Form BOE-701-A, Property Owners Letter of Authorization, is issued by the Sacramento County Assessor and printed on the form as Agent Authorization / Designation of Attorney for Assessor Matters. A property owner uses it to authorize an agent, or to designate a California attorney, to represent them in property tax assessment matters with the Assessor's office other than an assessment appeal; the same form revokes an earlier authorization. It is one of the Sacramento County property tax forms the Assessor publishes. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the Assessor's office receives it by mail or fax, as described below.
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What is BOE-701-A?
Form BOE-701-A, Property Owners Letter of Authorization, printed on the form as Agent Authorization / Designation of Attorney for Assessor Matters, is the Sacramento County Assessor's form for authorizing an agent or designating a California attorney to represent a property owner in assessment matters with the Assessor's office.
The form covers all property tax assessment matters with the Assessor that are not related to an assessment appeal. For an appeal, the form itself directs you to a different form, BOE-305-AG, Authorization of Agent/Designation of Attorney.
One form serves three purposes, each chosen by an option on the form:
- Authorization of Agent, for a person or company named as the owner's agent.
- Designation of California Attorney, with the attorney's State Bar number.
- Revocation, which revokes and terminates a named agent's or attorney's authority.
An agent can be given full authority over all assessment matters in the Assessor's office, with access to the same information and materials as the owner, and full authority to sign Business Property Statements as provided under California Revenue and Taxation Code section 441(e). The owner stays responsible: the certification says the owner retains full responsibility for any action the agent or attorney takes on the owner's behalf.
The form has two pages. Page 2 holds the revocation section, the certification and signature blocks, and a list for multiple properties.
Who needs to file BOE-701-A?
The main group is property owners who want someone else to deal with the Sacramento County Assessor's office for them. An owner, partner, or officer completes and signs the form to authorize an agent. The same people sign to designate a California attorney, or the attorney may complete and sign the form on the owner's behalf.
Other conditions printed on the form:
- If the owner is a corporation, limited partnership, or limited liability company, an officer or authorized employee of the business entity must sign the authorization. This does not apply when an attorney representing the owner signs.
- The form covers real property (identified by Assessor's parcel/identification number) and personal property (identified by account/assessment number). Several properties can be listed on one form.
- To revoke or terminate an agent's or attorney's authority, an owner, partner, or officer completes the information below the Revocation option and signs.
- The Authority section is not necessary for licensed California attorneys.
Do not use this form for an assessment appeal; use BOE-305-AG. The Assessor's forms page also notes that every California county has its own forms, so if your property is in another county, contact that county's Assessor's office.
When to file BOE-701-A
File Form BOE-701-A when you want an agent or California attorney to act for you with the Sacramento County Assessor in assessment matters, and file it again with the Revocation option when you want to end that authority. The form prints no due date of its own.
You set how long the authorization lasts on the form itself:
- valid until a date you enter;
- valid for one calendar year only (you enter the year); or
- valid for no more than four (4) years from the date of execution, unless revoked in writing or terminated by operation of law.
This duration section applies to both agents and licensed California attorneys. If the form accompanies another filing that has a deadline, the Assessor's forms page says it accepts filings submitted on the due date with a valid and timely postmark, and advises mailing early because mail may not receive a same-day postmark.
Documents you need
- A separate page listing each additional property (owner name, parcel number or address, or account/assessment number with business name and address), only if you check the multiple-properties box and do not use the list on page 2.
How to fill out BOE-701-A
Choose the purpose of the form
Check Authorization of Agent, Designation of California Attorney, State Bar No. (enter the number), or the Revocation option. Use this form only for matters that are not an assessment appeal.
Enter the subject property
Write the property address (street, city, state, ZIP code), the Assessor's parcel/identification number for real property or the account/assessment number for personal property. Check the box for multiple properties if more than one applies.
Enter the agent or attorney details
Fill in the name of the agent or attorney, company name, mailing address (street address or P.O. box), email address, city, state, ZIP code, daytime telephone, alternate telephone and fax number.
Select the agent's authority
For an agent, check all applicable items: full authority over all assessment matters, full authority to sign Business Property Statements under Revenue and Taxation Code section 441(e), or Other with a description. Skip this section for a licensed California attorney.
