This ordinance shall be known as the “real property transfer tax ordinance of the county of Fresno.” It is adopted pursuant to Part 6.7 (commencing with Section 11901) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. (Prior code § 197.)

There is imposed on each deed, instrument or writing by which any lands, tenements, or other realty sold within the county 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 one hundred dollars, a tax at the rate of fifty-five cents for each five hundred dollars or fractional part thereof. (Prior code § 197.1.)

The tax imposed by Section 4.24.020 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. (Prior code § 197.2.)

The tax imposed pursuant to this chapter shall not apply to any instrument in writing given to secure a debt. (Prior code § l97.3.)

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. (Prior code § 197.4.)

The 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 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, as amended; or

D. Whereby a mere change in identity, form or place of organization is effected.
Subdivisions A to D, inclusive, 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. (Prior code § 197.5.)

The 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 Holding Company Act of 1935;

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

C. Such conveyance is made in obedience to such order.
(Prior code § 197.6.)

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

1. Such partnership (or other 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 subdivision B, and any transfer pursuant thereto, with respect to the realty held by such partnership at the time of the termination. (Prior code § 197.7.)

If the legislative body of any city in the county imposes a tax pursuant to Part 6.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code equal to one-half the amount specified in Section 4.24.020, a credit shall be granted against the taxes due under this chapter in the amount of the city’s tax. (Prior code § 197.8.)

The county clerk-recorder shall repurchase any unused documentary tax stamps sold by him prior to July 1, 1965, provided, however, the recorder shall accept in payment of the tax any stamps affixed to a document offered for recordation and shall cancel the stamps so affixed. (Prior code § 197.9.)

The county clerk-recorder shall administer the ordinance codified herein and shall also administer any ordinance adopted by any city in the county pursuant to Part 6.7 (commencing with Section 11901) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code imposing a tax for which credit is allowed by this chapter.
On or before the fifteenth day of the month the clerk-recorder shall report to the county auditor-controller the amounts of taxes collected during the preceding month pursuant to this chapter and each such city ordinance. The auditor-controller shall allocate an distribute monthly the taxes as follows:

A. All moneys which relate to transfers of real property located in the unincorporated territory of the county shall be allocated to the county;

B. All moneys which relate to transfers of real property located in a city in the county which has imposed a tax pursuant to Part 6.7 shall a allocated one-half to each city and one-half to the county;

C. All moneys which relate to transfers of real property located in a city in the county which imposes a tax on transfers of real property not in conformity with Part 6.7 shall be allocated to the county; and

D. All moneys which relate to transfers of real property in a city in the county which does not impose tax on transfers of real property shall be allocate to the county.
The county clerk-recorder shall require that each deed, instrument or writing by which lands, tenements, or other realty is sold, granted, signed, transferred or otherwise conveyed, shall have noted upon it the tax roll parcel number shown upon the latest equalized county assessment roll. (Ord. 0-81-007 § 1: Prior code 197.10.)

The clerk-recorder shall not record any deed, instrument or writing subject to the tax imposed by this chapter unless the tax is paid. If the party submitting the document for recordation so requests, the amount of tax due shall be shown on a separate paper which shall be affixed to the document by the clerk-recorder after the permanent record is made and before the original is returned as specified in Section 27321 of the Government Code. Every document subject to tax hereunder which is submitted for recordation shall show on the face of the document, or on a separate paper as provided above in this section, the amount of tax due, and shall in all cases wherein there is a tax due show the location of the subject property with respect to whether it is in an unincorporated area of the county or within a city and if so the designation. (Ord. 08-009 § 1: prior code § 197.11.)

Claims for refunds 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. (Prior code § 197.13.)

In the administration of this chapter the clerk-recorder shall interpret its provisions consistently with those documentary stamp tax regulations adopted by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Treasury Department which relate to the tax on conveyances and identified as Sections 47.4361-1, 47.4361-2 and 47.4362-1 of Part 47 of Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as the same existed on November 8, 1967, except that for the purpose of this chapter, the determination of what constitutes “realty” shall be determined by the definition or scope of that tern under state law. (Prior code § 197.14.)

Whenever the county clerk-recorder has reason to believe that the full amount of tax due under this chapter leas not been paid, he may, by notice served upon any person liable therefor, require him to furnish a true copy of his records relevant to the amount of the consideration or value of the interest or property conveyed. (Prior code § 197.15.)

Any person or persons who makes, signs, issues or accepts or causes to be made, signed, issued or accepted and who submits or causes to be submitted for recordation any deed, instrument or writing subject to the tax imposed by this chapter and makes any material misrepresentation of fact for the purpose of avoiding all or any part of the tax imposed by this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.
No person or persons shall be liable, either civilly or criminally, for any unintentional error made in designating the location of the lands, tenements or other realty described in a document subject to the tax imposed by this chapter. (Prior code § 197.16.)

This chapter shall be and become operative at 12:01 A.M. on January 1, 1968, provided that Sections 4.24.100--4.24.120 and 4.24.170 together with the repeal of Section 197.12, as amended and repealed by ordinance of the board of supervisors, adopted May 28, 1968, shall become and be operative on and after July 1, 1968. (Prior code § 197.17.)