Do You Qualify for the Alameda County Property Tax Senior Exemption?
Blowing out the 65th candle on your birthday cake comes with certain benefits, especially if you live in Alameda County, CA.
If you have never heard of the Alameda County property tax senior exemption, it is time to and learn what exemptions you qualify for and how to lower your future tax bills.
California Property Tax Senior Exemption—School District Taxes
You can qualify for a homestead exemption for school district taxes if you are:
- 65 or older
- A disabled residence homestead owner
California citizens can get this $10,000 homestead exemption together with the $25,000 one that is available to all homeowners.
In this state, you are also entitled to school parcel tax exemption. These exemptions can lower your property tax bills by $100 or up to $1,000, depending on the district.
Lots of K-21 districts provide exemptions to senior citizens but do not publicize this fact or apply the exemptions automatically. That is why you should arm yourself with knowledge about property tax exemptions for seniors and methods that will help you pay only what you must.
If you would like to compare property taxes in California with other states, DoNotPay provides a list of states that have low property taxes.
How Do You Qualify for the School Parcel Property Tax Exemption?
To qualify for the school parcel property tax exemption, you must:
- Be 65 or older
- Live in the home that is your primary residence
- Request, complete, and file an application
Your district should provide the application forms, and you will need to submit proof of:
- Age
- Residency
- Ownership
Some districts require eligible citizens to fill out a new application every year, but others do not. Check with your district whether they renew this exemption automatically.
Be careful not to miss the application deadline since most districts set a specific date. You might need to apply in May or June to receive an exemption for the tax year starting July 1.
Your district might be flexible and grant you an exemption retroactively if you miss the deadline.
Alameda County Property Tax Senior Exemption—Parcel Tax and Measures A and B1
Citizens of Alameda County need to pay the parcel tax whose purpose is to:
- Retain good teachers
- Protect core academic, arts, and athletic programs in Alameda County schools
Measures A and B1 of the parcel tax provide $12 million annually to Alameda Unified School District (AUSD).
Who Qualifies for Measure B1 and Measure A Parcel Tax Exemption?
You are eligible for an exemption if you:
- Own and occupy a property as your primary residence
- Are 65 and older
- Receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits (SSDI) for a disability (regardless of age)
Property owners who receive SSDI cannot have a yearly income over 250% of the 2012 federal poverty guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The details are available in the table below:
| Persons in Household | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
| 1 | $2,327 | $31,900 |
| 2 | $3,152 | $43,100 |
| 3 | $3,977 | $54,300 |
| 4 | $4,802 | $65,500 |
Besides filling out the application, you will have to include proof of:
- Ownership
- Birthdate
- Residence
If you receive SSI or SSDI, you also need to provide a Benefits Verification Letter.
Senior Head of Household Credit in Alameda County
To qualify for the Senior Head of Household Credit, you need to meet the following requirements:
- You are 65 or older on December 31 of the tax year
- Your adjusted gross income is not over $79,539
- You qualified as head of the household for at least one of the previous two years
- Your qualifying person died in the previous two years
If you meet the above-listed eligibility criteria, you can claim up to $1,499.
Alameda County Homeowners’ Exemption
To qualify for the Alameda County Homeowners’ exemption, you need to own and live in a home that is your principal place of residence. You will get up to a $7,000 reduction of your property’s full cash value.
Once you file for the homeowners’ exemption and receive it, you do not need to file it again unless you move from the residence.
For more info about available property tax exemptions for senior citizens and property tax assessment in California, check out DoNotPay’s guides.
DoNotPay Will Show You How To Reduce Property Tax Bills
DoNotPay has a database with updated property tax information. Provide the specifics of your property, location, and other basics, and we will generate a guide customized for your needs.
Your part of the job is easy and brief:
- in a web browser
- Locate our Property Tax feature
- Answer a few questions about you and your property
You will get your own property tax exemption and appeal instructions containing information on how the property tax assessment process works. Review them and initiate the procedure of reducing your future property tax bills smoothly.
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