Refunds for Overpayment or Incorrect Billing

Business license tax refunds

If you believe you have overpaid your business license tax, you must apply for a refund within a year of making payment. To file a refund claim:

• Complete a business license renewal form and recalculate the tax due
• Write “amended” at the top of the page
• Submit a refund claim form
• Send or deliver to: 
  City of Berkeley 
  ATTN: Business License Refund Request 
  Finance/Revenue Collection 
  1947 Center Street, 1st Floor 
  Berkeley, CA 94704

Property tax refunds

If you believe you have overpaid your property tax, you must apply for a refund within a year of making payment. To file a refund claim:

• Complete a claim for refund of money paid form
• If you believe you overpaid because you believe there is an error in the square footage of your property, include building plans, scaled drawings with dimensions, and your calculations
• Send or deliver to:
  City of Berkeley
  ATTN: Very Low Income Refund Program
  Finance Department - Revenue Collection
  1947 Center Street, 1st Floor 
  Berkeley, CA 9470

Very low-income households may be eligible for a refund of property taxes paid through the Very Low Income Refund Program.

Transfer tax refunds

If you believe you have overpaid your transfer tax, you must apply for a refund within a year of making payment. To file a refund claim:

• Complete a Claim for Real Property Transfer Tax Refund form
• Send to finance@cityofberkeley.info

Occasionally, the County of Alameda's Assessor's Office sends transfer tax payments to the wrong jurisdiction. If you believe the County of Alameda, in the past year, sent your transfer tax payment to the City of Berkeley in error, take the following actions:

• Re-record grant deed with the County of Alameda to correct city information and jurisdiction.
• File a City of Berkeley Claim for Refund of Money Paid Form and provide:
  • A copy of the re-recorded grant deed.
  • Backup documentation of payment made to the City of Berkeley.
• Send to finance@cityofberkeley.info

Property owners who make voluntary seismic upgrades within a year of the property transfer may qualify for a refund on their transfer tax. Learn more about the Seismic Retrofit Refund Program.

Overpayment for refuse services

If you believe you are being overcharged for your refuse bill, please call (510) 981-7270. The City will investigate your claim of overpayment, and if approved, will apply credits to your next bill.