California Property Tax Savings Checkup

How it works: The Assessor compares each property's January 1 market value with its Prop. 13 taxable value. When the market value is lower, the county may temporarily lower the taxable value to the market level.

Important to know: A decline-in-value reduction is temporary. The Assessor reviews each year and may restore the base-year value as the market recovers, up to the original Prop. 13 ceiling. Filing a review does not change your base-year value.

Official source: Orange County Assessor, Decline in Market Value

How it works: You can ask the Orange County Assessor to review an assessment informally, and you can file a formal appeal with the county's Assessment Appeals Board if the informal route does not resolve the issue.

Important to know: Annual appeal windows open mid-year; the regular Orange County window for 2026 runs from July 2 through November 30 at 5 p.m. Supplemental, escape, and other notices carry their own, generally shorter deadlines, often about 60 days from the notice date. Verify the current window before filing.

Official source: Orange County Assessor, Assessment Appeals FAQ

How it works: The exemption is deducted from the assessed value of a qualifying principal residence rather than from the tax bill. After a change in ownership, owners typically confirm their primary residence through the application the Assessor sends.

Important to know: One exemption applies per household, to the main home only, and it can continue as long as the property remains the owner's primary residence. The annual savings vary with local tax rates and any voter-approved measures.

Official source: Orange County Assessor, Homeowners' Exemptions

How it works: The replacement home generally must be purchased within two years before or after the sale of the original home, and the claim is filed with the county assessor within three years of that sale. Under current rules the benefit may be used up to three times.

Important to know: A portion of the original tax basis transfers to the replacement home, with an upward adjustment when the replacement is more valuable. The rules are detailed and can change with statutory updates, so the Assessor's guidance is the best starting point.

Official sources: Orange County Assessor, Savings for Seniors and Replacement Homes and California BOE, Proposition 19 information

How it works: A claim generally must be filed within three years of the transfer. For a qualifying family home, the exclusion generally applies when the transferred home becomes the transferee's principal residence; transfers of a qualifying family farm are subject to their own applicable requirements.

Important to know: For qualifying transfers, the exclusion calculation may include the transferor's factored base-year value plus the current adjusted Proposition 19 amount. For transfers from February 16, 2025 through February 15, 2027, that adjusted amount is $1,044,586.

Does not apply to: Rental property, commercial property, second homes, and other non-family-home or non-family-farm property generally do not qualify for the current Proposition 19 intergenerational exclusion.

Official sources: Orange County Assessor, Transfers Among Family Members and California BOE, Proposition 19 information

How it works: The exemption can remove a portion of the assessed value of a qualifying veteran's principal place of residence, with the applicable amount set by state law and adjusted annually. A higher exemption tier applies when household income is below the state's annual threshold.

Important to know: Eligibility depends on the veteran's disability, discharge status, and ownership and occupancy of the home, and certain surviving spouses may qualify. The Assessor confirms each applicant's qualification and the amount that applies.

Official sources: California BOE, Disabled Veterans' Exemption amount chart (PDF) and Orange County Assessor, Tax-Saving Programs

How it works: The program is administered by the California State Controller's Office for a qualifying principal residence. For the 2026-27 program year, applications are made available in September 2026 and must be filed between October 1, 2026 and February 10, 2027.

Important to know: Approval depends on the applicant's age (62+), blindness or disability, household income (about $57,000 for 2026-27), and home equity of roughly 40 percent or more. Postponed amounts accrue simple interest and are repaid when the home is sold or the owner's circumstances change. Funding is limited and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Official source: California State Controller's Office, Property Tax Postponement

How it works: The relief generally considers the property's condition and value immediately before and immediately after the qualifying damage. In Orange County, damage generally must exceed $10,000, and a claim typically must be filed within 12 months of the event, subject to the applicable rules.

Important to know: A claim generally must be filed within 12 months of the damage, and the county sets the damage threshold and requirements. The reduction is temporary and is re-reviewed as repairs are completed.

Official source: Orange County Assessor, Calamity and Disaster Relief

How it works: The City of Fullerton may enter into a Mills Act contract with the owner of a qualifying historic property. In exchange for preserving and maintaining the property, the assessed value used for tax purposes may be reduced.

Important to know: Qualification and the preservation obligations are confirmed by the City of Fullerton, and the program runs in defined application cycles. A home that is designated historic, or that may qualify as historic, may be worth discussing with the City's planning staff.

Official source: City of Fullerton, Historic Resources

How it works: Under current California law, the value of a qualifying active solar-energy system is excluded from new-construction assessment. An installation may qualify if it meets the statutory definition of an active solar-energy system.

Important to know: The exclusion applies while the program remains in effect under current law, currently running through January 1, 2027 subject to statutory changes. The Assessor confirms whether a specific installation qualifies, so owners who added solar or bought a newly built home with one may want to ask.

Official source: Orange County Assessor, Tax-Saving Programs