Homeowners’ Exemption
There is no charge for filing for the Homeowners’ Exemption. New property owners will automatically receive an exemption application in the mail.
If you own and occupy your home as your principal place of residence, you may be eligible for an exemption of up to $7,000 off the property’s assessed value, resulting in a property tax savings of approximately $70 to $80 annually.
In order to qualify, you must be a property owner, co-owner or a purchaser named in a contract of sale. You must occupy your home as your principal place of residence as January 1 of each year.
A dwelling does not qualify for the exemption if it is, or is intended to be, rented, vacant and unoccupied, or the vacation or secondary home of the claimant.
For the year in which you occupy the dwelling on lien date (January 1), the full exemption is available if you file by 5:00 p.m. on the following February 15.
If you file a claim between the following February 16 and 5:00 p.m. on December 10, 80% of the exemption is available.
The homeowners’ exemption may be applied to a supplemental assessment.
California law provides for only one Homeowners’ Exemption per owner at their principal place of residence, so a second home would not qualify for the exemption.
You may simultaneously file the Request to Remove Homeowners’ Exemption Form for the old property and the Homeowners’ Exemption Claim Form for the new.
Unfortunately, late filings cannot be applied to prior years, however, a portion of the exemption, up to $5,600, may be allowed for the following year.