LA County Warns Property Owners About Fake Tax Relief Scheme

LA County officials warn public about property tax scam

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LA County Warns Property Owners About Fake Tax Relief Scheme

The scam claims the purported federal program can offer tax relief.

County Officials Warn Property Owners About Fake Property Tax Relief Scam

September 3, 2026 Contact: Stephen R. Whitmore, Public Information Officer pio@assessor.lacounty.gov (213) 974-3101 County Officials Warn Property Owners About Fake Property Tax Relief Scam Seniors, homeowners beware of fraudulent claims promoting nonexistent “1098-SR” form   LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang, Treasurer and Tax Collector Elizabeth Buenrostro Ginsberg, Auditor-Controller Oscar Valdez, and Department of Consumer and Business Affairs Director Rafael Carbajal are warning seniors and other property owners about a property tax scam circulating through social media, online videos, and telephone solicitations. The fraudulent claims tell homeowners they can reduce or freeze their property taxes by filing a supposed federal IRS “Form 1098-SR.” No such IRS form or federal property tax relief program exists. “This is exactly the kind of misinformation that can be particularly harmful to seniors and homeowners who are looking for legitimate ways to reduce their property tax burden,” Assessor Prang said. “There is no federal 1098-SR form that freezes or reduces your property taxes. California does have legitimate property tax relief programs, but homeowners should verify information with the appropriate government agency before providing personal information or paying anyone for assistance.” The scam reportedly promotes a supposed federal program that can freeze property taxes for seniors, reduce property tax bills, or allow homeowners to avoid certain local taxes or school bonds. Property taxes in California are governed by state law and administered locally. The federal government does not determine, cap, or freeze local property tax assessments. Treasurer and Tax Collector Elizabeth Buenrostro Ginsberg cautioned property owners against responding to unsolicited demands for payment or personal information. “Property tax scams often try to create a sense of urgency or use official-sounding language to convince taxpayers that they must act immediately,” Buenrostro Ginsberg said. “Before making a payment or providing financial information in response to an unsolicited communication, taxpayers should verify the information directly with an official government source. If you have questions about your Los Angeles County property tax bill or payment, contact our office directly.” Auditor-Controller Oscar Valdez emphasized the importance of understanding the respective roles of County agencies in the property tax system. “Los Angeles County’s property tax system involves several different agencies, each with specific responsibilities established by law,” Valdez said. “The Auditor-Controller calculates property tax rates, determines the amount of taxes due based on assessed values, and apportions property tax revenues to taxing agencies. Property owners should rely on official County sources for accurate information and be skeptical of anyone claiming that a federal form can circumvent California’s property tax laws.” Department of Consumer and Business Affairs Director Rafael Carbajal said scams targeting homeowners can lead not only to financial losses but also identity theft. “Scammers are constantly adapting their tactics, and seniors and homeowners can be especially attractive targets because of the financial value associated with their homes,” Carbajal said. “Never provide Social Security numbers, banking information or other sensitive personal information to an unsolicited caller, email, text message or website. When someone promises a benefit that sounds too good to be true, verify it independently before taking action.” Legitimate California Property Tax Relief Programs California property owners may qualify for several established programs, including: Proposition 13 — Generally limits annual increases in a property’s assessed value to no more than 2 percent, except when there is a change in ownership, new construction or another event requiring reassessment under state law. Proposition 19 — Allows eligible homeowners who are age 55 or older, severely disabled, or victims of wildfire or other natural disasters to transfer their taxable base-year value to a replacement principal residence, subject to eligibility requirements. Homeowners’ Exemption — Provides a $7,000 reduction in assessed value for an owner-occupied principal residence. Disabled Veterans’ Exemption — Provides property tax relief for qualifying disabled veterans and, under certain circumstances, their surviving spouses. Property Tax Postponement — A program administered by the California State Controller that allows certain eligible seniors and blind or disabled homeowners who meet income, equity and other requirements to postpone payment of current-year property taxes. The postponed taxes must ultimately be repaid and a lien is placed on the property. Know Which County Office to Contact Property owners should also understand the different responsibilities of Los Angeles County agencies involved in property taxes: Office of the Assessor — Determines the assessed value of taxable property and administers qualifying property tax exemptions and exclusions. Auditor-Controller — Calculates property tax rates and tax amounts, allocates collected property tax revenue among local taxing agencies, and processes taxpayer refunds due to tax roll corrections. Treasurer and Tax Collector — Issues property tax bills and collects property tax payments. Department of Consumer and Business Affairs — Provides consumer education and assistance and investigates consumer fraud, scams, identity theft and other consumer protection complaints. “No legitimate property tax program requires you to file a mysterious federal form you learned about through social media,” Prang said. “When in doubt, go directly to the government agency responsible for the program. Don’t rely on a social media video, an unsolicited phone call or someone asking you to pay for a benefit that may not exist.” Residents who believe they have received a fraudulent solicitation should not provide personal or financial information and should not send money. Those who believe they have been victimized should contact law enforcement and report the matter to the appropriate consumer protection authorities. Los Angeles County property owners can obtain official property tax information through the County’s Assessor, Auditor-Controller and the Treasurer and Tax Collector.