The fee schedule for both common services provided by the Assessor's Office such as maps and property characteristics for individual properties as well as complex requests such as purchases of portions of the Assessment Roll, etc.
On November 3 voters approved Proposition 19 (Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act), which makes sweeping changes to a property owner’s ability to transfer their Proposition 13 Assessed Value. The measure generally expands a qualifying homeowners ability to transfers their assessed value and narrows the property tax benefits provided to inheritors of commercial and residential properties. The measure also adds new transfer provisions for victims of disasters and individuals severely handicapped.
Proposition 19 also substantially modifies and in some instances eliminates portions the following initiatives:
- Propositions 58 and 193: Excludes transfers between parent and child (58) or grandparent and grandchild (193) from reassessment
- Propositions 60 and 90: Homeowners 55+ years of age can sell their primary residence and transfer the base year value of that property to a replacement residence if certain conditions are met. Proposition 60 applies to intra-county transfers, while Proposition 90 applies to inter-county transfers under certain conditions
- Proposition 110: Severely disabled persons can transfer the base year value of their primary residence to a replacement residence if certain conditions are met.
Status of Implementation
The measure, which was hastily passed by the legislature in less than a week and put on the November 2020 ballot, changed the state constitution but did not provide implementing statutes. Moreover, portions of the approved language changes are ambiguous, unclear and/or conflicting. As a result, Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone was appointed by the California Assessors’ Association (CAA), along with four other Assessors, to an ad-hoc committee of the CAA to help bring clarity to how Proposition 19 will be implemented uniformly by Assessors Statewide. The committee has enlisted subject matter experts and attorneys throughout California and is working closely with the Board of Equalization to provide guidance and where necessary recommend passage, on an urgency basis, of implementing statutes.
This page will be continuously modified as updates are available.
Summary
As described in the voters informational guide “All homeowners who are over 55 (or who meet other qualifications) would be eligible for property tax savings when they move. Only inherited properties used as primary homes or farms would be eligible for property tax savings.” To provide a synopsis of the key provisions below are excerpts of information provided by the state’s independent Legislative Analysis Office.
Disclaimer
This information is intended to provide a general summary of Proposition 19. It is not intended to be a legal interpretation or official guidance, or relied upon for any purpose, but is instead a presentation of summary information. Proposition 19 is a constitutional amendment, so additional legislation, regulations, and statewide guidance are expected to clarify its implementation. If there is a conflict between the information provided here and the proposition or any legal authorities implementing or interpreting the proposition, the text of the proposition and the other implementing or interpretive authorities will prevail. Please continue to visit our website or the website of the State Board of Equalization for more information. We encourage you to consult an attorney for advice on your specific situation. The advice below is subject to change
EXPANDED PORTABILITY FOR TRANSFERRING BASE YEAR VALUE TO NEW HOME
Effective April 1, 2021* Proposition 19 permits eligible homeowners (defined as over 55, severely disabled, or whose homes were destroyed by wildfire or disaster) to transfer their primary residence’s property tax base value to a replacement residence of any value, anywhere in the state.
Under Proposition 19 and pending clarity from the legislature and the Board of Equalization Eligible homeowners can:
- Keep their lower property tax bill when moving to another home anywhere in the state.
- Use the special rules to move to a more expensive home. Their property tax bill would still go up but not by as much as it would be for other homebuyers.
- Use the special rules three times in their lifetime. (for Governor declared disaster victims, there is no limit on the number of times the benefit can be used.)
The provisions of Proposition 60 and Proposition 90 sunset on March 31* and to receive the benefits of these propositions the homeowner must have sold and purchased the new home by March 31. Please note that in Santa Clara County March 31 is a holiday and the Recorder’s office is closed.
To receive the expanded portability benefits of Proposition 19, homeowners must complete at least one of the transactions on or after April 1. Property owners have two years from the transfer of the first property to complete the second transaction.
Proposition 19 also supplements existing transfer provisions exclusively for victims of wildfire or disaster and owners who are “severely disabled.” Upon implementation taxpayers will have to determine and apply for those provisions which are most advantageous for their circumstances
Application forms for Proposition 19 are required to be submitted to the Assessor in which the replacement property is located. A non-refundable processing fee of $110 is required in Santa Clara County. Checks should be made out to County of Santa Clara. Credit card payments for the processing fee are accepted in person at our office. We accept VISA, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
FAQ: Base Year Transfer
Q: I sold my home (or bought my new home) before April 1, 2021, if I buy my new home/completed new construction (or sold my old home) on or after April 1, can I transfer my prior homes low assessed value to the new home?
