Section 531.2.
Cal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 531.2.
in effect(a)
When the property is real property which subsequent to July 1 of the year of escape for purposes of this article, or subsequent to July 1 of the year in which the property should have been lawfully assessed, for purposes of Article 3 (commencing with Section 501), but prior to the date of that assessment and the showing thereof on the secured roll, with the date of entry specified thereon, has (1) been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value, or (2) become subject to a lien of a bona fide encumbrance for value, the escape assessment pursuant to either of these articles shall not create or impose a lien or charge on that real property, but shall be entered on the unsecured roll in the name of the person who would have been the assessee in the year in which it escaped assessment and shall thereafter be treated and collected like other taxes on that roll. The tax rate applicable shall be the secured tax rate of the year in which the property escaped assessment.
(b)
If the real property escaped assessment as a result of an unrecorded change in ownership or change in control for which a change in ownership statement required by Section 480, 480.1, or 480.2, or a preliminary change in ownership report, pursuant to Section 480.3, is not filed, the assessor shall appraise the property as of the date of transfer and enroll the difference in taxable value for each of the subsequent years on the secured roll, with the date of entry specified thereon. However, if prior to the date of the assessment the property has (1) been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value, or (2) become subject to a lien of a bona fide encumbrance for value, the escape assessment pursuant to this paragraph shall not create or impose a lien or charge on that real property, but shall be entered on the unsecured roll in the name of the person who would have been the assessee in the year in which it escaped assessment and shall thereafter be treated and collected like other taxes on that roll. The tax rate applicable shall be the secured rate of the year in which the property escaped assessment. “Assessment year” means the period defined in Section 118.
In the event of a failure to file a change in ownership statement required by Section 480, 480.1, or 480.2, or a preliminary change in ownership report, pursuant to Section 480.3, the interest provided in Section 506 may, by the order of the board of supervisors, be added.
(c)
(1)
Taxes resulting from escape assessments shall be prorated pursuant to paragraphs (2) to (5), inclusive, only if the board of supervisors of a county has adopted a resolution specifying that taxes shall be prorated pursuant to this subdivision.
(2)
When real property has been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value subsequent to July 1 of the year of escape for purposes of this article, or subsequent to July 1 of the year in which the property should have been lawfully assessed, for purposes of Article 3 (commencing with Section 501), taxes resulting from escape assessments pursuant to this section shall be prorated between the following:
(A)
The person who would have been the assessee if the change in ownership had not occurred.
(B)
The person who purchased the property.
(3)
If the real property has been transferred or conveyed to a bona fide purchaser for value more than once during the year of escape or assessment, each owner of record during that period shall be liable for a pro rata share of taxes based on the length of time during that period each bona fide purchaser was the record owner of that real property.
(4)
When the assessor has identified the fact and amount of the escape assessment, the assessor shall identify the owners of record during the year of escape or assessment and the dates of ownership for each owner.
(5)
The auditor shall compute the respective prorated shares of taxes for each owner of record. The share of taxes of the current owner of the real property shall be placed on the secured roll as a lien on the parcel for which the escaped assessment was discovered. The share of taxes of any previous owner during the year of escape or assessment shall be entered on the unsecured roll.
References
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 501.
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 480.
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 480.3.
referencesCal. Revenue and Taxation Code - RTC § 118.
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