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Kern County · CaliforniaAppeal Your Kern County Property Tax.
The Kern County Assessor's office in Bakersfield values every property on California's January 1 lien date. When that assessed value overshoots the market, you have two tools: an informal Prop 8 decline in value review with the assessor, or a formal Assessment Appeals Board filing with the Clerk of the Board.
Kern County Assessor
Source: California State Board of Equalization county directory.
Kern County Prop 8 Filing Steps
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Check if your property qualifies
Run your address or APN through vulorean.com to see if your assessed value exceeds current market value as of January 1. If it does, you have a viable Prop 8 claim.
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Get your Vulorean valuation report
The report produces a market value opinion as of the January 1 lien date and includes comparable sales. Choose DIY (you file using the report) or Concierge (Vulorean handles everything from here).
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Request your informal Prop 8 review with your report
Kern's informal review window runs July 1 – November 30. Initiated by phone — no online form.
DIY Call the Assessor at (661) 868-3485 to request a Prop 8 reassessment and submit your Vulorean report as supporting documentation. Include comparable sales dated no later than March 31.Concierge Your Vulorean rep contacts the Assessor and handles the submission on your behalf.- Prop 8 info: kerncounty.com — Decline in Value Review (Prop 8)
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Await assessor response
DIY If approved, your reduced value is reflected on your tax bill and reviewed annually.Concierge Your Vulorean rep monitors the response and keeps you informed. -
Formal appeal if denied
DIY File the Assessment Appeal Application (BOE-305-AH) with the Kern County Assessment Appeals Board between July 1 and November 30. Note: $75 non-refundable filing fee required. File in parallel with step 3 — the Assessor's review is unlikely to finish before the deadline.Concierge Your Vulorean rep handles the appeal filing on your behalf.- Official appeal form: Assessment Appeal Application (PDF)
- Submit to: Clerk of the Board, 1115 Truxtun Ave, 5th Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Kern County reminder: California's Prop 13 caps annual taxable value growth at 2%, so a successful appeal keeps paying dividends every year your market value sits below the Prop 13 base. Prop 8 is the complement. It lets you capture temporary market dips. Both paths run through the Kern County Assessor in Bakersfield.
When You Probably Qualify for a Kern County Reduction
- Your current assessed value is above recent sales of comparable homes in Kern County
- You bought in Kern County in the last 12 months below the county's assessed value
- Your Kern Assessor parcel record has errors, wrong square footage, added features that don't exist, or incorrect grade
- Your home has unrepaired damage, structural issues, foundation settling, or major deferred maintenance
- Your neighborhood's market softened but the Kern Assessor hasn't adjusted
Kern County Appeal Package · $50 Flat
We pull your Kern County Assessor record, build comparable sales, and produce a filing ready BOE-305-AH appeal in 48 hours. You keep 100% of the savings.
Start My Kern County Appeal →Kern County Property Tax FAQ
When does Kern County mail assessment notices?
California counties, including Kern, typically mail notices in June or July. Your window to file BOE-305-AH opens July 2 and closes either September 15 or November 30 depending on the county's Clerk of the Board schedule. Confirm with the Kern Clerk's office.
Do I have to use an attorney?
No. The California Assessment Appeals Board is designed for pro se homeowners. Filing BOE-305-AH is a two page form and hearings are informal. Most Kern County homeowners file and represent themselves.
Will my Kern County taxes go up if I appeal?
No. California appeal outcomes at the Assessment Appeals Board are strictly reductions or no change. Prop 13 caps assessed value growth at 2% per year regardless.
Is Prop 8 the same as Prop 13?
No. Prop 13 is the base year rule that caps annual assessment growth. Prop 8 is the companion rule that lets the assessor (or you) temporarily drop your value below the Prop 13 base when the market falls. When the market recovers, your value can rise back up to the Prop 13 cap, but not above it.