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Annual O.C. Property Tax Auction scheduled for August 18

Posted on by Posted in Orange County, Real Estate, Shari Freidenrich, Taxes Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif., –Numerous tax-delinquent properties may be hitting the auction block on August 18, with online bidding open to members of the general public who have completed a pre-registration process by August 10. This year will be the first ever online auction of all improved and unimproved properties.

“Bidders can view all new parcels online using a GIS map of each parcel that is unpaid and available,” said Treasurer Freidenrich. “These parcels are sold as is and the county makes no representation as to the usage, suitability or legal compliance of any parcel. Anyone making a purchase should do their homework, as this is a ‘buyer beware’ sale.”

Interested parties can view a list of properties and a GIS map, by going directly to octaxauction.mytaxsale.com, or by scanning the QR code below. To download a list of all parcels, a user must register for a User ID. The parcels subject to auction have been delinquent on at least one installment of property taxes for at least five years. Delinquent property owners must pay off 100 percent of their taxes and penalties by 5 pm on August 17 in order to be removed from the tax auction.

For Timeshare Intervals, the Treasurer-Tax Collector does not have any other information available on the parcel including the specific week(s) it is available. Any potential bidders should stay informed by signing up for alerts at ocgov.com/octaxauctionreminder , as daily alerts will be sent starting August 2.

If you are interested in bidding on a parcel, you will also need to register as a user at octaxauction.mytaxsale.com and submit a refundable deposit of $1,500 by eCheck by August 10. No bidder registrations will be accepted after August 10. Once you have registered, log into the site and click on “My Payments” and select “Submit Deposit.” All deposits must be made by eCheck (bank account) through the website to our third-party vendor, Grant Street Group, and received no later than 5 p.m. PST on August 10. Registration will not be permitted by mail or in person and will not be permitted after this date.

If you are not a successful bidder on a parcel, your deposit will be automatically refunded to your bank account within 10 business days after the close of the auction. Grant Street Group will transfer the deposits of all successful bidders to the County of Orange for credit toward the purchase. Bidding will start at 8 a.m. PST with batches of parcels scheduled to close through the stated close times posted online. This is a buyer beware sale and all sales are final.

The Treasurer sets the minimum bids based on the total amount of delinquent taxes, penalties and selling costs. Some liens may not be discharged by the sale, so it is important to check out the detailed information on the tax auction website. By law, owners of a tax-defaulted property may not purchase that property either directly or indirectly at a price below the minimum offered at the auction.

If you have general questions regarding the tax auction, please e-mail us at ttcinfo@ttc.ocgov.com or call (714) 834-3411 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Please direct any questions regarding the website or the bidding process to the Auction Administrator or call their customer support at (877) 274-9320 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

O.C. unsecured property tax bills for FY 2021-22 mailed and available online

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Santa Ana, Calif. – Orange County Treasurer Shari Freidenrich announced that 54,478 unsecured property tax bills totaling over $320 million have been mailed to the names of the property owners on the most recent tax roll. These unsecured property tax bills are now available online at ocgov.com/octaxbill.

These unsecured property taxes are related to business property, leased equipment, boats and aircraft for fiscal year 2021-22 and are due on August 31. Treasurer Shari L. Freidenrich recommends that taxpayers skip the line and pay online at ocgov.com/octaxbill. There is no service fee to pay online by eCheck (bank account), and taxpayers can pay online up to midnight on August 31 and receive same-day credit and a receipt that can be printed or emailed.

In person payments are due by 5 p.m. at the County Service Center or can be dropped off in the Payment Depository Box located on Ross Street with adjacent parking on August 31 by midnight.  Unsecured property tax bills not paid by the due date will be charged a 10 percent penalty plus a $75 collection fee. Taxpayers who pay by mail must have a U.S. Postal Service date stamp for August 31 or earlier. Taxpayers mailing the payment close to the due date should have payment envelopes hand cancelled and can go to ocgov.com/postmarks for more information to ensure that all mailed payments are timely received.

