Article 2.5 - Late Exemption Claims

California Revenue and Taxation Code — §§ 270-279.5

Sections (17)

Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 775, Sec. 17. Effective January 1, 2003.

(a)With respect to property as to which the college, cemetery, church, religious, exhibition, veterans’ organization, free public libraries, free museums, public schools, community colleges, state colleges, state universities, tribal housing, or welfare exemption was available but for which a timely application for exemption was not filed:

(1)Ninety percent of any tax or penalty or interest thereon shall be canceled or refunded provided an appropriate application for exemption is filed on or before the lien date in the calendar year next succeeding the calendar year in which the exemption was not claimed by a timely application.

(2)If the application is filed after the date specified in paragraph (1), 85 percent of any tax or penalty or interest thereon shall be canceled or refunded provided an appropriate application for exemption is filed and relief is not authorized under Section 214.01 or 271.

(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (a), any tax or penalty or interest thereon exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250) in total amount shall be canceled or refunded provided it is imposed upon property entitled to relief under subdivision (a) for which an appropriate claim for exemption has been filed.

(c)With respect to property as to which the welfare exemption or veterans’ organization exemption was available, all provisions of Section 254.5, other than the specified dates for the filing of affidavits and other acts, are applicable to this section.

§ 271

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 72, Sec. 3. (AB 1516) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)Provided that an appropriate application for exemption is filed within 90 days from the first day of the month following the month in which the property was acquired or by February 15 of the following calendar year, whichever occurs first, any tax or penalty or interest imposed upon:

(1)Property owned by any organization qualified for the college, public school, cemetery, church, religious, exhibition, veterans’ organization, tribal housing, or welfare

exemption that is acquired by that organization during a given calendar year, after the lien date but before the first day of the fiscal year commencing within that calendar year, when the property is of a kind that would have been qualified for the college,

public school, cemetery, church, religious, exhibition, veterans’ organization, tribal housing, or welfare exemption if it had been owned by the organization on the lien date, shall be canceled or refunded.

(2)Property owned by any organization that would have qualified for the college, public school, cemetery, church, religious, exhibition, veterans’ organization, tribal housing, or welfare exemption had the organization been in existence on the lien date, that was acquired by it during that calendar year after the lien date in that year but before the commencement of that fiscal year, and of a kind

that presently qualifies for the exemption and that would have so qualified for that fiscal year had it been owned by the organization on the lien date and had the organization been in existence on the lien date, shall be canceled or refunded.

(3)Property acquired after the beginning of any fiscal year by an organization qualified for the college, public school, cemetery, church, religious, exhibition, veterans’ organization, tribal housing, or welfare exemption and the property is of a kind that would have qualified for an exemption if it had been owned by the organization on the lien date, whether or not that organization was in existence on the lien date, shall be canceled or refunded in the proportion that the number of days for which the property was so qualified during the fiscal year bears to 365.

(b)Eighty-five percent of any tax or penalty or interest thereon imposed upon property that would be entitled to relief under subdivision (a) or Section 214.01, except that an appropriate application for exemption was not filed within the time required by the applicable provision, shall be canceled or refunded provided that an appropriate application for exemption is filed after the last day on which relief could be granted under subdivision (a) or Section 214.01.

(c)Notwithstanding subdivision (b), any tax or penalty or interest thereon exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250) in total amount shall be canceled or refunded provided it is imposed upon property entitled to relief under subdivision (b) for which an appropriate claim for exemption has been filed.

(d)With respect to property acquired after the beginning

of the fiscal year for which relief is sought, subdivisions (b) and (c) shall apply only to that pro rata portion of any tax or penalty or interest thereon that would have been canceled or refunded had the property qualified for relief under paragraph (3) of subdivision (a).

§ 271.5

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 72, Sec. 4. (AB 1516) Effective January 1, 2026.

(a)In the event that property receiving the college, public school, cemetery, church, religious, exhibition, veterans’ organization, tribal housing, or welfare exemption is sold or otherwise transferred, the exemption shall cease to apply on the date of that sale or transfer. A new exemption shall be available subject to the provisions of Section 271.

(b)Termination of the exemption under this section shall result in an escape assessment of the property pursuant to Section 531.1.

§ 272

Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 471, Sec. 12.5. Effective January 1, 2004.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, whenever a valid application for exemption on the property is filed pursuant to Section 270 or 271 and the assessor grants the claim prior to the completion of the roll for the year for which the exemption is claimed, the assessor shall enroll the property so as to provide for the amount of exemption on the property’s assessed value as provided by the applicable section.

