Los Angeles Transfer Tax Calculator
Estimate the one-time transfer tax on a home sale in Los Angeles County — the county and city documentary transfer taxes plus mansion taxes where they apply (Los Angeles Measure ULA, Santa Monica Measure GS, Culver City Measure RE). Pick the city and enter a sale price for the itemized breakdown.
| Transfer tax | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LA County documentary transfer tax | $1.10 / $1,000 | $1,100 |
| Los Angeles base transfer tax | $4.50 / $1,000 | $4,500 |
| Measure ULA | not applicable at this price | $0 |
| Total transfer tax | 0.56% | $5,600 |
One-time tax at sale, not annual property tax. County rate $1.10/$1,000 everywhere; city rates and mansion taxes (Los Angeles Measure ULA, Santa Monica Measure GS, Culver City Measure RE) vary and their thresholds adjust over time (rates as of 2026-09-11). Confirm current figures and who pays with the LA County Registrar-Recorder, the city, and your escrow/title company.
Want the full rules, thresholds, and who pays? Read the Los Angeles transfer tax & Measure ULA guide →
What the calculator adds up
| Layer | Rate | Applies to | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| County documentary transfer tax | $1.10 per $1,000 of the price, net of any loan that stays on the property (55¢ per $500 or fraction) | Every sale recorded in Los Angeles County | Revenue and Taxation Code §11911 |
| City documentary transfer tax | $4.50 per $1,000 in the City of Los Angeles; other cities set their own, many charge none | Sales inside a charter city that has adopted one | City ordinance, collected with the county tax |
| Mansion tax (Measure ULA, GS, RE) | A percentage of the whole price above a threshold the city adjusts each year | High-value sales in Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Culver City | Voter-approved city measures; the current thresholds are in the calculator |
Who pays. State law makes the tax payable by any person who makes, signs or issues the deed, or for whose benefit it is made (§11912), and leaves the split to the purchase contract; in Los Angeles County the custom is that the seller pays the county and city transfer taxes, and the mansion-tax measures also fall on the seller. The buyer's own one-time bill is the supplemental property tax that follows the reassessment, which this calculator does not include.
What is exempt. The Documentary Transfer Tax Act taxes the consideration paid, so a gift or a transfer for no value owes nothing on the county layer; it also exempts instruments that only secure a debt (§11921), deeds in foreclosure or in lieu of foreclosure up to the debt (§11926), transfers between spouses in a divorce (§11927), and gifts and transfers on death, including into a trust (§11930). Mansion-tax measures carry their own, narrower exemption lists, which the guide covers.
How it is collected. The tax is paid to the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk when the deed is recorded, and the deed itself states the amount and the basis (§11932–§11933). The county forwards the city share to the city. The recorder does not record a deed subject to the tax until the tax is paid (§11933).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the transfer tax on a house in Los Angeles?
Inside the City of Los Angeles, ordinary transfer tax is about $5.60 per $1,000 of sale price (~0.56%): $1.10 county + $4.50 city documentary transfer tax. On a $1,000,000 sale that's about $5,600. Sales of ~$5.4M+ add Measure ULA at 4% of the whole price, and ~$10.9M+ pay 5.5%.
Does this include the mansion tax (Measure ULA)?
Yes. The calculator adds Measure ULA — 4% of the entire sale price on transfers of about $5.4 million or more, and 5.5% on about $10.9 million or more (thresholds effective July 1, 2026, adjusted annually). ULA applies only to property inside the City of Los Angeles.
Is transfer tax the same as property tax?
No — transfer tax is a one-time tax paid at the sale, based on the price; property tax is the annual tax on your assessed value under Proposition 13. Buying can trigger both (transfer tax at closing, plus a reassessment and a one-time supplemental bill).
Primary sources: Revenue and Taxation Code §11911 (county documentary transfer tax) · Revenue and Taxation Code §11912 (who pays) · Revenue and Taxation Code §11921 · Revenue and Taxation Code §11926 · Revenue and Taxation Code §11927 · Revenue and Taxation Code §11930 · Revenue and Taxation Code §11932 · Revenue and Taxation Code §11933 · City of Los Angeles Office of Finance · Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk. Check a figure against the document before relying on it. Last reviewed October 2026.
Learn More
Educational estimate for Los Angeles County, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Documentary transfer tax rates, mansion-tax thresholds (Measure ULA / GS / RE, adjusted over time), exemptions, and who pays can change, and cities not listed pay the county rate only; confirm current figures with the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, the relevant city's finance office, and your escrow or title company.