Proposition 13 Base Year Value Transfers to Replacement Properties (2024)

Information about available base year value transfers:

  • An applicationmustbe filed with the Assessor's Office in order to receive any of these benefits.
  • Base Year Value Transfer Application formsare available online, or you may request a form by calling (916) 875-0750(8am to 4pm), or by fax at (916) 875-0705.
  • Propositions60/90: Under certain conditions, persons aged 55 and older may transfer the Prop 13 base year value of their principal residence to a replacement residence. This is a one-time-only benefit, with one exception as noted below. (Proposition 60/90, Revenue and Taxation Code 69.5). For more information and a list of participating counties see BOE LTA 2​020/018.
  • Proposition 110: Severely and permanently disabled persons of any age may also be eligible for a base year valuetransfer. This is a one-time only benefit. (Proposition 110, Revenue and Taxation Code 69.5). BOE FAQ Prop 110
  • Proposition 3: Public Entity Acquisition / Eminent Domain. Revenue and Taxation Code section 68.A property owner displaced through eminent domain, public entity acquisition, or a judgment of inverse condemnation may qualify for a base year valuetransfer to replacement property in any California county.See further information and links to BOE resources below.​
  • Property substantially damaged or ​destroyed in a formally declared disaster may qualify for a base year transfer. See below for more information and links to related disaster / calamity web pages.
  • Environmentally contaminated property may qualify for a base year transfer. More information is below and in BOE LTA 2007/047
  • Additional information about each type of base year transfer is below.

​​Important: Voters passed Proposition 19 in November 2020. The portion of that law that affects base year value transfers for persons over 55, severely disabled, or property damaged by a governor-declared disaster is effective 4/1/2021. Transfers that occur prior to that date fall under the provisions of Proposition 60, 90, 110, and 69, respectively.Transfers that occur on or after 4/1​/2021 are subject to the new provisions under Proposition 19. Go to Proposition 19to learn more.Please note that base year value transfers involving properties taken by eminent domain or properties environmentally contaminated are not impacted by Proposition 19​.

Transferring a Principal Residence Value within a County​​

Proposition 60(Revenue and Taxation Code 69.5)

  • Property owners of at least 55 years of age may transfer the base year value of their principal residence to a replacement principal residence. The replacement must be of equal or lesser current market value and located within the same county. Sacramento County does not allow base year transfers from other counties.

The over-55 principal residence base year transfer is a one-time only benefit with one exception: if a claimant becomes physically and permanently disabled after transferring the taxable valueunder the age requirements, the claimant may transfer the taxable value a second time under the disability requirements (Prop 110), if the move is related to the disability. Additional information may be found on the Board of Equalization’s FAQs.

Transferring a Principal Residence Value to a Different County

Proposition 90(Revenue and Taxation Code 69.5)

  • Property owners may be able to transfer their principal residence base year value from Sacramento County to another county, if thatcounty that has adopted an ordinanceallowingsuch transfers. The counties are listed in theBOE LTA 2020/0​18​.Sacramento County has not adopted an ordinance and does not allow base year transfers from other counties.​

Base Year Transfer for Severely and Permanently Disabled Persons

Proposition 110(Revenue and Taxation Code 69.5)

  • Severely and permanently disabled persons who meet certain specific requirements may transfer the base year value of their principal residence to a replacement dwelling of equal or lesser current market value in the same county. There is no age limit. This is a one-time only benefit. Transferring a value to a different county is discussed in the preceding paragraph. Please note that this benefit requires a different form than the age-55 base year transfer. More information may be found on theBoard of Equalization’s FAQs.

Property Taken by Eminent Domain or Acquired by a Government Entity

Proposition 3(Revenue and Taxation Code 68​)​

  • Eminent Domain Brochure
  • A property owner displaced through eminent domain, public entity acquisition, or a judgment of inverse condemnation may transfer the taken property’s base year value to a comparable replacement property in any Californiacounty if all conditions are met.For additional information see the California State Board of Equalization Property Tax Rule 462.500, Letters to Assessors #2005/007(Qualifications and Examples),#2007/021(Taken and Replacement properties may be in different California counties),and#2016/008(Applications filed more than four years after the qualifying dates may receive up to four years of retroactive relief). An application (FormBOE-68​)and documentation are required.

Property Substantially Damaged or Destroyed in a Formally Declared Disaster​

(Revenue and Taxation Code 69)

  • This program should not be confused with Calamity relief. The difference between a Disaster and a Calamity is discussed on the Assessor’s Disaster and Calamity Property Tax Relief webpage.
  • In order to qualify for this base year value transfer under R&T 69, the property must have had​substantial physicaldamageor destroyed by a disaster as declared by the Governor and the replacement property must be located within Sacramento County. Additional requirements also must be met. 'Substantial physicaldamage' is defined as damage in excess of 50% of the market value of the property as it was immediately prior to the disaster.
  • A similar transfer between different counties is allowed if the county where the replacement home is located has adopted an ordinance permitting the transfer. Sacramento County has not adopted an ordinance and does not allow base year transfers from other counties.

