If your assessment is reduced after your hearing and your application has been designated to also serve as a claim for a refund, the county will automatically process a refund for you.  However, if your application has not been designated as a claim for refund and you are successful at appeals hearing, you may be required to submit a separate "claim for refund" with the county Board of Supervisors.

A disadvantage of having your application also serve as a claim for refund is that it may shorten your time to make a decision regarding whether to pursue your claim in Superior Court if the outcome of your appeal is not in your favor.  If the application is also your claim for refund, you must file your claim in Superior Court within six months of the date of the Assessment Appeals Board's decision.  If your application is not designated as a claim for refund, you will have six months from the Assessment Appeals Board's decision to file a claim for refund with the county Board of Supervisors.  Then, you will have six months from the time the Board of Supervisors denies your claim for refund to file your claim in Superior Court.