CHAPTER 2. Effect of Tax [2186. - 2196.]

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC 2.
in effect

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2188.1. Section 2188.1.

Every tax on improvements assessed to a person other than the assessee of the land on which they are located may become a lien on the real property of the owner of such improvements or be assessed on the unsecured roll. In order for such tax on improvements to be a lien on any parcel of real property of the owner of such improvements, the fact of such lien must be indicated on the secured roll where any such parcel of real property is listed.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2188.2. Section 2188.2.

Whenever improvements are owned by a person other than the owner of the land on which they are located, the owner of the improvements or the owner of the land may file with the assessor a written statement before the lien date attesting to their separate ownership, in which event the land and improvements shall not be assessed to the same assessee. Such written statement shall not be required annually following the year in which it has been filed but shall remain in effect until such time as either, or both, of said separate ownerships shall have been transferred or until such written statement of separate ownership shall have been canceled by either the owner of the land or the owner of the improvements.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2188.3. Section 2188.3.

Whenever real property has been divided into condominiums, as defined in Section 783 of the Civil Code, (a) each condominium owned in fee shall be separately assessed to the owner thereof, and the tax on each such condominium shall constitute a lien solely thereon; (b) each condominium not owned in fee shall be separately assessed, as if it were owned in fee, to the owner of the condominium or the owner of the fee or both (and the tax on each such condominium shall be a lien solely on the interest of the owner of the fee in the real property included in such condominium and on such condominium), if so agreed by the assessor in a writing of record; such an agreement shall be binding upon such assessor and his successors in office with respect to such project so long as it continues to be divided into condominiums in the same manner as that in effect when the agreement was made.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2188.4. Section 2188.4.

Whenever a portion of a parcel of land, other than that used for grazing or other agricultural purposes and property assessed by the State Board of Equalization, is subject to a lease which is recorded or for which a memorandum of lease is recorded and which provides for a term (including options to renew) of 15 years or more from the commencement date of the lease and which requires the lessee to pay, or to reimburse the lessor for, the property taxes (or any portion thereof) on the leased premises, the assessor shall separately assess the land and improvements subject to the lease and the land and improvements not subject to the lease upon application for such separate assessments by the lessor or lessee prior to the lien date; provided the boundaries of the leased area do not pass through any improvement except along a bearing partition; and provided that each parcel as described must have access frontage on a dedicated street. The assessor shall thereafter continue to make such separate assessments until the expiration date of the lease or at an earlier date should the lessor or lessee file a written request that the separate assessments be discontinued. The assessor may, in his discretion, assess the leased premises to the lessor or the lessee; provided, that if the lessor is assessed, all notices of assessment and tax bills relating to the leased premises shall be mailed to the lessor in care of the lessee at the lessee’s latest address known to the assessor, or a copy of such notices and bills shall be mailed to the lessee at such address.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2188.5. Section 2188.5.

(a) (1) Subject to the limitations set forth in subdivision (b), whenever real property has been divided into planned developments as defined in Section 11003 of the Business and Professions Code, the interests therein shall be presumed to be the value of each separately owned lot, parcel, or area, and the assessment shall reflect this value, which includes all of the following: (A) The assessment attributable to the value of the separately owned lot, parcel, or area and the improvements thereon. (B) The assessment attributable to the share in the common area reserved as an appurtenance of the separately owned lot, parcel, or area. (C) The new base year value of the common area resulting from any change in ownership pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 60) or new construction pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 70) attributable to the share in the common area reserved as an appurtenance of the separately owned lot, parcel, or area. (2) For the purposes of this section, “common area” shall mean the land and improvements within a lot, parcel, or area, the beneficial use and enjoyment of which is reserved in whole or in part as an appurtenance to the separately owned lots, parcels, or areas, whether this common area is held in common or through ownership of shares of stock or membership in an owners’ association. The tax on each separately owned lot, parcel, or area shall constitute a lien solely thereon and upon the proportionate interest in the common area appurtenant thereto. (b) Assessment in accordance with subdivision (a) shall only be required with respect to those planned developments that satisfy both of the following conditions: (1) The development is located entirely within a single tax code area. (2) The entire beneficial ownership of the common area is reserved as an appurtenance to the separately owned lots, parcels, or areas. (c) The amendment to subdivision (b) made by Chapter 407 of the Statutes of 1984 shall apply to real property that has been divided into planned developments, as defined in Section 11003 of the Business and Professions Code, on and after the effective date of Chapter 407 of the Statutes of 1984.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2188.6. Section 2188.6.

