Many residents who lost their homes in the Palisades or Eaton fires are entitled to tax refunds due to a decrease in their property values. However, approximately 330 checks remain undelivered because the U.S. Postal Service attempted to deliver them to vacant or destroyed homes, as residents have not updated their addresses. Los Angeles County officials reported on Tuesday (May 27) that they have sent about 9,700 checks, totaling $26 million, to residents whose properties were reassessed due to wildfire damage. These residents had already paid their taxes and were owed a refund after their property values dropped significantly.
L.A. County Assessor Jeff Prang expressed concern about the situation, stating, “I’m concerned that people probably need that money back right now.” The county has faced similar issues with reassessment alerts sent to around 2,000 households. While many residents have provided new addresses through tax relief claims, others have not filed, leaving a gap in the county’s records. Assistant Auditor-Controller Robert Campbell emphasized the importance of resolving this issue, stating, “We don’t want these folks who have already been impacted by a disaster to also fall into some type of limbo.”
Residents affected by the fires can update their mailing addresses on the county assessor’s website to ensure they receive their refunds. The county continues to work on locating those who have not yet received their checks to provide them with the financial relief they need.
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