AB 2715

Bill Subjects

Abstract

(1) Existing property tax law provides, pursuant to the authority of a specified provision of the California Constitution, for a homeowners' exemption in the amount of $7,000 of the full value of a "dwelling," as defined, and authorizes the Legislature to increase this exemption. This bill, beginning with the lien date for the 2021–22 fiscal year, would increase the homeowners' exemption from $7,000 to $14,000 of the full value of a dwelling. This bill, for the 2022–23 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter, would also require the county assessor to adjust the amount of the homeowners' exemption by the percentage change in the House Price Index for California for the first 3 quarters of the prior calendar year, as specified. (2) The Personal Income Tax Law imposes taxes based upon taxable income of individuals, estates, and trusts, at specified rates. This bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2020, would revise the personal income tax rates and the amounts of income those rates are imposed upon, as provided. (3) The California Constitution requires the Legislature, whenever it increases the homeowners' property tax exemption, to provide a comparable increase in benefits to qualified renters. The Personal Income Tax Law authorizes various credits against the taxes imposed by that law, including a credit for qualified renters in the amount of $120 for spouses filing joint returns, heads of household, and surviving spouses if adjusted gross income is $50,000 or less, and in the amount of $60 for other individuals if adjusted gross income is $25,000 or less. Existing law requires the Franchise Tax Board to annually adjust for inflation these adjusted gross income amounts. This bill, for taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2021, would increase this credit for a qualified renter to $240 for spouses filing joint returns, heads of household, and surviving spouses if adjusted gross income is $50,000 or less, as adjusted for inflation, and to an amount equal to $120 for other individuals if adjusted gross income is $25,000 or less, as adjusted for inflation. The bill, for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2022, would also require the Franchise Tax Board to annually adjust for inflation, based upon the California Consumer Price Index, the amount of these credits. The bill would also make nonsubstantive changes to the renters' credit. (4) The Corporation Tax Law generally imposes a franchise tax on corporations doing business within the limits of this state, including a minimum franchise tax on specified corporations, as provided. This bill would, for taxable years ending before January 1, 2021, eliminate the minimum franchise tax and make related technical amendments. (5) Existing law requires the state to reimburse local agencies annually for certain property tax revenues lost as a result of any exemption or classification of property for purposes of ad valorem property taxation. This bill would provide that, notwithstanding those provisions, no appropriation is made and the state shall not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenues lost by them pursuant to the bill. (6) This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.