California transfer tax calculator
County documentary transfer tax of $0.55 per $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000). Charter cities may levy their own in addition.
Reviewed October 15, 2026. The math is shown line by line.
California transfer tax on a $735,000 sale
- County documentary transfer taxpayer varies by county$808.50$735,000 ÷ $500 = 1,470 units (rounded up for any fraction) × $0.55 = $808.50
- payer varies by county
- $808.50
- Total transfer tax
- $808.50
Statutory transfer taxes on a $735,000 sale, as of the reviewed date. Who pays is custom and contract outside the statute’s primary liability. Local taxes described above are not in this figure unless listed as a line. Recording fees, title and attorney charges are separate.
The rule behind the numbers
- Transfer tax
- County documentary transfer tax of $0.55 per $500 of value ($1.10 per $1,000). Charter cities may levy their own in addition. Source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- Who customarily pays
- Custom varies by county. The seller commonly pays the county tax in Southern California and the buyer in parts of Northern California. City taxes are often split. Source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- Local transfer taxes
- City transfer taxes apply in charter cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland and Berkeley, at rates well above the county tax. Source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Sources
Ike Mortgage LLC. NMLS ID pending. For licensing information, go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Nothing on this page is a loan payment, rate, term or down payment, and nothing here is a Loan Estimate.