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The County Board of Supervisors has determined that the total taxes collected on certain low value properties would amount to less than the cost of assessing and collecting them. As a result, the Board has exempted from property tax the following property types:
- All real property with a base year value less than or equal to $2,500.
- All business/personal property with a full cash value less than or equal to $5,000.
- All locally assessed manufactured homes and associated accessories valued at less than or equal to $5,000.
- All Possessory Interests with a base year value less than or equal to $50,000.
In addition to those property type exemptions, the Board has found that it is not economical to enroll a supplemental assessment billing of $50 or less. As a result no bills are generated on supplemental assessments in which the billing amounts to $50 or less.
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The Affidavit for the Elderly or Handicapped Families is a required supplemental affidavit filed with the Assessor's Office annually. It provides necessary income information of residents who occupy property owned and operated by a nonprofit agency. The information filed on the Affidavit helps determine the amount of property tax exemption allowed on the property.
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On June 6, 1978, California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 13, a property tax limitation initiative. This amendment to California’s Constitution was the taxpayers’ collective response to dramatic increases in property taxes and a growing state revenue surplus. Proposition 13 (or "Prop. 13") rolled back most local real estate assessments to 1975 market value levels, limited the property tax rate to 1 percent plus the rate necessary to fund local voter-approved bonded indebtedness, and limited future property tax increases to a maximum of 2% per year.
Prior to 1978, real property was appraised cyclically, with no more than a five-year interval between reassessments. Since property values were systematically reviewed and updated, assessed values were usually kept at or near current market value levels. In contrast, under Proposition 13, properties are reassessed to current market value only upon a change in ownership or completion of new construction (called the base year value). In addition, Proposition 13 generally limits annual increases in the base year value of real property to no more than 2 percent, except when property changes ownership or undergoes new construction. Essentially, Proposition 13 converted the market value-based property tax system to an acquisition value-based system.
Under Proposition 13, similar properties can have substantially different assessed values based solely on the dates the properties were purchased. Disparities result wherever significant appreciation in property values has occurred over time. Longtime property owners, whose assessed values generally may not be increased more than 2 percent per year, tend to have markedly lower tax liability than recent purchasers, whose assessed values tend to approximate market levels.
[Source: California State Board of Equalization, Publication 29.]
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The Welfare Exemption Supplemental Affidavit, Housing - Lower Income Households is a supplemental affidavit filed with the Assessor annually that provides necessary income information of residents.
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A Notice of Supplemental Assessment is generated whenever the assessed value of a property changes due to a change in ownership or the completion of new construction. Such reassessments may result in one or more Supplemental Tax Bills being mailed to the property owner. These Supplemental Tax Bills are in addition to the annual property tax bill. The Assessor mails Notices of Supplemental Assessment approximately 60 days before the supplemental tax bill is mailed by the Tax Collector's Office.
For more information on Supplemental Property Taxes, please consult the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below. Additional information is also available from the County Tax Collector.
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The Welfare Exemption Supplemental Affidavit, Low-Income Housing Property of Limited Partnership is a supplemental affidavit filed with the Assessor's Office annually. It provides necessary information for Limited Partnerships that own low-income housing.
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A taxable possessory interest is most commonly defined as the private beneficial use of publicly-owned property.
Taxable possessory interests are subject to taxation pursuant to article XIII, section 1 of the California Constitution, which provides that all property is taxable unless otherwise provided by the California Constitution or federal law. While publicly owned real property is generally exempt from taxation, under certain conditions, the private, beneficial right to the possession of publicly owned real property is subject to separate assessment as a taxable possessory interest.
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The Supplemental Affidavit for BOE-236 Housing - Lower-Income Households Eligibility Based on Family Household Income is a supplemental affidavit filed with the Assessor's Office annually that provides necessary income information or residents of Low Income Leased Property.
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The Affidavit for Rehabilitation of Persons or Living Quarters is a supplemental affidavit filed with the Assessor's Office annually that provides necessary details of rehabilitation activity on exempt property.
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BOE-267-O Welfare Exemption Supplemental Affidavit - to be used by Welfare Exemption claimants to report organizations and persons using claimant’s real property.
FILING OF AFFIDAVIT:
This affidavit is for owners of real property filing for a Welfare Exemption.
