PROPERTY TAX BILL UPDATES as of 02/22/2021 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 were mailed by November 1. If a mortgage company pays the tax bill directly, the taxpayer was mailed a Notice to Assessee alerting them that their mortgage company received the bill.
2. Supplemental Assessment letters: The Assessor’s Office processed reductions for all properties damaged in the fire. After the reduction was processed, they mailed the taxpayer a “Notice of Supplemental Assessment” letter.
3. Notice of Negative Supplemental Taxes: The Auditor-Controller mailed a notice of the revised lower tax amount after the Assessor re-assessed the property value. 768 notices were mailed to homeowners. 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.
4. The adjusted tax due can’t be paid on-line. If you need another copy of the Notice of Supplemental Taxes, please contact our office.

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.