State officials confirmed last week a four-year deferment from property taxes for people who own land in areas affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires.
The fires devastated Los Angeles County communities in January 2025 during an extreme windstorm, destroying more than 16,000 structures and killing 31 people. In recent weeks fire survivors and local elected officials have expressed concerns over the still-pending status of many requests to the county to reassess the tax burden of fire-affected properties.
A letter Thursday from Cynthia Stein, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s senior counselor for LA recovery, to LA County Treasurer and Tax Collector Elizabeth Buenrostro Ginsberg said, “Survivors whose properties have not yet been reassessed may currently owe taxes on the pre-fire value of their property. Additionally, survivors do not know if their request for penalty cancellation will ultimately be granted and fear that if they do not pay their taxes by April 30 they may face penalties and interest payments they cannot afford.”…