Most California cities don't charge a real estate transfer tax beyond the county rate of $1.10 per $1,000. San Francisco does, and the rates are the highest in the country. On a $2 million home, the seller pays the city of San Francisco $13,600 in transfer tax alone, on top of the $2,200 county tax.
If you're selling a San Francisco property, you need to know what this is going to cost before you sign anything. Here's the breakdown.
San Francisco transfer tax rates (2026)
The rate depends entirely on the sale price:
| Sale price | Transfer tax rate | Tax on the full amount |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $249,999 | $0.50 per $1,000 | Less than $125 |
| $250,000 to $999,999 | $0.68 per $1,000 (0.068%) | $170 to $680 |
| $1,000,000 to $4,999,999 | $0.75 per $1,000 (0.075%) | $750 to $3,750 |
| $5,000,000 to $9,999,999 | $2.25 per $1,000 (2.25%) | $11,250 to $22,500 |
| $10,000,000 to $24,999,999 | $5.50 per $1,000 (5.50%) | $55,000 to $137,500 |
| $25,000,000 and up | $6.00 per $1,000 (6.00%) | $150,000+ |
The county also charges $1.10 per $1,000 (0.11%) on top of the city rate.
Real-world examples
A $1.4M condo in the Mission:
- City transfer tax: $1,050
- County transfer tax: $1,540
- Total: $2,590
A $2.5M single-family home in Noe Valley:
- City transfer tax: $1,875
- County transfer tax: $2,750
- Total: $4,625
A $6M home in Pacific Heights:
- City transfer tax: $13,500
- County transfer tax: $6,600
- Total: $20,100
Notice the cliff between $4.99M and $5M. A property that sells for $4,999,000 pays $3,749 in city transfer tax. A property that sells for $5,000,000 pays $11,250. That's a $7,500 jump for one extra dollar of sale price. Sellers in this range often negotiate down to stay below the threshold.
Who pays it
Customary in San Francisco is the seller pays. There's no law requiring this. It's a negotiated term in every contract. In practice, sellers pay it 95% of the time.
In rare cases (hot market, motivated buyer, off-market deal), the buyer agrees to pay all or part of it. Don't expect this. Plan to pay it yourself.
When it gets paid
At closing. The escrow company calculates the exact amount, deducts it from your sale proceeds, and sends it to the city.
You never write a check to San Francisco yourself. It just shows up as a deduction on the closing statement.
The exemptions (these are real and worth knowing)
A few transfers are exempt from the transfer tax under San Francisco Business and Tax Regulations Code Article 12-C:
Transfers between spouses or domestic partners. Title transfers as part of a divorce or separation that includes the property are exempt.
Transfers to or from a revocable trust. Moving your own home into your own living trust does not trigger the transfer tax. Moving it back out doesn't either.
Inheritance transfers. When a property transfers because of the owner's death (probate, trust distribution, intestate succession), the transfer tax is not owed. The exemption requires proper documentation through the title company.
Gifts where no consideration changes hands. True gifts from one person to another, with zero payment involved, are exempt. The IRS gift tax may still apply.
Confirmation of community property. Recording a deed that confirms what was already community property does not trigger the tax.
Foreclosures and tax sales. The transfer to the foreclosing lender or tax sale buyer is exempt. The next sale (from lender to next buyer) is taxable.
Not exempt: standard sales, including sales between family members for actual money. "Sale to my cousin for $1" is not exempt either; the city assesses based on fair market value.
How to plan around it
Three practical considerations for SF sellers:
1. The threshold cliffs are real. If your home is appraising right around $5M or $10M or $25M, talk to your agent about whether negotiating just below the threshold makes sense. The marginal tax rate on the next dollar above each threshold is large.
2. Family transfers should go through proper channels. If you're transferring property between family members for less than fair market value, work with a real estate attorney and a title company that knows the exemption rules. The city audits these.
3. Trust planning helps. If you own SF property and are doing estate planning, having the property in a properly structured living trust can avoid the transfer tax on the eventual transfer to your heirs (because it transfers as part of inheritance, which is exempt).
Why SF is different
San Francisco's transfer tax was originally a flat 0.5%. The current tiered structure was approved by voters as Proposition I in 2020, raising rates dramatically on properties above $5M. The intent was to fund affordable housing. The effect was also to slow high-end transactions.
Most other Bay Area cities (Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond) charge their own transfer taxes too, but at much lower rates. Most Peninsula and South Bay cities (San Mateo, Palo Alto, San Jose, Fremont) only charge the county rate.
What we cover
When we buy your San Francisco home, we pay the transfer tax. Both city and county. You owe nothing.
This is a real consideration on higher-value SF properties. On a $2.5M Pacific Heights home, the transfer tax alone is over $4,600. Adding it to the realtor commission, title insurance, escrow fees, and other closing costs, traditional sellers commonly pay $200,000+ in total fees on a $2.5M sale.
With us, that number is zero. The price we offer is the price you receive.
What to do now
If you're selling an SF property and want to know what your actual net would be after transfer tax and all other closing costs, ask your title company for a full HUD-1 estimate. Or call us for a cash offer with zero deductions.
Call or text 415-800-1415, or fill out the short form below. We'll set up a time to walk through the property and put a real number in front of you.
Selling a San Francisco home and want to understand your net after the transfer tax? We buy San Francisco houses for cash, with no commission on our side. Get a cash offer in 24 hours.
About Roe
Roe is part of the Maple Home Buyers team. Roe leads the Maple Home Buyers team in the Bay Area. Family-owned, BBB accredited, 2,000+ homes purchased since 2009.
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