The owner must file the affidavit when another organization or person uses that real property. All outside organizations or persons who use the property must be listed on the affidavit. A separate affidavit must be filed for each location. This affidavit supplements the claim for welfare exemption, which must be filed with the county assessor by February 15 to avoid a late filing penalty.
Owners allowing other organizations or persons to use their property must continue to file a claim for the Welfare Exemption. Owners are also responsible for filing this supplemental affidavit (BOE-267-O) and the additional documentation as specified below:
- Used by operators once per week or less - Claim for Welfare Exemption (Annual Filing), Supplemental Affidavit (BOE-267-O), and Operator's IRS tax exempt letter OR FTB tax exempt letter.
- Used by operators more than once per week - Same as above. In addition, documentation must also include the operator's Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws and any amendments, unless submitted with previous filings.
It is the owner's responsibility to provide the required documentation in order to retain the Welfare exemption on the property.
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The Assessor's Office Parcel Maps are used to determine the location and size of each Assessor Parcel. These are used in the assessment process by both the change in ownership and appraisal sections.
Assessor's parcel maps are also use by members of the public, including fee appraisers, real estate professionals, and individual property owners.
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The Assessor's Office has a review program where taxpayers can ask the Assessor to take a closer look at the taxpayer's Property Tax Assessment. Such requests can be made due to a Decline in Value based on market conditions or a more general Assessment Review asserting a change in value due to any cause.
Assessment Review requests are also referred to as Proposition 8 (or Prop 8) reviews.
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Audits are selected each year by the Assessor based on two criteria. One is the State Board of Equalization requirement that the property be in the top 50% of assessed business property. The remaining audits scheduled for the year are made either at the request of the taxpayer or as selected by the Assessor based on internal criteria developed during the assessment process.
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Under certain rules, California law allows any person who is at least 55 years of age to transfer the base year value of their existing home to a replacement dwelling.
This benefit is available to a homeowner who is 55 years or older, and who resides in a property eligible for a Homeowners’ Exemption or a Disabled Veterans’ Exemption (their principal place of residence).
The replacement dwelling must be purchased or newly constructed within two years of the sale of the original property, and may be located anywhere in California.
The effective date of this exclusion is April 1, 2021.
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This service is for victims of wildfire or natural disaster who qualify to transfer the factored base year value of their residence (prior to the disaster) to a replacement residence. The replacement residence may be located in any county in California.
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Effective April 1, 2021, California Proposition 19 allows any person who is at least 55 years of age, any severely disabled person, or any victim of a wildfire or natural disaster, to transfer the base year value from their original principal residence to a replacement property anywhere in California. This exclusion could result in significant property tax savings.
For further information, please visit the California State Board of Equalization website.
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Property valuation information and tax bills are mailed to the current address of record on file with the Assessor. Property owners are responsible for notifying the Assessor if their mailing address has changed. To avoid unnecessary delays in mail delivery, it is important to update your mailing address promptly.
If your mailing address has changed, please let us know by filing a Change of Address Request form.
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A Church Exemption Claim is available to religious organizations that rent or lease and conduct worship services on property. An annual claim must be filed with the Assessor's Office.
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The Welfare Exemption is available only for property, real or personal, owned by a religious, charitable, hospital, or scientific organization and used exclusively for religious, charitable, hospital, or scientific purposes.
To be eligible for the full exemption, the claimant must file a claim each year on or before February 15. Only 90 percent of any tax, penalty, or interest may be canceled or refunded when a claim is filed between February 16 and December 31 of the current year. If the application is filed on or after January 1 of the next year, only 85 percent of any tax, penalty, or interest may be canceled or refunded. In no case, however, are the tax, penalty, and interest for a given year to exceed $250. A separate claim must be completed and filed for each property for which exemption is sought.
Additional Instructions:
Owners allowing other persons or organizations to use their property must also file a Welfare Exemption Supplemental Affidavit (BOE-267-O). Operators (non-profit, charitable organizations using an eligible property) are not required to file the claim for Welfare exemption for their use of real property. Operators are required to file a Welfare Exemption claim form for any assessment they wish to exempt on their personal property
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The Disabled Veterans' Exemption is an initial claim filed with the Assessor's Office (or an annual claim if low-income). It is available under certain conditions to 100% Disabled Veterans and the spouses of deceased veterans.
