After being deluged with inquiries by property owners, San Mateo County Assessor Warren Slocum is warning residents not to fall prey to any mailings offering to fill out homeowner exemption forms in return for a fee.
The mailing states, "For a $25 fee, Property Tax Assessor Records Corporation offers to assist qualifying homeowners to obtain a homeowners' exemption." The brochures target property owners without $7,000 homeowner exemptions on their property.
In fact, Slocum said, the exemption claim is a free service. He added concern about the mailing's request for personal information, such as social security number.
"In this day and age with identity theft on the rise, I would discourage anyone from providing their personal information to a third party that has no official role with regard to government," Slocum stated in an announcement about the misleading mailings.
Qualifying conditions for a homeowner exemption include: the homeowner must own and occupy the primary residence as of Jan. 1 of any given year or occupy the within 90 days from the date of purchasing the property.
Property owners can check on the status of their homeowner exemption by contacting the assessor's office at 363-4500, via the Web site at www.smcare.org, or in person at 555 County Center in Redwood City.
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LittleFoot said:
LittleFoot said:
LittleFoot said:
Brother, every comment you write is hogwash.
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