Negative Tax: 3 Bills Total 13 Cents

Some tax bills make people weep. These made Anthony Theodor laugh.

The Los Angeles County tax collector’s office sent the Granada Hills retiree three bills to collect a total of 13 cents, each bill affixed with 24 cents in postage. And the bills are for the 1989-90 tax year.

Theodor, 72, doesn’t dispute the amount--although he says he thought that he paid up in December. He just questions county government spending staff time and tax dollars to bill him 6 cents, 5 cents and 2 cents for three commercial properties he owns in Studio City.

Even county employees agree. When Theodor recently visited the Van Nuys office of the tax assessor to get an explanation, amused employees photocopied the bills and laughed as they passed them around the office. Eventually a computer was blamed.

Theodor says he’ll comply with the county’s wishes: “I’m going to be ridiculous like they are and pay the bills with three checks.”