Discuss Your Application with the Assessor's Office
You are urged to discuss the basis of your assessment with the Assessor's staff. If you do not agree as to the taxable value, you may file an "Assessment Appeal Application." You must file a separate Assessment Appeal Application form for each Assessor's Parcel or Property Identification number. You must also file a separate Assessment Appeal Application for each additional tax bill for the Assessor's Parcel or Property Identification number (regular assessment, supplemental assessment(s), roll change(s), escape assessment(s) or calamity reassessment).
After filing within the deadline you may still attempt to reach agreement with the Assessor anytime up to the date set for the Assessment Appeals Board hearing.
Complete an Application
The required form and instructions to appeal an assessment are available to print here: Assessment Appeal Application. You may print before or after filling out the form, which requires a blue ink signature before submitting. You may also pick up a form at the Assessment Appeals Board office located at the Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, Room 329, San Rafael, California, or the form may be requested by contacting the Assessment Appeals Board office at (415) 473-7345. Please leave your name, mailing address and telephone number.
The State Board of Equalization has prepared a pamphlet to assist you in completing the Assessment Appeal Application. You may download a copy of Publication 30, Residential Property Assessment Appeals or contact the clerk of the Assessment Appeal Board office for a copy. Publication 30 will also guide you through the entire Assessment Appeals process. In preparing for your hearing, you must make value adjustments for differences between your property and that of each comparable sale presented. To assist in that process, you may substitute the Marin County Residential Property Tax Comparison Work Sheet for the work sheet on page 16 of Publication 30.
In addition, the State Board of Equalization has a video online that explains the process of preparing and presenting your appeal at the Assessment Appeals Board.
Application Processing Fee
There is a $50 non-refundable processing fee for each Application. Payment can be made by check or money order payable to "County of Marin." We do not accept credit cards. Applications submitted without the processing fee will be returned unprocessed. Applicant will be charged an additional $30 fee by the County should their check be returned because of insufficient funds. Applicant will be required to pay the NSF bank fee.
Return Application by the Deadline
Assessment Appeal Applications for the regular assessment period must be filed between July 2 and November 30 of each year by 5:00 p.m. Assessment changes made outside of the regular assessment period; i.e., supplemental, roll change, escape, must be filed no later than 60 days after the date of mailing of the tax bill (California Revenue and Taxation Code, Section 1605 (c), and as adopted by the County Board of Supervisors, Resolution 91-204). Calamity Reassessment Appeals: If you disagree with the value stated on a reassessment notice sent to you because your property was damaged due to a natural disaster or other calamity, you must file within six (6) months of the mailing of the notice. APPLICATIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED UNLESS FILED ON TIME.
An Assessment Appeal Application which does not state the Applicant's Opinion of Taxable Value (market value) is not valid and cannot be acted upon by the Assessment Appeals Board.
Filing an application for reduced assessment does not relieve the Applicant from the obligation to pay the taxes on the subject property on or before the applicable due date shown on the tax bill. If a reduction is granted, a proportionate refund of taxes paid will be made by the County Finance office.
Based on the evidence, the Assessment Appeals Board can increase as well as decrease an assessment. The decision of the Board upon the application is final; the Board may not reconsider or rehear any application. However, either the Applicant or the Assessor may bring timely action in superior court for review of an adverse decision.