08/04/2026
🚨 Important Info for Spokane Homeowners Affected by Recent Fires 🚨Please use this and spread the word, every bit helps!!
If your home, outbuildings, or any other structure was damaged or destroyed in the fires that started this weekend (August 1st), Washington State law provides immediate property tax relief. Please share this with anyone in our community who might need it.
Here is exactly how the Destroyed Property Claim (RCW 84.70) works and what you need to do:
🔹 The Relief: You can petition the Spokane County Assessor to reduce your property’s assessed value as of the date of the destruction. Your property taxes on that structure will be prorated and abated (canceled) for the remainder of the year. Since the fires started August 1st, this means you will receive approximately five months of tax relief on your 2026 bill for the destroyed structures.
🔹 What if you already paid? If you have already paid your full 2026 property taxes, the abated amount for the rest of the year will be issued back to you as a refund.
🔹 The Form: You only need to fill out a single form: State Form REV 64 0003 (officially called the "Taxpayer's Claim for Reduction of Assessments Resulting from Destroyed Real or Personal Property").
🔹 The Timeline: By law, you have a three-year window from the date of the fire to file this claim. However, filing as soon as you are safely able to do so will help process your tax adjustment or refund faster.
Steps to Take:
1. Go to the Spokane County Assessor’s website or the WA Department of Revenue site and search for Form 64 0003.
2. Take photos of the damage if it is safe to do so, or obtain a copy of the fire department report to include as proof.
3. Submit the completed one-page form to the Spokane County Assessor's Office.
If you have questions, the Assessor's office is there to help guide you through this process. You don't have to navigate the paperwork alone!
