Chapter 3.20
REAL PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX

Sections:

3.20.010    Title – Authority.

3.20.020    Imposed – Rate.

3.20.030    Payer designated.

3.20.040    Exemption.

3.20.050    Exception.

3.20.060    Securities and Exchange Commission orders.

3.20.070    Partnerships.

3.20.080    Administration.

3.20.090    Refunds.

3.20.100    Operative date.

3.20.110    Foreclosures.

3.20.120    Marital property.

3.20.130    Conveyance by governmental entity and reconveyance to exempt public agency.

3.20.140    Certain conveyances by governmental entity to nonprofit corporation.

3.20.150    Transfer by inter vivos gift or by death.

3.20.160    Conformity with Revenue and Tax Code.

3.20.010 Title – Authority.

The ordinance codified in this chapter shall be known as the “real property transfer tax ordinance of the city of Biggs.” It is adopted pursuant to the authority contained in Part 6.7 (commencing with Section 11901) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the State of California. [Ord. 160 § 1, 1967]

3.20.020 Imposed – Rate.

There is hereby imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the city of Biggs shall be granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by his or their direction, when the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed (exclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrances remaining thereon at the time of sale) exceeds $100.00, a tax at the rate of $0.275 for each $500.00 or fractional part thereof. [Ord. 160 § 2, 1967]

3.20.030 Payer designated.

Any tax imposed pursuant to BMC 3.20.020 shall be paid by any person who makes, signs or issues any document or instrument subject to the tax, or for whose use or benefit the same is made, signed or issued. [Ord. 160 § 3, 1967]

3.20.040 Exemption.

The United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof, any state or territory, or political subdivision thereof, or the District of Columbia shall not be liable for any tax imposed pursuant to this chapter with respect to any deed, instrument, or writing to which it is a party, but the tax may be collected by assessment from any other party liable therefor. [Ord. 160 § 4, 1967]

3.20.050 Exception.

(1) Any tax imposed pursuant to this chapter shall not apply to the making, delivering or filing of conveyance to make effective any plan of reorganization or adjustment:

(a) Confirmed under the Federal Bankruptcy Act, as amended;

(b) Approved in an equity receivership proceeding in a court involving a railroad corporation, as defined in subdivision (m) of Section 205 of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended;

(c) Approved in an equity receivership proceeding in a court involving a corporation, as defined in subdivision (3) of Section 506 of Title 11 of the United States Code, or amended; or

(d) Whereby a mere change in identity, form or place of organization is effected.

(2) Subdivisions (1)(a) through (d), inclusive, of this section shall only apply if the making, delivery, or filling of instruments of transfer or conveyance occurs within five years from the date of such confirmation, approval or change. [Ord. 160 § 6, 1967]

3.20.060 Securities and Exchange Commission orders.

Any tax imposed pursuant to this chapter shall not apply to the making or delivery of conveyances to make effective any order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 1083 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, but only if:

(1) The order of the Securities and Exchange Commission in obedience to which such conveyance is made recites that such conveyance if necessary or appropriate to effectuate the provisions of Section 79k of Title 15 of the United States Code, relating to the Public Holding Company Act of 1935;

(2) Such order specifies the property which is ordered to be conveyed;

(3) Such conveyance is made in obedience to such order. [Ord. 160 § 7, 1967]

3.20.070 Partnerships.

(1) In the case of any realty held by a partnership or other entity treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, no levy shall be imposed pursuant to this chapter by reason of any transfer of an interest in the partnership or other entity or otherwise, if both of the following occur:

(a) The partnership or other entity treated as a partnership is considered a continuing partnership within the meaning of Section 708 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(b) The continuing partnership or other entity treated as a partnership continues to hold the realty concerned.

(2) If there is a termination of any partnership or other entity treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, within the meaning of Section 708 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, for purposes of this chapter, the partnership or other entity shall be treated as having executed an instrument whereby there was conveyed, for fair market value (exclusive of the value of any lien or encumbrance remaining thereon), all realty held by the partnership or other entity at the time of the termination.

(3) Not more than one tax shall be imposed pursuant to this chapter by a county, city and county or city by reason of a termination described in subsection (2) of this section, and any transfer pursuant thereto, with respect to the realty held by a partnership or other entity treated as a partnership at the time of the termination.