(a) Unless a request for exemption has been recorded pursuant to subdivision (d), prior to the creation of a condominium as defined in Section 783 of the Civil Code, the county assessor may separately assess each individual unit which is shown on the condominium plan of a proposed condominium project when all of the following documents have been recorded as required by law: (1) A subdivision final map or parcel map, as described in Sections 66434 and 66445, respectively, of the Government Code. (2) A condominium plan, as defined in Section 4120 or 6540 of the Civil Code. (3) A declaration, as defined in Section 4135 or 6546 of the Civil Code. (b) The tax due on each individual unit shall constitute a lien solely on that unit. (c) The lien created pursuant to this section shall be a lien on an undivided interest in a portion of real property coupled with a separate interest in space called a unit as described in Section 4125 or 6542 of the Civil Code. (d) The record owner of the real property may record with the condominium plan a request that the real property be exempt from separate assessment pursuant to this section. If a request for exemption is recorded, separate assessment of a condominium unit shall be made only in accordance with Section 2188.3. (e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1990, and shall apply to condominium projects for which a condominium plan is recorded after that date.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2188.7. Section 2188.7.

(a) Whenever the assessor receives a written request for separate assessment of a community apartment project, a stock cooperative, or a limited equity housing cooperative as defined in Section 11003.2, 11003.4, or 11004 of the Business and Professions Code, or any other similarly organized housing cooperative, the assessor shall, on the first lien date which occurs more than 60 days following the request, and on each lien date thereafter, separately assess the individual interests described in subdivision (b) held by the owners of the project or shareholders of the corporation if the conditions specified in subdivision (c) have been met. Whenever a community apartment project or cooperative housing corporation is separately assessed, it shall continue to be separately assessed in subsequent fiscal years and once a request for separate assessment is made, it is binding on all future owners and occupants of the project or corporation. (b) For community apartment projects, and similarly organized projects, the interest that is to be separately assessed pursuant to subdivision (a) is the value of the right of exclusive occupancy in a portion of the real property coupled with an undivided interest in the land. For cooperative housing corporations, limited equity housing cooperatives and similarly organized cooperatives, the interest that is to be separately assessed is the value of the right of exclusive occupancy which is transferable only concurrently with the transfer of the share or shares of stock in the corporation held by the person having such right of occupancy, together with an interest in appurtenant common areas. (c) Except as provided in subdivision (a), a separate assessment of any interest described in subdivision (b) may not be made by the assessor unless: (1) The person making the request certifies that the owners or shareholders have been notified and the request for separate assessment has been approved in the manner provided in the organizational documents of the organization involved for approval of matters affecting the affairs of the organization generally; and (2) A diagrammatic floor plan of the improvements and a survey plot map of the land showing the location of the improvements on the land, prepared in the form required by Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 66425) of Division 2 of Title 7 of the Government Code, has been recorded with the county recorder and filed with the assessor. (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a separate valuation to divide any existing residential structure into a subdivision, as defined in Section 66424 of the Government Code, shall not be made until a subdivision final map or parcel map, as described in Sections 66434 and 66445, respectively, of the Government Code has been recorded as required by law. If the requirement for a parcel map is waived pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 66428 of the Government Code, then the assessor shall not assign any parcel numbers or prepare a separate assessment or separate valuation, unless the applicant provides a copy of the finding made by the legislative body or advisory agency, as required by that subdivision. (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2605 and regardless of whether the board of supervisors has adopted a resolution in accordance with Section 2700, the tax on interests in a cooperative housing corporation or a limited-equity housing corporation separately assessed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be entered on the secured roll and may be paid in two installments as provided in Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 2700) of Part 5. However, if: (1) The tax on the separately assessed interest is unpaid when any installment of taxes on the secured roll becomes delinquent, the tax collector may use the procedures applicable to the collection of delinquent taxes on the unsecured roll; and (2) The tax on the separately assessed interest remains unpaid at the time set for the declaration of default for delinquent taxes, the tax on the separately assessed interest, together with any penalties and costs which may have accrued thereon while on the secured roll, shall be transferred to the unsecured roll. (e) The tax on an individual interest in a community apartment project, separately assessed pursuant to subdivision (a), shall be a lien solely on that interest and shall be entered on and be subject to all provisions of law applicable to taxes on the secured roll. (f) The assessor shall provide to the principal office of each community apartment project and cooperative housing corporation within the taxing jurisdiction, at the time and in the manner as he or she deems appropriate, adequate notice of the provisions of this section and other pertinent information relative to the implementation thereof. (g) The assessor may charge a fee for the initial cost of separately assessing a project or corporation which may be collected on the tax bill.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2188.8. Section 2188.8.

