Were your real estate taxes increased because of a transfer of property to your registered Domestic Partner? If so, you may be entitled to have that tax increase reversed.  You must apply for the reversal on or before June 30, 2009.  Contact your county assessor to obtain the appropriate form.

Financial advisors - please forward this information to your clients or update them at your client meetings. CPAs - you should definitely include a notice about this change in your tax packets for this upcoming tax season.

As you probably know, California allows Domestic Partners to register with the Secretary of State.  The Domestic Partner then qualifies for inheritance rights, health benefits and numerous other benefits.  However, the Revenue and Taxation Code did not allow an exemption from reassessment of real estate taxes on a transfer to a Domestic Partner. Therefore, when a Domestic Partner was added to a deed, the real estate taxes were increased.  California has now amended the Revenue and Taxation Code to allow for the exemption from reassessment of real estate taxes for transfers after January 1, 2000.  The county assessor is required to reverse the reassessment between registered Domestic Partners provided the transferee submits an application for reversal before June 30, 2009.