Section 20542 Of Article 2. Computations From California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 10.5. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 2.
20542
. (a) The Franchise Tax Board, pursuant to the provisions of
Article 3 (commencing with Section 20561), of this chapter, shall
provide assistance to the claimant based on a percentage of the
property tax accrued and paid by the claimant on the residential
dwelling as provided in Section 20543 or the statutory property tax
equivalent pursuant to Section 20544. In case of an owner-claimant,
the assistance shall be equal to the applicable percentage of
property taxes paid on the full value of the residential dwelling up
to, and including, thirty-four thousand dollars ($34,000). No
assistance shall be allowed for property taxes paid on that portion
of full value of a residential dwelling exceeding thirty-four
thousand dollars ($34,000). No assistance shall be provided if the
amount of the assistance claim is five dollars ($5) or less.
(b) For purposes of allowing assistance provided for by this
section:
(1) (A) Only one owner-claimant from one household each year shall
be entitled to assistance under this chapter. When two or more
individuals of a household are able to meet the qualifications for an
owner-claimant, they may determine who the owner-claimant shall be.
If they are unable to agree, the matter shall be referred to the
Franchise Tax Board and its decision shall be final.
(B) When two or more individuals pay rent for the same premises
and each individual meets the qualifications for a renter-claimant,
each qualified individual shall be entitled to assistance under this
part.
For the purposes of this subparagraph, a husband and wife residing
in the same premises shall be presumed to be one renter.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), the right to file a claim
shall be personal to the claimant and shall not survive his death;
however, when a claimant dies after having filed a timely claim, the
amount thereof may be disbursed to the surviving spouse and, if no
surviving spouse, to any other member of the household who is a
qualified claimant. If there is no surviving spouse or otherwise
qualified claimant, the claim shall be disbursed to any other member
of the household. In the event two or more individuals qualify for
payment as either an otherwise qualified claimant or a member of the
household, they may determine which of them will be paid. If they are
unable to agree, the matter shall be referred to the Franchise Tax
Board and its decision shall be final.
(3) If, after January 1 of the property tax fiscal year for which
a claim may be filed, a claimant dies without filing a timely claim,
a claim on behalf of such claimant may be filed by the surviving
spouse within the filing period prescribed in subdivision (a) or (b)
of Section 20563.
(4) If an individual postponed taxes for any given property tax
fiscal year under Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20581), Chapter
3 (commencing with Section 20625), Chapter 3.3 (commencing with
Section 20639), or Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 20640), then
any claim for assistance under this chapter for the same property tax
fiscal year shall be filed by such individual (assuming all other
eligibility requirements in this chapter are satisfied) and not an
otherwise qualified member of the individual's household.