(a) Whenever the assessor receives a written request for separate assessment of time-share estates in a time-share project, as defined in Section 11212 of the Business and Professions Code and as specified in subdivision (h) of this section, the assessor shall, on the first lien date that occurs more than 60 days following the request, and on each lien date thereafter, separately assess each time-share estate in the project if the assessor determines that the conditions specified in subdivision (c) have been met. Whenever estates in a time-share project are separately assessed, they shall continue to be separately assessed in subsequent fiscal years and, once a request for separate assessment is made with respect to a project, it is binding on all future time-share estate owners. (b) The interest that is to be separately assessed is the value of the right of recurrent, exclusive use or occupancy of real property, annually or on some other periodic basis, for a specific period of time that has been, or will be, allotted from the use or occupancy periods into which the project has been divided. (c) The separate assessment of a time-share estate may not be made by the assessor unless both of the following occur: (1) The person making the request certifies that the request for separate assessment has been approved in the manner provided in the organizational documents of the organization involved for approval of matters affecting the affairs of the organization generally. (2) A diagrammatic floor plan of the improvements, a copy of the documents setting forth the procedures for scheduling time and units to each time-share estate owner, and a list of every time-share estate owner, with a date notation thereon showing when, according to the organization’s records, each time-share estate was acquired, have been filed with the assessor. A plot map of the land showing the location of the improvements on the land need not be filed unless requested by the assessor. The organization shall file an annual statement for each succeeding assessment year, on or before April 1, with the assessor setting forth any changes to the required information known to the organization. The list or other information provided pursuant to this section is not a public document and shall not be open to public inspection, except as provided in Section 408. (d) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), this section shall not be construed to require any person making a request for separate assessment to meet the requirements of the Subdivision Map Act, nor shall the approval of any governmental agency be required for separate assessment. (e) The tax on a time-share estate that is separately assessed pursuant to this section shall be a lien solely on the time-share estate and shall be entered on and be subject to all provisions of law applicable to taxes on the secured roll, provided: (1) If the taxes on any time-share estate that is separately assessed remain unpaid at the time set for declaration of default for delinquent taxes, the taxes on the time-share estate, together with any penalties and costs that may have accrued thereon while on the secured roll, may be transferred to the unsecured roll. (2) Defaulted time-share estate taxes remaining unpaid on any prior year secured tax roll may be transferred to the unsecured roll and collected like any other tax on the unsecured roll. (f) The assessor shall provide to the principal office of each time-share project within the taxing jurisdiction, at the time and in the manner as he or she deems appropriate, adequate notice of the provisions of this section and other pertinent information relative to the implementation thereof. (g) The county may charge a fee for processing an application for separate assessment and for the initial and the ongoing costs, not to exceed the actual cost, of the separate assessment and billing, and mailings, with respect to a time-share project. This fee is subject to Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 54985) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code, and shall be proportionately allocated to each of the time-share estate owners. This fee may be collected commencing with the initial separate tax bills, and on subsequent tax bills, and deposited in the county’s general fund. (h) For purposes of this section, “time-share estate” applies to time-share estates, as defined in Section 11212 of the Business and Professions Code, that include a fee simple interest in the underlying property involved. However, “time-share estate” does not include time-share estates that are coupled with a leasehold interest or an estate for years. (i) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), when the assessor receives a written request to terminate the separate assessment of time-share estates in a time-share project under subdivision (a), the assessor shall, on the first lien date that occurs more than 60 days following the request, and on each lien date thereafter, prepare a single assessment for all time-share estates in the project. In order to obtain a single assessment, the person making the request shall provide certification that the request for a single consolidated assessment has been approved in the manner provided in the organization’s documents. The person making the request shall also state the name and address of that organization as the organization to receive the single consolidated assessment. On the first lien date, and continuing thereafter, the county shall assess the time-share project. Any lien for taxes shall attach as if the election previously made under subdivision (a) had not been made, and the county shall no longer charge the fees described in subdivision (g).

