CHAPTER 1. General Provisions and Definitions [20800. - 20808.]

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC 1.
in effect

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 20802. Section 20802.

(a) “Claimant” means an owner of a residential dwelling, as defined in Section 20808, who applies to a participating county for deferment of property taxes pursuant to this chapter and meets all of the following requirements: (1) Has an annual household income, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 20803, that does not exceed thirty-five thousand five hundred dollars ($35,500). (2) (A) Has attained eligibility for full social security benefits as of the last day of the filing period for that fiscal year, or (B) is blind or disabled, as defined in Section 12050 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, except in the case of retroactive deferment, as provided for in Section 20810, in which the age eligibility shall be 62 years old. (3) Has equity value of at least 20 percent. For purposes of this subdivision, “equity value” means the amount by which the fair market value of the residential dwelling exceeds the total amount of any liens or other obligations against the residential dwelling. A participating county may require a claimant to provide an appraisal by a licensed or certified appraiser in support of his or her application. If an alternate appraisal method is used, a claimant whose application is denied for insufficient equity, may provide an appraisal by a licensed or certified appraiser in support of his or her application for consideration by the county. (b) Only one claimant per residential dwelling may have property taxes deferred under this chapter at any one time. (c) A claimant shall apply to participate in the program in each year that he or she seeks to defer property taxes under the program. (d) The county treasurer, or county tax collector, may require a claimant to furnish evidence of the claimant’s ongoing eligibility in order to continue participation in the program in a subsequent year. (e) If the claimant fails or refuses to furnish any information requested in writing by the county pursuant to this chapter, or files a fraudulent claim for deferment under this chapter, the claimant’s application to defer property taxes under this chapter shall be null and void, any record of a deferment payment on the tax roll shall be canceled, the tax or assessment shall be a lien as though no payment had been made, and the amount of the lien shall be increased by any penalties or interest resultant from property tax delinquency.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 20803. Section 20803.

(a) “Household income” means all income, as defined in subdivision (b), received by any member of a household while that member is or was a member of that household. (b) “Income” means adjusted gross income, as defined in Section 17072, plus all of the following cash items: (1) Amounts contributed on behalf of the contributor to a tax-sheltered retirement plan or deferred compensation plan. (2) Annual winnings from the California Lottery in excess of six hundred dollars ($600) in the current calendar year. (3) Exempt interest received from any source. (4) Gifts and inheritances in excess of three hundred dollars ($300), other than transfers between members of the household. Gifts and inheritances shall include noncash items. (5) Life insurance proceeds to the extent that the proceeds exceed the expenses incurred for the last illness and funeral of the deceased spouse of the claimant. “Expenses incurred for the last illness” shall include unreimbursed expenses paid or incurred during the income calendar year and any expenses paid or incurred thereafter up until the day the claim is filed. For purposes of this paragraph, funeral expenses shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000). (6) Nontaxable amount of any pensions and annuities. (7) Nontaxable gain from the sale of a residence, as defined in Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code. (8) Nontaxable military compensation as defined in Section 112 of the Internal Revenue Code. (9) Nontaxable scholarship and fellowship grants as defined in Section 117 of the Internal Revenue Code. (10) Public assistance and relief. (11) Railroad retirement benefits. (12) Sick leave payments. (13) Social Security benefits (not including Medicare benefits). (14) Temporary workers’ compensation payments. (15) Unemployment insurance payments. (16) Veterans’ benefits. (17) If an alternative minimum tax is required to be paid pursuant to Chapter 2.1 (commencing with Section 17062) of Part 10, the amount of the alternative minimum taxable income, regardless of whether or not that amount is held in cash, in excess of the regular taxable income otherwise applicable. (c) Net business loss, net rental loss, net capital loss, or other net losses, amounts deducted for depreciation, or other noncash expenses shall not be deducted in calculating adjusted gross income for purposes of this section. (d) For purposes of this chapter, income shall be determined for the calendar year immediately preceding the fiscal year for which deferment is claimed pursuant to this chapter.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 20804. Section 20804.

(a) “Owner of a residential dwelling” includes all of the following: (1) An individual with an ownership interest of a vendee, who is in possession of the residential dwelling under a land sale contract, provided that the contract or memorandum thereof is recorded, and only from the date of recordation of the contract or memorandum thereof in the office of the county recorder of a participating county in which the residential dwelling is located. (2) An individual with an ownership interest of a holder of a life estate in the residential dwelling, provided that the instrument creating the life estate is recorded, and only from the date of recordation of that instrument in the office of the county recorder of a participating county in which the residential dwelling is located. (3) If the residential dwelling is located within a participating county, an individual with a joint-tenant or tenant-in-common ownership interest in the residential dwelling, or the interest of a tenant where title is held in tenancy by the entirety or as community property. (4) An individual with an ownership interest in the residential dwelling and the title to the residential dwelling, located within a participating county, is held in trust. (5) For purposes of this chapter, an individual who is the registered owner of a mobilehome attached to a permanent foundation and assessed as real property. (b) An ownership interest described in subdivision (a) shall be required to be evidenced by a duly recorded instrument in the office of the county recorder of a participating county in which the residential dwelling is located.

Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 20808. Section 20808.

(a) (1) “Residential dwelling” means a dwelling, and the land surrounding that dwelling as is reasonably necessary for the use of the dwelling as a home, occupied by the claimant as his or her principal place of residence, and owned by any of the following: (A) The claimant. (B) The claimant and the claimant’s spouse. (C) The claimant and his or her parents, children (whether natural or adopted), or grandchildren of either the claimant or the claimant’s spouse. (D) The claimant and the spouse of any parent, child (whether natural or adopted), or grandchild of either the claimant or the claimant’s spouse. (E) The claimant and another individual who resides in this state and is eligible for deferment under this chapter. (2) “Residential dwelling” shall also include all of the following: (A) A condominium that is assessed as real property for local property tax purposes. (B) A portion of a multidwelling or multipurpose building and the portion of land upon which it is built. (C) A mobilehome that is permanently attached to a permanent foundation and assessed as real property for local property tax purposes. (b) “Residential dwelling” shall not include any of the following: (1) Any dwelling in which the claimant does not have an equity value of 20 percent, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 20802. (2) Any dwelling in which the claimant’s interest is a life estate or is held pursuant to a contract of sale, unless the claimant obtains the written consent of the holder of the reversionary interest subject to the life estate, or the vendor under the contract of sale, for the claimant to participate in the program with respect to the dwelling. (3) Any dwelling for which the claimant does not receive a secured tax bill. (4) Any dwelling in which the claimant’s interest is held as a possessory interest, except a life estate as described in paragraph (2). (5) Any houseboat or floating home.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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