AB 2668: Property taxation: base year value transfers.
- Session Year: 2015-2016
- House: Assembly
- Latest Version Date: 2016-05-12
(1)The California Constitution authorizes the Legislature to provide that a person who is either severely disabled or over 55 years of age may transfer the base year value, as defined, of property that is eligible for the homeowners property tax exemption to a replacement dwelling that is of equal or lesser value located within the same county as the property from which the base year value is transferred, provided the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed within 2 years of the sale of the original property, subject to certain conditions.
This bill would provide, commencing with the 201718 fiscal year, that the base year value of an original property may be transferred to a replacement dwelling that is of greater value, value and would require the base year value of the replacement dwelling to be calculated by adding the difference between the full cash value of the original property and the full cash value of the replacement property to the base year value of the original property. The bill would prohibit a person from transferring the base year value of the original property to a replacement dwelling pursuant to these provisions if his or her household income, as defined, exceeds the area median income of the county.
(2)Existing law defines full cash value of the replacement dwelling for purposes of this transfer of property tax base year value to mean the replacement dwellings full cash value, determined in accordance with a specified provision, as of the date on which the replacement dwelling was purchased or new construction was completed.
This bill would provide that full cash value of the replacement dwelling may also mean, in specified circumstances, the replacement dwellings full case cash value, determined in accordance with a specified provision, as of the date on which the original property is sold.
(3)By changing the manner in which local assessors assess property for property taxation purposes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
(4) Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code requires the Legislature to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation.
This bill would provide that, notwithstanding Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill.
(5) This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy, but would become operative only if Senate Constitutional Amendment 9 ACA 12 of the 2015-16 201516 Regular Session is approved by the voters.
(1)The California Constitution authorizes the Legislature to provide that a person who is either severely disabled or over 55 years of age may transfer the base year value, as defined, of property that is eligible for the homeowners property tax exemption to a replacement dwelling that is of equal or lesser value located within the same county as the property from which the base year value is transferred, provided the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed within 2 years of the sale of the original property, subject to certain conditions.
This bill would provide, commencing with the 201718 fiscal year, that the base year value of an original property may be transferred to a replacement dwelling that is of greater value, and would require the base year value of the replacement dwelling to be calculated by adding the difference between the full cash value of the original property and the full cash value of the replacement property to the base year value of the original property.
(2)Existing law defines full cash value of the replacement dwelling for purposes of this transfer of property tax base year value to mean the replacement dwellings full cash value, determined in accordance with a specified provision, as of the date on which the replacement dwelling was purchased or new construction was completed.
This bill would provide that full cash value of the replacement dwelling may also mean, in specified circumstances, the replacement dwellings full case value, determined in accordance with a specified provision, as of the date on which the original property is sold.
(3)By changing the manner in which local assessors assess property for property taxation purposes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
(4) Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code requires the Legislature to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation.
This bill would provide that, notwithstanding Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill.
(5) This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy, but would become operative only if Senate Constitutional Amendment 9 of the 2015-16 Regular Session is approved by the voters.
(a)(1)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, any person over the age of 55 years, or any severely and permanently disabled person, who resides in property that is eligible for the homeowners exemption under subdivision (k) of Section 3 of Article XIII of the California Constitution and Section 218 may transfer, subject to the conditions and limitations provided in this section, the base year value of that property in both of the following circumstances:
(A)To any replacement dwelling of equal or lesser value that is located within the same county and is purchased or newly constructed by that person as his or her principal residence within two years of the sale by that person of the original property, provided that the base year value of the original property shall not be transferred to the replacement dwelling until the original property is sold.
(B)(i)To Subject to the limitation in clause (ii), to any replacement dwelling of greater value that is located within the same county and is purchased or newly constructed by that person as his or her principal place of residence within two years of the sale by that person of the original property, provided that the base year value of the original property shall not be transferred to the replacement dwelling until the original property is sold. The base year value of the replacement dwelling shall be calculated by adding the difference between the full cash value of the original property and the full cash value of the replacement dwelling to the base year value of the original property.
(ii)A person shall not transfer the base year value of the original property to a replacement dwelling pursuant to this subparagraph if his or her household income, as defined in Section 20504, exceeds the area median income of the county.
(2)Notwithstanding the limitation in paragraph (1) requiring that the original property and the replacement dwelling be located in the same county, this limitation shall not apply in any county in which the county board of supervisors, after consultation with local affected agencies within the boundaries of the county, adopts an ordinance making the provisions of paragraph (1) also applicable to situations in which replacement dwellings are located in that county and the original properties are located in another county within this state. The authorization contained in this paragraph shall be applicable in a county only if the ordinance adopted by the board of supervisors complies with all of the following requirements:
(A)It is adopted only after consultation between the board of supervisors and all other local affected agencies within the countys boundaries.
(B)It requires that all claims for transfers of base year value from original property located in another county be granted if the claims meet the applicable requirements of both subdivision (a) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution and this section.
(C)It requires that all base year valuations of original property located in another county and determined by its assessor be accepted in connection with the granting of claims for transfers of base year value.
(D)It provides that its provisions are operative for a period of not less than five years.
(E)The ordinance specifies the date on and after which its provisions shall be applicable. However, the date specified shall not be earlier than November 9, 1988. The specified applicable date may be a date earlier than the date the county adopts the ordinance.
(b)In addition to meeting the requirements of subdivision (a), any person claiming the property tax relief provided by this section shall be eligible for that relief only if the following conditions are met:
(1)The claimant is an owner and a resident of the original property either at the time of its sale, or at the time when the original property was substantially damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity, or within two years of the purchase or new construction of the replacement dwelling.
(2)The original property is eligible for the homeowners exemption, as the result of the claimants ownership and occupation of the property as his or her principal residence, either at the time of its sale, or at the time when the original property was substantially damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity, or within two years of the purchase or new construction of the replacement dwelling.
(3)At the time of the sale of the original property, the claimant or the claimants spouse who resides with the claimant is at least 55 years of age, or is severely and permanently disabled.
(4)At the time of claiming the property tax relief provided by subdivision (a), the claimant is an owner of a replacement dwelling and occupies it as his or her principal place of residence and, as a result thereof, the property is currently eligible for the homeowners exemption or would be eligible for the exemption except that the property is already receiving the exemption because of an exemption claim filed by the previous owner.
(5)The original property of the claimant is sold by him or her within two years of the purchase or new construction of the replacement dwelling. For purposes of this paragraph, the purchase or new construction of the replacement dwelling includes the purchase of that portion of land on which the replacement building, structure, or other shelter constituting a place of abode of the claimant will be situated and that, pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (g), constitutes a part of the replacement dwelling.
(6)Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the replacement dwelling, including that portion of land on which it is situated that is specified in paragraph (5), is located entirely within the same county as the claimants original property.
(7)The claimant has not previously been granted, as a claimant, the property tax relief provided by this section, except that this paragraph shall not apply to any person who becomes severely and permanently disabled subsequent to being granted, as a claimant, the property tax relief provided by this section for any person over the age of 55 years. In order to prevent duplication of claims under this section within this state, county assessors shall report quarterly to the State Board of Equalization that information from claims filed in accordance with subdivision (f) and from county records as is specified by the board necessary to identify fully all claims under this section allowed by assessors and all claimants who have thereby received relief. The board may specify that the information include all or a part of the names and social security numbers of claimants and their spouses and the identity and location of the replacement dwelling to which the claim applies. The information may be required in the form of data processing media or other media and in a format that is compatible with the recordkeeping processes of the counties and the auditing procedures of the state.
(c)The property tax relief provided by this section shall be available if the original property or the replacement dwelling, or both, of the claimant includes, but is not limited to, either of the following:
(1)A unit or lot within a cooperative housing corporation, a community apartment project, a condominium project, or a planned unit development. If the unit or lot constitutes the original property of the claimant, the assessor shall transfer to the claimants replacement dwelling only the base year value of the claimants unit or lot and his or her share in any common area reserved as an appurtenance of that unit or lot. If the unit or lot constitutes the replacement dwelling of the claimant, the assessor shall transfer the base year value of the claimants original property only to the unit or lot of the claimant and any share of the claimant in any common area reserved as an appurtenance of that unit or lot.
(2)A manufactured home or a manufactured home and any land owned by the claimant on which the manufactured home is situated. For purposes of this paragraph, land owned by the claimant includes a pro rata interest in a resident-owned mobilehome park that is assessed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 62.1.
