Coronavirus doesn’t delay property taxes in California

coronavirus has delayed income taxes, mortg payments and evictions in California. But t property taxes.Friday was deadline to pay those taxes without incurring a hefty penalty and Gov. Gavin Newsom let date pass without taking any action. Business groups had urged Newsom to use his executive authority to delay deadline or at least waive all penalties for late payments.

Local governments pushed back. Property tax payments are ir largest source of revenue and only collected twice a year. governments said y need money because or revenue sources — including taxes on retail sales and hotel rooms — have dried up since Newsom ordered everyone to stay at home to prevent spread of virus.

Mariposa County is located in western foothills of Sierra Nevada Mountains rth of Fres and depends on revenue from tourists visiting Yosemite National Park. But park, like most everything else, has closed. It’s one reason why Mariposa County Treasurer Keith Williams, who is also president of California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors, had asked state officials to leave property tax deadline alone.

“Everybody who can pay, should pay,” he said. “Going forward, it will be a struggle for everybody. We’re all in this toger . Toger we will get through it.”

But that’s little comfort for homeowners like Dan Minkoff, a 51-year-old public relations consultant who lives in Long Beach. Most of his clients have closed because of virus, cutting off most of his income.

For some homeowners, ir property taxes are built into ir monthly mortg payments. But Minkoff and many ors don’t do that, preferring to make payments separately from a mortg. He had eugh money saved to pay his taxes this year, but because his income has dried up he said he w needs to live off that money

Friday’s deadline came and went, and Minkoff did t pay.

“I need to preserve my savings so that my family can continue to eat,” he said.

At least three counties — San Francisco, San Mateo and Kern — have extended deadline until May 4. Ors say y will give extensions on a case-by-case basis to people impacted by coronavirus outbreak. In Los Angeles County, Treasurer Keith Cox says property owners can begin asking for an extension on Saturday.

“ department has set up a special team to process se requests,” Cox said.

That’s t good eugh, said Rex Hime, president and CEO of California Business Properties Association. He and or business leaders say providing relief on an individual basis creates uncertainty for property owners. And y question how local officials plan to process what is sure to be thousands of requests for extensions when many county tax offices are closed.

“Right w, government has closed our tenants, our businesses,” Hime said. “Everybody isn’t a large corporation.”

Despite coronavirus restrictions, many county officials say ir property tax collections are right on schedule. Property owners pay in installments, with first check due Dec. 10 and second check due April 10. Many property owners pay both installments in December, and ors are automatically paid by ir lenders.

In Butte County, where a devastating wildfire destroyed roughly 19,000 buildings and killed 85 people in 2018, Treasurer Troy Kidd said county has collected about 80% of its payments, which is rmal. county is receiving state money to help cover loss of property taxes from fire — but that money is set to stop next year.

“Most folks have been pretty understanding,” Kidd said. “We’ve seen our online payments more than double from last year.”

(Im Credit: AP)