(a) For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2027, gross income does not include any qualified amount received by a qualified taxpayer.

(b) For purposes of this section:

Terms Used In California Revenue and Taxation Code 17138.6

  • board: means the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. See California Revenue and Taxation Code 20
  • County: includes city and county. See California Revenue and Taxation Code 15
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.

(1) “Qualified amount” means any amount received in settlement by a qualified taxpayer from Southern California Edison in settlement for claims relating to the 2017 Thomas Fire or the 2018 Woolsey Fire.

(2) “Qualified taxpayer” means any of the following:

(A) Any taxpayer that owned real property located in the County of Ventura or Santa Barbara during the 2017 Thomas Fire who paid and incurred expenses and received amounts from a settlement arising out of or pursuant to the 2017 Thomas Fire.

(B) Any taxpayer that resided within the County of Ventura or Santa Barbara during the 2017 Thomas Fire who paid and incurred expenses and received amounts from a settlement arising out of or pursuant to the 2017 Thomas Fire.

(C) Any taxpayer that had a place of business within the County of Ventura or Santa Barbara during the 2017 Thomas Fire who paid and incurred expenses and received amounts from a settlement arising out of or pursuant to the 2017 Thomas Fire.

(D) Any taxpayer that owned real property located in the County of Ventura or Los Angeles during the 2018 Woolsey Fire who paid and incurred expenses and received amounts from a settlement arising out of or pursuant to the 2018 Woolsey Fire.

(E) Any taxpayer that resided within the County of Ventura or Los Angeles during the 2018 Woolsey Fire who paid and incurred expenses and received amounts from a settlement arising out of or pursuant to the 2018 Woolsey Fire.

(F) Any taxpayer that had a place of business within the County of Ventura or Los Angeles during the 2018 Woolsey Fire who paid and incurred expenses and received amounts from a settlement arising out of or pursuant to the 2018 Woolsey Fire.

(3) “Settlement entity” means the entity making the settlement payment to a qualified taxpayer as described in paragraph (2).

(c) The settlement entity shall provide, upon request by the Franchise Tax Board, documentation of the settlement payments in the form and manner requested by the Franchise Tax Board.

(d) (1) This section shall apply to taxable years beginning before, on, or after the effective date of the act adding this section.

(2) If the credit or refund of any overpayment of tax resulting from the application of this section to a period before the effective date of this section is prevented as of that date by the operation of any law or rule of law, including res judicata, that credit or refund may nevertheless be allowed or made if the claim therefor is filed before the close of the one-year period beginning on the effective date of the act adding this section.

(e) This section shall remain in effect only until December 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 841, Sec. 2. (SB 1246) Effective September 29, 2022. Repealed as of December 1, 2027, by its own provisions.)