(A)If the manufactured home or the manufactured home and the land on which it is situated constitutes the claimants original property, the assessor shall transfer to the claimants replacement dwelling either the base year value of the manufactured home or the base year value of the manufactured home and the land on which it is situated, as appropriate. If the manufactured home dwelling that constitutes the original property of the claimant includes an interest in a resident-owned mobilehome park, the assessor shall transfer to the claimants replacement dwelling the base year value of the claimants manufactured home and his or her pro rata portion of the real property of the park. No transfer of base year value shall be made by the assessor of that portion of land that does not constitute a part of the original property, as provided in paragraph (4) of subdivision (g).
(B)If the manufactured home or the manufactured home and the land on which it is situated constitutes the claimants replacement dwelling, the assessor shall transfer the base year value of the claimants original property either to the manufactured home or the manufactured home and the land on which it is situated, as appropriate. If the manufactured home dwelling that constitutes the replacement dwelling of the claimant includes an interest in a resident-owned mobilehome park, the assessor shall transfer the base year value of the claimants original property to the manufactured home of the claimant and his or her pro rata portion of the park. No transfer of base year value shall be made by the assessor to that portion of land that does not constitute a part of the replacement dwelling, as provided in paragraph (3) of subdivision (g).
This subdivision shall be subject to the limitations specified in subdivision (d).
(d)The property tax relief provided by this section shall be available to a claimant who is the coowner of the original property, as a joint tenant, a tenant in common, a community property owner, or a present beneficiary of a trust subject to the following limitations:
(1)If a single replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed by all of the coowners and each coowner retains an interest in the replacement dwelling, the claimant shall be eligible under this section whether or not any or all of the remaining coowners would otherwise be eligible claimants.
(2)If two or more replacement dwellings are separately purchased or newly constructed by two or more coowners and more than one coowner would otherwise be an eligible claimant, only one coowner shall be eligible under this section. These coowners shall determine by mutual agreement which one of them shall be deemed eligible.
(3)If two or more replacement dwellings are separately purchased or newly constructed by two coowners who held the original property as community property, only the coowner who has attained the age of 55 years, or is severely and permanently disabled, shall be eligible under this section. If both spouses are over 55 years of age, they shall determine by mutual agreement which one of them is eligible.
In the case of coowners whose original property is a multiunit dwelling, the limitations imposed by paragraphs (2) and (3) shall only apply to coowners who occupied the same dwelling unit within the original property at the time specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b).
(e)Upon the sale of original property, the assessor shall determine a new base year value for that property in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution and Section 110.1, whether or not a replacement dwelling is subsequently purchased or newly constructed by the former owner or owners of the original property.
This section shall not apply unless the transfer of the original property is a change in ownership that either (1) subjects that property to reappraisal at its current fair market value in accordance with Section 110.1 or 5803 or (2) results in a base year value determined in accordance with this section, Section 69, or Section 69.3 because the property qualifies under this section, Section 69, or Section 69.3 as a replacement dwelling or property.
(f)(1)A claimant shall not be eligible for the property tax relief provided by this section unless the claimant provides to the assessor, on a form that shall be designed by the State Board of Equalization and that the assessor shall make available upon request, the following information:
(A)The name and social security number of each claimant and of any spouse of the claimant who is a record owner of the replacement dwelling.
(B)Proof that the claimant or the claimants spouse who resided on the original property with the claimant was, at the time of its sale, at least 55 years of age, or severely and permanently disabled. Proof of severe and permanent disability shall be considered a certification, signed by a licensed physician and surgeon of appropriate specialty, attesting to the claimants severely and permanently disabled condition. In the absence of available proof that a person is over 55 years of age, the claimant shall certify under penalty of perjury that the age requirement is met. In the case of a severely and permanently disabled claimant either of the following shall be submitted:
(i)A certification, signed by a licensed physician or surgeon of appropriate specialty that identifies specific reasons why the disability necessitates a move to the replacement dwelling and the disability-related requirements, including any locational requirements, of a replacement dwelling. The claimant shall substantiate that the replacement dwelling meets disability-related requirements so identified and that the primary reason for the move to the replacement dwelling is to satisfy those requirements. If the claimant, or the claimants spouse or guardian, so declares under penalty of perjury, it shall be rebuttably presumed that the primary purpose of the move to the replacement dwelling is to satisfy identified disability-related requirements.
(ii)The claimants substantiation that the primary purpose of the move to the replacement dwelling is to alleviate financial burdens caused by the disability. If the claimant, or the claimants spouse or guardian, so declares under penalty of perjury, it shall be rebuttably presumed that the primary purpose of the move is to alleviate the financial burdens caused by the disability.
(C)The address and, if known, the assessors parcel number of the original property.
(D)The date of the claimants sale of the original property and the date of the claimants purchase or new construction of a replacement dwelling.
(E)A statement by the claimant that he or she occupied the replacement dwelling as his or her principal place of residence on the date of the filing of his or her claim.
(F)Any claim under this section shall be filed within three years of the date the replacement dwelling was purchased or the new construction of the replacement dwelling was completed subject to subdivision (k) or (m).
(2)A claim for transfer of base year value under this section that is filed after the expiration of the filing period set forth in subparagraph (F) of paragraph (1) shall be considered by the assessor, subject to all of the following conditions:
(A)Any base year value transfer granted pursuant to that claim shall apply commencing with the lien date of the assessment year in which the claim is filed.
(B)The full cash value of the replacement property in the assessment year described in subparagraph (A) shall be the base year value of the real property in the assessment year in which the base year value was transferred, factored to the assessment year described in subparagraph (A) for both of the following:
(i)Inflation as annually determined in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 51.
(ii)Any subsequent new construction occurring with respect to the subject real property that does not qualify for property tax relief pursuant to the criteria set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (h).
(g)For purposes of this section:
(1)Person over the age of 55 years means any person or the spouse of any person who has attained the age of 55 years or older at the time of the sale of the original property.
(2)Base year value of the original property means its base year value, as determined in accordance with Section 110.1, with the adjustments permitted by subdivision (b) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution and subdivision (f) of Section 110.1, determined as of the date immediately prior to the date that the original property is sold by the claimant, or in the case where the original property has been substantially damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity and the owner does not rebuild on the original property, determined as of the date immediately prior to the misfortune or calamity.
If the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed after the transfer of the original property, base year value of the original property also includes any inflation factor adjustments permitted by subdivision (f) of Section 110.1 for the period subsequent to the sale of the original property. The base year or years used to compute the base year value of the original property shall be deemed to be the base year or years of any property to which that base year value is transferred pursuant to this section.
(3)Replacement dwelling means a building, structure, or other shelter constituting a place of abode, whether real property or personal property, that is owned and occupied by a claimant as his or her principal place of residence, and any land owned by the claimant on which the building, structure, or other shelter is situated. For purposes of this paragraph, land constituting a part of a replacement dwelling includes only that area of reasonable size that is used as a site for a residence, and land owned by the claimant includes land for which the claimant either holds a leasehold interest described in subdivision (c) of Section 61 or a land purchase contract. Each unit of a multiunit dwelling shall be considered a separate replacement dwelling. For purposes of this paragraph, area of reasonable size that is used as a site for a residence includes all land if any nonresidential uses of the property are only incidental to the use of the property as a residential site. For purposes of this paragraph, land owned by the claimant includes an ownership interest in a resident-owned mobilehome park that is assessed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 62.1.
(4)Original property means a building, structure, or other shelter constituting a place of abode, whether real property or personal property, that is owned and occupied by a claimant as his or her principal place of residence, and any land owned by the claimant on which the building, structure, or other shelter is situated. For purposes of this paragraph, land constituting a part of the original property includes only that area of reasonable size that is used as a site for a residence, and land owned by the claimant includes land for which the claimant either holds a leasehold interest described in subdivision (c) of Section 61 or a land purchase contract. Each unit of a multiunit dwelling shall be considered a separate original property. For purposes of this paragraph, area of reasonable size that is used as a site for a residence includes all land if any nonresidential uses of the property are only incidental to the use of the property as a residential site. For purposes of this paragraph, land owned by the claimant includes an ownership interest in a resident-owned mobilehome park that is assessed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 62.1.
(5)Equal or lesser value means that the amount of the full cash value of a replacement dwelling does not exceed one of the following:
(A)One hundred percent of the amount of the full cash value of the original property if the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed prior to the date of the sale of the original property.
(B)One hundred five percent of the amount of the full cash value of the original property if the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed within the first year following the date of the sale of the original property.