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2188.9. Section 2188.9.

(a) Whenever the assessor receives a written request for separate assessment of a time-share project, as defined in Section 11212 of the Business and Professions Code, the assessor shall, on the first lien date which occurs more than 60 days following the request, and on each lien date thereafter, separately assess the individual interests in the project described in subdivision (b) if the conditions specified in subdivision (c) have been met. Whenever a time-share project becomes subject to separate assessment, it shall continue to be so subject in subsequent fiscal years and once a request for separate assessment is made, it is binding on all future owners and occupants of the project. (b) The interest in a time-share project that is to be separately assessed is the value of the right of recurrent, exclusive use or occupancy of real property, annually or on some other periodic basis, for a period of time that has been, or will be, allotted from the use or occupancy periods into which the project has been divided. (c) A separate assessment may not be made by the assessor under this section unless: (1) The person making the request certifies that the request for separate assessment has been approved in the manner provided in the organizational documents of the organization involved for approval of matters affecting the affairs of the organization generally; and (2) A diagrammatic floor plan of the improvements, a copy of the documents setting forth the procedures for scheduling time and units to each time-share interest owner, and a list of every time-share interest owner, with a date notation thereon showing when, according to the organization’s records, each interest was acquired, have been filed with the assessor. A plot map of the land showing the location of the improvements on the land need not be filed unless requested by the assessor. The organization shall file an annual statement for each succeeding assessment year, on or before April 1, with the assessor, setting forth any changes to the required information known to the organization. The list or other information provided pursuant to this section is not a public document and shall not be open to public inspection, except as provided in Section 408 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (c), this section shall not be construed to require applicants for separate assessments to meet the requirements of the Subdivision Map Act, nor shall the approval of any governmental agency be required for separate assessment except for the assessor’s approval. (e) The assessor shall cumulate all the separate assessments in a time-share project and enter the total assessment on the secured roll in the name of the organization or time-share owners’ association. The assessor shall notify each owner of a time-share interest subject to separate assessment under this section of the amount of an increased assessment pursuant to Section 619. (f) The tax on the total assessment with respect to a time-share project shall be a lien on the entire time-share project and shall be subject to all provisions of law applicable to taxes on the secured roll. (g) The tax collector shall send a single tax bill, with an itemized breakdown detailing the taxes applicable to each separate assessment, to the time-share project organization or owners’ association. (h) The assessor shall provide to the principal office of each time-share project within the taxing jurisdiction, at that time and in that manner as he or she deems appropriate, adequate notice of the provisions of this section and other pertinent information relative to the implementation thereof. (i) The county may charge a fee for processing the application for separate assessment and for the initial and ongoing costs of separate assessment and implementing subdivision (g), not to exceed the actual costs. Fees shall be subject to Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 54985) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code, and may be collected commencing with the initial separate tax bills, and on subsequent tax bills, and shall be deposited in the county’s general fund. (j) This section shall not apply to time-share estates or to time-share projects that are subject to the provisions of Section 2188.8. (k) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), when the assessor receives a written request to terminate the separate assessment of a time-share project under subdivision (a), the assessor shall, on the first lien date that occurs more than 60 days following the request, and on each lien date thereafter, prepare a single assessment for the time-share project without an itemized breakdown detailing the taxes applicable to each separate assessment in the time-share project. In order to obtain a single assessment, the person making the request shall provide certification that the request for a single consolidated assessment has been approved in the manner provided in the organization’s documents. The person making the request shall also state the name and address of that organization as the organization to receive the single consolidated assessment. On the first lien date, and continuing thereafter, the county shall assess the time-share project. Any lien for taxes shall attach as if the election previously made under subdivision (a) had not been made, and the county shall no longer charge the fees described in subdivision (i).

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2188.10. Section 2188.10.

