PROPERTY TAX BILL UPDATES as of 10/26/2020 from the County Tax Collector

Property owners may receive several mailings regarding their upcoming Santa Cruz County Property Tax Bill. Please refer to the information below to understand the re-assessment and supplemental tax bill process and timeline.

1. Original Property Tax Bill: The annual bill is based upon the property values established on January 1, 2020. The 2020-21 tax bills have already begun arriving in taxpayer mailboxes. If a mortgage company pays the tax bill directly, the taxpayer will instead receive a Notice to Assessee this week alerting them that their mortgage company received the bill.
2. Supplemental Assessment letters: The Assessor’s Office is currently processing reductions for all properties damaged in the fire. After the reduction is processed, they will mail the taxpayer a “Notice of Supplemental Assessment” letter. Many of these letters have been issued and it is anticipated reductions and notification letters will be completed by October 30, 2020.
3. Notice of Negative Supplemental Taxes: The Auditor-Controller will mail out a notice of the revised lower tax amount after the Assessor re-assessed the property value. This week 745 notices will be mailed to homeowners and the remaining approximately 160 revised bills will be issued as re-assessment work is completed. These notices do not get mailed to mortgage companies. If a mortgage company pays the original larger tax amount from a mortgage impound account, the negative supplemental tax notice provides instructions on how the property owner can have the difference refunded.

Additional items...

• Property owners can review the Frequently Asked Questions provided on the Assessor’s website: http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/Departments/AssessorsOffice/DisasterReliefFAQ.aspx
• Applications for Calamity Relief and / or Deferral of Regular Secured Taxes are listed below. Application must be filed with the Assessor before December 10, 2020. Please use the following Quick-links also found on the Assessor's website:

• Fillable .pdf version
• DocuSign version

• Fillable .pdf version
• DocuSign version

If you have additional questions, please contact the Auditor-Controller / Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office at TTC.webmail@santacruzcounty.us or (831)-454-2500 during regular business hours or the Assessor’s office at assessor@santacruzcounty.us or (831) 454-2270 for more information.