Ventura County Government Center
Hall of Administration Building, Fourth Floor
800 S. Victoria Ave.
Ventura, CA 93009-1940
Assessment Appeals
Overview
An “Assessment Appeal Application” is a formal challenge of a property’s assessed value established by the Assessor’s Office. By filing an Assessment Appeal Application, you are disagreeing with the Assessor’s assessed value and are requesting a hearing before either an Assessment Appeals Board or Hearing Officer. Please be prepared to submit information supporting your opinion if requested by the Assessor’s Office and at the appeal hearing proving the Assessor’s Office value is incorrect. The Assessment Appeals Board or Hearing Officer will only consider relevant evidence that is presented at the appeal hearing, which is an open public meeting. To assist you in understanding the appeal process and prepare for an appeal hearing, it is strongly recommended you review the Resources and Literature section, below.
Additionally, it is important to know an Assessment Appeals Board or Hearing Officer can decrease as well as increase or sustain (not change) an assessment based on the evidence presented at the appeal hearing.
The Regular Assessment (January 1, 2018) filing period begins July 2, 2018 through September 17, 2018 at 5:00 p.m.
Important Information
The filing period to submit an
Assessment Appeal Application,
appealing a property’s regular assessment is currently closed.
If you disagree with the property’s assessed value shown on a tax bill
(the January 1 Regular Assessment of property value),
and although the Regular Assessment Appeal filing period has closed,
you have the right to contact the Assessor’s Office directly at (805) 654-2181
and request an Informal Assessment Review.
** For Supplemental, Escape, and Roll Change Assessments, see below for filing deadlines. **
Before Completing an Application
Ensure you have all of the necessary information required to complete your application….
- Have on hand the “Notification of Assessment” or “Supplemental/Escape/Roll Change Notice” sent to you by the Assessor’s Office . This will contain the property’s Assessor’s Parcel Number and the Assessor’s Taxable Value information (Value on Roll) requested on an Assessment Appeal Application. If you did not receive a notice from the Assessor’s Office, please call the Assessor’s Office directly at (805) 654-2181 and request the necessary information. The Clerk of the Board does not have access to this information.
- Appeal instructions are on pages 3 and 4, but if you need further clarification on certain information being requested, please contact the Clerk of the Board. We will gladly assist you.
- Ensure the Assessment Appeal Application is complete, fully executed and a filing status is selected prior to submittal to the Clerk of the Board. An original/wet signature is required. DO NOT submit applications by e-mail or fax.
- DO NOT submit evidence such as appraisals, property comparables, flyers advertising homes for sale, photos, letters, etc. with your application. The Clerk of the Board cannot accept evidence at the time an appeal is filed. Any evidence submitted at the time of filing will be returned.
- Submit the Assessment Appeal Application by the required filing period deadline indicated below.
File an Assessment Appeal Application
There are several ways to obtain and submit an Assessment Appeal Application form….
Electronic application submission is not available. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Complete an Application to Mail in or Deliver:
ASSESSMENT APPEAL APPLICATION
– The Assessment Appeal Application is a fillable PDF. Application instructions are on pages 3-4. Completed applications must either be mailed in or submitted in person at the Clerk of the Board’s Office.
Have an Application form Mailed to you:
Please call the Clerk of the Board’s Application Request Line at (805) 645-1307. Blank applications are mailed out daily. Clearly leave us your Name and Mailing address.
Pick-Up an Application in person:
We have Applications and literature printed and available for pick-up Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Except Holidays, at the Ventura County Government Center, Clerk of the Board’s Office. We are located on the 4th Floor of the Administration building at 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009. Our staff will gladly provide you with the necessary forms, and answer any questions you have. If you plan to complete your application during your visit, please remember to bring your Notice of Assessment for reference.
Professional Tax Agent Requirements
Authorizing a professional tax agent to represent an applicant with an Assessment Appeal is optional and not required to file an appeal. If you are a Professional Tax Agent, or an Applicant who will be appointing an Agent, these requirements must be met….
In addition to completing an Assessment Appeal Application and filing it within the appropriate filing period as stated above:
The Professional Tax Agents authorization in section 2 of the Assessment Appeal Application must be completely filled and contain an original signature at the time the application is submitted to the Clerk of the Board. DO NOT SUBMIT A COPY.
OR
An attached agent authorization meeting all requirements stated on the State of California, Board of Equalization’s Property Tax Rule 305 must be submitted with the Assessment Appeal Application at the time the application is submitted to the Clerk of the Board.
Business and Professions Code 17537.9 requires Professional Tax Agents authorized to represent an applicant to keep an originally-signed copy of all authorizations on file for 3 years. If authorizations look questionable, the Assessment Appeals Board or Hearing Officer may request the original Agent Authorization on file with the agent be provided at the Assessment Hearing.
COUNTY OF VENTURA AGENT AUTHORIZATION FORM – For your convenience, the County of Ventura has an Agent Authorization form that can be used by Professional Tax Agents to file an Assessment Appeal.
Failure to meet all agent authorization requirements
will result in the application being deemed invalid.
Filing Period Deadlines
Select and Assessment type to view the applicable deadlines. The Assessment type should be indicated in the title of the Notice you received from the Assessor’s Office.
Regular Assessment (Assessed Value as of January 1, 2018):
An Assessment Appeal Application must be filed starting July 2, 2018 through September 17, 2018. Assessment Appeal Applications mailed on September 17, 2018 must be postmarked that day to be considered as timely filed.
Supplemental Assessment, Assessment Roll Change, and Escaped Assessment:
An Assessment Appeal Application must be filed within 60 days of the date the notice was mailed by the Assessor’s Office which is printed on the notice of assessment, or the envelopes postmark, whichever date is later.
Calamity Reassessment:
An Assessment Appeal Application must be submitted or postmarked within 6 months of the date the notice was mailed by the Assessor’s Office which is printed on the notice of assessment.
*Please Note: If the final filing date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, an application that is mailed and postmarked on the next business day shall be deemed to have been filed timely.
Resources and Literature for Assessment Appeals
These Reading Materials, Videos, and Legal Codes will assist you in navigating the Assessment Appeal Process…
Literature:
Understanding Property Tax Limits (Proposition 13) and Decline in Value (Proposition 8)
Filing Your Assessment Appeal (Brochure)
Preparing for Your Hearing (Brochure)
Terminology Commonly used for Assessment Appeals
Assessment Appeals Board Meeting Records:
Video Overview of the Assessment Appeal Process – “Your Assessment Appeal”
Describes different types of Assessments
How to Complete your Application
How to prepare for your hearing
What to expect at your hearing
California State Board of Equalization – Information on Assessment Appeals
Frequently Asked Questions
California State Board of Equalization Main Webpage
Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate Office
Contact Information
If you have further questions or need clarification, please contact us. We are here to assist you.
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone: (805) 654-2251 (select option 2)
E-Mail: aabclerk@ventura.org
Visit Us:
Ventura County Government Center
Hall of Administration Building, Fourth Floor
800 S. Victoria Ave.
Ventura, CA
Mailing Address:
Clerk of the Board
800 S. Victoria Avenue, L#1920
Ventura, CA 93009-1920
Throughout the Assessment Appeal process, you may also be in contact with the following County Agencies:
- Assessor’s Office
(805) 654-2181
- Auditor-Controller’s Office
(805) 654-3181
- Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office
(805) 654-3744