When the application for exemption on the property or the granting of the claim occurs after completion of the roll, the assessor shall initiate an action to correct the roll by addition of the appropriate amount of exemption on the property. Upon notification by the assessor, the auditor shall make the appropriate adjustment on the roll.

Where authorized under the provisions of this article, the tax, penalty or interest thereon subject to cancellation or refund shall be canceled pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 4985) of Chapter 4 of Part 9, as if it had been levied or charged erroneously, and, if paid, a refund thereof shall be made pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 5096) of Chapter 5 of Part 9 as if it had been erroneously collected. The amount of tax, penalty or interest which is not canceled or refunded under this article with respect to property tax exemptions covered by this article and filed late may be paid in installments as provided in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 4186) of Part 7.

§ 273

Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 941, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 1998.

If a claimant for the veterans’ exemption fails to file the affidavit required by Section 255 because he or she was in the military service of the United States and serving outside of the United States between the lien date and 5 o’clock p.m. on February 15 of any year, the veterans’ exemption may be claimed pursuant to Section 252 or 253 without regard to the time limit specified in Section 255. If the veterans’ exemption is claimed pursuant to the preceding sentence, any tax, or penalty or interest thereon for any fiscal year commencing during the calendar year in which the exemption is claimed, on property to the amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000) owned by the person to whom the veterans’ exemption was available for that fiscal year, shall be canceled or refunded.

§ 273.5

Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 941, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1998.

(a)If a claimant for the veterans’ exemption for the 1976–77 fiscal year or any year thereafter fails to file the required affidavit with the assessor by 5 p.m. on February 15 of the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins, but files that claim on or before the following December 10, an exemption of the lesser of three thousand two hundred dollars ($3,200) or 80 percent of the full value of the property shall be granted by the assessor.

(b)On those claims filed pursuant to subdivision (a) after November 15, this exemption may be applied to the second installment, and if applied to the second installment, the first installment will still become delinquent on December 10, and the delinquent penalty provided for in this division will attach if the tax amount due is not paid.

If this exemption is applied to the second installment and if both installments are paid on or before December 10, or if the reduction in taxes from this exemption exceeds the amount of taxes due on the second installment, a refund shall be made to the taxpayer upon a claim submitted by the taxpayer to the auditor.

§ 275

Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 941, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 1998.

(a)If a claimant for the homeowners’ property tax exemption fails to file the required affidavit with the assessor by 5 p.m. on February 15 of the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins, but files that affidavit on or before the following December 10, an exemption of the lesser of five thousand six hundred dollars ($5,600) or 80 percent of the full value of the dwelling shall be granted by the assessor.

(b)On claims filed pursuant to subdivision (a) after November 15, this partial homeowners’ exemption may be applied to the second installment, and if applied to the second installment, the first installment will still become delinquent on December 10 and the delinquent penalty provided for in this division will attach if the tax amount due is not paid.

If this partial homeowners’ exemption is applied to the second installment and if both installments are paid on or before December 10 or if the reduction in taxes from this partial exemption exceeds the amount of taxes due on the second installment, a refund shall be made to the taxpayer upon a claim submitted by the taxpayer to the auditor.

§ 275.5

Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 695, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1999.

If a person claiming classification of a vessel as a documented vessel eligible for assessment under Section 227 fails to file the affidavit required by Section 254 by 5 p.m. on February 15 of the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins, but files that affidavit on or before the following August 1, the assessment shall be reduced in a sum equal to 80 percent of the reduction that would have been allowed had the affidavit been timely filed.

§ 276

Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 328, Sec. 211. (SB 1330) Effective January 1, 2011.

(a)Except as otherwise provided by subdivision (b), for property for which the disabled veterans’ exemption described in Section 205.5 was available, but for which a timely claim was not filed, a partial exemption shall be applied in accordance with whichever of the following is applicable:

(1)Ninety percent of any tax, including any interest or penalty thereon, levied upon that portion of the assessed value of the property that would have been exempt under a timely and appropriate claim shall be canceled or refunded, provided that an appropriate claim for exemption is filed after 5 p.m. on February 15 of the calendar year in which the fiscal year begins but on or before the following December 10.

(2)If an appropriate claim for exemption is filed after the time period specified in paragraph (1), 85 percent of that portion of any tax, including any interest or penalty thereon, that was levied upon that portion of the assessed value of the property that would have been exempt under a timely and appropriate claim, shall be canceled or refunded. Cancellations made under this paragraph are subject to the provisions of Article 1 (commencing with Section 4985) of Chapter 4. Refunds issued under this paragraph are subject to the limitations periods on refunds as described in Article 1 (commencing with Section 5096) of Chapter 5.