(a) Whenever the assessor receives a written request for separate assessment of a pro rata portion of the real property of a mobilehome park which changed ownership pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 62.1 as the result of the transfer of a share or shares of voting stock or other ownership or membership interest or interests, the assessor shall, on the first lien date which occurs more than 60 days following the request, and on each lien date thereafter, separately assess the portion or portions of real property described in subdivision (b) if the conditions specified in subdivision (c) have been met. Whenever a portion of the real property of a mobilehome park becomes subject to separate assessment, it shall continue to be subject to separate assessment in subsequent fiscal years and once a request for separate assessment is made, it is binding on all future owners of the voting stock or other ownership or membership interests in the entity which owns the park. (b) The interest that is to be separately assessed is the value of the pro rata portion of the real property of the mobilehome park which changed ownership pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 62.1. (c) A separate assessment may not be made by the assessor under this section unless the following conditions are met: (1) The governing board of the mobilehome park makes the request for separate assessment and certifies that the request has been approved in the manner provided in the organizational documents of the entity owning the mobilehome park. (2) Information is filed with the assessor listing all of the following: (A) The total number of outstanding shares of voting stock of, or other ownership or membership interests in, the entity which owns the mobilehome park. (B) The number of shares of voting stock, or other ownership or membership interests, which have been transferred and resulted in the change in ownership of portions of the real property of the park pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 62.1, together with the names and addresses of the owners of the transferred voting stock or other ownership or membership interests. (C) Any other information as the assessor may require. The entity owning the mobilehome park shall file an annual statement for each succeeding assessment year, on or before April 1, with the assessor, setting forth any changes to the required information known to the entity. The information provided pursuant to this section is not a public document and shall not be open to public inspection, except as provided in Section 408. (d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require applicants for separate assessments to meet the requirements of the Subdivision Map Act, nor shall the approval of any governmental agency be required for separate assessment except for the assessor’s approval. (e) The assessor shall cumulate all the separate assessments in a mobilehome park and enter the total assessment on the secured roll in the name of the entity which owns the park. The assessor shall notify each owner of a portion of the real property of the park subject to separate assessment under this section of the amount of an increased assessment pursuant to Section 619. (f) The tax on the total assessment of the mobilehome park shall be a lien on the real property of the park and shall be subject to all provisions of law applicable to taxes on the secured roll. (g) The tax collector shall send a single tax bill, with an itemized breakdown detailing the taxes and the allocated portion of any fee imposed pursuant to subdivision (i) applicable to each separate assessment, to the entity owning the mobilehome park. (h) The assessor shall provide to owners of voting stock or other ownership or membership interest in a mobilehome park entity subject to subdivision (c) of Section 62.1, and to the governing board of the park, at that time and in that manner as the assessor deems appropriate, adequate notice of the provisions of this section and other pertinent information relative to the implementation thereof. (i) The county may charge a fee for processing the application for separate assessment, and for the initial and ongoing costs of separate assessment and implementing subdivision (g), not to exceed actual costs. This fee shall be subject to Chapter 12.5 (commencing with Section 54985) of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5 of the Government Code, and shall be allocated to each owner of a share of voting stock or other ownership or membership interest for which a separate assessment has been made. The fee may be collected commencing with the initial separate tax bills, and on subsequent tax bills, and shall be deposited in the county’s general fund. (j) The governing board of the entity which owns the mobilehome park shall collect the allocated portion of any fee charged pursuant to subdivision (i) and any itemized taxes applicable to a separate assessment from the owner of the voting stock or other ownership or membership interest whose acquisition of the interest resulted in the separate assessment. The fees and taxes resulting from separate assessment shall be deducted from the proportional cost of the fees and taxes collected from the remaining owners or members.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2189. Section 2189.

(a) A tax on personal property is a lien on any real property on the secured roll also belonging to the owner of the personal property, if the personal property is located upon that real property on the lien date, and if the fact of the lien is shown on the secured roll opposite the description of the real property. However, if that real property is transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value after the lien date, but prior to the date upon which the assessment on the personal property is made, and the purchaser of that property did not own, claim, possess, or control the personal property at any time from the lien date until the date upon which that assessment was made, the taxes on the personal property shall be placed on the unsecured roll and shall not be a lien on the real property. (b) Any failure or omission to show the fact of a lien as described in subdivision (a) for personal property taxes on the secured roll opposite the description of real property shall not operate to invalidate those personal property taxes, but in that case the tax shall be collected in the same manner as taxes on the unsecured roll. However, if the fact of lien is erroneously entered on the secured roll opposite the description of real property belonging to someone other than the owner of the personal property on the lien date, then the delinquency penalty provided for in Chapter 4 of Part 5 shall not attach until December 10 at 5 p.m. or, if December 10th falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday at 5 p.m. on the next business day.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2189.1. Section 2189.1.

