Chapter 3.28
REAL PROPERTY TRANSFER TAX

Sections:

3.28.010    Title - statutory authority.

3.28.020    Impositions upon sale of real property.

3.28.030    Persons subject to payment.

3.28.040    Not applicable to instrument to secure debt.

3.28.050    United States agencies nonliable.

3.28.060    Not applicable to conveyances for reorganization or adjustment.

3.28.070    Not applicable to conveyance to make effective order of Securities and Exchange Commission.

3.28.080    No levy imposed on realty held by partnership.

3.28.090    Administration.

3.28.100    Refund claims.

3.28.110    Operative date.

3.28.120    Filing of ordinance with county recorder.

3.28.010 Title--Statutory authority.

The ordinance codified in this chapter shall be known as the “real property transfer tax ordinance of the city.” 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. (Ord. 130 § 13500, 1967: prior code § 13500)

3.28.020 Impositions upon sale of real property.

There is imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the city shall be granted, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed to, or vested in, the purchaser or purchasers, or any other person or persons, by this 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 one hundred dollars, a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents for each five hundred dollars or fractional part thereof. (Ord. 130 § 13501, 1967: prior code § 13501)

3.28.030 Persons subject to payment.

Any tax imposed pursuant to Section 3.28.020 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. 130 § 13502, 1967: prior code § 13502)

3.28.040 Not applicable to instrument to secure debt.

Any tax imposed pursuant to this chapter shall not apply to any instrument in writing given to secure a debt. (Ord. 130 § 13503, 1967: prior code § 13503)

3.28.050 United States agencies nonliable.

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. 130 § 13504, 1967: prior code § 13504)

3.28.060 Not applicable to conveyances for reorganization or adjustment.

Any tax imposed pursuant to this chapter shall not apply to the making, delivering or filing of conveyances 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 Tile 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, as amended; or

D.    Whereby a mere change in identity, form or place of organization is effected.

Subdivisions A to D of this section shall only apply if the making, delivery or filing of instruments of transfer or conveyances occurs within five years from the date of such confirmation, approval or change. (Ord. 130 § 13505, 1967: prior code § 13505)

3.28.070 Not applicable to conveyance to make effective order of Securities and Exchange Commission.

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:

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

B.    Such order specified the property which is ordered to be conveyed;

C.    Such conveyance is made in obedience to such order. (Ord. 130 § 13506, 1967: prior code § 13506)

3.28.080 No levy imposed on realty held by partnership.

A.    In the case of any realty held by a partnership, no levy shall be imposed pursuant to this chapter by reason of any transfer of an interest in a partnership or otherwise, if:

1.    Such partnership or another partnership is considered a continuing partnership within the meaning of Section 708 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954; and

2.    Such continuing partnership continues to hold the realty concerned.

B.    If there is a termination of any partnership within the meaning of Section 708 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, for purposes of this chapter, such partnership 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 such partnership at the time of such termination.

C.    Not more than one tax shall be imposed pursuant to this chapter by reason of a termination described in subsection B of this section, and any transfer pursuant thereto, with respect to the realty held by such partnership at the time of such termination. (Ord. 130 § 13507, 1967: prior code § 13507)

3.28.090 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. 130 § 13508, 1967: prior code § 13508)

3.28.100 Refund claims.

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. (Ord. 130 § 13509, 1967: prior code § 13509)

3.28.110 Operative date.

The ordinance codified in this chapter shall become operative upon the operative date of any ordinance adopted by the county pursuant to Part 6.7, commencing with Section 11901, of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the state, or upon the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, whichever is the later. (Ord. 130 § 13510, 1967; prior code § 13510)

3.28.120 Filing of ordinance with county recorder.

Upon its adoption the city clerk shall file two copies of the ordinance codified in this chapter with the county recorder. (Ord. 130 § 13511, 1967: prior code § 13510)