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California homeowners in 31 counties, including Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino and Trinity,  who were affected by last year’s wildfires have more time to apply for the state’s Property Tax Postponement program.

To apply for the 2020-2021 program, the deadline is in June, according to a release from State Controller Betty T. Yee’s office.

“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 delay payment of property taxes on their primary residence,” a release from the controller’s office states.

Hundreds lost their homes in 2020 amid the worst fire season in California history, with three major fires sweeping through the region — the Slater-Devil Fire, the Red Salmon Fire and the August Complex, the largest in California's history at more than 1 million acres — at one point creating an eerie orange sky and blanketing many areas in chocking smoke for weeks before finally being put out by fall rains.

According to the state, applications for the 2021-2022 tax year will be available in September. Applications and program details can be found online or by calling (800) 952-5661.

Read the full release from earlier this week below:

SACRAMENTO—State Controller Betty T. Yee today reminded California homeowners recently affected by wildfires that they have more time to apply for the Property Tax Postponement (PTP) program.

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 delay payment of property taxes on their primary residence.

Residents of these 31 counties in governor-declared disaster areas now have a deadline of June 1 to apply for 2020-21 PTP: 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, Siskyou, 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 February 10, more than $3.6 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 five percent. 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.