Transfer Tax Calculator 2023
| Total 2023 Tax Rate: | 0.65 % |
| Marginal Tax Rate: | 0.25 % |
| Estimated 2023 Transfer Tax: | $8,875.00 |
| State Transfer Tax: | $ 2,000.00 |
| County/Other Transfer Tax: | $ 1,250.00 |
| Mortgage Tax: | $ 5,625.00 |
What You Should Know
- Transfer tax is levied on all real estate transactions in a specified area.
- Transfer tax can be imposed by a state, a county, and a municipality that add up to a combined tax for the area in their jurisdiction.
- Combined transfer tax can vary greatly between different cities, counties, and states, so it is important to ensure that the tax rates are correct for the location of interest.
- This transfer tax calculator enables you to estimate the transfer tax rates for all 50 US states for the year 2023.
What Is Transfer Tax?
Many states and municipalities levy a tax on all real estate transactions happening in their jurisdiction. A transfer tax, also known as a conveyance tax, is a government charge issued when a property owner transfers ownership or title to the property to another person or entity. This tax can be charged at the state, county, and municipal levels. It is often included as part of the seller’s closing costs, but it can be paid by the buyer too. Use our real estate transfer tax calculator to find out how much your real estate transfer tax would cost.
Transfer Tax Rates By State
Transfer Tax Calculation
In most cases, your transfer tax will be a combination of a state transfer tax, a county transfer tax, and possibly a municipality transfer tax. Most states charge a flat transfer tax throughout all counties although some counties may choose a unique transfer tax rate. In addition to that, some municipalities may charge a unique transfer tax too. When purchasing or selling property, you should check your county and municipality’s specific transfer tax rate or ask your real estate agent about the combined transfer tax rate.
Once you know your transfer tax rate, you should estimate your transfer tax liability. To estimate how much you owe in transfer tax, you simply need to multiply your transfer tax rate by your combined transfer tax. Some tax rates may differ based on your location and the home price. You should estimate transfer tax with your real estate agent to ensure the right result. You can also use our transfer tax calculator to estimate your tax liability.
Are Transfer Taxes Deductible?
According to the IRS, you cannot deduct transfer tax from your income when filing taxes. However, you can receive future tax benefits when paying transfer taxes as a home buyer.
Home Buyers: If you buy a home and then pay a transfer tax, you can add this tax to the home’s purchase price. In the future, you may sell your home and earn a profit based on the home's increases in value. In this case, you would sell the home for more than the original purchase price and this profit would be considered capital gains. If you add transfer taxes to the initial purchase price, your capital gains will be reduced.
Home Sellers: If you sell a home and pay transfer taxes, you can deduct this tax from the home's sale price. If you bought the home for less than the sale price, then the difference is considered capital gains and is taxed. By deducting any transfer taxes, the taxable amount of capital gains will be reduced.
Transfer Tax Exemptions
There are different types of transfer tax exemptions. You can be exempt from a transfer tax by falling into predefined categories listed by your state or county. States can also exempt first-time home buyers or specific home buyers from paying the transfer tax.
States exempt real estate transfers from paying documentary transfer taxes under certain circumstances. If an exemption occurs and only the seller is exempt from paying transfer tax, the buyer will still have to pay a transfer tax. Likewise, if only the buyer is exempt, the seller must pay a transfer tax.
Real Estate Transfer Tax by State
States With No Transfer Tax
| Alaska | Mississippi | Montana | Texas |
| Idaho | Kansas | New Mexico | Utah |
| Louisiana | Missouri | North Dakota | Wyoming |
The real estate transfer tax varies quite a bit by state and even between counties. Different counties can charge additional taxes and have unique rules. Below is a detailed breakdown of the transfer tax rules for the most popular states.
In California, the transfer tax is typically paid by the seller as stated in most purchase agreements, but this is negotiable. If the seller is exempted from paying the transfer tax, then the buyer will have to pay it. If both the buyer and the seller do not pay the transfer tax, the responsibility to pay it will default to the seller, so it is important to ensure that your purchase agreement outlines who will pay for it.
