Meet the Assessor
Phong La
Alameda County Assessor
I am honored and privileged to serve as your County Assessor. The Assessor’s Office is responsible for locating all taxable property in the County, establishing its taxable value, and applying any legal exemption. With over $451 billion in assessments, we are one of the largest assessment agencies in the state. We are committed to establishing accurate and fairly assessed property values.
My staff and I are here to assist you with your questions and concerns. Our goal is to provide you the best customer service.
Please send us your suggestions as we continuously look for new ways to improve this site and our office.
Thank you for visiting our website. We look forward to serving you and addressing your needs. Please contact us anytime – we are here to help!
Assessor’s Biography
Phong La was elected on November 6, 2018, to serve as the Assessor for the County of Alameda, and is committed to making government work for the people of Alameda County.
The work that the Assessor’s Office helps generate revenue for Alameda County, its 14 cities, and six unincorporated communities. These major funds provide for crucial services such as schools; public health, social, and family support services; fire, police and sheriff departments; road maintenance; neighborhood improvements, and more.
Since taking office, Phong’s priorities include increasing customer service and office efficiency. Key accomplishments include:
- Implementing e-Forms, which allow applicants to file forms online from the convenience of their office or home
- Securing resources to address increased staff workload generated by historic highs in real estate construction and business activities
- Working with the Assessment Appeals Board to schedule and hear appeals cases more quickly, ensuring a more timely resolution for taxpayers
- Digitizing historic real property records currently maintained only in hard copy, protecting vital assessment details and property files for off-site access
Phong obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of California, Davis and his Juris Doctor from the UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings). Phong worked as an attorney in one of California’s largest real estate law firms, for the United States government, for a privately held real estate holding company and his own small businesses. Phong has also worked as an adjunct professor teaching Real Estate Law, Economics and Property Management.
Phong was born in Vietnam and came to the United States as a refugee at the age of two. He grew up in Union City, lived in Fremont for many years and currently lives in Alameda with his wife Stephanie and daughters Olivia and Charlotte.
Assessor’s Responsibilities
The Assessor’s Office is responsible for:
- Locating and identifying the ownership of all taxable property in Alameda County
- Determining the taxability of all property
- Determining if property is subject to reappraisal at fair market value when it changes ownership
- Determining if property that undergoes new construction or alteration is subject to reappraisal
- Annually assessing all real estate in accordance with the California Constitution (Proposition 13)
- Annually assessing all taxable business personal property at its fair market value
- Determining and applying all legal exemptions
- Surrendering an accurate assessment roll to the Auditor-Controller’s Office prior to July 1st
What the Assessor Does NOT Do
Contrary to popular opinion, the Assessor:
- Does not compute property tax bills
- Does not collect property taxes
- Does not establish property tax laws
- Does not set the rules by which property is appraised
Property tax bills are computed and mailed by the Auditor-Controller’s Office. Property taxes are collected by the Treasurer-Tax Collector’s Office. Tax rates and rules are set by the California Legislature and the State Board of Equalization.