CONTRA COSTA COUNTY PROPERTY OWNERS

The County does not have the resources, especially now, to ensure you receive the lowest property value possible, but you can do a few simple steps to ensure that your property tax bill is lowered to the lowest value supportable by the "comps" pulled by your realtor, OR call/email Kim Morucci of Rockcliff Realty (see below). Remember you will always do a better job than the government in obtaining this information given the county's limited resources.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO LOWER YOUR PROPERTY TAX BILL:

1) TAX FORM NEEDED : Go to the County website and print out this form (if our firm has not given it to you yet) called "2011-2012 REQUEST FOR VALUE VIEW (per PROP 8)" located on the County's website at: http://ca-contracostacounty.civicplus.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=5191

2) LIEN DATE to PULL COMPS: MARCH 31, 2011 (or as early as January 1, 2011) is the date range to pull "comps" (i.e. comparable homes to your home which show current values of homes recently purchased). In order to obtain a FREE "comp" valuation of your current home, call/email Kim Morucci of Rockcliff Realty at kmorucci@rockcliff.com or (925) 437-1650. Kim will also place you on her list to receive comps throughout the year.

3) DUE DATE: The 1st due date for the 2011 program is JUNE 30, 2011. The signed and dated forms--with comps attached---must be faxed to the County at (925) 313-7488. The County may call you later to verify receipt of forms. By filing your Appeals form by June 30, 2011, the County will change your property tax bill immediately. If you pay your property taxes monthly with your mortgage (called "Impounding"), then you will LOWER your MORTGAGE payment which includes these property tax payments.

4) 2nd DUE DATE: If you miss the June 30th 2011 due date, the 2nd and final due date to submit your "Request for Value Review" form (with your comps) is NOVEMBER 30, 2011.

5) NEW HOMEOWNERS: SUPPLEMENTALS: When you purchase a home, watch out for the Supplemental Tax Bill that will arrive ONE YEAR later. Remember Supplemental Property taxes are NEVER IMPOUNDED, so do not expect your lender to take care of these supplemental taxes via your monthly mortgage payments. YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE for PAYING YOUR SUPPLEMENTALS SEPARATELY from your regular property tax bill (regardless of impounding or not). DUE DATES for Supplementals are very different: Usually January 31st and May 31st but these dates may vary. Look up your account ONLINE by property address to determine if you owe supplementals and when they are due. CAUTION: Your home may have gone down in value since you bought it. You should file the Tax Form above --- with attached "comps"----to prove to the County that your home value is lower, and request that the County lower your Supplementals no later than 60 days from the mail date stamped on the tax bill or the mail date of the envelope. The comps must be pulled near the time of the Lien Date used by the County for the Supplementals.

Dombrowski & Associates CPAs LLP • 3731 Sunset Lane, Suite 100 • Antioch, CA 94509-6128
Phone: 925-706-1040 • Fax: 925-281-4958
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Phone: (415) 454-2140 Our San Rafael Office • Fax: Receptionist Phone #: (415) 492-2800

Pursuant to Internal Revenue Service guidance, be advised that any tax advice contained in this written or electronic communication, including any attachments or enclosures, is not intended or written to be used and it cannot be used by any person or entity for the purpose of (i) avoiding any tax penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Service or any other U.S. Federal taxing authority or agency or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.