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The Disabled Veterans' Exemption Change of Eligibility Report is filed with the Assessor if a Disabled Veteran claimant has moved or no longer qualifies.
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All boats and watercraft are subject to local property tax, unless they are specifically exempt by law. A Boat Survey Record form is mailed when there is a change of ownership, boat location, or the Assessor is notified by another County that the boat is now in San Luis Obispo County. When this form is not filed, the Assessor is required to estimate the value for the boat assessment.
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The Builders Inventory Exclusion is provided for in Section 75.12 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code. This exclusion is available to property owners who notify the Assessor in writing, prior to or within thirty (30) days of the beginning of construction, that they do not intend to rent, lease, occupy, or otherwise use the property subject to the new construction.
The purpose of the exclusion is to omit the value of the new construction from the supplemental assessment roll until the date that the property changes ownership (in whole or in part), or is rented, leased, occupied, or otherwise used by the owner.
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If you disagree with the value assessed to your business property, you may file a Business Property Assessment Review Request with the Assessor's Office.
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All property used by a business is subject to local property tax, unless it is specifically exempt by law. Business personal property is appraised annually as of January 1st (lien date).
Examples of business property include, but are not limited to:
- Supplies
- Machinery and Equipment
- Office furniture
- Computer hardware
- Leasehold improvements
- tools
As a business owner, you must file a Business Property Statement (also known as Form BOE-571-L) if you have over $100,000 in business personal property or are requested to file by the Assessor's Office.
E-FILE:
Business Property Statements may also be filed online at the California Assessors' Association e-file portal.
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This service is for disabled persons who qualify to transfer the factored base year value of their residence to a replacement residence. The replacement residence must alleviate the disability in some way.
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In order to satisfy the requirements of the Subdivision Map Act (Chapter 21.4 SS 150, 66493,66494 of the State Government Code), persons filing Tract or Parcel Maps must file for a Map Bond and post security for payment of property taxes or special assessments. The bond becomes a lien as of January 1st and is payable to the office of the County Tax Collector.
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California Law provides that in certain circumstances, the initial purchaser of a building with an active solar energy system may qualify for a reduction in the assessed value of the property. Buyers must file the Solar Energy Exclusion form with the Assessor's Office.
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All Vessels (boats and watercraft) are subject to local property tax unless they are specifically exempted by law. A Vessel Property Statement (BOE-576-D) is mailed to owners of documented or commercial vessels and all vessels valued at more than $80,000.
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All property owned by an agricultural business is subject to local property tax, unless it is specifically exempt by law. As an agricultural business owner, you are required to file an Agricultural Business Property Statement each year if you own over $100,000 in property or are requested to file by the Assessor's Office.
Examples of taxable Agricultural business property include, but are not limited to:
- Supplies
- Farm Machinery and equipment (tractors, implements, harvesters, etc.)
- Pumps
- Tanks
The AG Property Statement is also referred to as BOE Form 571-F.
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All aircraft is subject to local property tax, unless it is specifically exempt by law. As an aircraft owner, you are required to file an Aircraft Property Statement each year with the County Assessor's Office.
The Aircraft Property Statement is also referred to as BOE Form 577.
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All property owned by an apartment house owner is subject to local property tax, unless it is specifically exempt by law. You are required to file an Apartment House Property Statement each year if you own over $100,000 in property or are requested to file by the Assessor's Office.
Examples of taxable apartment business property include, but are not limited to:
- Supplies
- Furnishings
- Appliances, laundry equipment
- Signs
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The Claim for Reassessment Exclusion for Transfer Between Grandparent and Grandchild form (BOE-19-G) must be filed when applying for an exclusion on either a primary residence or a family farm. This exclusion prevents all or part of the eligible property from reassessment to current market value for transfers between eligible grandparents and grandchildren. The exclusion allows the transfer of the grandparent’s (or grandchild’s) assessed value (Prop. 13 value) to be passed to their grandchild or grandparent. Depending on the property’s value, there may be a value increase on top of the former assessed value. However, the exclusion generally would still provide a substantial tax savings.
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The California Constitution provides a $7,000 reduction in the taxable value for a qualifying owner-occupied home. The home must have been the principal place of residence of the owner on the lien date, January 1st. To claim the exemption, the homeowner must make a one-time filing with the Assessor in the county where the property is located.
