Los Angeles Mansion Tax Violates City’s Charter, Opponents Argue

A Los Angeles tax on property sales of over $5 million is invalid because the city’s charter prohibits transfer taxes earmarked for special purposes, challengers told a California appeals court.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Foundation and the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles want the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, to revive their lawsuit challenging the voter-approved tax after a trial judge dismissed the case in 2023.

The city’s charter bars the Los Angeles City Council from adopting special transfer taxes on real property, defined as taxes where revenues are set aside for a certain use, the groups ...