CHAPTER 1.3. Distribution of Proceeds From Sale of Tax-Deeded Property [4671. - 4676.]

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC 1.3.

in effect

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 4671. Section 4671.

As used in this chapter, “taxes” includes all liens determined by the application of an ad valorem tax rate which were, at the time of declaration of default, included in the amount necessary to redeem the property under Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4101) of Part 7.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 4671.3. Section 4671.3.

As used in this chapter, “assessments” includes all liens other than taxes which were, at the time of declaration of default, included in the amount necessary to redeem the property under Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4101) of Part 7, and included in the amount necessary to redeem the property from sale to any taxing agency entitled to share in the proceeds.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 4672. Section 4672.

(a) There shall be distributed to the State of California, to be placed in the General Fund, one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) for all or any portion of each separately valued parcel of real property that is both subject to a power of sale pursuant to Section 3691 and sold to private parties or to a taxing agency. (b) The one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) required to be distributed, pursuant to subdivision (a), shall be paid from the total proceeds of the sale. If the total amount of proceeds from the sale is insufficient, the one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) shall be reduced accordingly.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 4672.1. Section 4672.1.

(a) There shall be distributed to the county general fund to reimburse the county for the cost of conducting the sale, one hundred fifty dollars ($150) for all or any portion of each separately valued parcel of real property subject to a power of sale pursuant to Section 3691 and sold to private parties or to a taxing agency. (b) The one hundred fifty dollars ($150) required to be distributed pursuant to subdivision (a), shall be paid from the total proceeds of the sale only after satisfaction of the amount specified in Section 4672. If the amount of proceeds from the sale is insufficient, the one hundred fifty dollars ($150) shall be reduced accordingly.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 4672.2. Section 4672.2.

There shall be distributed to the county general fund any fee collected to reimburse the county for its actual and reasonable costs incurred in giving notice pursuant to Sections 3701 and 3799 for all or any portion of each separately valued parcel of real property subject to a power of sale pursuant to Section 3691 and sold to private parties or to taxing agencies. The notice fee for property sold shall be paid from the total amount to be distributed after satisfaction of the amounts specified in Sections 4672 and 4672.1. If the amount is insufficient, the notice fee shall be reduced accordingly.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 4672.3. Section 4672.3.

(a) To reimburse the county for the costs of a personal contact, there shall be distributed to the tax collector a sum equal to the total amount of the actual and reasonable costs incurred by the tax collector in conducting the personal contact pursuant to Section 3704.7, for all or any portion of each separately valued parcel of real property subject to a power of sale and sold to private parties or a taxing agency. (b) The amount of the costs shall be paid from the total amount to be distributed from the sold property, after satisfaction of the amount specified in Section 4672. If, after satisfaction of the amount specified in Section 4672, there is insufficient funds to pay the costs specified in subdivision (a), the costs shall be reduced accordingly.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 4673. Section 4673.

Amounts to reimburse the county for the cost of advertising sales of tax-defaulted property shall be distributed to the county general fund as provided in Section 3719.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 4673.1. Section 4673.1.

After satisfaction of the amount specified in Sections 4672, 4672.1, and 4673, the proceeds shall be distributed as follows: (a) An amount of the proceeds up to but no greater than the amount required, at the time of sale, to redeem the property from tax default, the outstanding balance of any property tax postponement loan, and the sale to any taxing agency entitled to share in the proceeds shall be distributed as follows: (1) A pro rata share shall be distributed to each assessment fund in an amount bearing the same proportion as the assessment due each fund bears to the total amount of taxes and assessments necessary to redeem the property at the time of sale. (2) After distributing the proceeds according to paragraph (1), a pro rata share shall be distributed to each tax fund in an amount bearing the same proportion to the balance remaining as the tax rate for each fund bears to the total tax rate applicable to the property for the fiscal year preceding that in which the property was sold. (3) The remaining balance of the proceeds to be distributed under this section after distributing the proceeds according to paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be distributed to the state controller for the outstanding balance of any property tax postponement loan. (b) After satisfaction of the amounts specified in subdivision (a), an amount of the proceeds necessary to satisfy current taxes and assessments and applicable penalties and costs thereon for the fiscal year in which the tax sale is held shall be distributed as provided in Chapter 1a (commencing with Section 4653) of this part. Current taxes and assessments referred to herein include taxes and assessments which would have been levied on the property if the property were not tax-deeded to any taxing agency and remains subject to sale by, or redemption from, the taxing agency. (c) For purposes of this section, the “outstanding balance of any property tax postponement loan” is the sum of the following: (1) The tax payments made by the State Controller’s office on behalf of the claimant in the Property Tax Postponement Program. (2) Accrued interest pursuant to Section 16183 of the Government Code, subject to Sections 20644 and 20644.5. (3) Other associated fees and penalties as deemed appropriate by law. (4) Less any payments already made on the property tax postponement loan.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 4674. Section 4674.

Any excess in the proceeds deposited in the delinquent tax sale trust fund remaining after satisfaction of the amounts distributed under Sections 4672, 4672.1, 4672.2, 4673, and 4673.1 shall be retained in the fund on account of, and may be claimed by parties of interest in the property as provided in, Section 4675. At the expiration of the period specified in subdivision (e) of Section 4675, any excess proceeds not claimed under Section 4675 may be transferred to the county general fund of the county by the county auditor, except that prior to the transfer, the county may deduct those costs of maintaining the redemption and tax-defaulted property files, and those costs of administering and processing the claims for excess proceeds, that have not been recovered under any other law.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 4675. Section 4675.

(a) (1) Any party of interest in the property may file with the county a claim for the excess proceeds, in proportion to that person’s interest held with others of equal priority in the property at the time of sale, at any time prior to the expiration of one year following the recordation of the tax collector’s deed to the purchaser. (2) The claim shall be postmarked on or before the one-year expiration date to be considered timely. The claim shall be deposited in the United States mail in a sealed envelope, properly addressed with the required postage, or deposited for shipment, with an independent delivery service that is an Internal Revenue Service designated delivery service or that has been approved by the tax collector, in a sealed envelope or package, properly addressed with the required fee prepaid. The claim shall be deemed received on the date shown by the post office cancellation mark stamped upon the envelope containing the claim, or on the independent delivery service shipment date shown on the packing slip or air bill attached to the outside of the envelope or package containing the claim. If a claim deposited in the United States mail does not contain an official postmark, the date of filing shall be the date received by the county treasurer-tax collector’s office. (b) After the property has been sold, a party of interest in the property at the time of the sale may assign their right to claim the excess proceeds only by a dated, written instrument that explicitly states that the right to claim the excess proceeds is being assigned, and only after each party to the proposed assignment has disclosed to each other party to the proposed assignment all facts of which that party is aware relating to the value of the right that is being assigned. Any attempted assignment that does not comply with these requirements shall have no effect. This subdivision applies only with respect to assignments on or after the effective date of this subdivision. (c) Any person or entity who in any way acts on behalf of, or in place of, any party of interest with respect to filing a claim for any excess proceeds shall submit proof with the claim that the amount and source of excess proceeds have been disclosed to the party of interest and that the party of interest has been advised of their right to file a claim for the excess proceeds on their own behalf directly with the county at no cost. (d) The claims shall contain any information and proof deemed necessary by the board of supervisors to establish the claimant’s rights to all or any portion of the excess proceeds. (e) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no sooner than one year following the recordation of the tax collector’s deed to the purchaser, and if the excess proceeds have been claimed by any party of interest as provided herein, the excess proceeds shall be distributed on order of the board of supervisors to the parties of interest who have claimed the excess proceeds in the order of priority set forth in subdivisions (a) and (b). For the purposes of this article, parties of interest and their order of priority are: (A) First, lienholders of record prior to the recordation of the tax deed to the purchaser in the order of their priority. (B) Second, any person with title of record to all or any portion of the property prior to the recordation of the tax deed to the purchaser. (2) (A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the board of supervisors has been petitioned to rescind the tax sale pursuant to Section 3731, any excess proceeds shall not be distributed to the parties of interest as provided by paragraph (1) sooner than one year following the date the board of supervisors determines the tax sale should not be rescinded, and only if the person who petitioned the board of supervisors pursuant to Section 3731 has not commenced a proceeding in court pursuant to Section 3725. (B) If a proceeding has been commenced in a court pursuant to Section 3725, any excess proceeds shall not be distributed to the parties of interest as provided by paragraph (1) until a final court order is issued. (f) In the event that a person with title of record is deceased at the time of the distribution of the excess proceeds, the heirs may submit an affidavit pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 13100) of Part 1 of Division 8 of the Probate Code, to support their claim for excess proceeds. (g) Any action or proceeding to review the decision of the board of supervisors, or the county officer to whom the board delegated authority pursuant to Section 4675.1, to accept or deny the claim shall be commenced within 90 days after the date of that decision of the board of supervisors or the county officer.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 4675.1. Section 4675.1.

The board of supervisors of any county may, by resolution, authorize any county officers to perform on its behalf any act required or authorized to be performed by the board of supervisors under Section 4675. The resolution shall enumerate the section, or those portions of the section, to which the authorization is to apply, and shall specify administrative rules and procedures concerning any act performed under the authorization. The resolution shall require that the county auditor record each act performed under the authorization. The resolution may provide for review by the board of supervisors of any act performed under the authorization, or for periodic reports to the board of supervisors of any or all acts performed under the authorization, or both.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 4676. Section 4676.

(a) When excess proceeds from the sale of tax-defaulted property exceed one hundred fifty dollars ($150), the county shall provide notice of the right to claim the excess proceeds, as provided in this section. (b) No later than 90 days after the sale of the property, the county shall mail written notice of the right to claim excess proceeds to the last known mailing address of parties of interest, as defined in Section 4675. The county shall make a reasonable effort to obtain the name and last known mailing address of parties of interest. (c) If the last known address of a party of interest cannot be obtained, the county shall publish notice of the right to claim excess proceeds in a newspaper of general circulation in the county. Publication is not required if the cost to publish is equal to or greater than the amount of the excess proceeds. The notice shall be published once a week for three successive weeks and shall commence no later than 90 days after the sale of the property. (d) The cost of obtaining the name and last known mailing address of parties of interest and of mailing or publishing the notices required under this section shall be deducted from the excess proceeds and shall be distributed to the county general fund.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026