What this calculator does
San Francisco's transfer tax is due when a deed is recorded, and it is one of the steepest in California at high prices. Instead of marginal brackets, the city picks one rate based on the total price and applies it to the whole amount. This calculator finds the tier and shows the tax.
How to use it
- Enter the sale price.
- Read the tier rate, the tax and where the next tier starts.
- Compare prices near a threshold to see the cliff.
The formula
Tax = (price ÷ $500, rounded up) × the rate for the tier: up to $250,000, $2.50 per $500 (0.50%); over $250,000 and under $1 million, $3.40 (0.68%); $1 million to under $5 million, $3.75 (0.75%); $5 million to under $10 million, $11.25 (2.25%); $10 million to under $25 million, $27.50 (5.5%); $25 million and up, $30.00 (6%).
Worked example
Using the default inputs shown in the calculator above:
| Price range | Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $250,000 | $2.50 per $500 (0.50%) |
| Over $250,000 to under $1,000,000 | $3.40 per $500 (0.68%) |
| Over $1,000,000 to under $5,000,000 | $3.75 per $500 (0.75%) |
| Over $5,000,000 to under $10,000,000 | $11.25 per $500 (2.25%) |
| Over $10,000,000 to under $25,000,000 | $27.50 per $500 (5.50%) |
| Over $25,000,000 and up | $30.00 per $500 (6.00%) |
San Francisco transfer tax: $11,250. $3.75 per $500 on the whole $1,500,000 price (0.75%).
San Francisco applies one rate to the entire price, chosen by which tier the price falls in. Crossing $1,000,000 moves the whole price from 0.68% to 0.75%. The tax is counted per $500 or portion, so it rounds up slightly.
What affects transfer tax in San Francisco
San Francisco's transfer tax applies one rate to the whole price based on price tiers, from $2.50 per $500 up to $30 per $500 at $25 million and above. The jump at $5 million, where the rate goes from 0.75% to 2.25%, is large enough to shape how sellers price homes. The seller customarily pays.
Voters have raised the upper tiers several times, most recently for sales of $10 million and more. Because the whole price moves to a higher rate at each line, a sale at $5,000,000 owes three times the rate of a sale at $4,999,999.
Common mistakes and tips
- Treating the tiers like tax brackets — the rate applies to the whole price.
- Using statewide or county rates; San Francisco's rate already includes the county portion.
- Assuming the buyer pays — the seller usually does in SF.
- Not checking for exemptions, such as certain transfers between spouses or into a trust.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the transfer tax in San Francisco?
By custom the seller, though the contract can say otherwise.
What is the SF transfer tax on a $1.5 million home?
$1,500,000 is in the $3.75 per $500 tier: 3,000 × $3.75 = $11,250.
Why do SF prices cluster below $5 million?
At $5 million the rate jumps from 0.75% to 2.25% of the whole price, a $75,000 difference at that level.
Is San Francisco's transfer tax deductible?
For a home seller it generally reduces the amount realized on the sale rather than being deducted separately. Ask a tax professional.
Sources
Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and is not financial, tax, legal, real estate, or insurance advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions.