News from Joseph Kelly

2017-18 NOTICE OF DELINQUENCY

JOSEPH KELLY, Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, is in the process of mailing 142,492 Notices of Delinquency to Los Angeles County property owners who have not paid their property taxes in full for the 2017-18 tax year. The taxes are delinquent and will default on Sunday, July 1, 2018. At that time, we will impose a $15 redemption fee and additional penalties of 1.5 percent per month on the defaulted taxes. The notices include the attached insert, which provides important information regarding payment options, office locations, and office hours.

We caution property owners that if residential or agricultural property remains tax defaulted for more than five years or vacant residential lots or commercial property for more than three years, we will sell the property at a public auction in accordance with State law.

“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) 807-2111, 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.

NOTICE OF DELINQUENCY

In accordance with California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 2621, the Notice of Delinquency reminds taxpayers that their property taxes are delinquent and will default on Sunday, July 1, 2018. Lf payment is not received or United States Postal Service (USPS) postmarked by Saturday, June 30, 2018, on Sunday, July 1, 2018, a

$15 redemption fee will be imposed and defaulted taxes will be subject to additional penalties of 1.5 percent per month.

Vacant residential lots and commercial property may be sold at public auction, if the property has been in a tax-defaulted status for three years. Residential and agricultural property may be sold at public auction, if the property has been in a tax-defaulted status for five years.

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 (PlN), 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 Saturday, June 30, 2018.

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 Annual Secured Property Tax bill 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. 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 USPS postmarked by Saturday, June 30, 2018. If we receive your payment after Saturday, June 30, 2018, 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.

We also accept credit cards (American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa) and debit cards. 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 Service members 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.lacounty.gov/Proptax/docs/MILITARY TAX RELIEF APPLICATION.pdf.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION SERVICE — You 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, 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 our

website at ttc.lacounty.gov/Proptax/docs/Five-Pay Plan Application.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.lacounty.gov/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 lacountypropertytax.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.

Website: lacountypropertytax.com

Email us: info@ttc.lacounty.gov

Write us: Treasurer and Tax Collector, P.O. Box 512102, Los Angeles, CA 90051-0102

Visit us: 225 North Hill Street, First Floor Lobby, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Call us: 1(888) 807-2111, our toll-free Property Tax Information Line where automated information is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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.

Fax us: 1(213) 620-7948