Many months ago, Dream Homes published an article about how seniors in California could postpone paying their property taxes under the following conditions:
At least one of the homeowners must be 62 or older, OR Blind, Or Disabled.
Current annual household income must be $35,500 or less.
The amount of taxes postponed generally does not need to be repaid to the state until the person moves, sells the home, or dies, at which point…
The state files a lien on the property and also charges interest on the amount postponed.
Unfortunately, and it's news to us, this property tax break was suspended last February. Here's info from the San Diego County Treasurer/Tax Collector:
On February 20, 2009, the Governor signed Chapter 4, Statutes of 2009, which immediately suspends the Senior Citizens' Property Tax Deferral Program. This legislation prohibits the filing of claims for property tax postponement and prohibits the State Controller from accepting claims filed after February 20, 2009. As a result of the program suspension, the State Controller will no longer accept claims for property tax postponement pending modification or repeal of this new law. However, the State Controller's Office will continue processing claims postmarked prior to February 20, 2009. For the most current information on the PTP program please contact the State Controller's Office at www.sco.ca.gov or 800.952.5661.