Legal Question in Tax Law in California

proprietary tax information gathering by assessor

Our county assissor is over zealous and has been very forceful in taxing the pilots at our county airport. In fact, his employee has come to the airport and has been requiring the airport manager to take him around to all the locked hangers, open them and allow him to take a look at whatever he chooses to look at without the knowledge or permission of the ''owners'' of the hangers. The pilots who have each hanger pays the county property tax for the use of the hanger. My question is: since we pay property tax for the use of the hanger, should not the county assessor either get permission from the ''owner'' of the hanger or a court order before being allowed to enter a locked hanger to take a look inside at aircraft and any other property. There is nothing I have to hide, but I greatly resent this intrusion of property that we pay taxes on without having any property rights for what we pay property taxes on. Any guidance you can give us on how, if anything, we should proceed to put a stop to this practice will be greatly appreciated.


Asked on 3/22/06, 9:40 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Donald Field Donald L. Field, Jr., Attorney at Law

Re: proprietary tax information gathering by assessor

normally tax authorities do have to have permission from the taxpayer, an administrative summons or a court order in these situations. your contract for the hangar with the airport authority, however, may have a provision that gives the manager access without your permission in some cases.

Read more
Answered on 3/29/06, 3:31 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Tax and Taxation Law questions and answers in California