Yes, as long as you are on or over the age of 55 (or otherwise qualifying) and the second transactions occurs within two years from the date of the first transfer.
Q: I sold my prior home, which had an assessed value of $300,000 in June 2019 for $2 Million and plan to buy my new home in May 2021 for $2,200,000; Prior to Proposition 19 the law allowed carrying the low assessed value as long as the purchase price was within 110%, does the same apply in Proposition 19?
A: No. The prior law, Proposition 60 and 90, ended on March 31. In the above example the Assessed value would increase from $300,000 to $500,000, the difference between the two purchase prices.
On February 1, 2021 the BOE published answers to many commonly asked questions. The FAQ are available at https://www.boe.ca.gov/prop19/#FAQs and are being updated regularly
Board of Equalization: Proposition 19 compared to old law (as of 1/17/21)
NARROWED SPECIAL RULES FOR INHERITED PROPERTIES.
Starting February 16, 2021*, Proposition 19 narrows substantially the property tax benefits for inherited properties. Specifically, the measure:
Narrows the Assessed Value that can be transferred to two kinds of inherited property: Property used continuously by the child or grandchild as a primary home or property held as a family farm.
The Assessed Value for an inherited home or farm would go up if the price of the property could be sold for exceeds the property’s assessed value by more than $1 million (adjusted for inflation every two years). Two examples best illustrate:
- For example, if the Assessed Value (AV) were $250,000 and the market value when transferred was $1 million, the children would retain the $250,000 assessed value.
- Alternatively, If the market value exceeds this limit ($1M plus the prior Assessed Value), partial relief is available. For example, a family home that has an assessed value of $300,000 with a market value of $2,500,000 when transferred will result in a new assessed value to the children of $1,500,000. The Proposition 19 benefit methodology is as follows: $300,000 AV + $1,000,000 (Proposition 19 benefit) = $1,300,000. The difference between the market value of $2,500,000 compared to $1,300,000 is $1,200,000. This amount is added to the $300,000 AV. Thus, the adjusted base year value is $1,500,000.
Effective February 15, 2021* Proposition 58 and 193 are retired from the State Constitution. These provisions provided generous property tax benefits to inheritors of homes and commercial properties. Properties transferred after February 15 will be subject to Proposition 19’s limited benefits. The Assessor will accept documents notarized or recorded as long as one of them is on or before February 16.
FAQ: Parent Child Transfer
Q: Prop 19 makes the previous parent-child exclusion operative for purchases or transfers that occur on or before February 15, 2021. Since February 15, 2021 is a state holiday, are purchases or transfers that occur on February 16, 2021 eligible for the previous parent-child exclusion?
A: Yes, except for transfers of property by inheritance. The Assessor will accept documents notarized or recorded as long as one of them is on or before February 16.
Q: Prop 19 requires that a family home continue as the family home of the transferee. Must the family home continue as the family home of all transferees?
A: No, only one transferee needs to maintain the family home as his or her principal residence.
Q: Prop 19 requires that a family home continue as the family home of the transferee. By what date must a transferee establish the family home as her family home?
A: The transferee must establish the family home as her family home within one year of the purchase or transfer of the family home.
Q: How do I calculate property tax impact of transferring principal residence to a child or grandchild??
A: The formula in Proposition 19 is complex. To help taxpayers better understand the ramification of parent child transfers under Proposition 19 the Assessor’s Office has created an online estimator. This tool approximates the supplemental assessment(s) and the subsequent regular roll assessment due to a hypothetical transfer of ownership of principal residence from parent to child or grandparent to grandchild. To use this tool go to Prop 19 Assessment Estimator.
Q: Prop 19 makes the parent-child exclusion applicable to family farms. Must a family farm also be the principal residence of the transferee?
A: No, the family farm does not need to be the principal residence of the transferee to qualify for the parent-child exclusion.