(b)If a late-filed claim for the one-hundred-fifty-thousand-dollar ($150,000) exemption is filed in conjunction with a timely filed claim for the one-hundred-thousand-dollar ($100,000) exemption, the amount of any exemption allowed under the late-filed claim

under subdivision (a) shall be determined on the basis of that portion of the exemption amount, otherwise available under subdivision (a), that exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

(c)For those claims filed pursuant to subdivision (a) after November 15, the exemption under that subdivision may be applied to the second installment. If that exemption is so applied, the first installment is still delinquent on December 10, and is subject to delinquent penalties provided for in this division if that installment is not timely paid. A refund shall be made to the taxpayer upon a claim submitted to the auditor if the exemption is applied to the second installment and either of the following is true:

(1)Both installments are paid on or before December 10.

(2)The reduction in taxes resulting from the exemption

exceeds the amount of taxes due on the second installment.

§ 276.1

Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 150, Sec. 1. (AB 2314) Effective January 1, 2011.

(a)For property for which the disabled veterans’ exemption described in Section 205.5 would have been available but the taxpayer had not yet received a disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA), there shall be canceled or refunded the amount of any taxes, including any interest and penalties thereon, subject to the provisions regarding cancellations in Article 1 (commencing with Section 4985) of Chapter 4 and the limitations periods on refunds as described in Article 1 (commencing with Section 5096) of Chapter 5, levied on that portion of the assessed value of the property that would have been exempt under a timely and appropriate claim, provided that the claimant files an appropriate claim for the disabled

veterans’ exemption described in Section 205.5 the later of 90 days of receipt of the disability rating from the USDVA or on or before the next following lien date.

(b)Subject to the provisions regarding cancellations and the limitations periods on refunds, the disabled veterans’ exemption shall apply beginning on the effective date, as determined by the USDVA, of a disability rating that qualifies the claimant for the exemption.

§ 276.2

Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 351, Sec. 9. (SB 947) Effective January 1, 2012.

(a)If property becomes eligible for the disabled veterans’ exemption as described in Section 205.5 after the lien date, and an appropriate application for that exemption is filed on the later of 90 days after the date on which the property became eligible or on or before the next following lien date, there shall be canceled or refunded the amount of any taxes, including any interest and penalties thereon, levied on that portion of the assessed value of the property that would have been exempt under a timely and appropriate application.

(b)The entire amount of the exemption applies to any property tax assessment, including a supplemental and escape assessment, that was made and that

served as a lien against the property. The exemption amount shall be appropriately prorated from the date the property became eligible for the exemption.

§ 276.3

Amended (as added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1085) by Stats. 2002, Ch. 775, Sec. 24. Effective January 1, 2003.

(a)In the event that property receiving a disabled veterans’ exemption as described in Section 205.5 is sold or otherwise transferred to a person who is not eligible for that exemption, the exemption shall cease to apply on the date of that sale or transfer.

(b)In the event that property receiving a disabled veterans’ exemption as described in Section 205.5 is no longer used by a claimant as his or her principal place of residence, the exemption shall cease to apply on the date the claimant terminates his or her residency at that location.

(c)Termination of the exemption under this section shall result in an escape assessment of the property pursuant to Section 531.1.

§ 276.5

Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 604, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2004.

If a person claiming the exemption of an aircraft of historical significance under Section 220.5 fails to file the affidavit required by that section by 5 p.m. on February 15 of the fiscal year for which the exemption is claimed, but files that affidavit on or before the following August 1, the assessment shall be reduced by an amount equal to 80 percent of the reduction that would have been allowed had the affidavit been timely filed.

§ 277

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 430, Sec. 1. (SB 667) Effective January 1, 2022.

(a)Any person claiming the disabled veterans’ property tax exemption shall file a claim with the assessor giving any information required by the board. This information shall include, but shall not be limited to, the name of the person claiming the exemption, the person’s social security number or another personal identifying number, the address of the property, and a statement to the effect that the claimant owned and occupied the property as

the claimant’s principal place of residence on the lien date, or that the claimant intends to own and occupy the property as the claimant’s principal place of residence on the next succeeding lien date, and proof of disability as defined by Section 205.5.

(b)The executor, administrator, or personal legal representative of the claimant’s estate may file a claim with the assessor pursuant to subdivision (a).

(c)The trustee of the deceased claimant’s trust assets may file a claim with the assessor pursuant to subdivision

(a).

§ 278

Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 351, Sec. 10. (SB 947) Effective January 1, 2012.