(C)One hundred ten percent of the amount of the full cash value of the original property if the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed within the second year following the date of the sale of the original property.
For the purposes of this paragraph, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (4) of subdivision (h), if the replacement dwelling is, in part, purchased and, in part, newly constructed, the date the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed is the date of purchase or the date of completion of construction, whichever is later.
(6)Full cash value of the replacement dwelling means either of the following:
(A)Its full cash value, determined in accordance with Section 110.1, as of the date on which it was purchased or new construction was completed, and after the purchase or the completion of new construction.
(B)In the case where the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed prior to the date of the sale of the original property and the full cash value of the replacement dwelling as determined in accordance with subparagraph (A) exceeds its full cash value as determined in accordance with Section 110 as of the date the original property is sold, its full cash value means its full cash value as determined in accordance with Section 110 as of the date the original property is sold.
(7)Full cash value of the original property means either of the following:
(A)Its new base year value, determined in accordance with subdivision (e), without the application of subdivision (h) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, plus the adjustments permitted by subdivision (b) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA and subdivision (f) of Section 110.1 for the period from the date of its sale by the claimant to the date on which the replacement property was purchased or new construction was completed.
(B)In the case where the original property has been substantially damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity and the owner does not rebuild on the original property, its full cash value, as determined in accordance with Section 110, immediately prior to its substantial damage or destruction by misfortune or calamity, as determined by the county assessor of the county in which the property is located, without the application of subdivision (h) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, plus the adjustments permitted by subdivision (b) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution and subdivision (f) of Section 110.1, for the period from the date of its sale by the claimant to the date on which the replacement property was purchased or new construction was completed.
(8)Sale means any change in ownership of the original property for consideration.
(9)Claimant means any person claiming the property tax relief provided by this section. If a spouse of that person is a record owner of the replacement dwelling, the spouse is also a claimant for purposes of determining whether in any future claim filed by the spouse under this section the condition of eligibility specified in paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) has been met.
(10)Property that is eligible for the homeowners exemption includes property that is the principal place of residence of its owner and is entitled to exemption pursuant to Section 205.5.
(11)Person means any individual, but does not include any firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or other legal entity or organization of any kind. Person includes an individual who is the present beneficiary of a trust.
(12)Severely and permanently disabled means any person described in subdivision (b) of Section 74.3.
(13)For the purposes of this section, property is substantially damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity if either the land or the improvements sustain physical damage amounting to more than 50 percent of either the lands or the improvements full cash value immediately prior to the misfortune or calamity. Damage includes a diminution in the value of property as a result of restricted access to the property where the restricted access was caused by the misfortune or calamity and is permanent in nature.
(h)(1)Upon the timely filing of a claim described in subparagraph (F) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (f), the assessor shall adjust the new base year value of the replacement dwelling in conformity with this section. This adjustment shall be made as of the latest of the following dates:
(A)The date the original property is sold.
(B)The date the replacement dwelling is purchased.
(C)The date the new construction of the replacement dwelling is completed.
(2)Any taxes that were levied on the replacement dwelling prior to the filing of the claim on the basis of the replacement dwellings new base year value, and any allowable annual adjustments thereto, shall be canceled or refunded to the claimant to the extent that the taxes exceed the amount that would be due when determined on the basis of the adjusted new base year value.
(3)Notwithstanding Section 75.10, Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 75) shall be utilized for purposes of implementing this subdivision, including adjustments of the new base year value of replacement dwellings acquired prior to the sale of the original property.
(4)In the case where a claim under this section has been timely filed and granted, and new construction is performed upon the replacement dwelling subsequent to the transfer of base year value, the property tax relief provided by this section also shall apply to the replacement dwelling, as improved, and thus there shall be no reassessment upon completion of the new construction if both of the following conditions are met:
(A)The new construction is completed within two years of the date of the sale of the original property and the owner notifies the assessor in writing of completion of the new construction within six months after completion.
(B)The fair market value of the new construction on the date of completion, plus the full cash value of the replacement dwelling on the date of acquisition, is not more than the full cash value of the original property as determined pursuant to paragraph (7) of subdivision (g) for purposes of granting the original claim.
(i)Any claimant may rescind a claim for the property tax relief provided by this section and shall not be considered to have received that relief for purposes of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b), and the assessor shall grant the rescission, if a written notice of rescission is delivered to the office of the assessor as follows:
(1)A written notice of rescission signed by the original filing claimant or claimants is delivered to the office of the assessor in which the original claim was filed.
(2)(A)Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the notice of rescission is delivered to the office of the assessor before the date that the county first issues, as a result of relief granted under this section, a refund check for property taxes imposed upon the replacement dwelling. If granting relief will not result in a refund of property taxes, then the notice shall be delivered before payment is first made of any property taxes, or any portion thereof, imposed upon the replacement dwelling consistent with relief granted under this section. If payment of the taxes is not made, then notice shall be delivered before the first date that those property taxes, or any portion thereof, imposed upon the replacement dwelling, consistent with relief granted under this section, are delinquent.
(B)Notwithstanding any other provision in this division, any time the notice of rescission is delivered to the office of the assessor within six years after relief was granted, provided that the replacement property has been vacated as the claimants principal place of residence within 90 days after the original claim was filed, regardless of whether the property continues to receive the homeowners exemption. If the rescission increases the base year value of a property, or the homeowners exemption has been incorrectly allowed, appropriate escape assessments or supplemental assessments, including interest as provided in Section 506, shall be imposed. The limitations periods for any escape assessments or supplemental assessments shall not commence until July 1 of the assessment year in which the notice of rescission is delivered to the office of the assessor.
(3)The notice is accompanied by the payment of a fee as the assessor may require, provided that the fee shall not exceed an amount reasonably related to the estimated cost of processing a rescission claim, including both direct costs and developmental and indirect costs, such as costs for overhead, personnel, supplies, materials, office space, and computers.
(j)(1)With respect to the transfer of base year value of original properties to replacement dwellings located in the same county, this section, except as provided in paragraph (3) or (4), shall apply to any replacement dwelling that is purchased or newly constructed on or after November 6, 1986.
(2)With respect to the transfer of base year value of original properties to replacement dwellings located in different counties, except as provided in paragraph (4), this section shall apply to any replacement dwelling that is purchased or newly constructed on or after the date specified in accordance with subparagraph (E) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) in the ordinance of the county in which the replacement dwelling is located, but shall not apply to any replacement dwelling which was purchased or newly constructed before November 9, 1988.
(3)With respect to the transfer of base year value by a severely and permanently disabled person, this section shall apply only to replacement dwellings that are purchased or newly constructed on or after June 6, 1990.
(4)The amendments made to subdivision (e) by the act adding this paragraph shall apply only to replacement dwellings under Section 69 that are acquired or newly constructed on or after October 20, 1991, and shall apply commencing with the 199192 fiscal year.
(k)(1)In the case in which a county adopts an ordinance pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) that establishes an applicable date that is more than three years prior to the date of adoption of the ordinance, those potential claimants who purchased or constructed replacement dwellings more than three years prior to the date of adoption of the ordinance and who would, therefore, be precluded from filing a timely claim, shall be deemed to have timely filed a claim if the claim is filed within three years after the date that the ordinance is adopted. This paragraph may not be construed as a waiver of any other requirement of this section.
(2)In the case in which a county assessor corrects a base year value to reflect a pro rata change in ownership of a resident-owned mobilehome park that occurred between January 1, 1989, and January 1, 2002, pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 62.1, those claimants who purchased or constructed replacement dwellings more than three years prior to the correction and who would, therefore, be precluded from filing a timely claim, shall be deemed to have timely filed a claim if the claim is filed within three years of the date of notice of the correction of the base year value to reflect the pro rata change in ownership. This paragraph may not be construed as a waiver of any other requirement of this section.
(3)This subdivision does not apply to a claimant who has transferred his or her replacement dwelling prior to filing a claim.
(4)The property tax relief provided by this section, but filed under this subdivision, shall apply prospectively only, commencing with the lien date of the assessment year in which the claim is filed. There shall be no refund or cancellation of taxes prior to the date that the claim is filed.
(l)No escape assessment may be levied if a transfer of base year value under this section has been erroneously granted by the assessor pursuant to an expired ordinance authorizing intercounty transfers of base year value.
(m)(1)The amendments made to subdivisions (b) and (g) of this section by Chapter 613 of the Statutes of 2001 shall apply:
(A)With respect to the transfer of base year value of original properties to replacement dwellings located in the same county, to any replacement dwelling that is purchased or newly constructed on or after November 6, 1986.
