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30 PROPERTY TAXATION IN CALIFORNIA Property Tax Collection Procedures Classification. In the State, property which is subject to ad valorem taxes is classified as “secured” or “unsecured.” Secured and unsecured property are entered on separate parts of the assessment roll maintained by the County assessor. The secured classification includes property on which any property tax levied by a county becomes a lien on that property. A tax levied on unsecured property does not become a lien against the taxed unsecured property, but may become a lien on certain other property owned by the taxpayer. Every tax which becomes a lien on secured property has priority over all other liens on the secured property arising pursuant to State law, regardless of the time of the creation of other liens. Generally, ad valorem taxes are collected by a county (the “Taxing Authority”) for the benefit of the various entities (e.g., cities, schools and special districts) that share in the ad valorem tax (each a taxing entity) and successor agencies eligible to receive distributions from the respective Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Funds. Collections. Secured and unsecured property are entered separately on the assessment roll maintained by the county assessor. The method of collecting delinquent taxes is substantially different for the two classifications of property. The taxing authority has four ways of collecting unsecured personal property taxes: (i) initiating a civil action against the taxpayer, (ii) filing a certificate in the office of the county clerk specifying certain facts in order to obtain a judgment lien on certain property of the taxpayer, (iii) filing a certificate of delinquency for record in the county recorder’s office to obtain a lien on certain property of the taxpayer, and (iv) seizing and selling personal property, improvements or possessory interests belonging or assessed to the assessee. The exclusive means of enforcing the payment of delinquent taxes with respect to property on the secured roll is the sale of the property securing the taxes to the State for the amount of taxes which are delinquent. Penalty. A 10% penalty is added to delinquent taxes which have been levied with respect to property on the secured roll. In addition, property on the secured roll on which taxes are delinquent is declared in default by operation of law and declaration of the tax collector on or about June 30 of each fiscal year. Such property may thereafter be redeemed by payment of the delinquent taxes and a delinquency penalty, plus a redemption penalty of 1.5% per month to the time of redemption. If taxes are unpaid for a period of five years or more, the property is deeded to the State and then is subject to sale by the county tax collector. A 10% penalty also applies to delinquent taxes with respect to property on the unsecured roll, and further, an additional penalty of 1.5% per month accrues with respect to such taxes beginning on varying dates related to the tax bill mailing date. Delinquencies. The valuation of property is determined as of the January 1 lien date as equalized in August of each year and equal installments of taxes levied upon secured property become delinquent on the following December 10 and April 10. Taxes on unsecured property are due January 1 and become delinquent August 31. Supplemental Assessments. California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 75.70 provides for the reassessment and taxation of property as of the occurrence of a change of ownership or completion of new construction. Such reassessment is referred to as the Supplemental Assessment and is determined by applying the current year's tax rate to the amount of the increase or decrease in a property's value and prorating the resulting property 135