Tax Penalty
For the second time in three years, I received my property tax bill with a penalty. Each time this unwelcomed surprise has occurred, I had just bought a new property.
The Los Angeles County tax assessor’s office is supposed to send out the bills in October, but if it fails to do so, that’s too bad, according to both my escrow office and the Long Beach office for tax information. The property owner has to pay the tax plus penalty--this year it amounted to $178 over and above the basic rate.
When I contacted an attorney to see if I had any rights, the secretary chuckled and said, “I don’t know if we can help you.” At that point, I decided to pay the penalty. Why pay a lawyer’s fee if nothing can be done?
This situation is a rip-off. Yet, I feel helpless and wonder how many others are being duped by our county tax structure.
More importantly, who is pocketing all the excess in collected revenue?
GERALD P. LUNDERVILLE
Long Beach
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