What is a Homeowners’ Property Tax Exemption?

Per the California Board of Equalization Website, the California Constitution provides a $7,000 reduction in the taxable value for a qualifying owner-occupied home. This means that if your home is assessed by your County Assessor’s office at $300,000, with a homeowners’ property tax exemption, your new taxed assessed value would drop down to $293,000.  The Homeowners Property Tax Exemption is also often referred to as simply the Homeowners’ Exemption. In addition to reducing your assessed value by $7,000, the homeowners’ exemption is also a requirement to be eligible for California Proposition 19.

How do I file a claim for a Homeowners’ Property Tax Exemption?

To claim the homeowners’ property tax exemption, the homeowner must make a one-time filing with the county assessor where the subject property is located. You will need to complete and submit form BOE-266 “Claim for Homeowners’ Property Tax Exemption” which can be found on the  county assessor website. Click here for a complete list of California Assessor Offices and claim forms.