I recently purchased a home. Will my taxes on this property be about the same amount as the prior owner’s taxes?

No. Until 1994, property was valued for tax purposes at half its market value. This is called “State Equalized Value” or SEV. In 1994 voters passed Proposal A, which limited the growth of property tax assessments. The formula under Proposal A keeps the Taxable Value of a property from growing as fast as the SEV. This gap can increase over time. However, in the year following an eligible transfer of ownership, the Taxable Value is uncapped and is made equal to the SEV, but only for that year following the transfer of ownership. When a parcel is uncapped there could be a substantial increase in the tax depending on the difference between the Taxable Value and the State Equalized Value of the property. See “How is the Taxable Value calculated?” for more explanation.

Show All Answers

1. What is the difference between the Assessed Value and Taxable Value of my home?
2. How is the Assessed and Taxable Values calculated?
3. I recently purchased a home. Will my taxes on this property be about the same amount as the prior owner’s taxes?