US Home Sales Tax

Taxes when buying a house in California

California does not tax the buyer on a home purchase or on the mortgage. The transfer tax ($1.10 per $1,000 (0.11%) county tax, plus city taxes) is usually paid by the seller.

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Loan amount: $320,000. Some states tax the mortgage, so the loan size changes the result there. Paying cash? Enter 100.

Estimated taxes when you buyCalifornia ยท Rates verified November 2026
Pay to the order ofState and county tax offices$0

Zero and 00/100 dollars

California does not tax the buyer on this purchase.

Taxes the buyer pays
Tax on the purchase$0
Total buyer taxes$0

Taxes only. Lender fees, title insurance, flat recording fees and prepaid property tax are separate closing costs.

What a California home buyer is taxed on

Buyer's taxes
None on the purchase or the mortgage.
Transfer tax
The seller in most of the state. Custom varies by county, and in some Bay Area cities the city tax is split with the buyer.
Sales tax
None. A home is real estate, and sales tax does not apply to it.
Official source
San Francisco transfer tax (sf.gov) and Revenue and Taxation Code 11911
Last verified

California buyer taxes at common prices

Purchase priceLoan with 20% downBuyer's taxes
$150,000$120,000$0
$250,000$200,000$0
$400,000$320,000$0
$600,000$480,000$0
$1,000,000$800,000$0

Questions California buyers ask

Do buyers pay transfer tax in California?

The seller in most of the state. Custom varies by county, and in some Bay Area cities the city tax is split with the buyer.

Is there a mortgage tax in California?

No. California does not tax the recording of a mortgage. The county charges only a flat fee to record it.

Is there sales tax when you buy a house in California?

No. Sales tax applies to goods and some services, and a house is real estate, which no state taxes that way.

How much tax does a buyer pay at closing in California?

Usually none. On a $400,000 home a California buyer owes no state or local tax on the purchase itself. Closing costs still include lender fees, title insurance and prepaid property tax.

Selling in California? Use the California transfer tax calculator.

Buyer taxes in other states