Property taxation: delinquency and penalties: suspension: Counties of Los Angeles and Ventura.

The California Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation has put forward legislation to temporarily suspend property tax penalties in specific areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties affected by the January 2025 wildfires. The measure suspends delinquency penalties, costs, and interest until April 10, 2026, for properties within designated ZIP codes, provided the taxes were not already delinquent before January 6, 2025, and are not paid through impound accounts.

The bill modifies several aspects of property tax collection. It prevents default status on existing installment payment plans that were current as of January 7, 2025. For property owners making escape assessment payments in installments, the legislation suspends tax collection and delinquency determinations until the 2026 deadline. The measure also delays the 10% penalty typically imposed when property owners fail to file required annual property statements, allowing submissions without penalty through April 10, 2026.

These temporary changes apply to properties in fifteen specific ZIP codes across Los Angeles and Ventura counties where wildfires damaged thousands of homes and displaced over 100,000 residents. The bill includes provisions for state reimbursement to local agencies for any mandated costs and takes effect immediately upon passage as an urgency statute. Local tax collectors must adjust their procedures while maintaining records of affected accounts through the suspension period.