On February 1, 2021 the BOE published answers to many commonly asked questions. The FAQ are available at https://www.boe.ca.gov/prop19/#FAQs and are being updated regularly
DISASTER RELIEF PORTIONS OF PROPOSITION 19
Board of Equalization: Proposition 19 compared to old law (as of 1/17/21)
*IMPORTANT: Due to County holidays, the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office and Assessor’s Office are closed Monday, February 15, 2021 and Wednesday, March 31; therefore ownership documents should be recorded as soon as possible.
Resources
CA Board of (BOE)
BOE - Prop 19 (2020) information
LTA 2020-061 Proposition 19
Links
Prop 19 Parent Child On-Line Calculator
Proposition 19 Parent-Child Workshop
Proposition 58/193
Proposition 58 media release
Proposition 60/90
Useful Attachments
Board of Equalization Legal Analysis
California Assessors’ Association Memo to Board of Equalization 12-14-20
Ballot Language
Ballot title, Summary and Analysis
Related Attachments
On November 3, 2020, voters approved Proposition 19 (Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act), which makes sweeping changes to a property owner’s ability to transfer their Proposition 13 Assessed Value. Those changes included broad provisions that superseded prior laws for transferring the assessed value from Parents and Grandparents to children and Grandchildren.
Proposition 19 was hastily passed by the legislature in less than a week and put on the November 2020 ballot. While it changed the state constitution it did not provide implementing statutes. Moreover, portions of the approved language changes are ambiguous, unclear and/or conflicting. As a result, Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone was appointed by the California Assessors’ Association (CAA), to an ad-hoc committee of the CAA to help bring clarity to how Proposition 19 will be implemented uniformly by Assessors Statewide. The committee has enlisted subject matter experts and attorneys throughout California and is working closely with the Board of Equalization to provide guidance and where necessary passage, on an urgency basis, of implementing statutes and binding Board of Equalization rules.
In the absence of Rules and implementing Statutes the Assessor, as of February 16, 2021 is implementing Proposition 19 as described below.
Summary
Effective February 16, 2021 Proposition 19 limits property tax increases on family homes used as a primary residence by allowing parents to pass on their family home to their children for continued use as a primary residence. 
Specifically, it permits transfers of a family home, or family farm, between parents and their children or grandparents and their grandchildren without causing a change in ownership for property tax purposes. Effectively, the Assessor excludes the otherwise reassessable change in ownership transfer from Assessment.
Do I Qualify for Prop 19?
To qualify for a Proposition 19 parent to child transfer, a few criteria must be met. First, the date the property is legally conveyed to the heirs must occur on or after February 16, 2021. Second both the parents prior to the transfer and at least one child after the transfer must be the principal resident within one year of the transfer. Third, the amount transferred is limited as described below.
The requirements, as of February 16, 2021, for Proposition 19 exclusion include, but are not limited to:
- Purchase or transfer of a family home between parents and their children if the property continues as the family home of the transferee. At least of the children (beneficiaries) must live in the home as their primary residence for the exclusion to qualify.
- To qualify, the child must be eligible for the homeowners’ or disabled veterans’ exemption with the exemption applied for within one year of transfer or purchase. Similarly, the parent must also be eligible for the homeowners’ or disabled veterans’ exemption within one year of transfer or purchase. If the parent/child did not receive the above exemption but was otherwise eligible they can still apply for the benefit by demonstrating the home was their principal residence.
- For a family farm, our current interpretation as of April 1, 2021 is that there is no requirement that the family farm contain a home that the transferee lives in to qualify.
- To qualify, the assessed value of the home upon purchase or transfer must meet a value test. The Assessor’s Office has created a calculator to help homeowners estimate the potential savings; to access click https://www.sccassessor.org/index.php/online-services/prop19-calculate. The value limit is equal to the home’s taxable value at time of transfer plus $1 million. Any amount of market value exceeding the limit is added to the taxable value for the transferee. Partial relief is granted under the parent child exclusion up to the value limit; with the remainder assessed at market value.
- The $1 million allowance will be adjusted annually beginning in 2023.The principal claimant or the claimant's spouse who resides with the claimant must be at least 55 years of age at the time the original residence is sold. The claimant must be an owner on record of both the original and replacement residences.
