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Exclusions From Property Tax Reassessments: Cotenants (aka Co-Tenants)

  • January 23, 2024
  • devinlucas

We have written extensively on Proposition 19 and its negative impacts on family property transfers and inheritance, especially in areas such as Newport Beach, coastal Orange County, the Bay Area and many other locations where property values have increased dramatically over the course of ownership especially multigenerational ownership. This article will explore another reassessment exclusion, … Continue Reading

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Proposition 19 Interplay With Inheritance and Portability (55 and Older Transfer) – A Way to Make BOTH Aspects of Prop 19 Work For You

  • August 16, 2023
  • devinlucas

As we have written on extensively, Proposition 19, new for 2021 (replacing older propositions 58, 193, 60 and 90), has two main components, portability and inheritance. (Review our many articles on Prop 19 starting here, link to main prop 19 page.)

These two aspects can be combined in some regards, and not combined in others.

For example, if you inherit a property and qualify for Prop 19, and therefore keep that property’s low (prop 13) tax basis, you CAN then sell that property when you are 55 or older and transfer that same low (prop 13) tax basis to a new property. More details below.

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What Happens If I Cannot Meet the One Year Deadline to Move In and File the Claim for Homeowners’ Exemption or Claim for Reassessment Exclusion Under Prop 19?

  • August 16, 2023
  • devinlucas

The answer to this critical question is in FLUX.  The official answer, detailed below, is that the one (1) year deadline is firm, with no exceptions.  HOWEVER, as of April 1, 2022, the BOE has used its “Emergency Powers” to enact a common sense answer to this question (allowing additional time to file a claim for Homeowners Exemption, with caveats).  

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Step-Up In Basis Explained

  • August 16, 2023
  • devinlucas

When you inherit real estate and then subsequently sell that real estate, you will likely benefit dramatically from the step-up in basis, aka the step-up in basis or the stepped up basis.
The step-up in basis, what does this mean?  If a child or grandchild later sells a gifted or inherited home, they may have to pay capital gains taxes depending on a variety of factors.  If a property is inherited, there is a “step-up” in basis of the value of the property (to the value at the time of death) for purposes of calculating capital gains when the property is later sold.  The “step-up” essentially provides a higher value of the property when calculating any “gains” as compared to the sales price.  The “step-up” can have enormous tax benefits for the heirs that will be lost by gifting property during lifetime.

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New State Law Provides Deferment of Property Tax for Certain Eligible Prop 19 Transfers Awaiting A County Response

  • May 22, 2023
  • devinlucas

California Senate Bill 989 defers property taxes for taxpayers claiming Proposition 19 base year value transfers when the county assessor has not completed its determination of the property’s eligibility for property tax relief under that section. Additionally, the property tax bill must contain information regarding Proposition 19 base year value transfers and potential tax deferment in large counties.

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HJTA announces initiative to “Repeal the Death Tax”

  • May 22, 2023
  • devinlucas

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association will go forward with an initiative to restore the right of parents to transfer their home and limited other property to their children without reassessment to market value.