(B)With respect to the transfer of base year value of original properties to replacement dwellings located in different counties, to any replacement dwelling that is purchased or newly constructed on or after the date specified in accordance with subparagraph (E) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) in the ordinance of the county in which the replacement dwelling is located, but not to any replacement dwelling that was purchased or newly constructed before November 9, 1988.
(C)With respect to the transfer of base year value by a severely and permanently disabled person, to replacement dwellings that are purchased or newly constructed on or after June 6, 1990.
(2)The property tax relief provided by this section in accordance with this subdivision shall apply prospectively only commencing with the lien date of the assessment year in which the claim is filed. There shall be no refund or cancellation of taxes prior to the date that the claim is filed.
(n)A claim filed under this section is not a public document and is not subject to public inspection, except that a claim shall be available for inspection by the claimant or the claimants spouse, the claimants or the claimants spouses legal representative, the trustee of a trust in which the claimant or the claimants spouse is a present beneficiary, and the executor or administrator of the claimants or the claimants spouses estate.
(o)The amendments made to this section by Chapter 351 of the Statutes of 2011 shall apply commencing with the lien date for the 201213 fiscal year.
(p)The amendments made to this section by the act adding this subdivision Assembly Bill 2668 of the 2015-16 Regular Session of the Legislature shall apply commencing with the lien date for the 201718 fiscal year.
SEC. 2.If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
SEC. 3.Notwithstanding Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, no appropriation is made by this act and the state shall not reimburse any local agency for any property tax revenues lost by it pursuant to this act.
SEC. 4.This act provides for a tax levy within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. However, the provisions of this act shall become operative only if Senate Assembly Constitutional Amendment 9 12 of the 201516 Regular Session is approved by the voters and, in that event, shall become operative on January 1, 2017.
(a)(1)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, any person over the age of 55 years, or any severely and permanently disabled person, who resides in property that is eligible for the homeowners exemption under subdivision (k) of Section 3 of Article XIII of the California Constitution and Section 218 may transfer, subject to the conditions and limitations provided in this section, the base year value of that property to any replacement dwelling of equal or lesser value that is located within the same county and is purchased or newly constructed by that person as his or her principal residence within two years of the sale by that person of the original property, provided that the base year value of the original property shall not be transferred to the replacement dwelling until the original property is sold. in both of the following circumstances:
(A)To any replacement dwelling of equal or lesser value that is located within the same county and is purchased or newly constructed by that person as his or her principal residence within two years of the sale by that person of the original property, provided that the base year value of the original property shall not be transferred to the replacement dwelling until the original property is sold.
(B)To any replacement dwelling of greater value that is located within the same county and is purchased or newly constructed by that person as his or her principal place of residence within two years of the sale by that person of the original property, provided that the base year value of the original property shall not be transferred to the replacement dwelling until the original property is sold. The base year value of the replacement dwelling shall be calculated by adding the difference between the full cash value of the original property and the full cash value of the replacement dwelling to the base year value of the original property.
(2)Notwithstanding the limitation in paragraph (1) requiring that the original property and the replacement dwelling be located in the same county, this limitation shall not apply in any county in which the county board of supervisors, after consultation with local affected agencies within the boundaries of the county, adopts an ordinance making the provisions of paragraph (1) also applicable to situations in which replacement dwellings are located in that county and the original properties are located in another county within this state. The authorization contained in this paragraph shall be applicable in a county only if the ordinance adopted by the board of supervisors complies with all of the following requirements:
(A)It is adopted only after consultation between the board of supervisors and all other local affected agencies within the countys boundaries.
(B)It requires that all claims for transfers of base year value from original property located in another county be granted if the claims meet the applicable requirements of both subdivision (a) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution and this section.
(C)It requires that all base year valuations of original property located in another county and determined by its assessor be accepted in connection with the granting of claims for transfers of base year value.
(D)It provides that its provisions are operative for a period of not less than five years.
(E)The ordinance specifies the date on and after which its provisions shall be applicable. However, the date specified shall not be earlier than November 9, 1988. The specified applicable date may be a date earlier than the date the county adopts the ordinance.
(b)In addition to meeting the requirements of subdivision (a), any person claiming the property tax relief provided by this section shall be eligible for that relief only if the following conditions are met:
(1)The claimant is an owner and a resident of the original property either at the time of its sale, or at the time when the original property was substantially damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity, or within two years of the purchase or new construction of the replacement dwelling.
(2)The original property is eligible for the homeowners exemption, as the result of the claimants ownership and occupation of the property as his or her principal residence, either at the time of its sale, or at the time when the original property was substantially damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity, or within two years of the purchase or new construction of the replacement dwelling.
(3)At the time of the sale of the original property, the claimant or the claimants spouse who resides with the claimant is at least 55 years of age, or is severely and permanently disabled.
(4)At the time of claiming the property tax relief provided by subdivision (a), the claimant is an owner of a replacement dwelling and occupies it as his or her principal place of residence and, as a result thereof, the property is currently eligible for the homeowners exemption or would be eligible for the exemption except that the property is already receiving the exemption because of an exemption claim filed by the previous owner.
(5)The original property of the claimant is sold by him or her within two years of the purchase or new construction of the replacement dwelling. For purposes of this paragraph, the purchase or new construction of the replacement dwelling includes the purchase of that portion of land on which the replacement building, structure, or other shelter constituting a place of abode of the claimant will be situated and that, pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (g), constitutes a part of the replacement dwelling.
(6)Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the replacement dwelling, including that portion of land on which it is situated that is specified in paragraph (5), is located entirely within the same county as the claimants original property.
(7)The claimant has not previously been granted, as a claimant, the property tax relief provided by this section, except that this paragraph shall not apply to any person who becomes severely and permanently disabled subsequent to being granted, as a claimant, the property tax relief provided by this section for any person over the age of 55 years. In order to prevent duplication of claims under this section within this state, county assessors shall report quarterly to the State Board of Equalization that information from claims filed in accordance with subdivision (f) and from county records as is specified by the board necessary to identify fully all claims under this section allowed by assessors and all claimants who have thereby received relief. The board may specify that the information include all or a part of the names and social security numbers of claimants and their spouses and the identity and location of the replacement dwelling to which the claim applies. The information may be required in the form of data processing media or other media and in a format that is compatible with the recordkeeping processes of the counties and the auditing procedures of the state.
(c)The property tax relief provided by this section shall be available if the original property or the replacement dwelling, or both, of the claimant includes, but is not limited to, either of the following:
(1)A unit or lot within a cooperative housing corporation, a community apartment project, a condominium project, or a planned unit development. If the unit or lot constitutes the original property of the claimant, the assessor shall transfer to the claimants replacement dwelling only the base year value of the claimants unit or lot and his or her share in any common area reserved as an appurtenance of that unit or lot. If the unit or lot constitutes the replacement dwelling of the claimant, the assessor shall transfer the base year value of the claimants original property only to the unit or lot of the claimant and any share of the claimant in any common area reserved as an appurtenance of that unit or lot.
(2)A manufactured home or a manufactured home and any land owned by the claimant on which the manufactured home is situated. For purposes of this paragraph, land owned by the claimant includes a pro rata interest in a resident-owned mobilehome park that is assessed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 62.1.
(A)If the manufactured home or the manufactured home and the land on which it is situated constitutes the claimants original property, the assessor shall transfer to the claimants replacement dwelling either the base year value of the manufactured home or the base year value of the manufactured home and the land on which it is situated, as appropriate. If the manufactured home dwelling that constitutes the original property of the claimant includes an interest in a resident-owned mobilehome park, the assessor shall transfer to the claimants replacement dwelling the base year value of the claimants manufactured home and his or her pro rata portion of the real property of the park. No transfer of base year value shall be made by the assessor of that portion of land that does not constitute a part of the original property, as provided in paragraph (4) of subdivision (g).
(B)If the manufactured home or the manufactured home and the land on which it is situated constitutes the claimants replacement dwelling, the assessor shall transfer the base year value of the claimants original property either to the manufactured home or the manufactured home and the land on which it is situated, as appropriate. If the manufactured home dwelling that constitutes the replacement dwelling of the claimant includes an interest in a resident-owned mobilehome park, the assessor shall transfer the base year value of the claimants original property to the manufactured home of the claimant and his or her pro rata portion of the park. No transfer of base year value shall be made by the assessor to that portion of land that does not constitute a part of the replacement dwelling, as provided in paragraph (3) of subdivision (g).
