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Transfer Of PropertyRecording_and_taxesMEDIUM

Under California law, what is the consequence when a property buyer fails to file the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR) at the time the deed is recorded?

Correct Answer

A) The county assessor may send a Change of Ownership Statement, and if that is also not returned within 45 days, a penalty of $20 or 0.5% of the new base year value — whichever is greater — is added to the tax bill

Under California Revenue and Taxation Code §480(b), if the PCOR is not filed at the time of recording, the county assessor may mail a Change of Ownership Statement to the transferee. If that statement is not returned within 45 days, a penalty is imposed equal to the greater of $20 or 0.5% of the new base year value of the property. The deed is still recorded — the PCOR is an informational filing, not a condition of recordation — but the escalating penalty structure incentivizes timely compliance.

Answer Options
A
The county assessor may send a Change of Ownership Statement, and if that is also not returned within 45 days, a penalty of $20 or 0.5% of the new base year value — whichever is greater — is added to the tax bill
B
A flat $20 penalty is added to the property's tax bill, and no further penalties apply regardless of how long the PCOR remains unfiled
C
The deed is held in a pending status and not officially recorded until the PCOR is submitted to the assessor's office
D
The transfer is reported to the State Board of Equalization, which may impose a statewide supplemental assessment surcharge

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

PCORpenaltyrecordingchange_of_ownershipRev_Tax_Code_480

Related Concepts

The chain of title is the sequential history of all transfers of ownership for a specific property, from the original source (typically a government patent or grant) to the present owner. An unbroken chain is essential for marketable title.

The closing process, also called settlement, is the final step in a real estate transaction where documents are signed, funds are disbursed, and title is officially transferred from the seller to the buyer.

Constructive notice is the legal presumption that a person has knowledge of information that is available through public records or visible inspection of the property, regardless of whether they actually knew about it.

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