State Controller Betty T. Yee reminded California homeowners recently affected by wildfires that the extended deadline to apply for the Property Tax Postponement, or PTP, program is just over a week away, on June 1.

“The paperwork required to determine eligibility for Property Tax Postponement can take some time and effort to pull together,” said Controller Yee, California’s chief fiscal officer. “I urge anyone who thinks this program could benefit them to do their research and begin the process now.”

Administered by the State Controller’s Office, PTP allows homeowners who are seniors, are blind, or have a disability and who meet income, equity and other requirements to defer payment of property taxes on their primary residence.

The standard filing period closed Feb. 10, but residents of 31 counties in governor-declared disaster areas were granted an extension.

Applications for 2020-21 PTP must be postmarked by Tuesday, June 1, for residents of these counties: Butte, Del Norte, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Plumas, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo and Yuba.

In the 2019-20 tax year, California homeowners postponed more than $4 million in residential property taxes through PTP.

As of May 4, more than $4.2 million had been paid out for tax year 2020-21.

Funding for the program is limited, and applications are processed in the order they are received. Participants must reapply each year and demonstrate they continue to meet eligibility requirements.

The interest rate for all taxes postponed under PTP this tax year is 5%. A lien is placed on the real property, or a security agreement filed for a manufactured home, until the deferred taxes are repaid.

Applications for the 2021-22 tax year will be available in September. Applications and program details can be found online or by calling 800-952-5661.