All counties in California charge the same state transfer tax rate of 0.11%, but each city may charge an additional transfer tax rate on top of this amount. Some cities may also have a transfer tax rate that is based on the value of the property being transferred, such as San Francisco, Santa Monica, and Santa Clara.
For example, San Francisco's transfer tax rate for properties valued $10 million but less than $25 million is 5.50%, while the transfer tax rate for properties valued $25 million or more is 6.00%. This means that a property valued at $24,999,999 would have a transfer tax rate of 5.50%, for a total transfer tax of $1,375,000. Meanwhile, a $25,000,000 property would have a transfer tax rate of 6.00% for a total transfer tax of $1,500,000. Just a $1 difference in property value can put your transfer tax into the next tax bracket, adding an additional $125,000 in tax.
The table below shows the 26 cities in California that charge an additional city transfer tax in addition to the standard 0.11% California county transfer tax.
| City | ▲ Additional City Transfer Tax | ▲ Total Transfer Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda | 1.2% | 1.31% |
| Albany | 1.5% | 1.61% |
| Berkeley | 1.5% ($1.6 million or less) 2.5% (over $1.6 million) | 1.61% ($1.6 million or less) 2.61% (over $1.6 million) |
| Emeryville | 1.2% | 1.31% |
| Hayward | 0.85% | 0.96% |
| Oakland | 1% (less than $300,000) 1.5% ($300,000 up to $2 million) 1.75% ($2 million up to $5 million) 2.5% (over $5 million) | 1.11% (less than $300,000) 1.61% ($300,000 up to $2 million) 1.86% ($2 million up to $5 million) 2.61% (over $5 million) |
| Piedmont | 1.3% | 1.41% |
| San Leandro | 1.1% | 1.21% |
| El Cerrito | 1.2% | 1.31% |
| Richmond | 0.7% (less than $1 million) 1.25% ($1 million up to $3 million) 2.5% ($3 million up to $10 million) 3.0% (over $10 million) | 1.81% (less than $1 million) 1.36% ($1 million up to $3 million) 2.61% ($3 million up to $10 million) 3.11% (over $10 million) |
| Culver City | 0.45% (less than $1.5 million) 1.5% ($1.5 million to $3 million) 3.0% ($3 million to $10 million) 4.0% (over $10 million) | 0.56% (less than $1.5 million) 1.61% ($1.5 million to $3 million) 3.11% ($3 million to $10 million) 4.11% (over $10 million) |
| Los Angeles | 0.45% | 0.56% |
| Pomona | 0.22% | 0.33% |
| Redondo Beach | 0.22% | 0.33% |
| Santa Monica | 0.3% (less than $5 million) 0.6% ($5 million or more) | 0.41% (less than $5 million) 0.71% ($5 million or more) |
| San Rafael | 0.2% | 0.31% |
| Riverside | 0.11% | 0.22% |
| Sacramento | 0.275% | 0.385% |
| San Francisco | 0.5% (less than $250,000) 0.68% ($250,000 to $1 million) 0.75% ($1 million to $5 million) 2.25% ($5 million to $10 million) 5.50% ($10 million to $25 million) 6.00% (over $25 million) | 0.5% (less than $250,000) 0.68% ($250,000 to $1 million) 0.75% ($1 million to $5 million) 2.25% ($5 million to $10 million) 5.50% ($10 million to $25 million) 6.00% (over $25 million) |
| San Mateo | 0.5% | 0.61% |
| Mountain View | 0.33% | 0.44% |
| Palo Alto | 0.33% | 0.44% |
| San Jose | 0% (less than $2 million) 0.75% ($2 million to $5 million) 1.0% ($5 million to $10 million) 1.5% (over $10 million) | 0.11% (less than $2 million) 0.86% ($2 million to $5 million) 1.11% ($5 million to $10 million) 1.61% (over $10 million) |
| Vallejo | 0.33% | 0.44% |
| Pataluma | 0.2% | 0.31% |
| Santa Rosa | 0.2% | 0.31% |
The New Jersey (NJ) Transfer Tax does not vary by county. Instead, the marginal transfer tax rate is larger with a higher-valued home.
