On August 27, the State Board of Equalization (BOE) will hold its annual public hearing on property taxes and the Alcoholic Beverage Tax to listen to public suggestions, comments and concerns.
The hearing will also provide an opportunity for taxpayers, county assessors and other local agency representatives to provide comments on items discussed in the most recent Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate’s Annual Report, published earlier this year.
Annual Report
According to the report, for fiscal year 2022–23, the Taxpayers’ Rights Advocate (TRA) Office completed work on 310 cases, all relating to property taxes. Of those cases, 78% were in the valuation category, which includes topics such as changes in ownership, decline in value or value reductions, appraisal methodology, exclusions, exemptions, assessment appeals, new construction, general property tax information and definitions, and actual enrollment of values.
The remaining 22% of cases were in the administrative category, which includes topics such as creating and mailing tax bills, refunds, and penalties.
The report provides examples of property tax cases to illustrate how the TRA Office staff resolves taxpayers’ issues and the range of services provided by the property tax technical advisers. The report explains that the office’s role usually involves review and explanation of processes and methodologies of property tax assessments and property tax payment and collection, as well as facilitating resolutions between taxpayers and county departments.
Hearing Information
Although advance arrangements are not required to speak at a taxpayers’ bill of rights hearing, the BOE asks that speakers contact the Taxpayers Rights Advocate (TRA) Office beforehand to let them know the nature of the speaker’s topic.
The 2024 Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights Hearing will be held on Tuesday, August 27, 2024 at 10 a.m.
Taxpayers and stakeholders have the option to participate in person, by phone, or submit written comments in advance:
• In person location: May Lee State Office Complex, Auditorium, 651 Bannon Street, Sacramento, CA 95811.
• By phone: 1-877-336-4440, access code 4192718#
• To submit comments in advance, click here.
For more information about this hearing, visit www.boe.ca.gov/tra.