This subdivision shall be subject to the limitations specified in subdivision (d).
(d)The property tax relief provided by this section shall be available to a claimant who is the coowner of the original property, as a joint tenant, a tenant in common, a community property owner, or a present beneficiary of a trust subject to the following limitations:
(1)If a single replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed by all of the coowners and each coowner retains an interest in the replacement dwelling, the claimant shall be eligible under this section whether or not any or all of the remaining coowners would otherwise be eligible claimants.
(2)If two or more replacement dwellings are separately purchased or newly constructed by two or more coowners and more than one coowner would otherwise be an eligible claimant, only one coowner shall be eligible under this section. These coowners shall determine by mutual agreement which one of them shall be deemed eligible.
(3)If two or more replacement dwellings are separately purchased or newly constructed by two coowners who held the original property as community property, only the coowner who has attained the age of 55 years, or is severely and permanently disabled, shall be eligible under this section. If both spouses are over 55 years of age, they shall determine by mutual agreement which one of them is eligible.
In the case of coowners whose original property is a multiunit dwelling, the limitations imposed by paragraphs (2) and (3) shall only apply to coowners who occupied the same dwelling unit within the original property at the time specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b).
(e)Upon the sale of original property, the assessor shall determine a new base year value for that property in accordance with subdivision (a) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution and Section 110.1, whether or not a replacement dwelling is subsequently purchased or newly constructed by the former owner or owners of the original property.
This section shall not apply unless the transfer of the original property is a change in ownership that either (1) subjects that property to reappraisal at its current fair market value in accordance with Section 110.1 or 5803 or (2) results in a base year value determined in accordance with this section, Section 69, or Section 69.3 because the property qualifies under this section, Section 69, or Section 69.3 as a replacement dwelling or property.
(f)(1)A claimant shall not be eligible for the property tax relief provided by this section unless the claimant provides to the assessor, on a form that shall be designed by the State Board of Equalization and that the assessor shall make available upon request, the following information:
(A)The name and social security number of each claimant and of any spouse of the claimant who is a record owner of the replacement dwelling.
(B)Proof that the claimant or the claimants spouse who resided on the original property with the claimant was, at the time of its sale, at least 55 years of age, or severely and permanently disabled. Proof of severe and permanent disability shall be considered a certification, signed by a licensed physician and surgeon of appropriate specialty, attesting to the claimants severely and permanently disabled condition. In the absence of available proof that a person is over 55 years of age, the claimant shall certify under penalty of perjury that the age requirement is met. In the case of a severely and permanently disabled claimant either of the following shall be submitted:
(i)A certification, signed by a licensed physician or surgeon of appropriate specialty that identifies specific reasons why the disability necessitates a move to the replacement dwelling and the disability-related requirements, including any locational requirements, of a replacement dwelling. The claimant shall substantiate that the replacement dwelling meets disability-related requirements so identified and that the primary reason for the move to the replacement dwelling is to satisfy those requirements. If the claimant, or the claimants spouse or guardian, so declares under penalty of perjury, it shall be rebuttably presumed that the primary purpose of the move to the replacement dwelling is to satisfy identified disability-related requirements.
(ii)The claimants substantiation that the primary purpose of the move to the replacement dwelling is to alleviate financial burdens caused by the disability. If the claimant, or the claimants spouse or guardian, so declares under penalty of perjury, it shall be rebuttably presumed that the primary purpose of the move is to alleviate the financial burdens caused by the disability.
(C)The address and, if known, the assessors parcel number of the original property.
(D)The date of the claimants sale of the original property and the date of the claimants purchase or new construction of a replacement dwelling.
(E)A statement by the claimant that he or she occupied the replacement dwelling as his or her principal place of residence on the date of the filing of his or her claim.
(F)Any claim under this section shall be filed within three years of the date the replacement dwelling was purchased or the new construction of the replacement dwelling was completed subject to subdivision (k) or (m).
(2)A claim for transfer of base year value under this section that is filed after the expiration of the filing period set forth in subparagraph (F) of paragraph (1) shall be considered by the assessor, subject to all of the following conditions:
(A)Any base year value transfer granted pursuant to that claim shall apply commencing with the lien date of the assessment year in which the claim is filed.
(B)The full cash value of the replacement property in the assessment year described in subparagraph (A) shall be the base year value of the real property in the assessment year in which the base year value was transferred, factored to the assessment year described in subparagraph (A) for both of the following:
(i)Inflation as annually determined in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 51.
(ii)Any subsequent new construction occurring with respect to the subject real property that does not qualify for property tax relief pursuant to the criteria set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (h).
(g)For purposes of this section:
(1)Person over the age of 55 years means any person or the spouse of any person who has attained the age of 55 years or older at the time of the sale of the original property.
(2)Base year value of the original property means its base year value, as determined in accordance with Section 110.1, with the adjustments permitted by subdivision (b) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution and subdivision (f) of Section 110.1, determined as of the date immediately prior to the date that the original property is sold by the claimant, or in the case where the original property has been substantially damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity and the owner does not rebuild on the original property, determined as of the date immediately prior to the misfortune or calamity.
If the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed after the transfer of the original property, base year value of the original property also includes any inflation factor adjustments permitted by subdivision (f) of Section 110.1 for the period subsequent to the sale of the original property. The base year or years used to compute the base year value of the original property shall be deemed to be the base year or years of any property to which that base year value is transferred pursuant to this section.
(3)Replacement dwelling means a building, structure, or other shelter constituting a place of abode, whether real property or personal property, that is owned and occupied by a claimant as his or her principal place of residence, and any land owned by the claimant on which the building, structure, or other shelter is situated. For purposes of this paragraph, land constituting a part of a replacement dwelling includes only that area of reasonable size that is used as a site for a residence, and land owned by the claimant includes land for which the claimant either holds a leasehold interest described in subdivision (c) of Section 61 or a land purchase contract. Each unit of a multiunit dwelling shall be considered a separate replacement dwelling. For purposes of this paragraph, area of reasonable size that is used as a site for a residence includes all land if any nonresidential uses of the property are only incidental to the use of the property as a residential site. For purposes of this paragraph, land owned by the claimant includes an ownership interest in a resident-owned mobilehome park that is assessed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 62.1.
(4)Original property means a building, structure, or other shelter constituting a place of abode, whether real property or personal property, that is owned and occupied by a claimant as his or her principal place of residence, and any land owned by the claimant on which the building, structure, or other shelter is situated. For purposes of this paragraph, land constituting a part of the original property includes only that area of reasonable size that is used as a site for a residence, and land owned by the claimant includes land for which the claimant either holds a leasehold interest described in subdivision (c) of Section 61 or a land purchase contract. Each unit of a multiunit dwelling shall be considered a separate original property. For purposes of this paragraph, area of reasonable size that is used as a site for a residence includes all land if any nonresidential uses of the property are only incidental to the use of the property as a residential site. For purposes of this paragraph, land owned by the claimant includes an ownership interest in a resident-owned mobilehome park that is assessed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 62.1.
(5)Equal or lesser value means that the amount of the full cash value of a replacement dwelling does not exceed one of the following:
(A)One hundred percent of the amount of the full cash value of the original property if the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed prior to the date of the sale of the original property.
(B)One hundred and five percent of the amount of the full cash value of the original property if the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed within the first year following the date of the sale of the original property.
(C)One hundred and ten percent of the amount of the full cash value of the original property if the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed within the second year following the date of the sale of the original property.
For the purposes of this paragraph, except as otherwise provided in paragraph (4) of subdivision (h), if the replacement dwelling is, in part, purchased and, in part, newly constructed, the date the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed is the date of purchase or the date of completion of construction, whichever is later.
(6)Full cash value of the replacement dwelling means its either of the following:
(A)Its full cash value, determined in accordance with Section 110.1, as of the date on which it was purchased or new construction was completed, and after the purchase or the completion of new construction.
(B)In the case where the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed prior to the date of the sale of the original property and the full cash of the replacement dwelling as determined in accordance with subparagraph (A) exceeds its full cash value as determined in accordance with Section 110 as of the date the original property is sold, its full cash value means its full cash value as determined in accordance with Section 110 as of the date the original property is sold.
(7)Full cash value of the original property means, either: means either of the following:
(A)Its new base year value, determined in accordance with subdivision (e), without the application of subdivision (h) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, plus the adjustments permitted by subdivision (b) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA and subdivision (f) of Section 110.1 for the period from the date of its sale by the claimant to the date on which the replacement property was purchased or new construction was completed.