Set the duration of authority
Check one option: valid until a date you enter, valid for a calendar year (enter the year) only, or valid for no more than four years from the date of execution. This section applies to agents and attorneys alike.
Complete the revocation section if revoking
On page 2, enter the name, company name, mailing address, email, city, state, ZIP code and telephone numbers of the person or company whose authority you are revoking and terminating.
Sign the certification
The owner, partner, or officer signs, then enters company name or DBA, printed name, title, email, daytime telephone and date. Read the penalty-of-perjury certification first.
Add the attorney's signature if applicable
If an attorney is representing the owner and signs, complete the attorney signature block with signature, email, printed name, daytime telephone and date.
List additional properties
For multiple properties, enter the owner name and each Assessor's parcel number or property address, or account or assessment number with business name and address, in the rows on page 2.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that the option, property identifiers, duration and signatures are complete. Download or print the PDF from FillingPDF, keep a copy and send it as described under How to submit.
How to submit BOE-701-A
You return the completed form to the Assessor by mail or by fax, at the address shown on the form.
- By mail: Sacramento County Assessor, 3636 American River Drive, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95864-5952. The Assessor's forms page asks you to include the work unit or topic (for example Exemptions, Personal Property or Change of Address) on the envelope.
- By fax: the form says to mail or fax it to the Assessor; the printed header lists no fax number. The header gives the phone number (916) 875-0700 and the website https://assessor.saccounty.gov.
Keep a copy of the form for your records, as it asks. If you mail it near a deadline, note that the Assessor accepts filings with a valid and timely postmark; USPS may not postmark mail the same day, and you can ask at a post office for a hand-stamped manual postmark or use a USPS service that gives proof of mailing. No fee is mentioned for this form. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using Form BOE-701-A for an assessment appeal; the form says appeals use BOE-305-AG, Authorization of Agent/Designation of Attorney.
- Having someone other than an officer or authorized employee sign for a corporation, limited partnership, or limited liability company, unless an attorney representing the owner signs.
- Checking the multiple-properties box without listing the additional properties on page 2 or on an attached separate page.
- Leaving the Duration of Authority section blank; it applies to both agents and licensed California attorneys.
- Filling in the Authority section for a licensed California attorney, when the form says it is not necessary for attorneys.
- Choosing Revocation without completing the agent or attorney information below it and signing the form.
- Signing as an agent instead of as the owner, partner, or officer; the certification must come from someone who owns, possesses, controls, or manages the property.
- Mailing the form without the work unit or topic on the envelope, which the Assessor's forms page asks for, or counting on a same-day postmark.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form BOE-701-A used for?
Form BOE-701-A is the Sacramento County Assessor's form for authorizing an agent or designating a California attorney to represent a property owner in assessment matters with the Assessor's office. The same form also revokes an agent's or attorney's authority. It does not cover assessment appeals.
Can I use this form for an assessment appeal?
No. Form BOE-701-A covers assessment matters with the Assessor that are not related to an assessment appeal. For an appeal authorization the form directs you to BOE-305-AG, Authorization of Agent/Designation of Attorney.
Who has to sign the Agent Authorization / Designation of Attorney form?
An owner, partner, or officer signs to authorize an agent. For an attorney designation they may sign, or the attorney may sign for the owner. A corporation, limited partnership, or LLC must have an officer or authorized employee sign, unless an attorney representing the owner signs.
How long is the authorization valid?
You choose on the form: until a date you enter, for one calendar year only, or for no more than four years from the date of execution. Any of these ends sooner if you revoke the authorization in writing or it is terminated by operation of law.
How do I revoke an agent or attorney with BOE-701-A?
Choose the Revocation option, enter the name, company, address, email and phone numbers of the agent or attorney whose authority ends, and have an owner, partner, or officer sign the form. Then mail or fax it to the Assessor.
Where do I send the form for Sacramento County property tax matters?
Mail or fax it to the Sacramento County Assessor at the address on the form: 3636 American River Drive, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95864-5952. The Assessor's phone number on the form is (916) 875-0700. The form is for Sacramento County property tax assessment matters only.
Do I need to fill in the Authority section for an attorney?
No. The form states the Authority section is not necessary for licensed California attorneys. The Duration of Authority section, however, applies to both agents and licensed California attorneys, so complete it in either case.
Can I fill out Form BOE-701-A online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit the form to the Assessor; you mail or fax it yourself.
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