Required Documentation

Applicants for property tax postponement must enclose with their claim form documentation of age, blindness, or disability. In certain situations, otherdocumentation may be required. Enclose the following documents with your property tax postponement claim form.

• Proof of Age
• Proof of Blindness or Disability
• Other Required Documentation

Proof of Age

If you will be 62 or older on or before December 31, 2008, and are a first-time filer, you must submit proof of age. A copy of any of the following documents is acceptable if your age or birthdate is displayed on it:

• Driver’s license
• Birth certificate
• Delayed birth certificate
• Hospital birth record
• Marriage license
• Citizenship or naturalization papers
• Church record
• Military record
• Social Security Form 2458
• Social Security award letter
• Medi-Cal card
• Passport
• Child's birth certificate (if it shows parent's age)

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Proof of Blindness or Disability

If you are blind, you must submit proof of blindness each year. You are considered blind if you have received a medical determination that you have either of the following conditions:

• Central vision acuity (sharpness of vision) of no more than 20/200, with the use of a correcting lens; or
• Tunnel vision, which is a limited visual field of 20 degrees or less.

If you are disabled, you must submit proof of disability each year that you file. You are considered disabled if:

• You cannot engage in any substantial gainful activity because of a physical or mental impairment;
• The severity of the impairment prevents you from engaging in your previous work and any other type of work, considering your age, education and work experience;
• The impairment is determined medically by a doctor; and
• The impairment is expected to last for at least 12 continuous months.

A copy (do not send original) of any of the following documents may be accepted as proof of blindness or disability at the discretion of the State Controller's Office:

• Medi-care card
• Social Security Award Letter that is dated current and states you qualify for social security or supplemental income benefits as a blind or disabled person
• A Supplemental Security Income Payment Decision Letter, that shows your income qualifying year amount
• Social Security Form 2458 verifying your status as a blind or disabled person

If you are unable to obtain any of the above documents, you may submit, as proof of your blindness or disability, a letter from a licensed medical physician that includes the following:

• Physician's original signature, with a current date on the physician's letterhead.
• The statement must include the dates of the blindness or disability and whether the disability is ongoing.

Note: A Medi-Cal card is not acceptable proof of disability.

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Other Required Documentation

A copy of your property tax bill is always required unless you are a tenant stockholder.

Additional documentation is required under the following situations.

• If you have a reverse mortgage you must submit your most recent mortgage statement and the loan documents that identify the Loan Principal Limit and the other terms of the Reverse Mortgage loan.
• If your property is held in a trust, enclose a copy of the recorded trust agreement and amendments, if copies have not previously been submitted to our office.
• If you have rental income or loss, business income or loss, capital gain or loss (from the sale of assets), or adjustments to income, enclose a complete, signed copy of your Federal Tax Form 1040, along with supporting schedules.
• If you have a leasehold (possessory) interest in your property, enclose a copy of the recorded lease agreement and the policy of title insurance.
• If you hold a life estate in the property, enclose written consent from the remainderman of the estate to postpone property taxes.
• If your residence is a mobilehome or floating home, enclose a copy of your current certificate of title and/or registration card.
• If your claim is signed by someone acting as attorney in fact, enclose a copy of the recorded power of attorney.

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