2020 California Sierra National Forest Creek Fire burn area south of Shaver Lake
Credit: Inciweb

February 26, 2021 - SACRAMENTO - State Controller Betty T. Yee reminds California homeowners recently affected by wildfires that they have more time to apply for the Property Tax Postponement (PTP) program.

Administered by the State Controller’s Office, PTP allows homeowners who are seniors, are blind, or have a disability and who meet income, equity, and other requirements to delay payment of property taxes on their primary residence. 

Residents of these 31 counties in governor-declared disaster areas now have a deadline of June 1 to apply for 2020-21 PTP: Butte, Del Norte, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Plumas, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Siskyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba.

In the 2019-20 tax year, California homeowners postponed more than $4 million in residential property taxes through PTP. As of February 10, more than $3.6 million had been paid out for tax year 2020-21.

Funding for the program is limited, and applications are processed in the order they are received. Participants must reapply each year and demonstrate they continue to meet eligibility requirements. The interest rate for all taxes postponed under PTP this tax year is five percent. A lien is placed on the real property, or a security agreement filed for a manufactured home, until the deferred taxes are repaid. 

Applications for the 2021-22 tax year will be available in September. Applications and program details can be found online or by calling (800) 952-5661.
Source: State Controller’s Office