“The last year has been devastating for many property owners. I understand and sympathize with the financial impacts that COVID-19 has caused Orange County taxpayers and businesses, “said Treasurer Freidenrich. “Current State law requires that the owner of record as of January 1, 2021 be responsible for paying the FY 2021-22 unsecured property tax bill even if the unsecured property has been sold or otherwise disposed of after January 1, 2021.  Unlike secured property taxes, unsecured property taxes are not prorated by time of ownership.” The new owner of the unsecured property is not responsible for paying the property taxes on the personal property purchased until the new lien date of January 1, 2022. Treasurer Freidenrich encourages taxpayers to sign up for text or email unsecured property tax information at ocgov.com/ocunsecuredreminder.

Taxpayers can view prior tax bills online and also view an online statement to see if any current or delinquent unsecured property taxes are owed. This information is available by going to ocgov.com/octaxbill and scroll to the Unsecured Property Tax Bill section in the middle of the page. You can search by business name, the tax collector reference number (TC Ref), the CF Number, the N Number or the tax year and assessment number.

Of the 54,478 unsecured property tax bills that were generated, assessments were sent to 43,002 businesses, 16,760 boat and aircraft owners and 15,070 leased equipment owners. The unsecured property low value exemption for business equipment, boats and aircraft was increased for FY 2021-22 from $3,000 to $7,500 by the Board after a request from the Treasurer and Assessor. There are 39,331 fewer assessments in 2021 than 2020 including a decrease of 21,877 business assessments, lowering tax burdens on small businesses.

The O.C. Property Tax COVID-19 penalty cancellation deadline is on May 6

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SANTA ANA –Thursday is the final day for homeowners and small businesses to pay base property tax without penalty and complete and submit the COVID-19 penalty cancellation request form if they have been directly affected by COVID-19. The Governor’s Executive Order provides for penalty cancellations for certain homeowners and small businesses that were unable to deliver their property tax payments timely this past year if they have been directly affected by COVID-19. Property owners will need to submit the COVID-19 Penalty Cancellation Request form and pay the base property tax amount (without penalties and costs) by May 6, 2021.

“For property owners that were unable to pay their FY 2020-21 secured property tax payments by either December 10 and/or April 12 as a result of being directly affected by COVID-19, Thursday, May 6 is the last day to submit your penalty cancellation request,” said Treasurer Freidenrich. “While we were not able to change the payment deadline set by state law, we were able to extend the time for certain property owners to submit this request form and pay the base property taxes without penalty until May 6. If you believe that you qualify for this penalty cancellation and have not submitted your request yet, please do so by May 6th, along with your base property tax amount.”

Examples of direct impacts due to COVID-19 may include: illness, hospitalization, quarantine, loss of employment or business closures. Examples of documentation include hospitalization records, doctor’s notes, employment notifications due to a business closure, layoff notices, rent receipt postponement notices/waivers, CA EDD Unemployment Insurance claim letters, etc. As these requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, we encourage you to apply by tomorrow and provide your specific circumstances to be considered. Go to ttc.ocgov.com and click on the COVID-19 penalty cancellation icon for further details.

If you were not impacted by COVID-19 and are unable to pay your secured property taxes, a taxpayer can initiate a five year-payment plan on July 1, 2021 for any delinquent secured property taxes. Details for this are at ttc.ocgov.com and then click on installment payment plans under the Popular section of the page.

Also, check out our other online property tax and financial tools:

If you have payment questions, please email ttcinfo@ttc.ocgov.com, or call (714) 834- 3411 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.

Secured O.C. property tax bills for FY 2020-21 mailed and available online

Posted on by Posted in Orange County, Santa Ana, Shari Freidenrich, Taxes Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County Treasurer Shari Freidenrich announced that 875,971 secured property tax bills totaling over $7.5 billion have been mailed to the names of the property owners on the most recent tax roll. These secured property tax bills are now available online at ocgov.com/octaxbill.

The first installment of the FY 2020-21 secured property taxes is due and payable on November 1, and will become delinquent if not paid by December 10. The second installment is due and payable on February 1, 2021, and will become delinquent if not paid by April 12, 2021. However, some taxpayers who meet certain criteria with a demonstrable hardship because of COVID-19 may request a cancellation of late penalties assessed. Go to ocgov.com/octaxbill and click on the penalty cancellation icon for more information.