Each marginal tax rate only applies to the amount of your home price within each bracket. This means that your total tax rate is a combined tax rate between all the transfer tax rates applicable to you.
NJ Transfer Tax for Homes Valued at $350,000 or Less
| Home Price Bracket | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 - $150,000 | 0.4% |
| $150,000.01 - $200,000 | 0.67% |
| $200,000.01 - $350,000 | 0.78% |
NJ Transfer Tax for Homes Valued at More Than $350,000
| Home Price Bracket | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 - $150,000 | 0.58% |
| $150,000.01 - $200,000 | 0.85% |
| $200,000.01 - $550,000 | 0.96% |
| $550,000.01 - $850,000 | 1.06% |
| $850,000.01 - $1,000,000 | 1.16% |
| $1,000,000.01 + | 2.21% |
Our calculator can be used to calculate transfer tax in New Jersey. You should simply go to the calculator above, choose the state of New Jersey and fill out the required information to estimate your transfer tax for the year 2023.
Transfer taxes in New Jersey are paid by the seller. Partial exemptions from New Jersey's transfer tax are available. To qualify for the partial exemption, you will need to be either a senior citizen or a blind/disabled person. New Jersey defines a senior citizen as being 62 years of age or older. The property must also be affordable housing for a low or moderate income household. You will need to provide a notarized affidavit in order to qualify. The table below shows the reduced New Jersey transfer tax rates for those that qualify for the partial exemption.
NJ Real Estate Transfer Tax Exemptions
| Total Purchase Price is $350,000 or Less | |
|---|---|
| Portion $150,000 and less | 0.10% |
| Portion over $150,000 up to $350,000 | 0.25% |
| Total Purchase Price is over $350,000 | |
| Portion $150,000 and less | 0.28% |
| Portion over $150,000 up to $550,000 | 0.43% |
| Portion over $550,000 up to $850,000 | 0.53% |
| Portion over $850,000 up to $1,000,000 | 0.63% |
| Portion over $1 million | 0.68% |
Generally, the seller will pay for the transfer tax in New York, but if the seller is exempt, then the responsibility to pay this tax falls upon the buyer. Buyers are responsible for paying New York’s mortgage recording tax as part of their buyer closing costs. The following table summarizes the tax rate levied by the New York State government. It is important to note that local governments usually levy their transfer tax on top of the state tax.
New York State Transfer Tax Rates
| Home Price | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to $1,000,000 | 0.4% |
| From $1,000,000 and Up to $3,000,000 | 1.4% |
| More than $3,000,000 | 1.65% |
Properties within the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District (MCTD) will also pay an additional transfer tax of 0.3%. Properties in counties outside of the MCTD will pay an additional transfer tax of 0.25%. The MCTD includes Rockland, Nassau, Suffolk, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, Westchester, and the counties of New York City (the boroughs of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island).
In New York City (NYC), the transfer tax is the state transfer tax plus the county transfer tax. If the home value is $500,000 or less, the county transfer tax is 1% and if the home value is more than $500,000 the transfer tax is 1.425%. These are not marginal tax rates, so your respective tax rate is applicable to full home value. New York City also charges an additional transfer tax of 0.25% for homes over $3 million. A further supplemental transfer tax is also charged by New York City from 0.25% for homes from $2 million to $3 million to as high as a tax rate of 2.9% for homes over $25 million.
New York City Supplemental Transfer Taxes
| Amount | Supplemental Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| $2 million - $3 million | 0.25% |
| $3 million - $5 million | 0.5% |
| $5 million - $10 million | 1.25% |
| $10 million - $15 million | 2.25% |
| $15 million - $20 million | 2.5% |
| $20 million - $25 million | 2.75% |
| Over $25 million | 2.9% |
New York State also charges a mortgage recording tax of 1.25% in most counties, and 1.30% in the MCTD (including New York City). Unlike the NY transfer tax which is paid by the seller, the mortgage recording tax is paid by the buyer. New York City also charges a mortgage recording tax of 0.5% if the mortgage amount is less than $500,000 and a tax of 1.125% if the mortgage amount is over $500,000. It is important to note that it is possible to avoid recording tax in the state of New York by using CEMA loans. CEMA loans allow the borrowers to bypass recording tax at the time of refinancing and pay the tax only on the difference between the old mortgage balance and the new mortgage balance.
