Section 257.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 257.
in effect(a)
Any person claiming the religious exemption shall submit to the assessor an affidavit giving specific information relating to property tax exemption.
(b)
The affidavit shall show that:
(1)
The building, equipment, and land are used exclusively for religious purposes.
(2)
The land claimed as exempt is required for the convenient use of the
building.
(3)
The property is owned by an entity organized and operating exclusively for religious purposes.
(4)
The entity is nonprofit.
(5)
No part of the net earnings inures to the benefit of any private individual.
(c)
Any exemption granted pursuant to a claim filed in accordance with this section, once granted, shall remain in effect until that time that title to the property changes or the property is no longer used for exempt purposes. Any person who is granted an exemption pursuant to a claim filed in accordance with this section shall notify the assessor by February 15 if the property becomes ineligible for the exemption.
(d)
Upon any indication that a religious exemption has been
incorrectly allowed, the assessor shall make a redetermination of eligibility for the religious exemption. If the assessor determines that the property or any portion thereof is no longer eligible for the exemption, he or she shall immediately cancel the exemption on so much of the property as is no longer eligible for exemption.
If a religious exemption has been incorrectly allowed, an escape assessment as allowed by Article 4 (commencing with Section 531) of Chapter 3 in the amount of the exemption with interest as provided in Section 506 shall be made, together with a penalty for failure to notify the assessor, where applicable, in the amount of 10 percent of the assessment, but may not exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) in tax liability.
References
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 531.
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 506.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026