San Mateo County Assessor Warren Slocum is warning homeowners to be wary of a property tax assessment company known for charging customers for a service already provided for free.

Property Tax Assessors Records Corp. has been soliciting through the mail to new homeowners a chance to reduce their property taxes for a $25 fee, Mr. Slocum reported.

But every county in the state offers the service to property owners free of charge.

Typically, a homeowner can receive up to $70 a year in annual property tax savings, Mr. Slocum said. But if a homeowner has already filled in the form from Property Tax Assessors Records Corp., they will be charged the fee and have what could have been a full return diminished by nearly 35 percent.

A large number of San Mateo County homeowners have recently been contacting the Assessor's Office with questions about the company's mailings, which have left many confused, according to Mr. Slocum.

"There is absolutely no need to pay an outside service,'' he said.

Mr. Slocum also noted that when homeowners file their paperwork with the suspect company, they might be susceptible to property theft, as the company requires the homeowner's Social Security number and signature.

The people most susceptible to this kind of a scam are first-generation immigrants, new homeowners and widows or widowers whose deceased spouses had been responsible for their finances, he said.

The homeowner's exemption reduces the assessed value of an owner-occupied residence by up to $7,000, saving the owner up to $70 every year. The exemption can only be used for a property that is used as a primary residence. Rental and vacation properties do not qualify for the savings.

A spokesperson for Property Tax Assessors Records Corp. was contacted but was not immediately available for comment.

— Bay City News Service

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