes lowered, but for many of them they were not given the lowered assessed value they were eligible for.  The Counties have licensed appraisers working for them and you should too.  Anyone at California Tax Refunds, LLC that reviews a case or represents you at a formal hearing is a licensed appraiser with the State of California. 

2.  Where is the company located?   You should ask whether the company has an  office, phone system, or are they just working out of a PO Box and a cell phone.  These appeals take time and you need to make sure that the company you are dealing with will be around when you need them.   We have an office in San Diego and a real phone system.  We are here for the long haul and, as licensed appraisers, we use our office for things other then just property tax assessments.  We welcome any potential or current clients to come by and check us out, just give us a call before coming so we can have a fresh pot of coffee on for you.

3.  The rules and regulations  Most counties have well over 30 pages of rules and regulations when dealing with formal tax appeals.  That is one of the main reasons our clients hire us.  We know those rules in and out, and hate to say it but there have been a few cases where we knew them better than the county appraiser.

4.  The BBB...  We are Accredited members with the San Diego BBB.  We have never had a complaint issued.  Many companies solicit for a check prior to reviewing your case.  Did you know that is illegal?  We take credit cards for 99% of our clients and charge that card when we submit your paperwork (usually that same day).  On another issue about credit cards, it protects you and us.  When you pay with a credit card you can always dispute the charge with the credit card company, which is a free service to you.

We also offer a 100% guarantee, if you don't receive the reduction or refund we return your initial payment with no questions asked.  So there are a lot of things to think about when hiring a professional company to help you. 

With this information we hope that you will pass this on along to someone we can help.  Remember, we never charge for an initial valuation and would never sign up a potential client unless they were eligible.

Please call us if you have any questions, or if there is any other information I can provide.

With warm regards,

Jason Scheiner, President

California Tax Refunds, LLC.

It’s not a secret; everyone knows the real estate market and the economy are in a decline. We all tend to spend more money during the holidays, and with them being right around the corner there are many things we can do to help you save. This is your chance to have a little extra for this joyous time of year.

Many of you are eligible for a property tax refund and reduction for future years and don’t even know it. If you purchased a home during the height of the market (2003 – 2007) you probably paid more than it is currently worth. If you can prove to the county assessor that your home’s current value is less then the current assessed value is, they will lower it and you will receive a refund for the current 2008 tax year and reductions in future tax years.

The County has tried to help some homeowners in certain areas and lower their assessed values automatically. These areas are few and far between. If you have received an automatic reduction you really want to make sure your reduced assessed value is really as low as it should be. These automatic reductions are typically computer generated and on many occasions we have found they are not low enough, potentially costing the homeowner hundreds if not thousands in paid property taxes every year.

The November 28^th 2008 deadline is rapidly approaching and you can do all of the work and research on your own, but unfortunately it is not as easy as it sounds. First, the paperwork must be filled out 100% correctly and the correct forms must be used. All paperwork must then be submitted to the correct county agency. We suggest never mailing it, physically bring it in, get it time and date stamped and make sure you get a copy! The county will review your application; you must wait for a response and possible negotiations with a county appraiser. Lastly, you might have to take part in a formal hearing, which means time off of work. Going through this entire process still does not guarantee a reduction in your assessed value, but hiring a professional increases your chances significantly.

As with anything new there are always individuals and companies ready to take advantage of certain situations. This is no different. There are no rules or regulations of who can be a “tax agent” and we have seen individuals with absolutely no “valuation” experience start companies such as ours without a clue on how much work this really takes. This is only detrimental to the homeowner reducing the chance of a successful property tax appeal.

The county has professional licensed appraisers working for them. We always suggest hiring an expert to review your home’s current assessed value to maximize the reduction and refunds you could be eligible for. California Tax Refunds is a San Diego BBB Accredited Business that only allows licensed California appraisers to review property tax appeals and strongly advises clients to get experts working on their side. You can prepare personal or business taxes on your own, but most choose to hire an accountant or CPA. In just minutes we can determine if you qualify for a refund, give us a call today, (619) 283-3300 or visit our website www.cataxrefunds.com.

All of us at California Tax Refunds, LLC wish you a happy and health holiday season!!