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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 4Pt. 1Ch. 5Art. 2§ 16190 Property Tax Deferral Triggers

§ 16190 Property Tax Deferral Triggers

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 16190 Property Tax Deferral Triggers

Key Takeaways

  • •If you stop living in your home, sell it, or die, the money you owe for postponed property taxes becomes due.
  • •If you don’t pay your property taxes on time, the postponed amount becomes due.
  • •If you refinance your home or get a reverse mortgage, the postponed taxes become due.
  • •If you lied or made a mistake to get the tax postponement, the money becomes due.

Example

An older person postpones their property taxes but then decides to move out of their home to live with their kids.

Since they stopped living in the home, the postponed property taxes they owed become due immediately.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 16190 Property Tax Deferral Triggers

All amounts owing pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 16180) of this chapter shall become due if any of the following occurs: (a) The claimant, who is either the sole owner or sole possessory interestholder of the residential dwelling, as defined in Section 20583 or Section 20640 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, or a coowner or copossessory interestholder with a person other than a spouse or other individual eligible to postpone property taxes pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20581), Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 20625), Chapter 3.3 (commencing with Section 20639), or Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 20640) of Part 10.5 of Division 2 of that code, ceases to occupy the premises as his residential dwelling, dies, or sells, conveys, or disposes of the property, or allows any tax or special assessment on the premises described in Section 20583 of such code to become delinquent. If the sole owner or possessory interestholder claimant dies and his or her surviving spouse inherits the premises and continues to own and occupy it as his or her principal place of residence, then the lien amount does not become due and payable unless taxes or special assessments described in the preceding sentence become delinquent, or such surviving spouse dies, or sells, conveys, or disposes of the interest in the property. (b) The claimant, who is a coowner or copossessory interestholder of the residential dwelling, as defined in Section 20583 or Section 20640.2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, with a spouse or another individual eligible to postpone property taxes pursuant to Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 20581), Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 20625), Chapter 3.3 (commencing with Section 20639), or Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 20640) of Part 10.5 of Division 2 of that code, dies, and the surviving spouse or other surviving eligible individual allows any tax or special assessment on the premises described in Section 20583 of such code to become delinquent or such surviving spouse or other individual ceases to occupy the premises as a residential dwelling, dies, or conveys, or disposes of the interest in the property. (c) The failure of the claimant to perform those acts the claimant is required to perform where such performance is secured, or will be secured in the event of nonperformance, by a lien which is senior to that of the lien provided by Section 16182. (d) Postponement was erroneously allowed because eligibility requirements were not met. (e) The claimant is refinancing the residential dwelling. (f) The claimant has elected to participate in a reverse mortgage program for the residential dwelling. (Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 391, Sec. 4. (SB 801) Effective January 1, 2016.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

sentencepropertylienmortgageclaimfinespousetaxation code

Related Statutes

  • § 7170 Tax Lien Property Attachment
  • § 12419.4 State Tax Lien Authority
  • § 37364 Affordable Housing Land Use
  • § 37396 Public Property Lease Terms
  • § 59475 Lien Priority Over Assessments

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 16190.
View Official Source