You're spot-on—buying a new home in China and in California comes with very different tax structures. Here's a breakdown of what you'd typically pay in each place:

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## **China: Taxes When Buying a New Home**

### 1. **Deed Tax (契税)**

* **As of December 1, 2024**:

* **First or second residential home**, ≤ 140 m² → **1%** of the purchase price.

* **Homes > 140 m²** → **1.5%**, though in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, a **2%** rate may still apply for second homes over that size. ([State Council of China][1], [Reuters][2], [South China Morning Post][3])

### 2. **Stamp Duty**

* A nominal fee of around **0.05%** of the purchase price. ([DLA Piper REALWORLD][4])

### 3. **Land Value Appreciation Tax (LVAT) / Land Appreciation Tax**

* **Only relevant when selling**, not when you buy. It’s based on profits (not the purchase), with **progressive rates from 30% up to 60%**, depending on profit margins. ([Global Property Guide][5], [DLA Piper REALWORLD][4], [PwC][6])

### Summary for Home Buying in China

* **Typical upfront tax rate (buyer’s side)**: Around **1% (deed tax) + 0.05% (stamp duty)** = **1.05% of purchase price**

* In some cities or for larger/second homes, could be up to **1.5%–2%** for deed tax plus 0.05%.

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## **California, USA: Taxes When Buying a Home**

### 1. **Real Estate Transfer Tax (Documentary Transfer Tax)**

* **Statewide rate**: **\$1.10 per \$1,000** of sale price, which is **0.11%**. ([Clever Real Estate][7], [Bridgepoint Funding][8])

* **Local (city or county) add-ons**:

* Many places stick with just the statewide rate.

* Example: Alameda County overall is still 0.11%, but cities like Berkeley or Los Angeles can add city-specific rates—for example, Los Angeles adds \~\$4.50 per \$1,000 → total **0.56%**. ([californiacityfinance.com][9], [LAVote][10])

* **Who Pays?** Usually the **seller**, though it's negotiable and can sometimes be the buyer’s responsibility. ([Bridgepoint Funding][8])

### 2. **Annual Property Tax**

* After purchase, property tax is assessed based on the **assessed value**, and limited by **Proposition 13**:

* **Cap at 1%** of assessed value.

* Annual increases limited to **2% inflation cap**, unless ownership changes. ([Wikipedia][11], [Kiplinger][12])

* **Effective tax rate:** Around **0.68% of market value**, though homeowners with more expensive homes pay more in dollars. ([Kiplinger][12])

### Summary for California

* **Upfront transfer tax**: **\~0.11%**, up to perhaps **0.5%–0.6%** in some cities if combined local taxes apply.

* **Ongoing annual property tax**: About **0.68%** of property value per year.

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## Comparative Snapshot

| Country | Upfront Tax (Buyer) | Ongoing Annual Tax |

| -------------- | ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------ |

| **China** | \~1.05% (1% deed tax + 0.05%) | N/A (no nationwide property tax yet) |

| **California** | \~0.11% (up to \~0.5–0.6% with local) | \~0.68% (based on assessed value) |

### Key Differences

* **China**: Higher upfront cost, but no annual property tax yet (though pilot programs exist).

* **California**: Low upfront cost, but consistent annual property taxes based on assessed value.

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Let me know if you'd like figures for a specific city in California (like L.A. or San Francisco), or more detail on China's pilot property tax programs or exceptions!

[1]: https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202411/14/content_WS673591d5c6d0868f4e8eceeb.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "China launches tax policies to support property market"

[2]: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-unveils-new-tax-incentives-revive-struggling-property-sector-2024-11-13/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "China unveils new tax incentives to revive struggling property sector"

[3]: https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3286321/china-weighing-property-tax-breaks-boost-sales-free-household-cash?utm_source=chatgpt.com "China unveils new tax breaks to boost property sales, free up ..."

[4]: https://www.dlapiperrealworld.com/law/index.html?c=CN&s=tax-on-acquisitions&t=taxes&utm_source=chatgpt.com "Taxation of acquisitions in China - DLA Piper REALWORLD"

[5]: https://www.globalpropertyguide.com/asia/china/taxes-and-costs?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Guide to Property Taxes in China"

[6]: https://www.pwccn.com/en/services/tax/accounting-and-payroll/overview-of-prc-taxation-system.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "PwC China: Overview of PRC Taxation System"

[7]: https://listwithclever.com/real-estate-blog/california-real-estate-transfer-taxes-an-in-depth-guide/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "California Real Estate Transfer Taxes: In-Depth Guide 2025 Update"

[8]: https://bpfund.com/real-estate-transfer-taxes-in-california/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Real Estate Transfer Taxes in California: Frequently Asked Questions"

[9]: https://californiacityfinance.com/PropTransfTaxRates.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com "[PDF] California City Documentary and Property Transfer Tax Rates"

[10]: https://www.lavote.gov/home/recorder/property-document-recording/documentary-transfer-taxes/general-info?utm_source=chatgpt.com "A Documentary Transfer Tax is imposed on all documents that ..."

[11]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_California_Proposition_13?utm_source=chatgpt.com "1978 California Proposition 13"

[12]: https://www.kiplinger.com/state-by-state-guide-taxes/california?utm_source=chatgpt.com "California Tax Guide 2025"

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5767381&forum_id=2,#49221043)