Seniors can be Exempt from Parcel Taxes or Postpone Property Taxes
Postpone Property Tax !
California's Property Tax Postponement (PTP) Program will allow seniors
(62 and older) or disabled persons with an annual household income of less
than $35,501 and
have 40 percent equity in the home to
apply for postponement of property taxes on their principal residence.
Applications may be filed with the State Controller beginning October 1, 2016.
Information and the application are posted on the State
Controller's website. FAQ
Taxes Postponed under PTP and interest become due and payable if the:
-
Property is no longer the claimant’s principal place of residence;
-
Claimant dies (and there is no approved surviving spouse);
-
Claimant sells, conveys, or otherwise transfers the property;
-
Claimant becomes delinquent on a senior lien;
-
Claimant refinances or obtains reverse mortgage;
The
interest rate
for all taxes postponed is 7 percent per year. For example, on a
PTP postponement of $5,000 in taxes, the interest would be
$350 per year.
If you apply to the PTP Program and are not approved,
you could be subject to penalties and interest for the current
year taxes. Consult your county tax collector to determine your
liability and best course of action.
Parcel Tax Exemptions
If you pay a parcel tax or special assessment, you may be eligible for
an exemption. Parcel taxes are locally imposed special taxes approved by
voters.
Most of your home's property tax bill is based upon its value, but
parcel taxes are based on the characteristics of the parcel (e.g. the size
of the home or lot).
To find out if you qualify for an exemption, call the local district or agency that imposed
the parcel tax or special assessment listed on your annual property tax bill.
Note: An unofficial county-by-county list
of some parcel taxes and exemptions is available on the California
Tax Foundation website. or Marin
Marin County’s aging emergency communications system $29 per parcel for
single-family residential parcels; $26.10 per unit for multi-family
residential parcels; and if you're in a
County SERVICE AREA (ex. Service Area 19
Paramedic Services $95)
City of San Rafael :-
- special tax by - Community Facilities Loch Lomond
$578 per parcel
- paramedic services max. $108 per residential unit
- Public Library $49
Moving Soon? Transfer Your Property's Taxable Value
If you are 55 years or older, selling your home, and
buying another of equal or lesser value, you may
be eligible to transfer the taxable value on the home
you sell to your new home, avoiding higher property taxes. See Exclusions from
Reappraisal for details.
a person who is over age 55 to sell his or her principal place of residence
and transfer its base year value to a replacement dwelling of equal or lesser
value that is purchased or newly constructed within two years of the sale.
Proposition 60 allows for the transfers of a base year value
within the same county (intracounty).
Proposition 90 allows for the transfers of a base year value
from one county to another county in
California (intercounty) if the county has authorized such a transfer by an
ordinance.
As of December 12, 2017, the following eleven counties in California have an
ordinance enabling the intercounty base year value transfer:
Alameda
San Bernardino
Los Angeles
Orange
Riverside
San Diego
San Mateo
Santa Clara
Tuolumne
Ventura
El Dorado*
recedes Nov 7 2018
If you sell or transfer property to your child
or grandchild, he or she may be able to
pay the property taxes currently being paid on the
property, avoiding higher property taxes. Visit this webpage for more information.
Contact your local County
Assessor to find out if you are
eligible to transfer your property's taxable value.
Disabled Veteran? You May Qualify for a Property Tax Exemption
Depending upon income, 100% disabled veterans and their unmarried surviving
spouses may qualify for a property tax exemption of $124,932 to $187,399 on
their principal residence.
To learn more, visit our disabled
veterans' exemption webpage.
To apply for the Disabled Veterans' Exemption, contact your County
Assessor.
Help with Income and Sales Tax
Need Tax Help? Get Free Income Tax Assistance
The Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program offers free income tax help for
all taxpayers 60 years of age and older. The TCE program specializes in
questions about pensions and retirement-related issues.
To locate the nearest TCE site, use the Internal
Revenue Service's site locator tool or
call 1-800-906-9887. The AARP Foundation's Tax Aide program also offers many TCE
services. Their Tax Aide sites can be located online or by calling 1-888-227-7669.
Visit the IRS
website for more information
about TCE.
Filing Taxes? You May Qualify for Income Tax Credits
If you or your spouse are 65 years or older you may qualify for the Senior
Income Tax Exemption Credit on your California income tax return. This year
seniors will save between $109 (single) and $218 (married) when filing their
2015 California income tax returns.
You may also qualify for the Senior Head of Household Credit equal to 2 percent
of your California taxable income, up to $1,317, if you:
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Are 65 or older as of January 1, 2016, and
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Earned $69,902 or less in 2015, and
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Filed as head of household in either of the previous two years.
Note: California does not tax social
security income, including survivor's benefits and disability benefits. Social
security income may be partially taxable under federal law.
If you have questions about income taxes, contact the Franchise
Tax Board.
Buying Meds? Your Prescriptions are Tax Free
If you purchase prescription medications or prescribed medical equipment like
wheelchairs, eyeglasses, crutches, canes, and walkers, your purchases may not be
subject to tax. Note: this tax exemption is
for all Californians, not just seniors.
If you have been wrongly charged an amount as sales tax on your purchases, contact
BOE office so we can help.
source
California Gov (BOE)
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