(B)In the case where the original property has been substantially damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity and the owner does not rebuild on the original property, its full cash value, as determined in accordance with Section 110, immediately prior to its substantial damage or destruction by misfortune or calamity, as determined by the county assessor of the county in which the property is located, without the application of subdivision (h) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution, plus the adjustments permitted by subdivision (b) of Section 2 of Article XIIIA of the California Constitution and subdivision (f) of Section 110.1, for the period from the date of its sale by the claimant to the date on which the replacement property was purchased or new construction was completed.
(8)Sale means any change in ownership of the original property for consideration.
(9)Claimant means any person claiming the property tax relief provided by this section. If a spouse of that person is a record owner of the replacement dwelling, the spouse is also a claimant for purposes of determining whether in any future claim filed by the spouse under this section the condition of eligibility specified in paragraph (7) of subdivision (b) has been met.
(10)Property that is eligible for the homeowners exemption includes property that is the principal place of residence of its owner and is entitled to exemption pursuant to Section 205.5.
(11)Person means any individual, but does not include any firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or other legal entity or organization of any kind. Person includes an individual who is the present beneficiary of a trust.
(12)Severely and permanently disabled means any person described in subdivision (b) of Section 74.3.
(13)For the purposes of this section, property is substantially damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity if either the land or the improvements sustain physical damage amounting to more than 50 percent of either the lands or the improvements full cash value immediately prior to the misfortune or calamity. Damage includes a diminution in the value of property as a result of restricted access to the property where the restricted access was caused by the misfortune or calamity and is permanent in nature.
(h)(1)Upon the timely filing of a claim described in subparagraph (F) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (f), the assessor shall adjust the new base year value of the replacement dwelling in conformity with this section. This adjustment shall be made as of the latest of the following dates:
(A)The date the original property is sold.
(B)The date the replacement dwelling is purchased.
(C)The date the new construction of the replacement dwelling is completed.
(2)Any taxes that were levied on the replacement dwelling prior to the filing of the claim on the basis of the replacement dwellings new base year value, and any allowable annual adjustments thereto, shall be canceled or refunded to the claimant to the extent that the taxes exceed the amount that would be due when determined on the basis of the adjusted new base year value.
(3)Notwithstanding Section 75.10, Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 75) shall be utilized for purposes of implementing this subdivision, including adjustments of the new base year value of replacement dwellings acquired prior to the sale of the original property.
(4)In the case where a claim under this section has been timely filed and granted, and new construction is performed upon the replacement dwelling subsequent to the transfer of base year value, the property tax relief provided by this section also shall apply to the replacement dwelling, as improved, and thus there shall be no reassessment upon completion of the new construction if both of the following conditions are met:
(A)The new construction is completed within two years of the date of the sale of the original property and the owner notifies the assessor in writing of completion of the new construction within six months after completion.
(B)The fair market value of the new construction on the date of completion, plus the full cash value of the replacement dwelling on the date of acquisition, is not more than the full cash value of the original property as determined pursuant to paragraph (7) of subdivision (g) for purposes of granting the original claim.
(i)Any claimant may rescind a claim for the property tax relief provided by this section and shall not be considered to have received that relief for purposes of paragraph (7) of subdivision (b), and the assessor shall grant the rescission, if a written notice of rescission is delivered to the office of the assessor as follows:
(1)A written notice of rescission signed by the original filing claimant or claimants is delivered to the office of the assessor in which the original claim was filed.
(2)(A)Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the notice of rescission is delivered to the office of the assessor before the date that the county first issues, as a result of relief granted under this section, a refund check for property taxes imposed upon the replacement dwelling. If granting relief will not result in a refund of property taxes, then the notice shall be delivered before payment is first made of any property taxes, or any portion thereof, imposed upon the replacement dwelling consistent with relief granted under this section. If payment of the taxes is not made, then notice shall be delivered before the first date that those property taxes, or any portion thereof, imposed upon the replacement dwelling, consistent with relief granted under this section, are delinquent.
(B)Notwithstanding any other provision in this division, any time the notice of rescission is delivered to the office of the assessor within six years after relief was granted, provided that the replacement property has been vacated as the claimants principal place of residence within 90 days after the original claim was filed, regardless of whether the property continues to receive the homeowners exemption. If the rescission increases the base year value of a property, or the homeowners exemption has been incorrectly allowed, appropriate escape assessments or supplemental assessments, including interest as provided in Section 506, shall be imposed. The limitations periods for any escape assessments or supplemental assessments shall not commence until July 1 of the assessment year in which the notice of rescission is delivered to the office of the assessor.
(3)The notice is accompanied by the payment of a fee as the assessor may require, provided that the fee shall not exceed an amount reasonably related to the estimated cost of processing a rescission claim, including both direct costs and developmental and indirect costs, such as costs for overhead, personnel, supplies, materials, office space, and computers.
(j)(1)With respect to the transfer of base year value of original properties to replacement dwellings located in the same county, this section, except as provided in paragraph (3) or (4), shall apply to any replacement dwelling that is purchased or newly constructed on or after November 6, 1986.
(2)With respect to the transfer of base year value of original properties to replacement dwellings located in different counties, except as provided in paragraph (4), this section shall apply to any replacement dwelling that is purchased or newly constructed on or after the date specified in accordance with subparagraph (E) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) in the ordinance of the county in which the replacement dwelling is located, but shall not apply to any replacement dwelling which was purchased or newly constructed before November 9, 1988.
(3)With respect to the transfer of base year value by a severely and permanently disabled person, this section shall apply only to replacement dwellings that are purchased or newly constructed on or after June 6, 1990.
(4)The amendments made to subdivision (e) by the act adding this paragraph shall apply only to replacement dwellings under Section 69 that are acquired or newly constructed on or after October 20, 1991, and shall apply commencing with the 199192 fiscal year.
(k)(1)In the case in which a county adopts an ordinance pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) that establishes an applicable date which that is more than three years prior to the date of adoption of the ordinance, those potential claimants who purchased or constructed replacement dwellings more than three years prior to the date of adoption of the ordinance and who would, therefore, be precluded from filing a timely claim, shall be deemed to have timely filed a claim if the claim is filed within three years after the date that the ordinance is adopted. This paragraph may not be construed as a waiver of any other requirement of this section.
(2)In the case in which a county assessor corrects a base year value to reflect a pro rata change in ownership of a resident-owned mobilehome park that occurred between January 1, 1989, and January 1, 2002, pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 62.1, those claimants who purchased or constructed replacement dwellings more than three years prior to the correction and who would, therefore, be precluded from filing a timely claim, shall be deemed to have timely filed a claim if the claim is filed within three years of the date of notice of the correction of the base year value to reflect the pro rata change in ownership. This paragraph may not be construed as a waiver of any other requirement of this section.
(3)This subdivision does not apply to a claimant who has transferred his or her replacement dwelling prior to filing a claim.
(4)The property tax relief provided by this section, but filed under this subdivision, shall apply prospectively only, commencing with the lien date of the assessment year in which the claim is filed. There shall be no refund or cancellation of taxes prior to the date that the claim is filed.
(l)No escape assessment may be levied if a transfer of base year value under this section has been erroneously granted by the assessor pursuant to an expired ordinance authorizing intercounty transfers of base year value.
(m)(1)The amendments made to subdivisions (b) and (g) of this section by Chapter 613 of the Statutes of 2001 shall apply:
(A)With respect to the transfer of base year value of original properties to replacement dwellings located in the same county, to any replacement dwelling that is purchased or newly constructed on or after November 6, 1986.
(B)With respect to the transfer of base year value of original properties to replacement dwellings located in different counties, to any replacement dwelling that is purchased or newly constructed on or after the date specified in accordance with subparagraph (E) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) in the ordinance of the county in which the replacement dwelling is located, but not to any replacement dwelling that was purchased or newly constructed before November 9, 1988.
(C)With respect to the transfer of base year value by a severely and permanently disabled person, to replacement dwellings that are purchased or newly constructed on or after June 6, 1990.
(2)The property tax relief provided by this section in accordance with this subdivision shall apply prospectively only commencing with the lien date of the assessment year in which the claim is filed. There shall be no refund or cancellation of taxes prior to the date that the claim is filed.
(n)A claim filed under this section is not a public document and is not subject to public inspection, except that a claim shall be available for inspection by the claimant or the claimants spouse, the claimants or the claimants spouses legal representative, the trustee of a trust in which the claimant or the claimants spouse is a present beneficiary, and the executor or administrator of the claimants or the claimants spouses estate.
