California Homeowners' Property Tax Exemption

About This Program

Any California homeowner who occupies their property as their principal residence on January 1 can claim a $7,000 assessed value reduction, saving approximately $70–$80 per year in property taxes. This is a baseline exemption that applies to virtually all owner-occupied homes and is filed once with the county assessor.

Annual tax savings at typical Santa Clara County effective rate

Key Details

• $7,000 assessed value reduction for all owner-occupants
• Annual savings of approximately $70–$80
• No income requirement — available to all homeowners
• File BOE 266 with Santa Clara County Assessor
• One-time filing; renewal not required in most cases

How to Apply

Deadline: File by February 15 for full exemption; one-time filing usually sufficient