Palo Alto Transfer Tax Calculator

Every layer that applies to a Palo Alto sale, added up.

Verified September 21, 2026 · city ordinance and state source checked

Sale price (USD)

Who pays in Palo Alto

California law does not assign it. In Southern California the seller usually pays; in the Bay Area it is often split.

What catches people out

Palo Alto charges a flat 0.33 percent on top of the county tax, with no high-value surcharge. Its neighbours San Jose and Mountain View both added one.

Sources

Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder, Recording real estate
“Properties located within San Jose, Palo Alto and Mountain View are taxable at a rate of $1.65 per $500 or fractional portion of real property value.”

Last verified: September 21, 2026.

See the full California transfer tax rules →

Estimates only. Your closing agent or the county recorder issues the final figure. This page does not collect or store anything you enter.