(a) (1) Upon application, the county tax collector shall issue a tax clearance certificate or a conditional tax clearance certificate.

(2) Any tax clearance certificate issued shall be used to permit registration of used manufactured homes and for any other purposes that may be prescribed by the Controller. The certificate may indicate that the county tax collector finds that no local property tax is due or is likely to become due, or that any applicable local property taxes have been paid or are to be paid in a manner not requiring the withholding of registration or the transfer of registration.

(3) Any conditional tax clearance certificate issued shall indicate that the county tax collector finds that a tax liability exists, the amount due, and the final date that amount may be paid before a further tax liability is incurred. The certificate shall be in any form that the Controller may prescribe, and shall be executed, issued, and accepted for clearance of registration or permit issuance on the conditions which the Controller may prescribe.

(b) Within five working days of receipt of the written demand for a conditional tax clearance certificate or tax clearance certificate, the county tax collector shall forward the conditional tax clearance certificate or tax clearance certificate, showing no tax liability exists, to the requesting escrow officer. In the event the final due date of the tax clearance certificate or conditional tax clearance certificate expires within 30 days of the date of its issuance, an additional conditional tax clearance certificate or tax clearance certificate shall be completed, which has a final due date of at least 30 days beyond the date of issuance. The tax collector shall not charge a fee for the issuance of a certificate unless a previously issued tax clearance certificate or conditional tax clearance certificate expires prior to the date upon which title transfers. The fee for the issuance of a subsequent certificate with respect to that manufactured home shall be an amount equal to the actual costs of preparing and processing that certificate.

(c) If the tax collector fails to comply with the demand within 30 days from the date the demand is mailed, the escrow officer may close the escrow in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (m) of Section 18035 of the Health and Safety Code.

(d) Notwithstanding any provisions of law requiring the tax collector to issue a tax clearance certificate or conditional tax clearance certificate within a specified period of time, when an escrow information demand is made pursuant to Section 18035 of the Health and Safety Code for a manufactured home that has not been enrolled in the county, the tax collector shall be afforded the number of working days necessary for the assessor to determine the value of the manufactured home and for the auditor to extend tax liability.

(e) The issuance, alteration, forgery, or use of any tax clearance certificate or conditional certificate in a manner contrary to the requirements of the Controller constitutes a misdemeanor.

(f) (1) Prior to January 1, 2021, a person with a conditional transfer of title as described in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of Section 18116.1 of the Health and Safety Code may apply to the tax collector to issue either a tax liability or tax clearance certificate. The county tax collector shall issue a tax liability certificate if the person pays the taxes reasonably owed from the date of sale as shown on the conditional transfer of title, without penalties or interest, and not to exceed the amounts attributable one year prior to January 1, 2017.

(2) Upon issuance of a tax clearance or liability certificate, the applicant shall be listed as the owner of record for all local property tax purposes and the home shall not be subject to lien or seizure based on any taxes, penalties, or interest as noted on the certificate issued pursuant to paragraph (1). The tax collector shall notify the assessor and other county agencies of the change.

(3) This subdivision does not relieve any owner other than the applicant from tax liability, including penalties and interest, arising from nonpayment prior to the date of sale, or prohibit a county tax collector from collecting delinquent taxes, penalties, or interest due prior to the date of sale, from any owner other than the applicant.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 488, Sec. 3. (AB 173) Effective January 1, 2020.)