Section 531.2 Of Article 4. Property Escaping Assessment From California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 1. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 4.
531.2
. (a) When the property is real property which subsequent to
July 1 of the year of escape for purposes of this article, or
subsequent to July 1 of the year in which the property should have
been lawfully assessed, for purposes of Article 3 (commencing with
Section 501), but prior to the date of that assessment and the
showing thereof on the secured roll, with the date of entry specified
thereon, has (1) been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide
purchaser for value, or (2) become subject to a lien of a bona fide
encumbrance for value, the escape assessment pursuant to either of
these articles shall not create or impose a lien or charge on that
real property, but shall be entered on the unsecured roll in the name
of the person who would have been the assessee in the year in which
it escaped assessment and shall thereafter be treated and collected
like other taxes on that roll. The tax rate applicable shall be the
secured tax rate of the year in which the property escaped
assessment.
(b) If the real property escaped assessment as a result of an
unrecorded change in ownership or change in control for which a
change in ownership statement required by Section 480, 480.1, or
480.2, or a preliminary change in ownership report, pursuant to
Section 480.3, is not filed, the assessor shall appraise the property
as of the date of transfer and enroll the difference in taxable
value for each of the subsequent years on the secured roll, with the
date of entry specified thereon. However, if prior to the date of the
assessment the property has (1) been transferred or conveyed to a
bona fide purchaser for value, or (2) become subject to a lien of a
bona fide encumbrance for value, the escape assessment pursuant to
this paragraph shall not create or impose a lien or charge on that
real property, but shall be entered on the unsecured roll in the name
of the person who would have been the assessee in the year in which
it escaped assessment and shall thereafter be treated and collected
like other taxes on that roll. The tax rate applicable shall be the
secured rate of the year in which the property escaped assessment.
"Assessment year" means the period defined in Section 118.
In the event of a failure to file a change in ownership statement
required by Section 480, 480.1, or 480.2, or a preliminary change in
ownership report, pursuant to Section 480.3, the interest provided in
Section 506 may, by the order of the board of supervisors, be added.
(c) (1) Taxes resulting from escape assessments shall be prorated
pursuant to paragraphs (2) to (5), inclusive, only if the board of
supervisors of a county has adopted a resolution specifying that
taxes shall be prorated pursuant to this subdivision.
(2) When real property has been transferred or conveyed to a bona
fide purchaser for value subsequent to July 1 of the year of escape
for purposes of this article, or subsequent to July 1 of the year in
which the property should have been lawfully assessed, for purposes
of Article 3 (commencing with Section 501), taxes resulting from
escape assessments pursuant to this section shall be prorated between
the following:
(A) The person who would have been the assessee if the change in
ownership had not occurred.
(B) The person who purchased the property.
(3) If the real property has been transferred or conveyed to a
bona fide purchaser for value more than once during the year of
escape or assessment, each owner of record during that period shall
be liable for a pro rata share of taxes based on the length of time
during that period each bona fide purchaser was the record owner of
that real property.
(4) When the assessor has identified the fact and amount of the
escape assessment, the assessor shall identify the owners of record
during the year of escape or assessment and the dates of ownership
for each owner.
(5) The auditor shall compute the respective prorated shares of
taxes for each owner of record. The share of taxes of the current
owner of the real property shall be placed on the secured roll as a
lien on the parcel for which the escaped assessment was discovered.
The share of taxes of any previous owner during the year of escape or
assessment shall be entered on the unsecured roll.