California · Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC

RTC §257: (a) Any person claiming the religious exemption shall submit to the assessor an affidavit giving specific information relating to property tax exemption.

What this law says, in plain English

A person claiming religious property tax exemption must submit an affidavit with specific information to the assessor.

Read the full statutory text
(a) Any person claiming the religious exemption shall submit to the assessor an affidavit giving specific information relating to property tax exemption. (b) The affidavit shall show that: (1) The building, equipment, and land are used exclusively for religious purposes. (2) The land claimed as exempt is required for the convenient use of the building. (3) The property is owned by an entity organized and operating exclusively for religious purposes. (4) The entity is nonprofit. (5) No part of the net earnings inures to the benefit of any private individual. (c) Any exemption granted pursuant to a claim filed in accordance with this section, once granted, shall remain in effect until that time that title to the property changes or the property is no longer used for exempt purposes. Any person who is granted an exemption pursuant to a claim filed in accordance with this section shall notify the assessor by February 15 if the property becomes ineligible for the exemption. (d) Upon any indication that a religious exemption has been incorrectly allowed, the assessor shall make a redetermination of eligibility for the religious exemption. If the assessor determines that the property or any portion thereof is no longer eligible for the exemption, he or she shall immediately cancel the exemption on so much of the property as is no longer eligible for exemption. If a religious exemption has been incorrectly allowed, an escape assessment as allowed by Article 4 (commencing with Section 531) of Chapter 3 in the amount of the exemption with interest as provided in Section 506 shall be made, together with a penalty for failure to notify the assessor, where applicable, in the amount of 10 percent of the assessment, but may not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) in tax liability.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.