San Diego flood victims receive more tax relief
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A southeastern San Diego resident inspects damage after the Jan. 22 floods. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Many San Diego flood victims have extra time to file income and property taxes, thanks to relief from the county and federal government.
Why it matters: Local residents and businesses affected by the January storms can continue rebuilding their lives "without the burden of a tax deadline hanging over their shoulders," said the Rev. Shane Harris, who spearheaded efforts to get property taxes deferred.
The latest: San Diego County residents now have until June 17 to file federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, following a push from San Diego lawmakers to delay Tax Day because of the floods.
Driving the news: The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance Tuesday deferring supplemental property tax payments for impacted property owners.
- This assistance generally applies to new homeowners and property owners or those that made recent additions to their property, according to county assessor Jordan Marks.
The fine print: Property tax payments are automatically deferred for residents who apply before the original April 10 deadline.
- Their new deadline will be 30 days after they're done rebuilding their damaged property, which could be anywhere from six months to six years, Marks said.
State of play: The county ordinance expands local tax relief efforts following the severe storms that destroyed local businesses and homes.
- Homeowners with more than $10,000 in damage or commercial property owners with 20% or more of their property damaged can apply for reduced property taxes.
- The lower property tax will remain in effect until the property is rebuilt or repaired.
Between the lines: Most flood victims did not have insurance to cover this type of damage, so the money is coming out of pocket to rebuild a safe home without mold, Marks said.
- Plus, getting paid through FEMA relief can be a "long, drawn-out process," he said.
- With more than 2,000 applications expected, Marks encourages families to call his office with questions about whether they qualify.