Additional Transfer Taxes in New York
| County/Municipality | Additional Transfer Tax |
|---|---|
| New York City | 1% on Residential Properties $500,000 or less and 1.425% on Residential Properties over $500,000 |
| Mount Vernon | 1% on the purchase price minus $100,000 |
| Yonkers | 1.5% on the purchase price minus $25,000 |
| Shelter Island, Southampton, East Hampton | 2% on the purchase price minus $250,000 for improved properties or minus $100,000 for unimproved properties |
| Southold and Riverhead | 2% on the purchase price minus $150,000 for improved properties or minus $75,000 for unimproved properties |
| Town of Red Hook | 2% on the purchase price minus the median sale price of Dutchess County residential properties |
| Town of Warwick | 0.75% on the purchase price minus $100,000 for improved properties or minus $50,000 for unimproved properties |
| Within the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District | 0.30% |
| All Other Counties Outside the Metropolitan Commuter Transportation District | 0.25% |
This means that if you purchase a $4 million home in New York City with a $3 million mortgage, your transfer taxes would be:
- New York State Transfer Tax (1.4%) = $56,000
- New York State Additional Tax within MCTD (0.3%) = $12,000
- New York City Transfer Tax (1.425%) = $57,000
- New York City Additional Tax (0.25%) = $10,000
- New York City Supplemental Tax (0.50%) = $20,000
- New York State Mortgage Recording Tax (1.3%) = $39,000
- New York City Mortgage Recording Tax (0.5%) = $15,000
The total transfer tax paid by the seller would be $155,000, and the total mortgage recording tax paid by the buyer would be $54,000.
Florida Transfer Tax Rates
| Area | Rate |
|---|---|
| Within Miami-Dade County | 0.6% |
| Outside Miami-Dade County | 0.7% |
In Florida, the transfer tax is used for Documentary Stamps (Doc Stamps) on a deed, and it typically is paid by the seller because they are responsible for these Doc Stamps. While this is common, the buyer and the seller can negotiate who pays for these stamps and outline it in the purchase agreement. There are a number of exemptions to the transfer tax, which include the deed being changed or an owner being added to the deed.
In Florida, there are two distinct transfer tax rates:
- Miami-Dade County: If the property is within Miami-Dade county, the transfer tax is 0.6% of the sale price.
- Outside Miami-Dade County: Anywhere outside Miami-Dade county has a transfer tax of 0.7% of the sale price.
Miami-Dade County’s transfer tax rate depends on the property type. Single-family homes in Miami will have a transfer tax rate of 0.60%. All other property types, such as townhouses and condos, will have an additional surtax that increases the transfer tax rate to 1.05%.
Florida also charges a transfer tax of 0.55% based on the mortgage amount balance. For example, if you borrowed $100,000 to purchase your property, your mortgage transfer tax would be $550. This is separate from the Florida transfer tax paid on the property’s sale price.
The Colorado Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR) was passed in 1992 and amended the Colorado Constitution to prevent any new transfer taxes or transfer tax increases in the state. However, cities and towns in Colorado that had an existing transfer tax before 1992 are allowed to remain. In addition, a statewide documentary “fee” of 0.02% applies to all transfer of property in Colorado. Since it is described as a “fee” rather than a transfer “tax”, it was allowed to be increased to the current 0.02% rate in 2018.
The City of Aspen charges two types of transfer taxes: a Housing Real Estate Transfer Tax (HRETT) and a Wheeler Opera House Real Estate Transfer Tax (WRETT). The Aspen HRETT is 0% for the first $100,000, and 1.0% amounts over $100,000. The Wheeler Opera House Real Estate Transfer Tax is used to fund the City of Aspen's Wheeler Opera House. The WRETT rate is 0.5% and is set to expire in December 2039.
