Petition to Move Property Tax Payment to July
UPDATE April 3, 2020: Property tax deadline in San Francisco moved to May 4. Read about our win.
A looming San Francisco property tax bill will be hard to pay for homeowners during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. The April 10 due date is determined by the State of California and the state should postpone property tax payment from April to July, just as it already has for individual income taxes.
This petition asks:
Governor Newsom to expand his March 12th Executive Order delaying the deadline for state tax filing to include property taxes, and move the property tax payment to July in line with when state income taxes are now due.
The California Board of Equalization, which oversees property tax rules, to take action.
State legislators to pass an emergency bill allowing the date to be moved, if the April 10 due date is codified in state law and there is no other remedy.
San Francisco’s mayor, board of supervisors and treasurer (who sends and collects the property tax bill) to advocate for San Francisco homeowners and urge state officials to act.
San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros to automatically waive penalties on property taxes for the same period of time that Governor Newsom’s March 12th Executive Order pushed back California’s income tax deadline.
Worthy measures have already been taken to help renters and small businesses affected by the coronavirus crisis. Homeowners comprise about 40 percent of San Francisco’s population and they deserve relief. Particularly newer homeowners who are paying market rate property taxes and are already stretched to afford their first home. Many middle income families and immigrants who have invested their life savings in a home are at risk as the coronavirus shutdown has severely impacted their source of livelihood.
Homeowners should pay their property taxes on April 10 if they can, because the funds are needed for government services. But the state should move the payment date to give struggling homeowners relief.
UPDATE March 20: The petition was started March 19 and on March 20 San Francisco Treasurer Jose Cisneros made the following statement:
“We encourage all property owners who can pay their taxes on time to do so. This revenue helps keep the government running and providing vital services that the public relies on, especially in times like these. While we cannot change the state law that sets the April 10 property tax deadline, taxpayers who are unable to pay on time for reasons related to COVID-19 should submit a request for a penalty waiver online.”
Important note: The waiver currently being offered by the city treasurer is not what the petition is asking for. Homeowners need an automatic waiver on property tax penalties until July. The current waiver offered by the city treasurer has the following caveats: “The waiver review process may take up to six weeks. Unpaid balances will continue to accrue additional penalties and interest which are the responsibility of the taxpayers should the waiver request be denied.”
UPDATE April 3, 2020: Property tax deadline in San Francisco moved to May 4. Read about our win.