California's Homeowners' Exemption reduces the taxable value of your primary residence by $7,000 — usually about $70–$100 a year in savings. To claim it, file Form BOE-266 with your county assessor. The usual deadline is February 15 for the upcoming tax year (some counties allow late filing for a partial benefit). Once approved, it renews automatically while you live in the home.
Tip: transferring your home into your living trust doesn't take away the exemption — but it's worth confirming with your assessor after any title change.
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