Article 3. Incorrect Application Of Payments of California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 1. >> Part 9. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 3.

(a) If an assessee or agent of the assessee, by mistake, pays the tax on other than the property intended and by substantial evidence convinces the tax collector that the payment was intended for another property, the tax collector shall cancel the credit on the unintended property and transfer the payment to the property intended as prescribed in this article at any time before a guaranty or certificate of title issues respecting the unintended property and before two years have elapsed since the date of payment.
  (b) If through no fault of the assessee or agent of the assessee, a tax payment is credited to property other than the property intended and the taxpayer by substantial evidence convinces the tax collector that the payment should have been credited to another property, the tax collector shall cancel the credit on the unintended property and transfer the payment to the property intended as prescribed in this article at any time before a guaranty or certificate of title issues respecting the unintended property and before two years have elapsed since the date of the payment.
  (c) If any person mistakenly pays an amount of tax and there is no property of that person in the county to which that payment properly applies, the tax collector shall, by being convinced upon substantial evidence that the payment was a mistake, cancel the payment and return the amount paid to that person, as prescribed in this article at any time before a guaranty or certificate of title issues respecting the unintended property and before two years have elapsed since the date of the payment.
  (d) The county shall transfer a payment pursuant to subdivision (a) or return a payment pursuant to subdivision (c) within 60 days of the later of the date of the county verifying that the payment was paid by mistake or the date the payment is not subject to chargeback, dishonor, or reversal, or shall pay interest as prescribed in subdivision (e).
  (e) If a refund to an assessee or agent of the assessee is created as a result of subdivision (a) or (c), interest as prescribed by Section 5151 shall not be paid. However, if the refund was not issued within 60 days of the county verification of the refund or credit due, interest shall be paid from the date of verification.

(a) If through no fault of the assessee or agent of the assessee a tax payment is credited to property other than the property intended and after a guaranty or certificate of title issues respecting the unintended property, the taxpayer by substantial evidence convinces the tax collector that the payment should have been credited to another property, the tax collector shall transfer the payment in full to the property intended, and shall cancel the credit on the unintended property. In the event a transfer of payment is made, the person owning the unintended property immediately before issuance of the guaranty or certificate of title shall be personally liable for the amount so transferred that shall be collected in the manner specified for the collection of taxes on the unsecured roll.
  (b) If any person mistakenly pays an amount of tax on a property after a guaranty of certificate of title has been issued and there is no other property of that person in the county to which that payment properly applies, the tax collector shall, upon being convinced upon substantial evidence that the payment was a mistake, cancel the payment and return the amount paid to that person. Upon cancellation of the payment, the person owning the property immediately before issuance of the guaranty or certificate of title shall be personally liable for the subject tax amount, which shall be collected in the matter specified for the collection of taxes on the unsecured tax roll.

The property owner shall sign and file with the tax collector a verified cancellation voucher containing complete details of the transaction. If the transfer is made the voucher shall be preserved as a public record and reference to it shall be entered on the roll opposite the unintended property.

If a credit is canceled on unintended property, the tax collector shall notify the assessee or agent of the assessee of the unintended property by registered mail at his last known address respecting the proposed transfer. If the credit on the unintended property is canceled and transferred pursuant to Section 4911.1, the tax collector shall inform the person owning the unintended property immediately before issuance of the guaranty or certificate of title that the credit has been canceled and transferred and the person so notified shall be personally liable for the amount so transferred which shall be collected in the manner specified for the collection of taxes on the unsecured roll.

The notice shall state that the owner of the unintended property may within ten days after the mailing demand a hearing by the board of supervisors. If made, the demand shall be in duplicate and one copy shall be filed with the tax collector. The board of supervisors shall set a time for the hearing and its decision on the transfer is final.

If the amount paid is less than the amount due on the property intended, the balance of the amount due shall be paid before the transfer is made.

If the amount paid exceeds the amount due on the property intended, the applicant is entitled to a refund of the excess in the same manner as an overcollection of tax is refunded; provided, however, that if the refund is made within 90 days after the date of payment it may be made by the tax collector.