Transfer tax in Oakland, California: local rates and cost

In short

Oakland charges 2 local taxes on a home sale: Oakland real property transfer tax, County documentary transfer tax. California has no state transfer tax. On the median owner-occupied home ($884,000), local taxes come to $14,232, or 1.61% of the price.

Median value: $884,000 median value of owner-occupied homes, Oakland city, California (Census ACS 2024 1-year, table B25077). It is an owner estimate, not a sale price.

What you pay at different prices

Before exemptions and credits (first-time buyers, transfers between relatives…), which are listed below when the source gives them. The tax due on your deed is the one the recorder computes.

The rates, tax by tax

Oakland real property transfer tax (OMC Ch. 4.20)

Percentage of the entire value of consideration, by bracket: ≤$300,000: 1%; >$300,000 to $2,000,000: 1.5%; >$2,000,000 to $5,000,000: 1.75%; >$5,000,000: 2.5%.

Who pays: The seller and buyer are jointly and severally liable for payment of the tax as stated in O.M.C Chapter 4.20. (oaklandca.gov, read via WebFetch)

Exemptions: Low-moderate income first-time homebuyers get a 0.5-point discount on the first two tiers (1.00% → 0.50%, 1.50% → 1.00%) per the city's Real Estate Transfer Tax page (https://www.oaklandca.gov/My-Household/Property-Tax/Real-Estate-Transfer-Tax, read via WebFetch).

In force: Tiered since January 2019 (before: flat 1.5%). Council may raise the $300k/$2M thresholds (§4.20.020 B).. Source: Oakland Municipal Code §4.20.020 — Imposition of tax (Municode).

County documentary transfer tax

$0.55 per $500 of consideration or fraction thereof (= $1.10 per $1,000, 0.11%) when consideration exceeds $100; value is net of liens/encumbrances remaining on the property (assumed loans excluded).

Exemptions: Statutory exemptions in R&T Code §§11921-11930 (e.g. security for debt, gifts, certain trust transfers, divorce transfers, changes in method of holding title).

In force: Statute in force; rate unchanged.. Source: California Legislative Information — Revenue and Taxation Code §11911.

Questions

How much local transfer tax do you pay on a median home in Oakland?

$14,232 on $884,000, the median value of owner-occupied homes (Census ACS). Payotte computes it from the rates published by the official sources cited on the page.

Who pays the Oakland real property transfer tax in Oakland?

The seller and buyer are jointly and severally liable for payment of the tax as stated in O.M.C Chapter 4.20. (oaklandca.gov, read via WebFetch)

Is the local tax on top of the California tax?

Yes. The local taxes listed here are added to the California state transfer tax.