The Senior Citizen Property Tax Assistance Program provides direct cash reimbursement for senior citizens, blind and disabled property owners. Assistance is available for part of their property tax of persons who have an annual household income of $38,505 or less and are either, 1) 62 or older, 2) blind, or 3) disabled. A claim form must be filed each year, available between July through October, in order to receive a cash reimbursement. Filing for property tax assistance will not reduce the amount of property taxes owed to the County Tax Collector, nor will it result in a lien being placed on the property.
Claim forms and further information regarding the Property Tax Assistance Program may be obtained by telephoning the Franchise Tax Board at 1(800) 868-4171 or go to http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/hra/index.html for more information and on-line applications.
The Property Tax Postponement Program allows eligible homeowners to postpone payment of part or all of the property taxes on their residence. Senior citizens or blind or disabled persons with an annual household income of less than $31,500 for 2007 may qualify. To qualify for 2008 the limit is $35,500, and for 2009 the limit is $39,000. A claim form must be completed and submitted to the State Controller’s Office for each year the individual desires to have their property taxes postponed. To secure the postponed amount, a lien is recorded against the property. The amount of taxes postponed must be repaid to the State of California and will become due and payable when the occupant moves, sells the property, or dies. The filing period for a Postponement claim is from May through December. Individuals must file a claim each year to participate in the program. Only one claim may be filed per household.
Additional assistance, regarding Tax Postponement only, is available by calling the State Controller's Office at 1(800) 952-5661 (327-5587 if calling from area code 916) or go to http://www.sco.ca.gov/col/taxinfo/ptp/index.shtml for more information and on-line applications.
Also of Assistance 
Tax Links
