Riverside is the county seat of Riverside County, California. Real estate transfers are subject to the California Documentary Transfer Tax at $1.10 per $1,000 of the sale price (0.11%), collected by Riverside County at deed recording. The City of Riverside does not impose a separate city-level transfer tax, making the calculation simple: multiply your sale price by 0.0011.
By local custom in Riverside and Riverside County, the seller pays the Documentary Transfer Tax at closing. This is negotiable, however, and the purchase agreement may assign the cost to the buyer or split it between both parties. Buyers and sellers should confirm payment responsibility through their escrow officer before closing.
Certain Riverside real estate transactions may be exempt from the Documentary Transfer Tax. Common exemptions include transfers between spouses or registered domestic partners, gifts without monetary consideration, transfers to revocable living trusts where the grantor retains a beneficial interest, and certain corporate reorganizations. Consult a real estate attorney or title company to verify exemption eligibility.