Cal. RTC § 483

(a) If the assessee establishes to the satisfaction of the county board of equalization or the assessment appeals board that the failure to file the change in ownership statement within the time required by subdivision (a) of Section 482 was due to reasonable cause and circumstances beyond the assessee’s control, and occurred notwithstanding the exercise of ordinary care in the absence of willful neglect, and has filed the statement with the assessor, the county board of equalization or the assessment appeals board may order the penalty abated, provided the assessee has filed with the county board of equalization or the assessment appeals board a written application for abatement of the penalty no later than 60 days after the date on which the assessee was notified of the penalty.

If the penalty is abated it shall be canceled or refunded in the same manner as an amount of tax erroneously charged or collected.

(b) The provisions of subdivision (a) shall not apply in any county in which the board of supervisors adopts a resolution to that effect. In that county the penalty provided for in subdivision (a) of Section 482 shall be abated if the assessee files the change of ownership statement with the assessor no later than 60 days after the date on which the assessee was notified of the penalty.

If the penalty is abated it shall be canceled or refunded in the same manner as an amount of tax erroneously charged or collected.

(c) (1) If a person or legal entity establishes to the satisfaction of the county board of equalization or the assessment appeals board that the failure to file the change in ownership statement within the time required by subdivision (b) of Section 482 was due to reasonable cause and circumstances beyond the assessee’s control, and occurred notwithstanding the exercise of ordinary care in the absence of willful neglect, and has filed the statement with the State Board of Equalization, the county board of equalization or the assessment appeals board may order the penalty be abated, provided the person or legal entity has filed with the county board of equalization or the assessment appeals board a written application for abatement of the penalty no later than 60 days after the date on which the person or legal entity was notified of the penalty by the assessor.

(2) If a written request to file a change in ownership statement, including a written request to file a complete change in ownership statement, is mailed by the State Board of Equalization to a person or legal entity as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 482, and the assessor determines that the written request was based on erroneous information in the possession of the board provided by any person or entity, including, but not limited to, the Franchise Tax Board, a county assessor, or board staff, the assessor shall abate the penalty if the person or legal entity required to comply with the written request notifies both the board and the county assessor responsible for assessing the penalty of the error no later than 60 days after the date on which the person or legal entity is notified of the penalty.

(3) If the penalty is abated, it shall be canceled or refunded in the same manner as an amount of tax erroneously charged or collected.