Separately billed taxes on state-assessed personal property when delinquent may be collected through use of unsecured tax collection procedures. Any of those taxes, including penalties and cost charge, which remain unpaid after June 30, shall be transferred to the unsecured roll or abstract and shall become subject to additional penalties as provided in Section 2922.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2189.3. Section 2189.3.

A tax on personal property belonging to an owner of real property on the secured roll located in the same county as the personal property, where the personal property is not located upon the real property on the lien date, is, on and after the lien date, a lien on the real property, having the force, effect and priority of a judgment lien from and after the lien date, if, on or before the lien date: (a) The assessor, at his or her discretion, with the approval of the board of supervisors, and at the request of the taxpayer, determines and issues to the taxpayer a certificate that the real property is sufficient to secure the payment of the tax. (b) The taxpayer records the certificate with the county recorder. Any tax which becomes a lien on the real property in accordance with this section shall be subject to the provisions of this division relating to the rate and date of payment of taxes on the secured roll for the current year; and in the event of any delinquency in the payment of such tax, the personal property on which it has been levied shall be subject to seizure and sale in accordance with Sections 2951 to 2963, inclusive, of this code. This section does not apply to any tax which became a lien on the first Monday in March of 1958, and shall first be operative with respect to taxes levied for the fiscal year 1959–60.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2189.5. Section 2189.5.

Every tax on personal property and improvements, located upon or appurtenant to a leasehold estate for the production of gas, petroleum or other hydrocarbon substances from beneath the surface of the earth, and belonging to the owner of the leasehold estate, may be secured by the leasehold estate, when, in the opinion of the assessor, the leasehold estate is of sufficient value to constitute security for the payment of all taxes upon that personal property or improvements and upon that leasehold estate. In the event of delinquency in the payment of that tax, the personal property, improvements, and leasehold estate shall be subject to seizure and sale in the same manner as provided for the seizure and sale of unsecured personal property, in Sections 2951 to 2962, inclusive, at any time within three years after the delinquency. Suit may be brought against an assessee of those taxes in the event of delinquency in the payment thereof. If the tax thereon remains unpaid at the time set for the declaration of default for delinquent taxes, the tax together with any penalty and costs as may have accrued thereon while on the secured roll shall be transferred to the unsecured roll. Those taxes that are delinquent at the time the amendment to this section, enacted at the 1973–74 Regular Session, goes into effect may also be transferred to the current unsecured roll.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2189.6. Section 2189.6.

Improvements that constitute component parts of a water distribution system located in whole or in part on property assessed to a person other than the assessee of the land on which they are located shall be assessed as improvements on the secured roll. However, those assessments shall not be a lien on the land on which those improvements are located and that fact shall be noted on the secured roll. If the tax thereon is unpaid when any installment of secured taxes becomes delinquent, the tax collector may use the same collection procedures available for the collection of taxes on the unsecured roll. If the tax thereon remains unpaid at the time set for the declaration of default for delinquent taxes, the tax together with any penalty and costs that may have accrued thereon while on the secured roll shall be transferred to the unsecured roll.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2189.7. Section 2189.7.

Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (a), (b), or (c), the assessment of any floating home made pursuant to Section 229 shall be entered on the secured roll and shall be subject to all provisions of law applicable to taxes on the secured roll. (a) If the taxes on any floating home are not a lien on real property of the owner of the floating home pursuant to Section 2188.1, 2189, or 2189.3 and are unpaid when any installment of taxes on the secured roll becomes delinquent, the tax collector may use the procedures applicable to the collection of delinquent taxes on the unsecured roll. (b) If the taxes on any floating home which are not a lien on real property of the owner of the floating home remain unpaid at the time set for the declaration of default for delinquent taxes of the floating home on the secured roll, the taxes, together with any penalties and costs which may have accrued thereon while on the secured roll, shall be transferred to the unsecured roll. (c) The taxes on floating homes may be paid in two installments as provided in Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 2700) of Part 5, notwithstanding Section 2605 and whether or not the county board of supervisors has adopted a resolution in accordance with Section 2700.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2189.8. Section 2189.8.

