Santa Cruz County offers tax penalty waiver form during coronavirus pandemic

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION) Santa Cruz County is offering a COVID-19 Penalty Waiver Form for late fees and interest due on property tax to help residents struggling financially during the coronavirus pandemic.

The county said tax due dates, including the April 10 installment date, cannot be changed by local governments because they are established under state law, but the law does allow for late fee and penalty waivers to be considered if there are situations outside the taxpayer's control.

It does not appear that the state will change property tax due dates, according to Santa Cruz County officials, because the money from the taxes funds government services, including those being used to fight coronavirus.

The county's Treasurer-Tax Collector is also expected to request that the Board of Supervisors suspends the requirement that taxpayers pre-pay penalties and interest when they submit the waiver application. If the Board decides to suspend the requirement, taxpayers would only have to pay the original property tax amount when they submit a COVID-19 waiver of penalties and interest form.

The property taxes fund several government services, and the county keeps 13 cents of each property tax dollar it receives. Most of the taxes fund K-12 school districts and the rest is distributed to cities and other government agencies.

Online payments can be made here or by using the drop box system at the County Governmental Building on Ocean Street. Mailed payments must be postmarked by April 10.

Find the COVID-19 Penalty Waiver Form and instructions here.