Hanford Municipal Code Ch. 3.16 Real Property Transfer Tax

This chapter shall be known as the "real property transfer tax law of the city of Hanford." It is adopted pursuant to the authority contained in Part 6.7 (commencing with Section 11901) of Division 2 or the Revenue and Taxation Code of the state.

(Prior code § 3-5.501)

There is hereby 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 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 a tax at the rate of twenty-seven and one-half cents ($0.275) for each $500 or fractional part thereof.

(Prior code § 3-5.502)

Any tax imposed pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.16.020 of this article 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.

(Prior code § 3-5.503)

Any tax imposed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any instrument in writing given to secure a debt.

(Prior code § 3-5.504)

Any deed, instrument or writing to which the United States, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or any state or territory or political subdivision thereof, is a party shall be exempt from any tax imposed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter when the exempt agency is acquiring title.

(Prior code § 3-5.505)

Any tax imposed pursuant to the provisions of 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 subsection (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 subsection (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.

(Prior code § 3-5.506)

Any tax imposed pursuant to the provisions of 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 subsection (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 Holding Company Act of 1935;

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

C. Such conveyance is made in obedience to such order.

(Prior code § 3-5.507)

A. In the case of any realty held by a partnership, no levy shall be imposed pursuant to the provisions of this article 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 the 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 the provisions of 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.

(Prior code § 3-5.508)

The county recorder shall administer the provisions of this article in conformity with the provisions of Part 6.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the state and the provisions of any county ordinance adopted pursuant thereto.

(Prior code § 3-5.509)

Claims for the refund of taxes imposed pursuant to the provisions of this article 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.

(Prior code § 3-5.510)

Any tax imposed pursuant to this chapter shall not apply with respect to any of the following:

A. Any deed, instrument or writing to which the United States, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, or any state of territory or political subdivision thereof, is a party shall be exempt from any tax imposed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter when the exempt agency is acquiring title;

B. Any deed, instrument or writing to a beneficiary or mortgagee, which has taken from the mortgager 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 costs 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;

C. 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 purposes 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 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. 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;

D. Any deed, instrument or other writing by which realty is conveyed by the state of California, or 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; and

E. 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 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 Subsection (b) of Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(Prior code § 3-5.512; Ord. 96-18 § 19, 1996)