San Gabriel Valley : Quake Damage Tax Break

Property owners who suffered more than $5,000 damage in the Oct. 1 earthquake or its aftershocks can apply for a reassessment and perhaps get a tax refund, said Chief Deputy Assessor Jack MacLean of the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office.

MacLean said that after owners fill out an application, an appraiser will inspect the property and determine the damage. If the applicant qualifies, a tax refund will be issued or a credit will be applied to the tax bill, he said.

“We want to caution people to give us as much documentation as possible,” Mac-Lean said, including photographs of the property and repair estimates. The filing deadline is Nov. 1, but some extensions may be allowed, he said.

Applications are available at the seven federal earthquake relief centers in Los Angeles County or can be obtained by writing to Assessor John J. Lynch, Hall of Administration, 500 W. Temple St., Room 320, Los Angeles, Calif. 90012. Requests must include the owner’s name, address of the property and the 10-digit identification number found on the tax bill.

Forms can also be picked up at the assessor’s office, which is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, the office will remain open until 8 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday until Nov. 5.