Calculation

The assessment is calculated by multiplying the total number of square feet of improvements on a property as of the Tax Lien Date, by the assessment’s Special Tax Rate for the applicable County fiscal year.

Improvements
Improvements for purposes of the assessment consist of any structure erected on the property, including, but not limited to, living quarters (such as houses, apartments, and condominiums), storage facilities, facilities used by business, non-profit, or religious organizations, etc. The assessment applies whether or not the structure is in use. The only exceptions are structures used for parking such as residential garages, public parking structures, underground parking, etc., and buildings that are publicly owned, such as County, state, or federal buildings.

Square Footage
Square footage for the assessment is determined by County Assessor using the exterior measurements of all improvements within the boundaries of the property. The square footage used to calculate the assessment for the most recent tax year is available by looking up your property on the Los Angeles County Assessor’s website or by visiting your regional Assessor’s Office.

Tax Lien Date
The Lien Date for the assessment is on the January 1st immediately preceding the applicable County fiscal year. The County fiscal year begins on July 1st and ends on June 30th. Increases or decreases in the square footage of improvements made after a particular Lien Date will not be included in the calculation of the assessment for the associated fiscal year, but they will be included in determining the square footage applicable to subsequent Lien Dates for subsequent tax years.

Special Tax Rate
For the initial fiscal year, which was from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004, the special tax rate was 3.00 cents ($0.0300) per square foot. For each fiscal year after 2003-04, the County Board of Supervisors shall by majority vote set the tax rate; however, in any fiscal year the rate may be set no higher than the amount of three cents per square foot, as adjusted by the cumulative increases, if any, to the medical component of the Western Urban Consumer Price Index from July 1, 2003, as established by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. If for any fiscal year the Board of Supervisors fails to set the rate, the tax shall continue at the same rate as the preceding year. For Fiscal Year 2008-2009, the Board of Supervisors approved a rate increase of seventy-two hundredths of one cent ($0.0072) per improved square foot, for a total of 3.72 cents ($0.0372) per square foot.

For Fiscal Year 2009-2010, the special tax rate was set at the same rate as the preceding year at 3.72 cents ($0.0372) per square foot.  For Fiscal Year 2010-2011, the Board of Supervisors approved a tax rate increase of twenty-seven hundredths of one cent ($0.0027) per improved square foot for a total of 3.99 cents ($0.0399) per square foot.

For Fiscal Year 2011-2012, the tax rate was set at the same rate as the preceding year at 3.99 cents ($0.0399) per square foot.

For Fiscal Year 2012-2013, the Board of Supervisors approved a tax rate increase of twenty-five hundredths of one cent ($0.0025) per improved square foot for a total of 4.24 cents ($0.0424) per square foot.

From Fiscal Years 2013-2014 to 2021-22, the tax rate was not adjusted and maintained at 4.24 cents ($0.0424) per square foot.

For Fiscal Year 2022-2023, the Board of Supervisors approved a tax rate increase of seventy-six ten-thousandths of one cent (0.0076) per improved square foot for a total of 5.00 cents ($0.0500) per square foot.

For Fiscal Year 2023-2024, the tax rate remains the same as in FY 2022-2023, at 5.00 cents ($0.0500) per square foot.