This information is VERY HARD TO FIND, but it is
very important for anyone moving to Escondido who is over 55.
Because of Proposition 13, those of us who have lived in the same home in California for many years will find that their assessed value is far below their home’s market value. Proposition 60 ameliorated this somewhat by giving seniors (55+) a onetime ability to transfer their property tax base to another home in the same county. Proposition 90 extended this benefit to a move anywhere in California, provided the county you are moving to agrees. Hence, this is known as 60-90 relief.
One of the great things about San Diego is that it is one of the few counties that have signed onto Proposition 90 which promises the same relief if you move to San Diego from another county in California, are 55 or older, your new home is valued the same or lower than your old home, and you apply within three years of buying your new home.
In other words, San Diego promises (for those at least 55) that the tax basis from your old home can transfer to your new home. The problem is that it is NOT automatic, and it is damn near impossible to figure out how to do it. Here I am to the rescue.
Turns out that the tax bill (the one due by December 10 and April 10) is prepared by the San Diego County Treasurer/Tax Collector. Their website is fairly easy to find at
www.sdtreastax.com and they are the ones who send you the tax bill. But, they
DO NOT DO THE REASSESSMENT promised by Proposition 90. They merely take the assessed value from the Assessor’s Office. They do tell you (in print hard to find) that any refund you are due from Proposition 60 “will not change the amount or payment date” of the tax bill. So, pay your bill on time.
Finding the Assessor’s Office is a daunting task. Their website is
arcc.sdcounty.ca.gov and you must know that they call Proposition 90 the "Reappraisal Exclusion Program” in order to find the right form. I have attached that form to this post for your convenience, but a direct link to the form is:
https://arcc.sdcounty.ca.gov/Documents/6090formemp.pdf To be sure you have the latest form (this was okay in early 2016) getting it from the website is not a bad idea. Filling out the form is not too hard, but you will need to enclose a copy of your latest tax bill from your
old property, and an ID (driver’s license) for the person 55+ showing your DOB.
Send it off to the address shown on the form. It could take 3 months or longer to process. If you have not heard anything after 2 months (very likely) then call the Prop 6090 department at
619-531-5481 and be ready to give them the assessor's parcel number on the new property. (you entered that on the first line of Form 6090). Tell whoever answers that you want a status on your application, and above all BE NICE. These days it is a privilege to be able to talk to a real person.
DO NOT LOSE THAT NUMBER. It was not easy to find.
If you need help or want to talk over a cup of coffee, then reach out to me by email.
The FAQ for the San Diego program is found at:
https://arcc.sdcounty.ca.gov/Pages/property-tax.aspx#property-tax-relief-for-seniors-and-disabledMore than you want to know about Propositions 60 & 90 is found at the state site at:
http://www.boe.ca.gov/proptaxes/faqs/propositions60_90.htmAll you have to do is mail in the completed form with attachments once the purchase takes place. There can be up to 2 years between the sale of the old house, and the purchase of the new house. You can take up to three years to apply for the reassessment, but remember that you will be paying at the higher rate until you do so.
Example: Current house in Orange County is assessed at $300,000, and sells at $700,000. New house in San Diego county is purchased for $600,000. The property tax in San Diego will be ~$7,000 per year ($6,000 on assessed value plus ~$1,000 in direct assessments). With Prop 90 relief, however, the tax would drop to ~$4,000. You can thank me with a plate of baked goods when your house is reassessed.