(4) No levy shall be imposed pursuant to this chapter by reason of any transfer between an individual or individuals and a legal entity or between legal entities that results solely in a change in the method of holding title to the realty and in which proportional ownership interests in the realty, whether represented by stock, membership interest, partnership interest, cotenancy interest, or otherwise, directly or indirectly, remain the same immediately after the transfer. [Ord. 340 § 11, 2003; Ord. 160 § 8, 1967]

3.20.080 Administration.

The county recorder shall administer this chapter in conformity with the provisions of Part 6.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code and the provisions of any county ordinance adopted pursuant thereto. [Ord. 160 § 9, 1967]

3.20.090 Refunds.

Claims for refund of taxes imposed pursuant to this chapter shall be governed by the provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 5096) of Part 9 of Division 1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the State of California. [Ord. 160 § 10, 1967]

3.20.100 Operative date.

This chapter shall become operative upon the operative date of any ordinance adopted by the county of Butte, pursuant to Part 6.7 (commencing with Section 11901) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the State of California, or upon the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, which is the later. [Ord. 160 § 11, 1967]

3.20.110 Foreclosures.

Any tax imposed pursuant to this chapter shall not apply with respect to any deed, instrument, or writing to a beneficiary or mortgagee, which is taken from the mortgagor or trustor as a result of or in lieu of foreclosure; provided, that such tax shall apply to the extent that the consideration exceeds the unpaid debt, including accrued interest and cost of foreclosure. Consideration, unpaid debt amount and identification of grantee as beneficiary or mortgagee shall be noted on said deed, instrument or writing or stated in an affidavit or declaration under penalty of perjury for tax purposes. [Ord. 340 § 11, 2003]

3.20.120 Marital property.

(1) Any tax imposed pursuant to this chapter shall not apply with respect to any deed, instrument, or other writing which purports to transfer, divide, or allocate community, quasi-community, or quasi-marital property assets between spouses for the purpose of effecting a division of community, quasi- community, or quasi-marital property which is required by a judgment decreeing a dissolution of the marriage or legal separation, by a judgment of nullity, or by any other judgment or order rendered pursuant to the Family Code, or by a written agreement between the spouses, executed in contemplation of any such judgment or order, whether or not the written agreement is incorporated as part of any of those judgments or orders.

(2) In order to qualify for the exemption provided in subsection (1) of this section, the deed, instrument, or other writing shall include a written recital, signed by either spouse, stating that the deed, instrument, or other writing is entitled to the exemption. [Ord. 340 § 11, 2003]

3.20.130 Conveyance by governmental entity and reconveyance to exempt public agency.

Any tax imposed pursuant to this chapter shall not apply with respect to any deed, instrument, or other writing by which realty is conveyed by the state of California, any political subdivision thereof, or agency or instrumentality of either thereof, pursuant to an agreement whereby the purchaser agrees to immediately reconvey the realty to the exempt agency. [Ord. 340 § 11, 2003]

3.20.140 Certain conveyances by governmental entity to nonprofit corporation.

Any tax imposed pursuant to this chapter shall not apply with respect to any deed, instrument, or other writing by which the state of California, any political subdivision thereof, or agency or instrumentality of either thereof, conveys to a nonprofit corporation realty the acquisition, construction, or improvement of which was financed or refinanced by obligations issued by the nonprofit corporation on behalf of a governmental unit, within the meaning of Section 1.103-1(b) of Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations. [Ord. 340 § 11, 2003]

3.20.150 Transfer by inter vivos gift or by death.

Any tax imposed pursuant to this chapter shall not apply to any deed, instrument, or other writing which purports to grant, assign, transfer, convey, divide, allocate, or vest lands, tenements, or realty, or any interest therein, if by reason of such inter vivos gift or by reason of the death of any person, such lands, tenements, realty, or interests therein are transferred outright to, or in trust for the benefit of, any person or entity. [Ord. 340 § 11, 2003]

3.20.160 Conformity with Revenue and Tax Code.

The measures and provision herein shall conform with the California Revenue and Taxation Code. [Ord. 340 § 11, 2003]