Chapter 1. General Provisions And Definitions of California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 2. >> Part 10.6. >> Chapter 1.
This part shall be known and may be cited as the County
Deferred Property Tax Program for Senior Citizens and Disabled
Citizens.
Unless the context requires otherwise, the definitions set
forth in this chapter shall govern the construction of this part.
(a) "Claimant" means an owner of a residential dwelling, as
defined in Section 20808, who applies to a participating county for
deferment of property taxes pursuant to this chapter and meets all of
the following requirements:
(1) Has an annual household income, as defined in subdivision (a)
of Section 20803, that does not exceed thirty-five thousand five
hundred dollars ($35,500).
(2) (A) Has attained eligibility for full social security benefits
as of the last day of the filing period for that fiscal year, or (B)
is blind or disabled, as defined in Section 12050 of the Welfare and
Institutions Code, except in the case of retroactive deferment, as
provided for in Section 20810, in which the age eligibility shall be
62 years old.
(3) Has equity value of at least 20 percent. For purposes of this
subdivision, "equity value" means the amount by which the fair market
value of the residential dwelling exceeds the total amount of any
liens or other obligations against the residential dwelling. A
participating county may require a claimant to provide an appraisal
by a licensed or certified appraiser in support of his or her
application. If an alternate appraisal method is used, a claimant
whose application is denied for insufficient equity, may provide an
appraisal by a licensed or certified appraiser in support of his or
her application for consideration by the county.
(b) Only one claimant per residential dwelling may have property
taxes deferred under this chapter at any one time.
(c) A claimant shall apply to participate in the program in each
year that he or she seeks to defer property taxes under the program.
(d) The county treasurer, or county tax collector, may require a
claimant to furnish evidence of the claimant's ongoing eligibility in
order to continue participation in the program in a subsequent year.
(e) If the claimant fails or refuses to furnish any information
requested in writing by the county pursuant to this chapter, or files
a fraudulent claim for deferment under this chapter, the claimant's
application to defer property taxes under this chapter shall be null
and void, any record of a deferment payment on the tax roll shall be
canceled, the tax or assessment shall be a lien as though no payment
had been made, and the amount of the lien shall be increased by any
penalties or interest resultant from property tax delinquency.
(a) "Household income" means all income, as defined in
subdivision (b), received by any member of a household while that
member is or was a member of that household.
(b) "Income" means adjusted gross income, as defined in Section
17072, plus all of the following cash items:
(1) Amounts contributed on behalf of the contributor to a
tax-sheltered retirement plan or deferred compensation plan.
(2) Annual winnings from the California Lottery in excess of six
hundred dollars ($600) in the current calendar year.
(3) Exempt interest received from any source.
(4) Gifts and inheritances in excess of three hundred dollars
($300), other than transfers between members of the household. Gifts
and inheritances shall include noncash items.
(5) Life insurance proceeds to the extent that the proceeds exceed
the expenses incurred for the last illness and funeral of the
deceased spouse of the claimant. "Expenses incurred for the last
illness" shall include unreimbursed expenses paid or incurred during
the income calendar year and any expenses paid or incurred thereafter
up until the day the claim is filed. For purposes of this paragraph,
funeral expenses shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(6) Nontaxable amount of any pensions and annuities.
(7) Nontaxable gain from the sale of a residence, as defined in
Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(8) Nontaxable military compensation as defined in Section 112 of
the Internal Revenue Code.
(9) Nontaxable scholarship and fellowship grants as defined in
Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(10) Public assistance and relief.
(11) Railroad retirement benefits.
(12) Sick leave payments.
(13) Social Security benefits (not including Medicare benefits).
(14) Temporary workers' compensation payments.
(15) Unemployment insurance payments.
(16) Veterans' benefits.
(17) If an alternative minimum tax is required to be paid pursuant
to Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 17062) of Part 10, the
amount of the alternative minimum taxable income, regardless of
whether or not that amount is held in cash, in excess of the regular
taxable income otherwise applicable.
(c) Net business loss, net rental loss, net capital loss, or other
net losses, amounts deducted for depreciation, or other noncash
expenses shall not be deducted in calculating adjusted gross income
for purposes of this section.
(d) For purposes of this chapter, income shall be determined for
the calendar year immediately preceding the fiscal year for which
deferment is claimed pursuant to this chapter.
(a) "Owner of a residential dwelling" includes all of the
following:
(1) An individual with an ownership interest of a vendee, who is
in possession of the residential dwelling under a land sale contract,
provided that the contract or memorandum thereof is recorded, and
only from the date of recordation of the contract or memorandum
thereof in the office of the county recorder of a participating
county in which the residential dwelling is located.
(2) An individual with an ownership interest of a holder of a life
estate in the residential dwelling, provided that the instrument
creating the life estate is recorded, and only from the date of
recordation of that instrument in the office of the county recorder
of a participating county in which the residential dwelling is
located.
(3) If the residential dwelling is located within a participating
county, an individual with a joint-tenant or tenant-in-common
ownership interest in the residential dwelling, or the interest of a
tenant where title is held in tenancy by the entirety or as community
property.
(4) An individual with an ownership interest in the residential
dwelling and the title to the residential dwelling, located within a
participating county, is held in trust.
(5) For purposes of this chapter, an individual who is the
registered owner of a mobilehome attached to a permanent foundation
and assessed as real property.
(b) An ownership interest described in subdivision (a) shall be
required to be evidenced by a duly recorded instrument in the office
of the county recorder of a participating county in which the
residential dwelling is located.
"Participating county" means a county that makes an election
described in Section 20810.
"Program" means the County Deferred Property Tax Program for
Senior Citizens and Disabled Citizens.
"Property taxes" means ad valorem property taxes or special
assessments imposed upon a residential dwelling within the year in
which deferment is sought.
(a) (1) "Residential dwelling" means a dwelling, and the
land surrounding that dwelling as is reasonably necessary for the use
of the dwelling as a home, occupied by the claimant as his or her
principal place of residence, and owned by any of the following:
(A) The claimant.
(B) The claimant and the claimant's spouse.
(C) The claimant and his or her parents, children (whether natural
or adopted), or grandchildren of either the claimant or the claimant'
s spouse.
(D) The claimant and the spouse of any parent, child (whether
natural or adopted), or grandchild of either the claimant or the
claimant's spouse.
(E) The claimant and another individual who resides in this state
and is eligible for deferment under this chapter.
(2) "Residential dwelling" shall also include all of the
following:
(A) A condominium that is assessed as real property for local
property tax purposes.
(B) A portion of a multidwelling or multipurpose building and the
portion of land upon which it is built.
(C) A mobilehome that is permanently attached to a permanent
foundation and assessed as real property for local property tax
purposes.
(b) "Residential dwelling" shall not include any of the following:
(1) Any dwelling in which the claimant does not have an equity
value of 20 percent, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a)
of Section 20802.
(2) Any dwelling in which the claimant's interest is a life estate
or is held pursuant to a contract of sale, unless the claimant
obtains the written consent of the holder of the reversionary
interest subject to the life estate, or the vendor under the contract
of sale, for the claimant to participate in the program with respect
to the dwelling.
(3) Any dwelling for which the claimant does not receive a secured
tax bill.
(4) Any dwelling in which the claimant's interest is held as a
possessory interest, except a life estate as described in paragraph
(2).
(5) Any houseboat or floating home.