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The Lessors' Exemption is available to property owners who lease real property to free public libraries, free museums, public schools, community colleges, State colleges, State universities, University of California, churches, and non-profit colleges. Both the owner of the property and the exempt organization are required to sign the claim. The benefit of the exemption must go to the exempt organization in the form of a rent reduction or direct refund, unless otherwise stated in the lease. A copy of the lease is required to be submitted with the first claim.
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR FILING LESSORS' EXEMPTION CLAIM
IMPORTANT NOTICE
A qualifying institution is one whose property is used for free public libraries and free museums, and for property used exclusively for public schools, community colleges, state colleges, state universities, University of California, churches, and nonprofit colleges.
Failure to submit the lessee's affidavit will result in denial of the exemption for the lessor. Submission of the lessee's affidavit after the date the claim form is due (for taxpayers not required to file a property statement) or after the last day for filing the lessor's property statement without penalty under section 463 of the Revenue and Taxation Code (for taxpayers required to file a property statement) will result in a portion of the exemption being denied. A Lessee's Affidavit is not required for free public library or free museum exemption.
A sample affidavit is included as page 3 of this form.
IDENTIFICATION OF APPLICANT
Enter your company or organization information.
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year for which an exemption is sought must be entered correctly. The proper fiscal year follows the lien date (12:01a.m., January 1) as of which the taxable or exempt status of the property is determined. For example, a person filing a timely claim in February 2017 would enter “2017-2018” on line five of the claim; a “2016-2017” entry on a claim filed in February 2017 would signify that a late claim was being filed for the preceding fiscal year. The lease must be in effect and the property in use on lien date of the fiscal year for which the exemption is sought. Lessors' Exemptions cannot be prorated based on the commencement date of the lease.
USES OF PROPERTY
Check each of the types of property being claimed, and state the primary and incidental uses of the property.
Enter the name and address of the lessee. If additional space is required, or if more than one lessee is being listed, attach an itemized list.
Confirm, by checking the appropriate box, that the lease confers upon the lessee the exclusive right to possession and use of the property, except for free public libraries and free museums.
Check the appropriate box regarding property statement reporting. If you own taxable personal property in any county whose aggregate cost is $100,000 or more for any assessment year, you must file a property statement with the Assessor of that county whether or not specifically requested to do so. Any person not otherwise required to file a statement shall do so upon request of the Assessor, regardless of aggregate cost.
Check the appropriate box to indicate whether the affidavit is attached or will be submitted with the property statement.
If the property, or a portion thereof, for which exemption is claimed is a student bookstore that generates unrelated business taxable income as defined in section 512 of the Internal Revenue Code, property taxes are determined by establishing a ratio of the unrelated business taxable income to the bookstore's gross income.
PROPERTY TAX BENEFITS
Property tax benefits claimed herein must be passed on to the lessee in the form of:
This site is updated at least annually.
Forms for use in 2022 will be available starting January 1st, 2022.
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Only property tax related forms are available at this site. No individual data or information is maintained at this site or can be accessed through this site.
You can contact your County Assessor by using the counties link. The Assessor in the county where the property is located can provide the best and specific assistance.