Tax Mistakes
Although three Los Angeles County departments are involved in the property tax collection process--assessor, auditor-controller and treasurer-tax collector--it rarely matters to the homeowner which one is the real, or perceived, culprit, in a misunderstanding over payments.
Without knowing the exact circumstances involving the complaint voiced by Gerald P. Lunderville (letter, July 3), I would just like to point out that Assessor John J. Lynch does not mail out property tax bills.
The county assessor determines the values for 2.5 million parcels, the auditor then uses those values to decide the exact tax owed, and the tax collector mails out the bills.
There are many reasons why a homeowner might not receive a property tax bill, including a mistaken address. Thousands of bills are returned every year for this reason.
But state law allows the late penalty to be waived only if the county sent out no bill at all. A returned bill does not excuse the taxpayer from the penalty.
Meanwhile, the three departments are now completing a joint efficiency study with the firm of Deloitte Haskins & Sells which will vastly upgrade public service and considerably shorten the time needed to correct tax mistakes.
ROBERT KNOWLES
Public Information
Office of the Assessor
Los Angeles County
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