- Claims must be filed within three years from the date the replacement residence is purchased or newly constructed to receive full relief. Claims filed after the three-year time period will receive Prospective Relief only. Heirs must complete the claim form and meet the exemptions requirement within the first year following the date of transfer.
- The exclusion for transfers between Grandparents and grandchildren are the same rules as described above except in order to qualify the parents of the grandchild must be deceased.
- Special rules apply to multi-unit dwellings and mobile homes and more information is available in the FAQ. Alternatively, please email our office at https://www.sccassessor.org/index.php/about-us/about-our-accessor/email-the-assessor-s-office or contact us at 408-299-5500.
Proposition 58 and 193
Both Proposition 58 and 193 expired on February 15, 2021. Properties transferred after February 15, 2021 will be subject to the more narrow provisions of Proposition 19. Properties transferred prior to February 16 can apply for Proposition 58/193. As long as the date of transfer is on or before February 15, 2021, the transfer will qualify for the Proposition 58/193 exclusion. Property Tax Rule 462.260 makes clear that the recordation date of a deed is rebuttably presumed to be the transfer date. This means that if evidence is shown that the transfer occurred prior to the recordation date, the assessor should accept that earlier date. Such evidence could be, for example, the date of a notarized document of transfer, such as a deed.
Calculating the benefit, an example:
In this example, a single-family residence has a factored base year value of $200,000. Parent dies on March 1, 2021, and property is inherited by parent’s only child. The property was the principal residence of both parents and child. On parent’s date of death, property has a fair market value of $1,800,000.
1-Calculate the sum of factored based year value plus $1,000,000
$200,000 + $1,000,000 = $1,200,000
2-Determine whether the assessed value exceeds the sum of the factored base year value plus $1,000,000
$1,800,000 is greater than $1,200,000
3-Calculate the difference
$1,800,000 - $1,200,000 = $600,000
4-Add difference to factored base year value
$200,000 + $600,000 = $800,000 (New combined base year value)
How Do I Apply?
Parent to Child Application forms for Proposition 19 are required to be submitted to the Assessor. Click here for the Parent-Child Transfer Exclusion (Proposition 19), BOE-19-P or Grandparent-Grandchild Transfer Exclusion (Proposition 19), BOE 19-G.
FAQ
For a list of commonly asked question and answers go to https://www.sccassessor.org/index.php/faq/general-questions
Proposition 19
Additional Information about Proposition 19, including the current guidelines or status of changes in the law or rules are available at https://www.sccassessor.org/index.php/tax-savings/transferring-your-assessed-value/prop19 or https://www.boe.ca.gov/prop19/#Introduction.
Disclaimer
This information is intended to provide a general summary of Proposition 19. It is not intended to be a legal interpretation or official guidance, or relied upon for any purpose, but is instead a presentation of summary information. Proposition 19 is a constitutional amendment, so additional legislation, regulations, and statewide guidance are expected to clarify its implementation. If there is a conflict between the information provided here and the proposition or any legal authorities implementing or interpreting the proposition, the text of the proposition and the other implementing or interpretive authorities will prevail. Please continue to visit our website or the website of the State Board of Equalization for more information. We encourage you to consult an attorney for advice on your specific situation. The advice below is subject to change.
2022 February Poposition 19 webpage update
On November 3, 2020, voters approved Proposition 19 (Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families and Victims of Wildfire or Natural Disasters Act), which makes sweeping changes to a property owner’s ability to transfer their Proposition 13 Assessed Value. The measure generally expands a qualifying homeowners ability to transfers their assessed value and narrows the property tax benefits provided to inheritors of commercial and residential properties. The measure also adds new transfer provisions for victims of disasters and individuals severely handicapped.
Proposition 19 also substantially modifies and in some instances eliminates portions the following initiatives:
- Propositions 58 and 193: Excludes transfers between parent and child (58) or grandparent and grandchild (193) from reassessment
- Propositions 60 and 90: Homeowners 55+ years of age can sell their primary residence and transfer the base year value of that property to a replacement residence if certain conditions are met. Proposition 60 applies to intra-county transfers, while Proposition 90 applies to inter-county transfers under certain conditions
- Proposition 110: Severely disabled persons can transfer the base year value of their primary residence to a replacement residence if certain conditions are met.