If you have not yet received the mailed 2020-21 bill, you can obtain a copy online. The California Revenue and Taxation Code states that not receiving a bill does not relieve property owners from their responsibility to pay property taxes on time. The website also provides an up-to-date statement page for all secured property, including any outstanding balances and any delinquencies, penalties or fees. The most common way to view the page is to input either your eight-digit Assessor Parcel Number (APN), or property address. If you don’t have online access, call us at 714-834-3411 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to obtain a copy of the bill.

Property Tax Tips:

  • Sign up to receive a payment reminder by text or email at ocgov.com/octaxreminder
  • Pay the bills online at ocgov.com/octaxbill by eCheck (bank account) at no cost and receive same day credit and an emailed receipt
  • Scan the QR code on your mailed bill to go directly to the specific property’s tax information
  • View 11 years of bills and two years of payment details online
  • Check out our app that shows bill items in an easy to read format with a GIS map at mello.ocgov.com The app identifies parcels with Mello-Roos and PACE assessments and includes local services and parks near the selected parcel
  • View and subscribe to our Financial Tip of the Week at ocgov.com/ocfinancialinfo
  • Check out our newest resource, our Property Tax eGuides at ocgov.com/ocpropertytaxguides

The public can pay their bill in person and also access other County services in the County Service Center at 601 N. Ross St., Santa Ana. A convenient 24/7 payment dropbox is located on Ross Street with adjacent parking.

In-person O.C. property tax payments accepted starting today

Posted on by Posted in OC Treasurer, Orange County, Real Estate, Santa Ana, Shari Freidenrich, Taxes Leave a comment

Submit COVID-19 Property Tax Penalty Cancellation Request and Pay Base Property Taxes by June 30 to have the 10% Penalty Cancelled

SANTA ANA – Taxpayers can start making in-person property tax payments by cash, check or credit/debit card starting June 22 at the County’s Service Center.  COVID-19 restrictions will be in place including physical distancing measures limiting the number of people allowed inside the County Service Center with the overflow outside in a shaded area. All staff assisting customers will be separated by see-through guards and will be wearing masks.

“COVID-19 has been devastating for property tax owners,” Treasurer Shari Freidenrich said. “It’s the right thing to do to cancel penalties for all taxpayers who were unable to pay by April 10 due to COVID-19 and who pay by June 30. Implementing this policy to accept these COVID-19 cancellation requests for all taxpayers up to June 30 has essentially delayed the payment of property taxes for over two months and allowed taxpayers to apply for government programs that may have brought them much needed cash.”   

In addition, Treasurer Freidenrich is requesting that taxpayers impacted by COVID-19 submit their COVID-19 penalty cancellation request forms by June 30 and include a check for base taxes to ensure that their penalties are cancelled. Submittals can be mailed, dropped off at the Treasurer’s depository payment drop box located at 601 N. Ross St. or in-person at the County Service Center between June 22 and June 30.  

The second installment of property taxes was due on April 10, but all property owners with a COVID-19 hardship have until June 30 to pay just their base property taxes and submit the required COVID-19 form.  Some limited exceptions by law will be allowed after the June 30 due date.  For taxpayers who do not meet the limited exceptions, payment of delinquent property taxes will include a 10 percent penalty, a $23 delinquent charge and interest charges of 18 percent annually that start accruing on July 1.  

To further assist taxpayers during this time of financial crisis, Treasurer Freidenrich has implemented a Financial Tip of the Week to help taxpayers protect their monies.  Taxpayers can sign up to receive these tips by text or email at ocgov.com/ocfinancialtips. These tips are on a Financial Resource webpage that includes other financial information dealing with a variety of topics such as COVID-19 help for seniors. Go to ocgov.com/ocfinancialinfo.

O.C. property taxpayers directly affected by COVID-19 will have penalties cancelled

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Emergencies, OC Treasurer, Orange County, Santa Ana, Shari Freidenrich, Taxes Leave a comment

SANTA ANA – The Orange County Treasurer is now accepting penalty cancellation requests for taxpayers who have been directly impacted by COVID-19.

“COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the taxpayers here in Orange County, in the United States and all over the world.  We want to be as compassionate and generous as possible,” said Treasurer Shari Freidenrich.  “We will be cancelling penalties for those homeowners, small businesses and other property owners that have been directly affected by COVID-19.”

If you have been directly impacted by COVID-19 and did not pay your property taxes by April 10, you should complete the COVID-19 Penalty Cancellation Request Form. Although we were not able to change the payment deadline set by state law, we are now able to extend the time for you to submit and pay the base property taxes.  You will need to submit the COVID-19 Penalty Cancellation Request form and pay the base tax amount (without penalties and costs) so that it is received between April 11 and June 30, 2020.

Examples of direct impacts due to COVID-19 include: illness, hospitalization, quarantine, loss of employment or business closures. Examples of documentation include hospitalization records, doctor’s notes, employment notifications due to a business closure, layoff notices, rent receipt postponement notices/waivers, CA EDD Unemployment Insurance claim letters, etc. As these requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, we encourage you to apply and provide your specific circumstances to be considered.  See COVID-19 FAQs at ttc.ocgov.com/proptax/infofaq/penalties.

“During these unprecedented times, it is important that you know we understand the current economic hardships you directly experienced due to COVID-19 and are doing our part to help by cancelling penalties.  We want to thank taxpayers who timely paid their second installment taxes,” said Treasurer Freidenrich.  “Many of the services being provided during this emergency are paid for using property tax dollars, including those of first responders.”

Our customer service center is available to assist taxpayers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (714) 834-3411 or you can email ttcinfo@ttc.ocgov.com.  Our website at ttc.ocgov.com also has a lot of information on property taxes.

The O.C. Property Tax deadline is this Friday

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We are grateful that the federal and state governments have started to provide financial assistance to taxpayers that include extending and increasing the amount of unemployment benefits, allowing companies to apply to banks for loans that may be forgiven if used for payroll, and providing other financial resources to assist our taxpayers.   This medical emergency has the State taking significant unprecedented actions to combat the spread of COVID-19.  Information on federal and state assistance programs can be found on our Financial Literacy webpage at ttc.ocgov.com/rptstats/financial_literacy.

“I understand and sympathize with the financial impacts that COVID-19 may have had on our taxpayers,” states Treasurer Freidenrich.  “I also understand that the upcoming property tax payment may be one of the largest single expenditures that taxpayers make each year.”  Property taxes fund critical local government services, including those services needed during this emergency, and we encourage taxpayers to pay by April 10 if they can.  

After April 10, if the taxpayer is a homeowner, small business or other property owner with significant demonstrated economic hardship due to COVID-19 or believe that they qualify for one of the other limited exceptions and can’t pay by April 10, then as soon as the taxpayer is able to pay, they should request a Penalty Cancellation. All requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.  Taxpayers will need to complete and sign the form, include a check for the base property tax amount due (without penalties or costs), provide third party documentation justifying the request and mail these items to the address on the form. We appreciate the Governor’s support that County Treasurers have existing authority by law to assist these significantly impacted taxpayers in this time of need. 

The County has added a website for COVID-19 information at COVID19info.ocgov.com and a County phone number, (714) 480-6500, has been established to help local businesses navigate the current economic climate with loans that could help pay property taxes.

Contact: Shari L. Freidenrich
(714) 834-7625
Treasurer@ttc.ocgov.com

O.C. Treasurer-Tax Collector Freidenrich will grant penalty relief for taxpayers as allowed by existing State law

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SANTA ANA – Treasurer-Tax Collector Freidenrich announces her full support for waiver of penalties, costs or other charges as allowed by existing state law for taxpayers that fail to make a timely payment. The impact of the COVID19 has been financially devastating for many Orange County taxpayers.

The last timely payment date remains at April 10, as neither the County nor the Treasurer-Tax Collector has the legal authority under the statute to change or extend this date. The April 10 date is set by state law, which can only be amended by the legislature.

