Prop 8 Review Process

Decline in Market Value

Proposition 8, passed in November 1978, amended Proposition 13 to reflect declines in value. As a result, California State Revenue and Taxation Code Section 51 requires the Assessor to annually enroll either a property’s Proposition 13 base year value factored, or its Market Value as of January 1, whichever is less.

Prop 8 reductions in value are temporary. Once a Prop 8 value has been enrolled, a property’s value must be reviewed each following January 1, to determine whether its then current market value is less than its Prop 13 factored value.

Market Fluctuations

Prop 8 values can change from year to year as the market fluctuates, and are not restricted by the Prop 13 maximum adjustment of 2%. However, a Proposition 8 property may not be assessed at a value greater than its Prop 13 factored base year value.

Once the market value of a Proposition 8 property exceeds its Proposition 13 factored base year value, the Proposition 13 value is reinstated.

Requests for Review

Informal requests for review are considered individually by certified appraisers and can be filed by the property owner for the current year or the upcoming year. You must file your claim between January 1 and November 30 for the fiscal year beginning on July 1 of that same year. For more information, call 209-966-2332 or print a Request for Review (PDF) form here.

If after contacting this office your value concerns are not resolved, you may file an Application for Changed Assessment with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. For information on how to obtain and complete an application, visit the Assessment Appeals website or call 209-966-3222.

Important Points

The Assessor can only consider market value as of the lien date (January 1st)

Our office will determine the market value of your property by analyzing sales of comparable properties in the area and other pertinent data.

Information Timeline

When supplying information, the comparable sales must be no later than 90 days after the lien date (January 1st), but there is no limit as to how far backwards in time a comparable sale may be.

Prop 8 relief (Revenue and Taxation Code Section 51) is specific to the January 1 fair market value and does not allow for relief pertaining to other dates. As a result, supplemental assessments are not addressed when Prop 8 relief is sought.

Questions and Answers

Q. Is the Assessor required to restore my factored base year value even if it’s more than a 2% increase?

A. Yes. Just as there is no limit to the amount of reduction, there is no limit to the amount being restored in any year up to the factored Proposition 13 base year ceiling amount.

Q. If I have been granted a reduction for the current year will I have to request another review next year?

A. No. Once you have been granted a reduction pursuant to Prop 8, your next year’s value will automatically be reviewed.

Q. Why isn’t the reduction under Prop 8 permanent?

A. Prop 8 requires the Assessor to compare each property’s factored base year value with the current market value, and enroll the lesser of the two each year.

To view more FAQs on this topic, visit the State Board of Equalization website.