Dateline: California...
Mobile
homes that were manufactured after June 10, 1980 and those manufactured
prior to 1980 that have converted to property tax, are assessed
by the Assessor’s Office and pay property taxes. Although these
mobile homes receive a regular property tax bill, they are classified
as personal property unless they are on a permanent foundation
system, in which case they become real property. Mobile home
owners may be eligible for one or more of the following exemptions
which will reduce the amount of property taxes paid. The exemptions
can apply to the mobile home if it is located in a rental park
or to both the land and mobile home if the resident owns the
land.
Homeowners
Exemption...
The homeowner’s exemption is available to anyone who owns and
occupies the mobile home as his or her principal place of residence
on March 1st. of any given year. This exemption reduces the
assessed value of the property by $7,000 for an annual saving
of approximately $70 on property taxes. New property owners
will automatically receive an exemption application, and annually
thereafter, a notification will be sent to verify continued
eligibility. A homeowner’s exemption may also apply to the supplemental
assessment. Within resident owned communities where the mobile
home is on license fees, the homeowner’s exemption can be applied
to the land. Licensed mobile homes on rented spaces are not
eligible for this exemption. In past years, many mobile home
owners who did not own their land filed for the renter’s credit
on their California income tax return because the credit exceeded
the value of the homeowner’s exemption.
Readers
are reminded that some of the material in this article would
only pertain to the mobile homes on the county tax roll.
Anyone
having specific questions or needing tax information should
contact his or her local Tax Assessor’s Office.
Disabled
Veteran's Exemption...
A veteran who is rated 100 percent disabled due to a service
connected disability incurred while in the armed forces (or
the unmarried spouse of such veteran) may be eligible for an
exemption up to $150,000 off the assessed value of their home.
The amount of the exemption is based on income. To qualify for
this exemption, proof of the honorable military service and
a letter from the Veterans Administration, which shows 100 percent
disability, must be submitted. A surviving spouse must provide
the same documentation along with a marriage and death certificate.
Military
Non-Resident...
Since mobile homes are classified as personal property, mobile
home owners who occupy and serve in the armed forces in an active
duty status that are not residents of California may be eligible
to have the mobile home completely exempt from property taxes.
This exemption includes those mobile homes in both civilian
and military parks. The Soldier and Sailors Civil Relief Act
states that personal property be assessed where the owner is
a legal resident rather than where the property is actually
located. In order to apply for this exemption, a copy of the
most recent Leave and Earnings Statement must be provided for
verification of residency status. Claim forms must be filed
on an annual basis in order to continue this exemption, along
with the current leave and Earnings Statement.
Readers
are reminded that some of the material in this article would
only pertain to those mobile homes on the county tax roll.
Anyone
having specific questions or needing tax information should
contact their local Tax Assessor’s Office.
Property
Tax Assistance...
The property tax assistance program is administered by the State
Franchise Tax Board. This program allows eligible homeowners
to be reimbursed by the State for all or a portion of the property
taxes on your home up to $34,000 in assessed value. To be eligible
for tax assistance you must be blind, or 62 years of age or
older and have a total household income of $13,200 or less.
The filing period for property tax assistance is from May 16th
through August 31st and a claim must be filed with the State
Franchise Board on an annual basis. Filing for property tax
assistance will not result in a lien being placed on your property.
For further information on this program, call the Franchise
Tax Board at 1-800-852-5711. Seniors may participate in both
the property tax postponement and property tax assistance programs.
Readers
are reminded that some of the material in the articles does
not pertain to all mobile homes.
Anyone having specific questions or in need of tax information,
should contact their local Tax Assessor’s Office.
(All
information and dollar amounts are subject to change without
notice)
Disclosure...