Environmentally Contaminated Property​

(Revenue and Taxation Code 69.4)

  • The base year value of qualified contaminated property may be transferred, subject to specific conditions and limitations, to a comparable replacement property of equal or lesser value that is located in the same county and is acquired or newly constructed as a replacement for the contaminated property. For additional information see the Board of Equalization'sLetter To Assess​ors 2007/047- Property Tax Relief - Contaminated Property​​.​

Forms

  • ​An application must be filed with the Assessor's Office in order to receive any of these benefits.Base Year Value Transfer Application forms​are available online​, or you may request a form by calling (916) 875-0750(8am to 4pm), or by fax at (916) 875-0705

Proposition 13 Base Year Value Transfers to Replacement Properties (2024)

FAQs

How do I transfer property tax base in California Prop 13? ›

Information about available base year value transfers: An application must be filed with the Assessor's Office in order to receive any of these benefits. Base Year Value Transfer Application forms are available online, or you may request a form by calling (916) 875-0750 (8am to 4pm), or by fax at (916) 875-0705. ​

How does prop 13 work when you sell your house? ›

Proposition 13, adopted by California voters in 1978, mandates a property tax rate of one percent, requires that properties be assessed at market value at the time of sale, and allows assessments to rise by no more than 2 percent per year until the next sale.

What is Proposition 13 in California for dummies? ›

In 1978, the California Constitution was amended by the voters to restrict increases of property taxes. Proposition 13 requires assessment of each taxable property based on its fair market value and limits a property owner's general levy tax to 1 percent of the assessed value.

What is the factored base year value of prop 13? ›

Prop 13 and Factored Base Year Value

The factored base year value (FBYV) of real property is the market value as of 1975 or as established when the property last changed ownership or was modified due to construction. This amount is then increased by no more than 2% each year (ie: factored) to determine the FBYV.

What does transfer of base year value mean? ›

This base year value transfer is available to a person who is age 55 or older that sells their principal residence (referred to as the original property) and buys or builds a replacement residence (referred to as the replacement property) within two years of the sale of the original property.

Does Prop 13 pass to heirs? ›

Under Prop 19, the only Prop 13 tax base that can be transferred to your children is that of your principal residence to your child—and then your child themselves must live on the property as their principal residence.

What triggers Prop 13 reassessment? ›

Prop 13 rolled back real estate assessments to the March 1, 1975 market values, and limited future property tax increases to a maximum of 2% per year. Generally, transfers of title and new construction are events that trigger reassessments under Prop 13.

Who benefits the most from Prop 13? ›

High–Income Homeowners, Therefore, Receive the Greatest Dollar Amount of Tax Relief. Because higher–income households own more, higher–value homes and Proposition 13 tax relief is proportionate to home wealth, the majority of Proposition 13 tax relief (in dollar terms) goes to higher–income households.

How many times can you transfer your property tax base in California? ›

An eligible homeowner may transfer the taxable value of their home to a replacement property anywhere within California up to three times.

What is the maximum tax increase for Prop 13? ›

California's Proposition 13 caps the growth of a property's assessed value at no more than 2 percent a year unless the market value of a property falls lower.

Why is Prop 13 important to homeowners? ›

Proposition 13 (or "Prop. 13") rolled back most local real estate assessments to 1975 market value levels, limited the property tax rate to 1 percent plus the rate necessary to fund local voter-approved bonded indebtedness, and limited future property tax increases to a maximum of 2% per year.

What year did California pass Proposition 13? ›

Proposition 13 (officially named the People's Initiative to Limit Property Taxation) is an amendment of the Constitution of California enacted during 1978, by means of the initiative process. The initiative was approved by California voters on June 6, 1978 by a nearly two to one margin.

What are the rules for Proposition 13 transfer? ›

Proposition 13 allows a transfer of primary resident between parent and child without reassessing the tax base of the home. To get the benefit, you filed the appropriate form with your county assessor's office after you prepared and filed the deed transferring the property from a parent to a child.

How to avoid property tax reassessment in California? ›

Using The Original Transferor Rule To Delay Reassessment

For example, if A and B Joint Tenants form a revocable trust with each other as beneficiaries, A and B both become Original Transferors. When the property passes to the other upon the death of A or B, the real property is not reassessed.

What is the base year value of a property? ›

A property's factored base year value is determined based on the value of the property in 1975 or the last time a reassessment was performed due to a change in ownership or new construction. This amount may be increased by a maximum of 2% per year, and property taxes will be assessed based on this value.

Which proposition allows certain homeowners to transfer their property tax base to another home? ›

Proposition 19 is a constitutional amendment that limits people who inherit family properties from keeping the low property tax base unless they use the home as their own primary residence, but it also allows homeowners who are over 55 years of age, disabled, or victims of a wildfire or natural disaster to transfer the ...

How does California property tax transfer for seniors work? ›

Owner must be at least 55 years of age. Both original and replacement properties must be utilized as a principal residence. Replacement residence must be purchased or newly constructed within two years of the sale of the original property. Location of replacement home can be anywhere in California.

How do I transfer property from a trust in California? ›

The trustee will need to sign the deed, get it notarized, and record it with the county within which the property is situated. Recording the deed officially transfers ownership from the trust to the new owner.

Who pays transfer tax in California buyer or seller? ›

In California, sellers traditionally have paid this tax – but they are not legally required to do so. Government authorities do not care who pays the tax as long as it gets paid – so this can lead to disagreements that can negatively impact the sales process.

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