Before You Apply
The Tax Collector can review requests to cancel penalties, but approval is only granted when the request meets the criteria outlined in the California Revenue and Taxation Code (RTC).
Before you submit the Application for Cancellation of Property Tax Penalty:
- Learn more about property tax penalties.
- Review penalty waiver requests that do not meet eligibility criteria.
- Prepare a written explanation of the circumstances.
- Include supporting documentation
Steps
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Payment Requirement:
To submit Application for Cancellation of Property Tax Penalty, you must first pay the full amount of both the tax and any penalties.
Payment Methods:
Payments can be made online or by other accepted payment methods.
Proof of Payment:
You must provide proof of payment when submitting your Application for Cancellation of Property Tax Penalty. Examples of acceptable documentation include:- Copy of transaction confirmation email
- Credit card statement
- Bank statement
- Copies of both front and back of check
- Front counter receipt (when paying in person)
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Gather Supporting Documentation
Supporting documentation explaining the circumstances for the late payment must be from an official source and include dates that correspond to the delinquent tax payment.
Examples of acceptable documentation include:
- Doctor’s note on official letterhead
- Bank error correspondence on official letterhead
- Death certificate
- Police report
- Letter from the Postmaster on USPS letterhead
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Complete the Application for Cancellation of Property Tax Penalty
Complete and submit the Application for Cancellation of Property Tax Penalty online.
Be sure to include:
- Proof of payment for the tax and penalties
- Supporting documentation explaining the circumstances for the late payment
Complete Application For Cancellation of Property Tax Penalty
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Notification of Decision
The Tax Collector’s office will contact you by email to inform you of the Board's decision.
- If approved, the penalty amount you paid will be refunded.
- Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined by law, or lack prior payment or sufficient supporting documentation, will be denied.