Business Services and Forms | Financial Disclosure Forms | Homeowner Exemption and Exclusion Forms | Institutional Exemption Forms | Possessory Interests Forms | Splitting or Combining Parcels | Vital Records Request | Voter Sign-Up Forms
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Business Services and Forms
 Fictitious Business Names – Opening a Business
Few things are as important to a business as its name. That’s how your customers find your business and you begin to build your reputation and clientele. To open a business that does NOT have the legal name of the owner, you must file a Fictitious Business Name (FBN) Statement. Fictitious Business Names (FBN) Applications are good for 5 (five) years and then they must be renewed. Learn more about filing a fictitious business name statement. Search the FBN database to see if that business name is already in use in San Mateo County.
 Business Property Statement Form 571-L:
Unlike real property, business personal property is reappraised annually. If you own taxable personal property with an aggregate cost of $100,000 or more on January 1, or if the Assessor has requested a statement be filed, you are required by law to file a property statement that details the costs of all supplies, equipment, fixtures, leasehold improvements, land improvements, and land, as well as other requested information for each business location. Filing forms are mailed out the first week of February. The 2008 property statements and valuation factors will be posted to the website for download at about the same time. They are due April 1st and late if received after 5:00 p.m. on May 7th. Late filing penalties will apply for property statements received after May 7th.
Small business owners with personal property with a value of $5,000 or less, may be exempt from personal property tax assessment in San Mateo County but are still required to file a statement if requested by the Assessor. For more information, call (650) 363-4501.
If you did not receive a Business Property statement and you need to file, follow these steps.
1. Select the applicable year.
Download additional property statement forms as needed:
2. Print the form
3. Include the account number, if you have one, on the printed form before filing it with this office. First-time filers should simply print 'New Account' across the top of the form and this office will assign an account number.
4. Send it to:
San Mateo County Assessor-Clerk-Recorder
ATTN: Personal Property Section
555 County Center
Redwood City, CA 94063
Download Valuation Factors
Download Agency Authorization Letter
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the Business Owner/Agent (PDF)
Financial Disclosure Forms/Conflict of Interest Reporting Requirements
 Financial Disclosure Form
The Political Reform Act (Gov. Code sections 81000-
91015) requires most state and local government
officials and employees to publicly disclose their
personal assets and income. They also must disqualify themselves from participating in decisions which may
affect their personal economic interests. The Fair
Political Practices Commission (FPPC) is the state
agency responsible for issuing the Statement
of Economic Interests, Form 700, and for interpreting
the law's provisions. Most statements are filed with the agency and originals are forwarded to the Fair Political Practices Commission. These reports are open to public inspection and may be reproduced upon request.
Financial Disclosure Form 700
Form 700 FAQs
FPPC Website - http://www.fppc.ca.gov
To obtain copies of Form 700 filed by public officials - http://www.fppc.ca.gov or call 1-866-ASK-FPPC
Form 700 prior years
Adopting a Conflict of Interest Code
Homeowner Exemption and Exclusion Forms
 Builder's Exclusion for Single-Family Residential Properties Only
New Law for Builders of Five or More Single-Family Residences in a Subdivision effective Jan. 1, 2006 (Revenue & Taxation Code 75.12, (1) Section B)
Builders will be automatically excluded from a supplement assessment on new construction if the property they are building will be offered for sale, and:
- it is subdivided into five or more parcels
- a map describing the parcels has been recorded, and
- the zoning regulations or building permits for the parcels require that single-family residences will be constructed on them.
Look at the law to find out if you automatically qualify and if there are other conditions that might apply. For information: www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html and search Revenue & Taxation Code 75.12.
Exclusion for Builders of Four or Fewer Single-Family Residences
Builders of four or fewer single-family residences may be exempted from a supplemental assessment on new construction that is built for sale.
The builder must file a claim for exclusion within 30 days of starting construction. The form is available at the Assessor's Office and should be completed and returned to that office.
If the builder does not file the form within 30 days of starting construction, a supplemental assessment for the value of the new construction is assessed to the builder upon completion of construction.
If the exclusion is granted, a supplemental assessment is not created until the property is sold.
Print a claim form
 Decline in Market Value (Proposition 8) - Property Tax Relief
The assessed value of a property should never be higher than the property's value on the open market. Occasionally, market forces and other factors will cause a property's value to decline significantly enough to create that situation. In these cases, the Assessor may lower the assessed value of any real property if it is higher than the market value as of January 1.
Each case is reviewed individually at the request of the property owner. The Assessor considers both land and improvements when determining the January 1 market value.
Decline in Value Reassessment Application Form
 Disabled Veterans’ Exemption
Disabled veterans of military service may be eligible for up to a $166,944 property tax exemption. Qualifying veterans must have been disabled due to a service-related injury or disease while in the armed forces, and must be a resident of California as of January 1 of the year in which they are applying for an exemption.
Veterans with 100% disability, or partially disabled and unemployable, or their unmarried surviving spouses, are eligible for up to a $111,296 exemption. If total household income does not exceed $49,979, the 100% disabled veteran may qualify for up to a $166,944 exemption.
Qualifying income levels are subject to change.
For information, call (650) 363-4500 or e-mail the Assessor's Office
 Disaster Relief
If a calamity such as fire, earthquake or flood damages or destroys your property, you may be eligible for property tax relief, provided the loss exceeds $10,000. In such cases, the Assessor's Office will reappraise the property to reflect its damaged condition. If the property is rebuilt in a like or similar manner to the original, the property will retain its previous value for tax purposes.
Deadline
To qualify for property tax relief, you must file a calamity claim form with the Assessor's Office within one year from the date the property was damaged or destroyed.
File an application for Reassessment of Property Damaged by
Misfortune or Calamity or Disaster Relief Claim Form
 Homeowners’ Exemption
If you own a home and occupy it as your principal place of residence on January 1, you may apply for an exemption of $7,000 from the home's assessed value, which reduces your property tax bill. There is no charge for filing for the Homeowner Exemption. New property owners will automatically receive an exemption application in the mail. Homeowner Exemptions may also apply to a supplemental assessment if the property was not previously receiving a Homeowner Exemption on the annual Assessment Roll.
Please note that California law provides for only one Homeowner Exemption per owner at their principal place of residence, so a second home would not qualify for the exemption.
San Mateo County residents may request a Homeowner Exemption claim form from this website. Residents of other counties should contact their local assessor's office for these forms.
To request a Homeowner's Exemption claim form, include the property address, your mailing address and/or your Assessors Parcel Number.
 Low-Income, Blind, Disabled and Elderly Homeowner Property Tax Relief
Blind, disabled or elderly homeowners having a household income of $39,699 or less may qualify for a cash reimbursement to pay property taxes by filing Form 9000. The funding agency is the California Franchise Tax Board. The Franchise Tax Board may adjust the income amount from time to time.
This program will not reduce the amount of taxes owed, nor will it result in a lien against the property.
Deadline
The filing period for the property tax assistance program is from July 1st through October 15th. For information and an application, call the State Franchise Tax Board, toll free, at 1-800-868-4171.
This is a free service. There is no charge or fee to file this claim.
San Mateo County residents may request an application from the Assess | 
