News From Treasurer And Tax Collector Joseph Kelly

2017-18 PAYMENT ACTIVITY NOTICE

JOSEPH KELLY, Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, is in the process of

mailing 118,380 Payment Activity Notices to Los Angeles County property owners.

The notices alert property owners that the Department’s records reflect no payment, a partial payment, or a late payment on the first installment of property taxes for the current tax year 2017-18. The notices include the attached insert which provides important information regarding payment options, office locations and office hours.

“As a result of this mailing, property owners may find it difficult to reach us on the telephone,” Mr. Kelly advised. “Property owners may obtain answers to the great majority of their questions, including the amount due on any parcel, from the Los Angeles County Property Tax Portal at lacountypropertytax.com. Taxpayers may also call the toll-free Property Tax Information Line at 1(888)897-2111, where

automated information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Taxpayers can subscribe to receive property tax related emails from the

Treasurer and Tax Collector regarding special notices and upcoming events, such as

annual property tax deadline reminders, office location updates and other news. To

subscribe, taxpayers may go to Email Notification Service at ttc.lacounty.gov/eNotify.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

PARTIAL PAYMENTS — We recommend you pay the total amount due. However, if you are unable to do so, we accept partial payments. A partial payment reduces the amount of delinquency penalties you will be charged.

PAY ONLINE — To make payments online, go to lacountypropertytax.com, and select “Pay Online” under “Payment Options.” There is no charge for electronic check (eCheck) payments. The enclosed tax notice contains your Personal

Identification Number (PIN), which you will need to complete the transaction. Each eCheck transaction is limited to $999,999.99.

You may also pay online by using a credit card (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa) or debit card. Each online credit/debit card transaction is limited to $99,999.99, including all service fees. You can make online payments

24 hours a day, 7 days a week until 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the delinquency date.

PAY BY CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD OVER THE TELEPHONE — We accept credit cards (American Express, MasterCard, and Visa) and debit card payments over the telephone. To pay by telephone, call toll-free 1(888) 473-0835. The enclosed tax notice contains your Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) Number, which you will need

to complete the transaction. Please retain the confirmation number for future reference. Each credit/debit card transaction is limited to $99,999.99, including all service fees.

BY MAIL – Please use the enclosed envelope and include the payment stub from the tax notice. If paying both installments, please include both payment stubs. Do not attach staples, clips, tape, or correspondence. You must mail property tax payments to the Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, Post Office Box 54018, Los Angeles, CA 90054-0018. You should not mail your payments to any other address. Property tax payments must be received or United States Postal Service (USPS) postmarked by the delinquency date to avoid penalties. If we receive your payment after the delinquency date, with no postmark, the payment is late and we will impose penalties, in accordance with State law. If you send a payment by mail, we caution you that the USPS only postmarks certain mail depending on the type of postage used and may not postmark mail on the same day you deposit it. To assist

you in understanding how to avoid penalties that could result from postmark issues, we have compiled important information on how to “Avoid Penalties by Understanding Postmarks.” Visit our website at

ttc.lacounty.gov/Proptax/Postmarks.htm.

PAY IN PERSON — We accept cash, check, money order and cashiers check at 225 North Hill Street, First Floor Lobby, Los Angeles, CA 90012, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday, excluding Los Angeles County holidays.

For the second installment, we will also accept payments at 335A East Avenue K-6, Lancaster, CA 93535, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, April 9, 2018, and Tuesday, April 10, 2018. We do not accept cash payments at this location. You must make your payments by check, money order or cashiers check.

We also accept credit cards (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa) and debit cards at the North Hill Street and East Avenue K-6 locations. Each credit/debit card transaction is limited to $75,000.00, including all service fees. Make your payment early to avoid long waits at the cashier windows.

ONLINE BANKING OR BILL PAYMENT SERVICES — We DO NOT recommend using these services to pay property taxes. The USPS does not postmark the envelopes these firms use to mail us the payment. In the absence of a postmark, we determine penalties based exclusively on the date we receive payment. For more information on how to “Avoid Penalties by Understanding Postmarks,” visit our website at ttc.lacounty.gov/Proptax/Postmarks.htm.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

MILITARY ACTIVE DUTY EXEMPTIONS — Under provisions of the Federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, active military personnel, regardless of the duration of military service or financial status, qualify for a reduction in the interest charged on unpaid property taxes. For more information, visit our website at ttc.Iacounty.gov/Proptax/docs/MILITARY TAX RELIEFAPPLICATION.pdf.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION SERVICE – You can subscribe to receive property tax related emails from the Treasurer andTax Collector regarding special notices and upcoming events, such as annual property tax deadline reminders, office location updates and other news. To subscribe, go to Email Notification Service at ttc.lacounty.gov/eNotify.

VOLUNTARY THIRD PARTY NOTIFICATION PROGRAM — In the event your property becomes tax defaulted and/or subject to sale due to a tax delinquency, you can designate a Third Party (e.g., a friend, family member, or agency) to receive copies of the default notices so they can remind you of your property tax obligation. To subscribe, go to ttc.lacounty.gov/Proptax/ThirdPartyReminderNotification.htm.

INSTALLMENT PLAN OPTION FOR DEFAULTED TAXES FROM A PRIOR YEAR — You may be eligible to open an Installment Plan of Redemption and pay the defaulted taxes over a five-year period for vacant residential lots or commercial property that is less than three years in default, and residential or agricultural property that is less than five years in default. This will prevent the property from being sold at a public auction. For more information, visit ourwebsite at ttc.lacounty.gov/Proptax/docs/Five-Pay Plan AppIication.pdf.

REQUIREMENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TAX AGENTS

Any person who is employed, is under contract, or otherwise receives compensation to communicate directly, or through agents, employees or subcontractors, with any County official for the purpose of influencing official action is required to register as a Tax Agent pursuant to County Code 2.165 under the Tax Agent Registration Program. For more information, please visit the Assessment Appeals Board website at bos.lacountygov/Services/AssessmentAppeals/TaxAgentRegistration.aspx. The listing of registered Tax Agents is accessible online at lacaab.lacounty.gov.

HOW TO OBTAIN GENERAL TAX INFORMATION

For your convenience, general prerecorded information, including taxes due, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through our Property Tax Automated Telephone System. Call 1(213) 974-2111, if outside of Los Angeles County, or 1(888)807-2111, if in Los Angeles County. Information is also available on our website at lacountyproperty.com.  Anyone who is hearing impaired and has TDD equipment may leave a message at 1(213) 974-2196, or use California Relay Services at 1(800) 735-2929.