Board hears complaints about delayed property tax appeals, refunds and e‑filing; assessors, advocates press for fixes

Tax officials, taxpayer advocates and consultants told the State Board of Equalization on Aug. 20 that delays in processing assessment appeals and issuing refunds are causing financial harm and administrative headaches for taxpayers and counties.

The Taxpayer Rights Advocate, Lisa Thompson, opened the hearing with a briefing on her office's annual report. “The annual report is fiscal year 2324, and it can be accessed on our agency's website as well as a link through the memo that is attached to the public agenda notice for this meeting,” Thompson said as she summarized casework and educational materials her office provides.

Advocates said the state must reduce backlogs in assessment appeals, speed refunds and standardize electronic filing and signature rules across counties. “In too many counties, complex property appeals that should take days are instead taking years,” Jennifer Rowe of the California Alliance of Taxpayer Advocates told the board. She urged stricter adherence to Property Tax Rule 323, better training of appeals board members and…