We understand that the Federal and State governments have granted extensions for both the Federal and State Income Tax deadlines and as noted above, the County has no authority to change state law. If the State were to extend the deadline, it would have a significantly impact on local governments and K-12 School and Community College Districts (Schools) revenues, who have only received just over half of the annual property tax for this year.

In many local governments, property taxes represent one of the largest single annual revenue sources and pay for the public safety and other local government services you receive daily during the year. In addition, Schools are the largest recipient of property taxes here in Orange County (Where Your Property Tax Goes). For Secured property taxes, the bills are mailed in September and have a due date of November 1 and February 1 (with grace periods to December 10 and April 10, respectively), just two payments in a year. These local agencies would bear the brunt of any delay in the receipt of these vitally important property taxes that they need to provide local services.

“COVID-19, and the State’s order for all non-essential businesses to close, has had a significant impact on our taxpayers” Treasurer Freidenrich said. “I plan to grant waivers on penalties to taxpayers as allowed by existing law to assist them during these challenging times.”

For taxpayers that do not make payment of property taxes due to COVID-19 by April 10, we expect them to submit a Penalty Cancellation Request Form and documentation to support the cancellation of penalties as allowed in limited circumstances under current state law. The existing state law, which Treasurer Freidenrich will follow, allows for waiver of penalties, costs and other charges when failure to make a timely payment is due to reasonable cause and circumstances beyond the taxpayer’s control, and occurred notwithstanding the exercise of ordinary care in the absence of willful neglect.

In closing, we appreciate those taxpayers that can pay by the April 10 date as these dollars will be allocated in April to the local agencies that provide day-to-day services to taxpayers. We appreciate your assistance during this very challenging time for all of us in the County of Orange. Please email us at ttcinfo@ttc.ocgov.com if you have property tax payment questions, sign up for our property tax information subscription list at ocgov.com/octaxreminder by text or email and “Stay Home and Pay Online” at ocgov.com/octaxbill. Please stay safe.

The County of Orange is reviewing property tax payments delayed by COVID-19

Posted on by Posted in Michelle Steel, Orange County, Shari Freidenrich, Taxes Leave a comment

Michelle Steel, Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors worked together with Treasurer-Tax Collector, Shari Freidenrich to review late penalties and fees for property owners in Orange County. This individual review would be for reasons related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Property owners will be able to submit a request for penalty cancellation online if they unable to pay property taxes by the April 10th deadline.

“This property tax penalty review would give our Orange County property owners the safety net they need if they have been effected by circumstances of the coronavirus outbreak,” said Chairwoman Steel. “In this time of great stress and uncertainty, it is important that we provide as much support as we can to protect the livelihoods of our residents. This tax penalty review offers that support.”

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First elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 2014, Michelle Steel represents the residents of the Second District, which includes, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, Stanton, the unincorporated area of Rossmoor, and portions of Buena Park and Fountain Valley. Steel, a successful businesswoman and renowned taxpayer advocate, previously served as Vice Chair of the State Board of Equalization where she represented more than eight million people in Southern California, including all of Orange County, as one of the state’s 12 constitutional officers.

Check your online property tax statement to prevent liens and protect your credit

Posted on by Posted in OC Treasurer, Orange County, Santa Ana, Shari Freidenrich, Taxes Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Shari Freidenrich January 12, 2016 (714) 834-7625, Treasurer@ttc.ocgov.com

DO YOU OWE ANY PROPERTY TAXES? CHECK THE ONLINE PROPERTY TAX STATEMENT TO PREVENT A LIEN ON YOUR PROPERTY OR PERSONAL CREDIT!

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari L. Freidenrich encourages all property taxpayers to visit ocgov.com/octaxbill to take advantage of multiple resources for current or previous owners of real property, boats, aircraft, or business property and equipment.

The online information by parcel identifies any current outstanding property tax balances, copies of current and prior year property tax bills, a link to a Google-type GIS map, information on Mello-Roos assessments, penalty cancellation request forms, change of address forms, and information on PACE programs offered by some local cities. The site also provides same-day credit payment options with no convenience fee plus an emailed detailed receipt for your records (can also be printed), as well as copies of the inserts sent with property tax bills. Continue reading→