Upon application, the county tax collector may issue tax clearance certificates. Those certificates shall be used to permit registration of used floating homes, as defined in Section 18075.6 of the Health and Safety Code, and for any other purposes as may be prescribed by the Controller. The certificates may indicate that the county tax collector finds that no local property tax is due or is likely to become due, or that any applicable local property taxes have been paid or are to be paid in a manner not requiring the withholding of registration or the transfer of registration. The certificates shall be in any form which the Controller may prescribe, and shall be executed, issued, and accepted for clearance of registration or permit issuance on any conditions which the Controller may prescribe.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2190. Section 2190.

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the assessment of any possessory interest in tax-exempt real estate to which the exemption authorized by Section 218 has been applied shall be entered on the secured roll. However, the assessment shall not be a lien on the tax-exempt real estate and that fact shall be noted on the secured roll. If the tax thereon is unpaid when any installment of taxes on the secured roll becomes delinquent, the tax collector may use the procedures which are applicable to the collection of taxes on the unsecured roll. If the tax thereon remains unpaid at the time set for the declaration of default for delinquent taxes, the tax applicable to the possessory interest together with any penalties and costs which may have accrued thereon while on the secured roll shall be transferred to the unsecured roll.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2190.1. Section 2190.1.

If the tax on an assessment of a possessory interest in real estate of the Veterans Welfare Board is not paid before delinquency, the amount of the tax, penalties and costs shall be paid by said board and added to the amount due under the contract for the property.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2190.2. Section 2190.2.

Every tax on an assessment of a possessory interest or a tax on an assessment of improvements made pursuant to the provisions of Section 2188.2 shall become a lien on such possessory interest or such improvements, provided that in those instances where the real property that is the subject of such possessory interest or upon which such improvements are located is not tax-exempt land, the fact of such lien shall be indicated on the secured roll where the real property that is the subject of such possessory interest or upon which such improvements are located is listed.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2191.3. Section 2191.3.

(a) The tax collector may make the filing specified in subdivision (b) where either of the following occurs: (1) There is a tax on any of the following: (A) A possessory interest secured only by a lien on that taxed possessory interest. (B) Goods in transit, not secured by any lien on real property. (C) Improvements that have been assessed pursuant to Section 2188.2. (D) Off-roll taxes on escape assessments where the error was not the fault of the assessee and the escape taxes are being paid pursuant to Section 4837.5. (E) Unsecured property not secured by a lien on any real property, and where the tax has become delinquent or where there are prior unpaid and delinquent taxes with respect to that same property. (2) A tax has been entered on the unsecured roll pursuant to Section 482, 531.2, or 4836.5, or transferred to the unsecured roll pursuant to any provision of law. (b) A filing for record without fee in the office of the county recorder of any county of a certificate specifying the amount due, the name, the last four digits of his or her federal social security number, if known, and last known address of the assessee liable for the amount, and compliance with all provisions of this division with respect to the computation and levy of the tax if compliance has in fact occurred. The procedure authorized by this section is cumulative to the procedure provided by Sections 2951 and 3003. The county recorder shall, within 30 days after a filing as described in this subdivision with respect to delinquent taxes on unsecured property, send a notice of the filing to the assessee at the assessee’s last known address. The notice shall contain the information contained in the filing, and shall prominently display on its face the following heading: “THIS IS TO NOTIFY YOU THAT A TAX LIEN HAS BEEN FILED WITH RESPECT TO UNSECURED PROPERTY”

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2191.4. Section 2191.4.

From the time of filing the certificate for record pursuant to Section 2191.3, the amount required to be paid together with interest and penalty constitutes a lien upon all personal and real property in the county owned by and then assessed to and in the same name as the assessee named in the certificate or acquired by him or her in that name before the lien expires, except that the lien upon unsecured property shall not be valid against a purchaser for value or encumbrancer without actual knowledge of the lien when he or she acquires his or her interest in the property. The lien has the force, effect, and priority of a judgment lien and continues for 10 years from the time of the recording of the certificate unless sooner released or otherwise discharged. Within 10 years from the date of the recording of the certificate or within 10 years from the date of the last extension of the lien, the lien may be extended by filing for record a new certificate in the office of any county recorder and from the time of the filing the lien as obtained under the original certificate shall be extended to all personal and real property in the county owned by the assessee for 10 years unless sooner released or otherwise discharged. Execution shall issue upon the lien upon request of the tax collector or the official collecting taxes on the unsecured roll in the same manner as execution may issue upon other judgments, and sales shall be held under that execution as prescribed in the Code of Civil Procedure.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2191.5. Section 2191.5.

