California transfer tax
Every California county charges a documentary transfer tax of $1.10 per $1,000 ($0.55 per $500) of value, excluding liens that stay on the property. Many cities add their own tax — from about 0.1% up to several percent in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley. The seller customarily pays.
Charter and general-law cities add taxes: general-law cities $0.55/$1,000 (half the county rate, credited); Los Angeles 0.45% plus Measure ULA (4% / 5.5% of the whole price above about $5.3M / $10.6M, indexed each July); San Francisco tiered up to 6%; Oakland tiered about 1%–2.5%; Berkeley 1.5%/2.5%; also Alameda, Albany, Culver City, Emeryville, Hayward, Piedmont, Pomona, Redondo Beach, Richmond, Riverside, San Leandro, San Mateo, Santa Monica, Sacramento and others.
Highest totals in California on a $400,000 sale
Find your city or county
| Place | County | Total rate | Tax on $400,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda | Alameda County | 1.31% | $5,240 |
| Alameda County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Albany | Alameda County | 1.61% | $6,440 |
| Alpine County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Amador County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Berkeley | Alameda County | 1.61% | $6,440 |
| Butte County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Calaveras County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Colusa County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Contra Costa County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Culver City | Los Angeles County | 0.56% | $2,240 |
| Del Norte County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| El Cerrito | Contra Costa County | 1.31% | $5,240 |
| El Dorado County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Emeryville | Alameda County | 1.31% | $5,240 |
| Fresno County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Glenn County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Hayward | Alameda County | 0.96% | $3,840 |
| Humboldt County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Imperial County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Inyo County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Kern County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Kings County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Lake County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Lassen County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles County | 0.56% | $2,240 |
| Los Angeles County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Madera County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Marin County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Mariposa County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Mendocino County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Merced County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Modoc County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Mono County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Monterey County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Mountain View | Santa Clara County | 0.44% | $1,760 |
| Napa County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Nevada County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Oakland | Alameda County | 1.61% | $6,440 |
| Orange County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Palo Alto | Santa Clara County | 0.44% | $1,760 |
| Petaluma | Sonoma County | 0.31% | $1,240 |
| Piedmont | Alameda County | 1.41% | $5,640 |
| Placer County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Plumas County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Pomona | Los Angeles County | 0.33% | $1,320 |
| Redondo Beach | Los Angeles County | 0.33% | $1,320 |
| Richmond | Contra Costa County | 0.81% | $3,240 |
| Riverside | Riverside County | 0.22% | $880 |
| Riverside County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Sacramento | Sacramento County | 0.385% | $1,540 |
| Sacramento County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| San Benito County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| San Bernardino County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| San Diego County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| San Francisco | San Francisco County | 0.68% | $2,720 |
| San Joaquin County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| San Jose | Santa Clara County | 0.44% | $1,760 |
| San Leandro | Alameda County | 1.21% | $4,840 |
| San Luis Obispo County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| San Mateo | San Mateo County | 0.61% | $2,440 |
| San Mateo County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| San Rafael | Marin County | 0.31% | $1,240 |
| Santa Barbara County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Santa Clara County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz County | 0.11% | $440 |
| Santa Cruz County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Santa Monica | Los Angeles County | 0.41% | $1,640 |
| Santa Rosa | Sonoma County | 0.31% | $1,240 |
| Shasta County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Sierra County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Siskiyou County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Solano County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Sonoma County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Stanislaus County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Sutter County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Tehama County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Trinity County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Tulare County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Tuolumne County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Vallejo | Solano County | 0.44% | $1,760 |
| Ventura County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Yolo County | 0.11% | $440 | |
| Yuba County | 0.11% | $440 |
Total includes the state tax. Click a column to sort.
California state transfer tax calculator
- County
| Tax | Rate | Who pays | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| California county documentary transfer taxCounty | $0.55 per $500 | Seller | $440.00 |
| Total transfer tax (0.11% of the price) | $440.00 | ||
"Who pays" is the customary or legal default; your purchase contract can move it. State taxes only — pick your place above to add local taxes.
Transfer tax in California by home price
| Sale price | Total tax | Effective rate | Seller | Buyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $250,000 | $275 | 0.11% | $275 | $0 |
| $400,000 | $440 | 0.11% | $440 | $0 |
| $600,000 | $660 | 0.11% | $660 | $0 |
| $800,000 | $880 | 0.11% | $880 | $0 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,100 | 0.11% | $1,100 | $0 |
| $1,500,000 | $1,650 | 0.11% | $1,650 | $0 |
| $2,500,000 | $2,750 | 0.11% | $2,750 | $0 |
| $5,000,000 | $5,500 | 0.11% | $5,500 | $0 |
Negotiable amounts are shown half to each side.
Selling in California?
Transfer tax is usually the second-biggest closing cost after the agent's commission. Comparing agents' fees often saves more than any exemption.
Common exemptions
- Transfers between spouses or registered domestic partners
- Divorce transfers
- Gifts and inheritances (no consideration)
- Transfers to a revocable living trust
- Deeds in lieu of foreclosure (to the extent of the debt)
- Transfers to government entities
Questions
What is the county transfer tax in California?
$1.10 per $1,000 of value ($0.55 per $500 or fraction), in every county.
Who pays transfer tax in California?
Customarily the seller, though the purchase contract can change it.
Do California cities add transfer tax?
Many do — e.g. Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley charge far more than the county tax.
How much is transfer tax on a $500,000 house in California?
The state part is $550; local taxes can add more — pick your city or county above.
Sources
Last checked October 13, 2026. Rates in effect for residential sales; commercial, leasehold and entity transfers can differ. Always confirm with your title company or closing attorney before closing.