Status of Implementation
The measure, which was hastily passed by the legislature in less than a week and put on the November 2020 ballot, changed the state constitution but did not provide implementing statutes. Moreover, portions of the approved language changes are ambiguous, unclear and/or conflicting. As a result, Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone was appointed by the California Assessors’ Association (CAA), along with four other Assessors, to an ad-hoc committee of the CAA to help bring clarity to how Proposition 19 will be implemented uniformly by Assessors Statewide. The committee has enlisted subject matter experts and attorneys throughout California and is working closely with the Board of Equalization to provide guidance and where necessary recommend passage, on an urgency basis, of implementing statutes.
This page will be continuously modified as updates are available.
Summary
As described in the voters informational guide “All homeowners who are over 55 (or who meet other qualifications) would be eligible for property tax savings when they move. Only inherited properties used as primary homes or farms would be eligible for property tax savings.” To provide a synopsis of the key provisions below are excerpts of information provided by the state’s independent Legislative Analysis Office.
Disclaimer
This information is intended to provide a general summary of Proposition 19. It is not intended to be a legal interpretation or official guidance, or relied upon for any purpose, but is instead a presentation of summary information. Proposition 19 is a constitutional amendment, so additional legislation, regulations, and statewide guidance are expected to clarify its implementation. If there is a conflict between the information provided here and the proposition or any legal authorities implementing or interpreting the proposition, the text of the proposition and the other implementing or interpretive authorities will prevail. Please continue to visit our website or the website of the State Board of Equalization for more information. We encourage you to consult an attorney for advice on your specific situation. The advice below is subject to change
EXPANDED PORTABILITY FOR TRANSFERRING BASE YEAR VALUE TO NEW HOME
Effective April 1, 2021* Proposition 19 permits eligible homeowners (defined as over 55, severely disabled, or whose homes were destroyed by wildfire or disaster) to transfer their primary residence’s property tax base value to a replacement residence of any value, anywhere in the state.
Under Proposition 19 and pending clarity from the legislature and the Board of Equalization Eligible homeowners can:
- Keep their lower property tax bill when moving to another home anywhere in the state.
- Use the special rules to move to a more expensive home. Their property tax bill would still go up but not by as much as it would be for other homebuyers.
- Use the special rules three times in their lifetime. (for Governor declared disaster victims, there is no limit on the number of times the benefit can be used.)
The provisions of Proposition 60 and Proposition 90 sunset on March 31, 2021, and to receive the benefits of these propositions the homeowner must have sold and purchased the new home by March 31, 2021.
To receive the expanded portability benefits of Proposition 19, homeowners must complete at least one of the transactions on or after April 1, 2021. Property owners have two years from the transfer of the first property to complete the second transaction.
Proposition 19 also supplements existing transfer provisions exclusively for victims of wildfire or disaster and owners who are “severely disabled.” Upon implementation taxpayers will have to determine and apply for those provisions which are most advantageous for their circumstances
Application forms for Proposition 19 are required to be submitted to the Assessor in which the replacement property is located. A non-refundable processing fee of $110 is required in Santa Clara County. Checks should be made out to County of Santa Clara. Credit card payments for the processing fee are accepted in person at our office. We accept VISA, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express.
FAQ: Base Year Transfer
Q: I sold my home (or bought my new home) before April 1, 2021, if I buy my new home/completed new construction (or sold my old home) on or after April 1, 2021, can I transfer my prior homes low assessed value to the new home?
A: Yes, as long as you are on or over the age of 55 (or otherwise qualifying) and the second transactions occurs within two years from the date of the first transfer.
Q: I sold my prior home, which had an assessed value of $300,000 in June 2019 for $2 Million and plan to buy my new home in May 2021 for $2,200,000; Prior to Proposition 19 the law allowed carrying the low assessed value as long as the purchase price was within 110%, does the same apply in Proposition 19?
A: Yes, in the above example the Assessed value would remain $300,000 factored by the CCPI for 2 years.
On February 1, 2021 the BOE published answers to many commonly asked questions. The FAQ are available at https://www.boe.ca.gov/prop19/#FAQs and are being updated regularly
Board of Equalization: Proposition 19 compared to old law (as of 1/17/21)
NARROWED SPECIAL RULES FOR INHERITED PROPERTIES.
