Revenue and Taxation Code 5097 and 5102 provides that property tax refunds which remain unclaimed for four (4) years may be transferred (escheated) to the county general fund on order of the board of supervisors. At the end of the four-year period, those items in excess of $15 must be published as notification that the money will become the property of the county after a designated date if it is left unclaimed. Escheatment to the general fund occurs if a verified claim is not filed by the designated date forty-five days after the date of publication. After this date, money left unclaimed will become the property of the county and can no longer be claimed.
The deadline to claim a property tax refund on the 2009 unclaimed property tax refund list has expired. The next unclaimed property tax refund list will be available December 1, 2009.
CLAIM PROCESS
The County of San Diego Treasurer-Tax Collector is currently in possession of Unclaimed Property Tax Refunds. Unclaimed property tax refunds consist of warrants that remain uncashed for a period of more than six months, usually resulting from warrants that are returned as undeliverable by the postal service. Often the payee has moved and does not leave a forwarding address or the forwarding order has expired. In addition, warrants may remain uncashed for any number of reasons including lost or destroyed.
There are three easy steps to claim your refund.
STEP 1
To locate the property you are interested in on the website, please click on the updated Unclaimed Property Tax Refund list. To speed up your search, press Ctrl+F on your keyboard or select the Edit => Find option. Enter the Property Owner's Name or Parcel/Bill Number on the Find Tab.
A copy of the Tax Refund list is also available for your review at our main office or at any branch location through San Diego County.
STEP 2
Fill out the Property Tax Refund Claim Form. Detailed instructions are included with the form.
You must SIGN the claim form or your claim will be returned. Make sure you have read the instructions and made copies of all required documents.
STEP 3
After completing and signing the claim affirmation form, send it to:
San Diego County Treasurer Tax Collector
ATTN: Financial Division/Property Tax Refund Claim
1600 Pacific Highway , Room 162
San Diego , CA 92101