(o)The amendments made to this section by the act adding this subdivision Chapter 351 of the Statutes of 2011 shall apply commencing with the lien date for the 201213 fiscal year.
(p)The amendments made to this section by the act adding this subdivision shall apply commencing with the lien date for the 201718 fiscal year.
SEC. 2.If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
SEC. 3.Notwithstanding Section 2229 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, no appropriation is made by this act and the state shall not reimburse any local agency for any property tax revenues lost by it pursuant to this act.
SEC. 4.This act provides for a tax levy within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. However, the provisions of this act shall become operative only if Senate Constitutional Amendment 9 of the 201516 Regular Session is approved by the voters and, in that event, shall become operative on January 1, 2017.
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Date
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Status
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|---|---|
| Feb 19, 2016 | Introduced. To print. |
| Feb 21, 2016 | From printer. May be heard in committee March 22. |
| Feb 22, 2016 | Read first time. |
| Mar 10, 2016 | Referred to Com. on REV. & TAX. |
| May 9, 2016 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to REV. & TAX. suspense file. |
| May 11, 2016 | From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (May 9). |
| May 12, 2016 | Read second time and amended. |
| May 16, 2016 | Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| May 18, 2016 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| May 27, 2016 | In committee: Held under submission. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 2016 | Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] | Assembly Standing Committee on Revenue and Taxation |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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|---|---|---|
| California Association Of Realtors | ** Support | May 9, 2016 |
| California State Association Of Counties | ** Against | May 9, 2016 |
| California Tax Reform Association | ** Against | May 9, 2016 |
| California Taxpayers' Association | ** Support | May 9, 2016 |
| Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association | ** Support | May 9, 2016 |
Date of Hearing: May 18, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2668
Author:(Mullin) – As Introduced Ver:February 19, 2016
Policy Committee: | Revenue and Taxation | Vote: | 9 - 0 |
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill allows certain disabled persons or those over the age of 55 to transfer their base year value to a home of greater value. Specifically, this bill:
- Allows eligible households to transfer the base value of their original home to a replacement home of greater value (“buy up”) within the same county. The new base value of their replacement home is the base value of the original home and the difference between the cash value of that original home and the cash value of the replacement home.
- Limits eligibility for the “buy up” provision to disabled persons or those over the age of 55 who have household incomes below the county median income.
- Makes the provisions operative upon voter approval of Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 12.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Annual property tax revenue losses of approximately $2.9 million, resulting in GF costs of approximately $1.4 million as a result of the Proposition 98 guarantee.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose. According to the author, AB 2668 will help seniors move out of their homes that are currently too large for them and will add to the stock of affordable housing.
- Background. Adopted in June 1978, Proposition 13 was designed to provide real property tax relief by limiting the assessment and taxing powers of state and local governments. As a general rule, Proposition 13 limits any tax on real property to 1% of the property's assessed value, measured as either the assessed value as of the 1975-76 tax year or the appraisal value when purchased, constructed, or a change in ownership has occurred, subject to adjustment for the lesser of inflation or 2% per year. As a result, real property is only reassessed to fair market value upon a change in ownership.
One exception to the change in ownership fair market value reassessment is the “base-year value transfer” provision. Under that rule, a disabled homeowner or a homeowner aged 55 or older may elect a once-in-a-lifetime transfer of the base year value of the homeowner's principal residence to a replacement residence of equal or lesser value within the same county, or in certain other counties, within two years of the sale of the original residence. The base year value transfer allows the homeowner to continue paying property taxes at the amount and rate of growth of the previous residence and not the fair market value of the new residence. This bill would also allow certain homeowners to transfer the base year value of their home to a home of greater value.
- How would the “buy up” option work? AB 2668 allows a qualified homeowner to pay reduced property taxes for a replacement dwelling that is more expensive than their current home. For example, a qualified family lives in a home with an assessed value of $100,000. Then: they sell that home for $200,000, its new full cash value, and purchase another home for $350,000. Without AB 2668, that household would be unable to transfer the base value to their new home. AB 2668 would allow this household to transfer the base value and require them to pay property tax on that base value in addition to the difference in the full cash value of their original home and their new home. This means that their property taxes would be taxes on the original base value ($100,000), plus the difference between the reassessed value of their old home and their new home ($150,000 for a total of $250,000) instead of the new home’s assessed value ($350,000).
- Median income restriction. AB 2668 was amended in the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee to restrict eligibility for the proposed “buy up” provision to homeowners with incomes under a county’s median household income. While precise data on who currently transfers the base value of their home and their incomes levels is unavailable, income data for the overall senior population indicates that this amendment will significantly cut the number of households who otherwise would make use of the new “buy up” option. On average, an estimated 45% of senior households in California have incomes below the county median income. Since higher income households would be more likely to transition into a home that was of higher value, this amendment greatly reduced the fiscal cost of AB 2668.
Analysis Prepared by: Luke Reidenbach / APPR. / (916) 319-2081
Date of Hearing: May 9, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON REVENUE AND TAXATION
Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, Chair
ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2668 (
Author:Mullin) – As Introduced Ver:February 19, 2016
Majority vote. Tax levy. Fiscal committee.
SUBJECT: Property taxation: base year value transfers
SUMMARY: Provides that the base year value of an original property, if owned by a person who is either severely disabled or over 55 years of age, may be transferred to a replacement dwelling of greater value. The difference between the full cash value of the original property and the full cash value of the replacement property will be added to the base year value of the original property in order to calculate the base year value of the replacement dwelling. Specifically, this bill:
- Allows, commencing with the lien date for fiscal year (FY) 2017-18, the base year value of an original property, if owned by a person who is either severely disabled or over 55 years of age, to be transferred to a replacement dwelling of greater value. However, the difference between the full cash value of the original property and the full cash value of the replacement property will be added to the base year value of the original property in order to calculate the base year value of the replacement dwelling
- Provides that the full cash value of the replacement dwelling is determined on the sold date of the original property, if the replacement dwelling is purchased or newly constructed prior to the sale date of the original property and has subsequently declined in value by the sold date of the original property.
- Imposes a state-mandated local program and provides that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
- Provides that no appropriation is made and the state will not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to this bill.
- Takes effect immediately as a tax levy, but would only become operative if Senate Constitutional Amendment 9 of the 2015-16 Regular Session is approved by the voters.
EXISTING LAW:
- Requires real property to be reassessed to its current fair market value whenever a "change in ownership" occurs, but creates exceptions for numerous transfers. (California Constitution, Article XIII A, Section 2; Revenue & Taxation Code Sections 60 – 69.5.) The assessed value of the property established initially for property tax purposes is generally referred to as "base-year value", which is subject to annual increases for inflation, not to exceed 2%.
- Allows a property owner over 55 years of age or severely and permanently disabled a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transfer the base-year value of his or her principle residence, within two years from the sale of the original residence, to a replacement home of equal or lesser value within the same county or to a replacement home in counties that have adopted ordinances allowing the transfer, provided certain conditions are met and the county assessor is properly notified. "Base-year" transfers allow taxpayers to continue to pay property taxes at the amount and rate of growth of their previous home and prevent reassessments of their newly purchased homes to full market value.
- Provides that, if the replacement dwelling is purchased before the original property is sold, the taxpayer may transfer the base-year value only if the replacement property is 100% or less of the original property's value. If the replacement dwelling is purchased within the first year after the sale, then the taxpayer may transfer the base year if the replacement property is within 105% of the original property's value. And, if the replacement dwelling is purchased within the second year after the sale, then the taxpayer may transfer the base year if the replacement property is within 110% of the original property’s value.
- Allows a homeowner, who has been granted a base-year value transfer from his or her original residence to a replacement dwelling, to perform new construction on the replacement property subsequent to the transfer and exempts the new construction from assessment. The new construction must be completed within two years of the sale of the original property and its fair market value plus the full cash value of the replacement dwelling must not exceed the full cash value of the original property.
- Specifies that spouses claiming the base-year transfer property tax relief are deemed to be a single claimant. A person is eligible to claim a base-year value transfer as a claimant only if neither that person nor his/her spouse, who is a record owner of the new home, has previously received that property tax relief. Each co-owner of real property, including domestic partners or unmarried couples, is considered to be a separate claimant for purposes of the base year value property tax relief.
- Requires the assessor to determine a new base year value for the original property that is sold, if the sale constitutes a change in ownership.
