Is There Urgent Support in California to Reverse Current Property Tax Hikes?

Written by Posted On Sunday, 17 October 2021 00:00

California Assembly Constitutional Amendment 9  

As most Californians know by now, CA Assemblyman Kevin Kiley introduced an urgent property tax measure to the Legislature, ACA 9, to try to return long term property tax relief benefits, under Propostion 58, to their original state.

Specifically, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 9 focuses on strengthening and bolstering parental property tax transfer in California, meaning the parent-child transfer and popular parent-to-child exclusion – which still gives Californians the ability to transfer parents property taxes and  keep parents property taxes when gifting or inheriting parents property.  As well as buying out co-beneficiaries’ property through Proposition 19, formerly Prop 58, in conjunction with a loan to an irrevocable trust; establishing a low property tax base upon inheriting a home... and always bearing in mind California's long running right to avoid property tax reassessment. 

All California property tax relief rights were, and still are, hand-in-hand with the overall ability to transfer property, parental property tax transfer mainly, during inheritance from parent to child, and a tax break that is still protected by property tax measure Proposition 19 – mainly affecting middle class beneficiaries inheriting property, and mid-income homeowners residing in all 58 counties in California, and yet not fully understood by many residents.

California Proposition 19

Proposition 19 passed on Nov 3rd by a slight majority, following a very effective $40 million promotional campaign mostly paid for by the California Association of Realtors (the C.A.R.);  highlighting property tax breaks that favored residents over the age of 55, as well as sentimental favorites, such as school children and firefighters.  The campaign rivaled anything Madison Avenue could have come  up with!

Soon after Feb 2021, Californians and local media began to discuss Proposition 19 in terms that characterized Proposition 19 parental property tax transfer rights — enabling families to transfer property taxes to and from anywhere in the state — as basically replacing   Proposition 58 property tax breaks, a long-standing property tax measure that was voted into law in 1986 with a 75% voter majority; after a unanimous vote in the Legislature placed it on the ballot. Proposition 58 amended the state constitution to permit parents to transfer a home of any value and up to a $1 million of other property — such as a vacation cabin, rental property or small business – avoiding property reassessment.

Protecting Property Tax Relief & the CA American Dream

“The opportunity to own a home is central to the California Dream, but our state’s affordability crisis has put this beyond the reach of too many working families,” Kiley said. “Now, thanks to a Special Interest deal, Californians face a large and unplanned-for tax increase when they pass down property to their children. ACA 9 restores a vital protection that was in place for 35 years.”

As certain residents and activists try to change certain confusing revisions to property tax relief in California, they also acknowledge positive property tax breaks, such as benefits for property owners over 55 years old, who are eligible for tax assessment transfers; people with severe disabilities, victims of wildfires and other natural disasters; as well as sentimental favorites such as fire-fighters and school children. And who is going to deny eligible homeowners like that.

Positive property tax relief measures allow eligible homeowners to transfer their tax assessments anywhere within the state and allow tax assessments to be transferred to a more expensive home with an upward adjustment. The number of times that a tax assessment can be transferred increased from one to three for persons over 55 years old or with severe disabilities (disaster and contamination victims would continue to be allowed one transfer).

California Assembly Constitutional Amendment 9 focuses on parents and grandparents transferring primary residential properties to their children or grandchildren while avoiding property tax reassessment. ACA 9 also addresses issues revolving around parents and grandparents transferring vacation homes and business properties to their children and  grandchildren; with the first $1 million exempt from re-assessment when transferred.

Limitations on One Hand & Huge Benefits on the Other

Now, it's true that there are some limitations in certain circumstances. People who want to take advantage of the parent-to-child exclusion and grandparent-grandchild exemption must move into their inherited property as a primary residence, which many residents want to do anyway, and they do have an entire year to move in. 

On the other hand, senior rights being a central issue  for middle class and upper middle class families in California, residents over the age of 55 have a whole suite of new property tax benefits, along with folks with disabilities, and victims of natural disasters such as  earthquakes and floods, as well as forest fires (which are extremely timely these days in California, especially for middle class residents).

When inherited property is used as a primary residence but is sold for $1 million more than the property's taxable value, an upward adjustment in assessed value would occur. The ballot measure also applied these rules to certain farms. Beginning Feb. 16, 2023, the first $1 million is adjusted each year at a rate equal to the change in the California House Price Index.

Jon Coupal, president of HJTA, weighed in on the new activities designed to reverse any questionable changes to California property tax relief. Mr. Coupal stated: “The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is proud to support ACA 9 to reinstate Propositions 58 and 193, reversing any stealth tax increases on California families!”  No one could have said it any better.


PropertyTaxNews.org is a blog written by communications specialist Geoffrey W. Sadwith, sponsored by Commercial Loan Corp – devoted to promoting California property tax relief; and maintaining a low property tax base for inherited homes. 

To learn more about your options when inheriting a home from parents – transferring their low property tax base to your new residence – contact Commercial Loan Corp at (877) 756-4454 to speak with a Trust Fund Loan consultant or Property Tax Savings specialist.  Chances are the end result will be a much lower property tax bill.

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Geoffrey Sadwith

Communications / Content & PR Specialist since 2002; 18 years with Heir Advance Company.

Specializing in probate and trust inheritance loans; and California property tax relief, including Proposition 13, and the Proposition 58 / Proposition 19 trust loan process enabling sibling-to-sibling property transfer -- beneficiaries inheriting property from parents to buyout co-beneficiary property shares; along with keeping parents' low property tax base. Geoffrey's expertise encompasses parent-to-child property tax transfer, and parent-child exclusions allowing homeowners to avoid property tax reassessment, when inheriting property taxes, with the right to keep parents property taxes.

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