Starting February 16, 2021, Proposition 19 narrows substantially the property tax benefits for inherited properties. Specifically, the measure:
Narrows the Assessed Value that can be transferred to two kinds of inherited property: Property used continuously by the child or grandchild as a primary home or property held as a family farm.
The Assessed Value for an inherited home or farm would go up if the price of the property could be sold for exceeds the property’s assessed value by more than $1 million (adjusted for inflation every two years). Example below (BOE LTA 2021/054):
- Example 3: Excess Amount Calculation. On March 1, 2021, Parents' principal residence has a factored base year value of $250,000. The Excluded Amount is $1,250,000 ($1,000,000 plus $250,000 Property Tax Rule 462.520 factored base year value). Parents transfer 100 percent interest in their principal residence to Child on March 1, 2021.
- Examples 3-1 and 3-2 demonstrate alternatives using the facts described in Example 3.
- Example 3-1: Zero Excess Amount. The principal residence has a full cash value of $900,000 on the date of transfer. Since $900,000 is less than the $1,250,000 Excluded Amount, the Excess Amount is zero. Therefore, the New Taxable Value on the date of transfer is the factored base year value of $250,000.
- Example 3-2: Excess Amount. The principal residence has a full cash value of $1,300,000 on the date of transfer. Since $1,300,000 is greater than the $1,250,000 Excluded Amount, there is an Excess Amount of $50,000. Therefore, the New Taxable Value of the principal residence on the date of transfer is $300,000 ($250,000 factored base year value plus $50,000 Excess Amount).
Proposition 19 repealed the former parent-child and grandparent-grandchild exclusions that were added by Propositions 58 (1986) and 193 (1996). These exclusions are now inoperative as of February 16, 2021, and are only effective for parent-child or grandparent-grandchild transfers that occurred on or before February 15, 2021.
FAQ: Parent Child Transfer
Q: Prop 19 makes the previous parent-child exclusion operative for purchases or transfers that occur on or before February 15, 2021. Since February 15, 2021 is a state holiday, are purchases or transfers that occur on February 16, 2021 eligible for the previous parent-child exclusion?
A: Yes, except for transfers of property by inheritance. The Assessor will accept documents notarized or recorded as long as one of them is on or before February 16, 2021.
Q: Prop 19 requires that a family home continue as the family home of the transferee. Must the family home continue as the family home of all transferees?
A: No, only one transferee needs to maintain the family home as his or her principal residence.
Q: Prop 19 requires that a family home continue as the family home of the transferee. By what date must a transferee establish the family home as her family home?
A: The transferee must establish the family home as her family home within one year of the purchase or transfer of the family home.
Q: How do I calculate property tax impact of transferring principal residence to a child or grandchild??
A: The formula in Proposition 19 is complex. To help taxpayers better understand the ramification of parent child transfers under Proposition 19 the Assessor’s Office has created an online estimator. This tool approximates the supplemental assessment(s) and the subsequent regular roll assessment due to a hypothetical transfer of ownership of principal residence from parent to child or grandparent to grandchild. To use this tool, go enter the requested Base Year Value (BYV) and Fair Market Value (FMV) information in theProp 19 Assessment Estimator.
Q: Prop 19 makes the parent-child exclusion applicable to family farms. Must a family farm also be the principal residence of the transferee?
A: No, the family farm does not need to be the principal residence of the transferee to qualify for the parent-child exclusion.
The BOE published answers to many commonly asked questions. The FAQ are available at https://www.boe.ca.gov/prop19/#FAQs and are being updated regularly
DISASTER RELIEF PORTIONS OF PROPOSITION 19
Board of Equalization: Proposition 19 compared to old law (as of 1/17/21)
Resources
CA Board of (BOE)
BOE - Prop 19 (2020) information
LTA 2020-061 Proposition 19
Links
Prop 19 Parent Child On-Line Calculator
Proposition 19 Parent-Child Workshop
Proposition 58/193
Proposition 58 media release
Proposition 60/90
Useful Attachments
Board of Equalization Legal Analysis
California Assessors’ Association Memo to Board of Equalization 12-14-20
Ballot Language
Ballot title, Summary and Analysis
Related Attachments