FISCAL EFFECT: The State Board of Equalization (BOE) estimates annual property tax revenue losses of $5.7 million. This assumption factors in the recovering housing market and a growing senior population. Historical trends suggest that as real estate values increase, the number of base year value transfer claimants increase.
COMMENTS:
- Author's Statement: The author has provided the following statement in support of this bill:
AB 2668 will allow seniors to transfer their property tax basis to another home even if the home they purchase has a higher sale price than their original home.
Proposition 60 allows seniors and the permanently disabled to transfer the base year assessed value of their principal residence to a replacement home in the same county. Proposition 90 – approved by the voters in 1988 – allows such transfers to a home located in a different county so long as that county has agreed to participate in the transfer program.
However, in both cases, the value of the replacement home must be equal to or less than the value of the original residence. If the purchase price of the replacement home is greater than that of the sales price of the original residence – by any amount, even one dollar – then the base year assessed value cannot be transferred. This is a problem for many seniors seeking to downsize their 'empty nest' – moving to a newer but smaller home may likely mean having to buy a home with a price greater than that for which they can sell their current residence.
AB 2668 would, instead, allow a transfer to a replacement home with a value greater than that of the original residence. However, so that the homeowner doesn't receive more of a property tax benefit than that to which they are entitled, the difference between the value of the replacement home and that of the original residence is added to the base year assessed value.
By helping seniors move out of homes that are currently too large for them we will also add to the stock of affordable housing which will be a great help to families just starting out.
- Arguments in Support: Proponents of this bill state:
Allowing seniors to transfer their property tax basis will increase the supply of existing single-family homes available to young families, in effect making housing more affordable. This bill also will increase the property tax revenue for cities, counties and special districts as seniors buy and sell property, thus increasing the base-year values of the properties they buy and sell. This bill is a win-win for both taxpayers and local governments.
- Arguments in Opposition: Opponents of this bill state:
This bill defeats the main purpose of Proposition 60 and 90, which is to encourage seniors to relinquish their larger homes with low property taxes and move to something smaller or more modest, freeing up the more valuable homes at no cost to the senior. Instead, this bill would give a property tax advantage to those who want an even more expensive home.
- History of Propositions: In 1978, voters passed Proposition 13 to limit the maximum amount of any ad valorem tax on real property to 1% of its full cash value. Under this system, the original "base year value" of a property may increase annually for inflation no more than 2% per year ("factored base year value"). Property is reassessed to its current market value only after a change in ownership or new construction occurs. Voters subsequently approved three constitutional amendments allowing individuals to transfer the base year value of their home to another home that is of equal or lesser value. Proposition 60 (1986) allowed for intracounty transfers of base year value for individuals over age 55. Proposition 90 (1988) allowed for intercounty transfers if the replacement home is located in a county that has opted-in to such arrangements; 10 counties currently accept inter-county base year value transfers – Alameda, El Dorado, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Ventura. Lastly, Proposition 110 (1990) extended these provisions applicable to seniors to severely and permanently disabled individuals, regardless of age.
- How Does Current Law Work? The base year value transfer allows eligible homeowners to keep their prior home's Proposition 13 protected value by transferring it to their new home if it is of equal or lesser value. For example, under current law, if an eligible homeowner has a home with a base year value of $200,000 and pays $2,000 per year in property taxes, then sells his or her home for $500,000 and purchases a smaller yet more functional home for $500,000, the homeowner will continue to pay $2,000 per year in property taxes, rather than $5,000 (1% ad valorem). In this scenario, the homeowner is able to save $3,000 per year.
- How Does This Bill Work? This bill will help homeowners eligible for a base year value transfer but hesitant to buy a new home because there are no homes on the market meeting their needs priced lower than for what their original home can be sold, as buying a more expensive home disqualifies them from the transfer and results in increased property taxes. Using the example above, under current law, if an eligible homeowner can only find a suitable home for $700,000, the homeowner would no longer be able to transfer his or her base year value and would be subject to $7,000 in property taxes. Under this bill, however, the eligible homeowner would be able to calculate the difference between full cash value of the new home and original home and add the difference to the original home's base year value to transfer over. As a result, the homeowner's new base year value would be $400,000 (the $200,000 base year value of the original property plus the $200,000 difference in price between the $700,000 new home and $500,000 for which the original home sold). The homeowner would pay $4,000 per year in property taxes, rather than $7,000, resulting in savings of $3,000 per year.
This bill also changes the value comparison test by requiring different dates to be used in calculating the transferred base year value when a dip in property values occurs. If an eligible homeowner purchases a replacement home before selling the original home and real estate values subsequently decline, the full cash value of the replacement home used for purposes of this calculation will be derived from the time of sale of the original home instead of time of sale of the replacement home. In all other instances, however, the full cash value of the replacement home is determined at the time of sale of the replacement home. Since current law does not allow base year transfers if the replacement home is of greater value than the original home, allowing the value of the replacement home to be "adjusted down" would prevent homeowners from being disqualified from a transfer if property values decline. However, since this bill proposes to allow base year transfers for replacement homes of greater value, it is unclear why this specific provision of the bill is needed. Although allowing the value of a replacement home to be "adjusted down" may potentially lower the overall base year value calculation, the sales price of the original home would also likely be reduced by a proportional amount in a depressed market and negate any such impact. Furthermore, the BOE's analysis of this bill notes that changing the value comparison test in this manner will trigger additional appraisals by assessors, given the need to value property across multiple time periods. The Committee may wish to consider whether striking this provision would provide greater consistency and fairness in applying base year value transfers.
- One More Benefit for Homeowners: California has one of the lowest property taxes and most taxpayer-friendly reassessment triggers in the nation. The benefits are particularly enhanced for taxpayers who have lived in their homes for many years. This bill allows these benefits to carry over if the homeowner elects to move into a new home that could be valued much higher than his or her original home. The author's office points out that this bill would not provide a taxpayer with numerically greater property tax savings than they are otherwise entitled to receive under current law, regardless of the price of the new home. In the above example, the homeowner buying a replacement home of equal value would save $3,000 per year in property taxes and an identically situated homeowner buying a buying a replacement home of greater value would still only save $3,000 per year in property taxes. However, one of the main narratives presented to voters in support of Proposition 13 was that seniors should not be priced out of their homes through high and unpredictable taxes. As such, it is unclear how allowing an eligible homeowner to transfer the base year value of an original home to a home that may be worth exponentially more, on which much higher property taxes are recognized to be due, is consistent with the purported intent of Proposition 13.
- Amending the Constitution: Since base year value transfers are authorized by the California Constitution, a constitutional amendment must first be approved by voters in order to allow base year transfers to a replacement home of greater value. The author of this bill has also introduced ACA 12 to make the requisite constitutional changes. This bill subsequently provides the accompanying implementation provisions, and changes the value comparison test which is unrelated to implementation and would not ordinarily require a companion constitutional amendment to take effect.
This bill currently provides that its provisions will become operative only upon voter approval of a related constitutional amendment, and in that event, take effect on January 1, 2017. However, as noted in the BOE's analysis of this bill, it is recommended that this bill take immediate effect upon approval by voters, consistent with the other base year value transfer-related propositions. Delayed implementation may complicate home sales if eligible homeowners buy a more expensive replacement home upon the proposition's passage and expect relief that cannot be granted, or delay buying or closing escrow on a home of greater value until the new year. The Committee may wish to consider making this bill take effect with voter approval of the companion constitutional amendment.
- Technical Amendments: On Page 12, Line 5, insert "value" between "cash" and "of"; and,
On Page 17, Line 39, strike "Senate" and insert "Assembly"; strike "9" and insert "12".
- Related Legislation: ACA 12 (Mullin) allows homeowners 55 and older to transfer a base year value to a home of greater value, subject to voter approval. ACA 12 is pending referral to a policy committee.
ACA 6 (Brown) allows spouses to qualify individually for base year value transfers and extends transfers to homeowners who are the parent or legal guardian of a severely disabled child, subject to voter approval. ACA 6 is pending hearing by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
SCA 9 (Beall) is substantially similar to ACA 12. SCA 9 is pending hearing in the Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments.
SB 378 (Beall) was substantially similar to this bill. SB 378 on the Senate Committee on Appropriations' Suspense File.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Association of Realtors (Sponsor)
California Taxpayers Association
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
Opposition
California State Association of Counties
California Tax Reform Association
Analysis Prepared by: Irene Ho / REV. & TAX. / (916) 319-2098
Discussed in Hearing
Assembly Standing Committee on Revenue and Taxation
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):