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A Homeowners' Exemption Termination Notice should be submitted to the Assessor's Office whenever a property you own is no longer eligible for a Homeowners’ Exemption.
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Qualifying transfers of ownership in real property from parents to children, children to parents, grandparents to grandchildren, or grandchildren to grandparents may be excluded from reassessment. The property must be either a family farm, or the principal residence of the transferor. Claiming this exclusion may not always be to your benefit. You may wish to consult a real estate or income tax expert for advice.
For further information, please visit the California State Board of Equalization website.
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The Exemption of Leased Property Used Exclusively and Solely for Low-Income Housing is filed annually with the Assessor's Office for Low Income Leased Property. It is available on leased property used exclusively for low income housing.
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Property owners may request, under certain conditions, that parcels be subdivided (or combined) using a Parcel Boundary Change Request form. Such changes in parcel boundaries can also referred to as a lot split, a lot line adjustment, a subdivision, or a parcel combination.
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The Claim for Reassessment Exclusion for Transfer Between Parent and Child form (BOE-19-P) may be filed when applying for an exclusion on either a primary residence or a family farm. This exclusion prevents all or part of the eligible property from being reassessed to current market value for transfers between parents and children. The exclusion allows the transfer of the parent’s (or child’s) assessed value (Prop. 13 value) to be passed to their child or parent. Depending on the property’s value, there may be a value increase on top of the former assessed value. However, the exclusion generally would still provide a substantial tax savings.
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The Assessor has many instructive pamphlets to provide property owners with information on all subjects related to property assessment. The office also has building record and appraisal information for current property owners.
View property information search
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The Assessor has assessment roll information that indicates the assessed value of every property in the County. We also have a list of transfers of real property generated each year.
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There are many exemptions and exclusions that the County Assessor's Office administers. Forms and information are available in the Forms section and the Property Tax Information categories.
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The County of SLO Assessor has over 65 forms and documents available for the public to access to complete a wide range of assessment-related business, including filing a Change of Address, a Homeowner’s Exemption, a Business Property Statement, or a Claim for a Disaster Relief.
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The State Controller’s Property Tax Postponement Program allows homeowners who are seniors, are blind, or have a disability to defer current-year property taxes on their principal residence if they meet certain criteria including 40 percent equity in the home and an annual household income of $35,500 or less.
Applications are typically available in September and are funded beginning in October on a first come first served basis. Please call (800) 952-5661 or go to www.sco.ca.gov, the State Controller's Office website for more information.
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A Property Use Report is used to report activity on exempt property and details of any use apart from the primary activity by outside groups or individuals.
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The California Public Records Act (CPRA) was passed in 1968 requiring inspection or disclosure of governmental records to the public upon request, unless they are exempt by law.
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The Public School Exemption is an annual claim filed with the Assessor's Office. It is available for leased property used exclusively by public schools.
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A Religious Exemption is an initial claim filed with the Assessor's Office. It is available to religious organizations who own property and conduct worship services and related religious activities on the site.
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This form should be filed when there are multiple owners of a property and they have a desire to change the mailing address to which correspondence will be mailed.
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A Veterans' Exemption is an initial claim filed with the Assessor for a $4,000 exemption on a residence. This exemption is available to veterans whose assets do not exceed $5,000 or, if married, $10,000. The Veterans' Exemption could be chosen instead of the higher $7,000 Homeowners' Exemption.
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The California Legislature has the authority to exempt property (1) used exclusively for religious, hospital, or charitable purposes, and (2) owned or held in trust by nonprofit organizations operating for those purposes. This exemption is known as a Welfare Exemption.
The Welfare Exemption form is an initial request filed with the Assessor's Office by a claimant who is new to San Luis Obispo County or by an established claimant filing for a new location.
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A Welfare Exemption is granted to exempt property (1) used exclusively for religious, hospital, or charitable purposes, and (2) owned or held in trust by nonprofit organizations operating for those purposes. Such exemptions remain in effect until the property is sold, or if all or part of the property is used for activities that are outside the scope of the purpose of the Welfare Exemption.
The Welfare Exemption Change in Eligibility or Termination Notice should be filed by the property owner (or qualifying lessees) anytime a property is sold or all or part of the property is used for purposes outside the scope of the exemption.
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