Alameda County Assessor Phong La is warning seniors and other property owners about false online claims and scam calls urging them to file a federal IRS form to reduce or freeze their property taxes, or to avoid school bonds. No such IRS form exists, and these messages are scams.
“Unfortunately, sometimes we have bad actors target our elders and other taxpayers. Currently, we are seeing an increase in calls to our office regarding a non-existent IRS form. This form does not exist, please do not share any personal information with anyone contacting you about such a form.”
— Phong La, Alameda County Assessor
Key facts
- There is no such federal IRS form. Videos and posts circulating online are false, and instruct taxpayers to file a non-existent federal form to reduce or freeze local property taxes or avoid school bonds.
- No federal law caps or freezes property taxes for seniors. Property taxes are administered by state and local governments.
- County Assessor offices do not request personal identification by phone, text, or email. Personal information is accepted only via official, signed forms.
What you should do
- Do not share personal information with callers, websites, or videos claiming to provide or process such a form.
- Report suspicious contacts to your local police department and file a report.
Legitimate California property tax programs
These are real programs administered by the state and county. None of them involve a federal form.
- Proposition 13 limits annual increases to a property’s assessed value. Properties are reassessed to market value primarily upon a change in ownership or new construction.
- Proposition 19 allows eligible homeowners (55+, severely disabled, or victims of wildfire or natural disaster) to transfer their base year value to a replacement primary residence, subject to requirements.
- Property Tax Postponement (PTP) allows eligible seniors and blind or disabled homeowners to postpone current-year property taxes if income and equity criteria are met. A lien applies and repayment is required.
- Homeowners’ Exemption provides a $7,000 reduction in assessed value for an owner-occupied principal residence. It is a one-time claim filed with the county assessor.
Questions?
Contact the Alameda County Assessor’s Office by phone at (510) 272-3787 or by email at AssessorWebResponse@acgov.org.