Do I have to pay inheritance tax on my parents house in California?
Sarah Garza
Updated on March 14, 2026
If your home is worth $3,200,000 when they inherit it many years from now, they could sell and not pay any capital gains tax. If your children decide to rent your home after inheriting it, they will pay property taxes based on the market value when inherited (the assessed value would equal the market value).
Does California have an inheritance tax in 2020?
The California Estate Tax Regardless of the size of the estate, the Franchise Tax Board (think the IRS for the state of California) will not levy any estate taxes on the inheritance. We are just talking at the state level; the Federal Government has its own estate tax rules.
Can a family member sell an inherited house in California?
However, the right real estate agent or investor can help you with that. Californians recently passed Proposition 19, limiting tax benefits for certain transfers of property, like an inherited home or farm, between family members. It eliminates the exemption from property tax reassessment.
Can a mother give you power of attorney to sell your home?
If your mother grants you power of attorney to sell her home, you can only do so while she remains alive. When your mother grants you power of attorney, she grants you the right to make specific decisions on her behalf.
What happens when you sell your house in California?
When you sell a home in California, you are involved in a transaction that exchanges hundreds of thousands of dollars (sometimes millions). It is understandable, then, that a lot of paperwork is involved in this transaction. And, of course, taxes. Taxes are not an area where you want to cut corners.
Can you sell your house to a family member?
Selling property to a relative for less than it’s worth changes your tax liability (more on that in a minute), but the relative you’re selling to may not understand the red flags raised by giving family too good a deal on a home sale.