Section 2191.4 does not give the county a preference over any other lien which attached prior to the date when the certificate of delinquency of unsecured property tax, tax on possessory interest, tax on goods in transit or such tax on improvements respectively, was recorded, and the lien set forth in Section 2191.4 is subordinate to the preferences given to claims for personal services by Sections 1204 and 1206 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2191.6. Section 2191.6.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 2191.4, the lien resulting from the recording of the certificate pursuant to Section 2191.3 shall be removed and discharged either: (a) Upon payment of the tax, any applicable penalty and interest, and a recording fee in the amount required by Section 27361.3 of the Government Code for each release of lien issued for each county in which the certificate was recorded, and upon the recording of a certificate of release or discharge of the lien in the office of the recorder of each county in which the certificate was filed. The recording fee, together with a certificate of release or discharge, shall be transmitted to the county recorder who shall record the certificate; or (b) When the tax is legally canceled and a certificate of release or discharge is recorded in the office of the county recorder. A recording under this subdivision shall be made without fee.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2191.10. Section 2191.10.

Notwithstanding any other law, the board of supervisors of a county may adopt an ordinance or resolution to provide that a tax on real or personal property is not a lien against the property assessed or the assessee and shall not be recorded by the tax collector if the amount of the tax assessed against the property or the assessee is less than an amount set by that ordinance or resolution, up to two hundred dollars ($200), excluding any interest, penalties, or other fees. This section does not authorize a county to exempt any property from taxation, and does not relieve the taxpayer from the obligation to pay any tax.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2192. Section 2192.

Except as otherwise specifically provided, all tax liens attach annually as of 12:01 a.m. on the first day of January preceding the fiscal year for which the taxes are levied.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2192.1. Section 2192.1.

Every tax declared in this chapter to be a lien on real property, and every public improvement assessment declared by law to be a lien on real property, have priority over all other liens on the property, regardless of the time of their creation. Any tax or assessment described in the preceding sentence shall be given priority over matters including, but not limited to, any recognizance, deed, judgment, debt, obligation, or responsibility with respect to which the subject real property may become charged or liable.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2192.2. Section 2192.2.

Upon the sale, other than a tax sale under this division or a sale pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 2920) of Chapter 2 of Title 14 of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code, conducted under judicial process or otherwise by any sheriff, trustee, receiver, or other ministerial officer, of any real property upon which ad valorem property taxes or assessments are due and unpaid at the time of sale, the proceeds from that sale shall, after the payment of necessary and incidental sale expenses, be first applied to the amount of those ad valorem property taxes and assessments and be transmitted by the conducting officer to the officer responsible for the collection of those taxes and assessments.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2194. Section 2194.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the judgment is satisfied and the lien removed when, but not before, either of the following occur: (1) The tax is paid or legally canceled. (2) The property is sold to satisfy the tax lien. (b) For purposes of this section, the tax is not deemed paid or legally canceled by virtue of a sale of a tax certificate for that tax pursuant to Section 4521.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2195. Section 2195.

Thirty years after any tax becomes a lien, if the lien has not been otherwise removed, the lien ceases to exist and the tax is conclusively presumed to be paid. The official having charge of the records of the tax shall mark it “Conclusively presumed paid.” Property for which a power to sell has been recorded for nonpayment of taxes is not subject to the provisions of this section.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 2196. Section 2196.

(a) If the tax collector determines, following the presentation of evidence by the owner or assessee of real property, that a lien on that property for unpaid taxes, assessments, fees, or charges levied by a local public entity has been erroneously filed for recordation, the tax collector shall send a document to the recorder stating the facts that indicate the erroneous filing. The document shall be clearly labeled with the words “Removal of Invalid Lien,” and shall be signed by either the tax collector or his or her deputy. (b) The recorder shall mail the original “Removal of Invalid Lien” document to the owner of the property after recording the document. (c) For purposes of this section, “local public entity” means a county, a city, or a district.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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