Who can apply in the new window
California opened the 2026-27 Property Tax Postponement filing period October 1. The State Controller says eligible homeowners can defer current-year taxes on a principal residence. Its current instructions make the financial tradeoff plain: postponed taxes must eventually be repaid, secured by a property lien.
Applicants must be at least sixty-two, blind or disabled; own and occupy the residence; have 2025 household income no higher than $57,002; hold at least forty percent equity; and have no reverse mortgage. They must reapply annually. Limited funding means qualification does not ensure approval.
What it costs to postpone
The filing deadline is February 10, 2027, with applications processed first-come, first-served. The instructions specify five-percent annual simple interest computed monthly. This is not tax forgiveness or a zero-cost way to avoid a bill. Delinquent taxes are not paid through this current-year postponement program.
Repayment can become due on events such as moving, selling, refinancing or obtaining a reverse mortgage, subject to the detailed rules. Read those triggers before relying on postponement for a household budget. It may reduce the immediate cash burden while increasing a secured balance over time. Compare that consequence with the actual tax bill, available funds and future plans for the home.