About Prop 8
Proposition 8 was passed in November 1978 as an amendment to Proposition 13 and implemented as Revenue & Taxation Code Section 51(a)(2). It annually caps the assessed value of property as of the lien date (January 1) at the lesser of its market value or its factored base year value.
HOW IT WORKS
Proposition 8 allows a temporary reduction when the market value of property has fallen below its factored base year value as of the January 1 lien date. Once a Prop 8 reduction has been enrolled, the property’s assessment must be reviewed annually to ensure that the lesser of the market value or the factored base year value is enrolled.
The property’s base year value continues to be factored at a maximum two percent per year, setting its maximum assessed value. As the market recovers the market value of a property will increase based on market conditions which are not restricted to a two percent growth. The value enrolled will follow the market growth rate until the market value exceeds the factored base year value and the lower factored base year is enrolled.
Factored base year value: the value established as of the date of acquisition and/or completion of new construction. This value is adjusted each year by an inflation factor. The inflation factor is the lesser of 2% or the California Consumer Price Index (CCPI) rate.
For more information about factored base year value, see Understanding Proposition 13.
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Attachments
The Process
The Assessor annually sends Notifications of Assessed Value at the end of June, notifying property owners of the intended assessed value for that roll year. It provides property owners the opportunity to compare that assessment to their opinion of market value as of January 1. If the assessed value is greater than the market value of the property as of January 1, the property owner may request a review for a Prop 8 temporary reduction. There are two separate review processes: Informal Review and Formal Appeal/Assessment Appeals Application.
If you did not receive the Notification of Assessed Value Letter after the second week of July, you can request a duplicate notice be mailed to you by requesting online, contacting the Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 408-299-5500.
Informal Review
- The Notification of Assessed Value is mailed last week in June
- The filing period for commercial properties starts Feb 16 and ends on Aug 1
- The filing period for residential properties starts June 30 and ends on Aug 1
- The Assessor’s Office reviews Prop 8 requests through August 15. The results of the reviews are sent shortly after August 15.
Regardless of the result of the Assessor’s review, the property owner is entitled to file an Assessment Appeals Application. It is the property owner’s responsibility to timely file an Assessment Appeals Application if dissatisfied with the Assessor’s informal review.
Formal Appeal or Assessment Appeals Application
- An Assessment Appeals Application can be filed through the Clerk of the Board between July 2 and September 15 (or, if September 15 falls on a weekend, the following Monday)
- The Assessment Appeals Application is available from the Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Board via their website or you can contact them directly at 408-299-5088, for more information
Assessment Appeals can take up to two years to resolve. Once an application is submitted, the assigned appraiser may contact the applicant to discuss the appeal.
Who Should Request
The example below shows when a property owner would qualify for a temporary reduction.
In the example a property owner purchases a property at fair market value for $800,000 establishing the base year value at year 1.
On the subsequent lien date (year 2), the market value decreases to $750,000, but the property owner‘s assessment is based on the factored base year value, $816,000 ($800,000 plus 2%) which is higher than the market value. Therefore, the property owner would qualify, under Prop 8, for a temporary reduction to $750,000.
In this case, the property owner would qualify for a Proposition 8 reduction, for years 2 through 6, but not in year 7.
Note: In year 7, the factored base year value, $900,930, would be reinstated and the property owner would not qualify for relief under Prop 8
The red line: the “market value,” the current market value based on sales of comparable properties as of January 1 of that year.
The blue line: the “factored base year value,” purchase price plus no more that 2% factoring per year.
Who Should Not Request
The example below shows when a property owner would not qualify for a temporary reduction.
Typically, this is the case when the market value increases after the property is purchased.
If a property owner purchases their property at fair market value for $500,000 this establishes their base year value at year 1. In year 2, the market value increases to $550,000, but the property owner‘s assessment will still be based on the
factored base year value
of $510,000 ($500,000 plus 2%) which is lower than the market value.
In this case a property owner would not qualify for a Proposition 8 reduction, the factored base year value is still much lower than the current market value of the property.
Note: Even if the market has gone down, your factored base year value can still be below the current market value for that year as shown in years 5, 6, and 7 below.
The red line: the “market value,” the current market value based on sales of comparable properties as of January 1 of that year.
The blue line: the “factored base year value,” purchase price plus no more that 2% factoring per year..
Mobile Home
REVIEW DUE TO VALUE DECLINE
State law allows the Assessor to temporarily reduce the assessed value of mobile home in certain cases where the fair market value is lower than the assessed value. If this may be the situation for a mobile home you own, request forms are available to view and/or print by clicking below. They are also available by calling or writing the Assessor's Office.
THE DEADLINE TO FILE THIS FORM FOR THE 2023-2024 ASSESSMENT ROLL ENDS AUGUST 1. To apply for a reduction for the 2023-2024 Assessment Roll please visit the Assessor's website after you receive your notification card in June 2023.
Attachements:
Powerpoint Presentation on Understanding Proposition 8 