Prior to the lien date, the assessor shall annually mail a notice to all claimants who received the disabled veterans’ exemption in the immediately preceding year, except where such person has transferred title in the property since the immediately preceding lien date. The notice shall inform the taxpayer of the requirements that must be met in order to be eligible for the exemption, of the penalties if the taxpayer allows the exemption to continue when he or she is not eligible for the exemption, and of his or her duty to inform the assessor when he or she is no longer eligible for the exemption.

§ 279

Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 202, Sec. 2. (AB 188) Effective January 1, 2012.

(a)Subject to the provisions regarding cancellations and the limitation periods on refunds, property becomes eligible for the disabled veterans’ property tax exemption, as described in Section 205.5, as of:

(1)The effective date of a disability rating, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, that qualifies the claimant for the exemption.

(2)The date a qualified claimant purchases a property that constitutes the principal place of residence, provided residency is established within 90 days of purchase.

(3)The date a qualified

claimant establishes residency at a property owned by the claimant or the spouse, as specified in subdivision (a) of Section 205.5.

(4)The date the veteran died, as a result of a service-connected injury or disease, in the case where the unmarried surviving spouse is the claimant.

(b)A claim for the disabled veterans’ property tax exemption filed by a qualified claimant, once granted, shall remain in continuous effect unless any of the following occurs:

(1)Title to the property changes.

(2)The owner does not occupy the dwelling as his or her principal place of residence.

(A)If the claimant is confined to a hospital or other care facility but principally resided at a dwelling

immediately prior to that confinement, the claimant will be deemed to occupy that same dwelling as his or her principal place of residence on the lien date, provided that the dwelling has not been rented or leased as described in Section 205.5.

(B)If a person receiving the disabled veterans’ exemption is not occupying the dwelling because the dwelling was damaged in a misfortune or calamity, the person will be deemed to occupy that same dwelling as his or her principal place of residence, provided the person’s absence from the dwelling is temporary and the person intends to return to the dwelling when possible to do so. Except as provided in subparagraph (C), when a dwelling has been totally destroyed, and thus no dwelling exists, the exemption provided by Section 205.5 is not applicable until the structure has been replaced and is occupied as a dwelling.

(C)A dwelling that was

totally destroyed in a disaster for which the Governor proclaimed a state of emergency, that qualified for the exemption provided by Section 205.5 and has not changed ownership since the disaster, will be deemed occupied by the person receiving a disabled veterans’ exemption provided the person intends to reconstruct a dwelling on the property and occupy the dwelling as his or her principal place of residence when it is possible to do so.

(3)The property is altered so that it is no longer a dwelling.

(4)The veteran is no longer disabled as defined in Section 205.5.

(5)The unmarried surviving spouse claimant remarries.

(c)The assessor of each county shall verify the continued eligibility of each person receiving a disabled veterans’ exemption, and

shall provide for a periodic audit of, and establish a control system to monitor, disabled veterans’ exemption claims.

§ 279.5

Amended by Stats. 1980, Ch. 411, Sec. 10. Effective July 11, 1980. Operative January 1, 1981, by Sec. 51 of Ch. 411.

The taxpayer who has filed a claim for the disabled veterans’ exemption, once granted, is responsible for notifying the assessor when the property is no longer eligible for the exemption.

Upon any indication that a disabled veterans’ exemption has been incorrectly allowed, the assessor shall make a redetermination of eligibility for the disabled veterans’ exemption. If the assessor determines that the property is no longer eligible for the exemption, he shall immediately cancel the exemption on the property.

If a disabled veterans’ exemption has been incorrectly allowed, an escape assessment as allowed by Section 531.1 in the amount of the exemption with interest as provided in Section 506 shall be made, except where the exemption was allowed as the result of the assessor’s error, in which case the amount of interest shall be forgiven. If the exemption was incorrectly allowed because of erroneous or incorrect information submitted by the claimant with knowledge that such information was erroneous or incomplete or because the claimant failed to notify the assessor in a timely manner that the property was no longer eligible for the exemption, the penalty provided in Section 504 shall be added to the assessment. If the property subject to this paragraph has been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value during the period commencing with the lien date and ending July 1 of the fiscal year for which such exemption was incorrectly allowed, and the claimant is not the purchaser, any amount of penalty provided by Section 504 or any amount of interest provided by Section 506 imposed pursuant to the escape assessment due to such incorrect disabled veterans’ exemption shall be forgiven. If the property subject to this paragraph has been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value after July 1 of the fiscal year for which the exemption was incorrectly allowed, and the claimant is not the purchaser, the escape assessment shall be levied in accordance with Section 531.2.