Are You Owed a Property Tax Refund?

Does Riverside County say it owes you a property tax refund? Better check the official list of property tax unclaimed refunds. Some wishful thinkers may want to check it twice.

And if you're on the list, you may want to move fast to claim your refund. In just two weeks, after Aug. 1, it might be too late.

Here's what the county treasurer-tax collector says: If the money remains unclaimed for four years after the payment date, or one year after the mailing of your claim form, whichever is later, state codes allow the county to keep the cash.

"Unclaimed property tax refunds will be transferred to the general fund if a verified claim is not filed by the designated date which is August 1, 2012," warns the treasurer-tax collector website. "After August 1, 2012, money left unclaimed will become the property of the County and can no longer be claimed."

If you want to review how your property taxes get calculated in the first place, and how the money gets divided among the cities and other taxing entities, read this FAQ.

If you find yourself on the list of those owed a refund—sigh, we looked; we're not there—there are hurdles to jump and forms to fill out to claim the money before Aug. 1. Read all the fine print here. But you'd better hurry.