The table below shows the cities and towns that have an additional grandfathered transfer tax in Colorado on top of the statewide transfer “fee” of 0.02%.
| City | Additional City Transfer Tax | Total Transfer Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen | 0.5% (first $100,000) 1.5% (over $100,000) | 0.52% (first $100,000) 1.52% (over $100,000) |
| Avon | 2% | 2.02% |
| Breckenridge | 1% | 1.02% |
| Crested Butte | 3% | 3.02% |
| Frisco | 1% | 1.02% |
| Gypsum | 1% | 1.02% |
| Minturn | 1% | 1.02% |
| Ophir | 4% | 4.02% |
| Snowmass Village | 1% | 1.02% |
| Telluride | 3% | 3.02% |
| Vail | 1% | 1.02% |
| Winter Park | 1% | 1.02% |
In Pennsylvania, the transfer tax is split between the seller and the buyer and both of them are held accountable for its payment. This means that the transfer tax is often split evenly between them, but this is negotiable and will change according to the real estate market.
The transfer tax payment in Pennsylvania is split between the state, local municipality, and school district. At the state level, the transfer tax is 1% of the sale price. However, at the county level, the transfer tax will vary.
Names with bullet points are cities, municipalities, townships, etc. in the county above it.
| County | Local Tax | School Tax | State Tax | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams County | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1% | 2% |
| Allegheny County | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1% | 2% |
| • Bellevue Borough | 1% | 0.5% | 1% | 2.5% |
| • Bethel Park Municipality | 1% | 0.5% | 1% | 2.5% |
| • Greentree Borough | 1% | 0.5% | 1% | 2.5% |
| • Hampton Township | 1% | 0.5% | 1% | 2.5% |
| • McCandles Township | 1% | 0.5% | 1% | 2.5% |
| • Mckeesport City | 1.5% | 0.5% | 1% | 3% |
| • Monroeville Municipality | 1% | 0.5% | 1% | 2.5% |
| • Mt. Lebanon Municipality | 1% | 0.5% | 1% | 2.5% |
The total transfer tax rate in Pittsburgh is 5%, while the transfer tax rate in Philadelphia is 4.278%. Philadelphia also charges a deed recording fee of $256.75. This includes a $107 recording fee, $107 Philadelphia Housing Trust Fund fee, $0.50 State Writ Tax, $2 County fee, and $40.25 Access to Justice fee. The last time Philadelphia's transfer tax rate was changed was in 2018, when the city portion increased from 3.10% to the current 3.278% rate. Philadelphia's real estate transfer tax is set to decrease to 3.178% on January 1, 2037.
Connecticut has a conveyance tax rate that depends on the property type and the sales price of the property. The state transfer tax rate for properties $800,000 or less is 0.75%. For portions of a property's sale price from $800,000 to $2.5 million, the state tax rate is 1.25%, while portions of the sale price over $2.5 million is taxed at a rate of 2.25%.
Connecticut Transfer Tax Rates
| Property Value | State Transfer Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| $800,000 or less | 0.75% |
| $800,000 to $2.5 million | 1.25% |
| Over $2.5 million | 2.25% |
According to Connecticut state law, the assessed value of real estate property must be 70% of its fair market value. This means that only 70% of a property’s fair market value is taxed. Residents of Connecticut can also use their transfer tax to reduce their income or property tax if they paid any transfer tax at the 2.25%. This means that residents that paid transfer tax on a home valued over $2.5 million are eligible for tax credits. The full amount of the transfer tax paid at the 2.25% can be claimed against their state income tax due. Up to 33.3% of the transfer tax paid at the 2.25% rate can also be used as a credit towards Connecticut property taxes each year, and unused amounts can be rolled over for up to six years.
For example, a $3,000,000 property would have an annual property tax of $48,900 in Connecticut. Upon transfer of the property, $500,000 would be taxed at the 2.25% transfer tax rate, or $12,500. This means that up to $4,166 can be claimed each year towards property tax. This reduces the property’s annual property tax bill from $48,900 to $44,734 for three years.
Connecticut also charges a "controlling interest transfer tax" which is used when real estate is transferred through a business entity being sold or the controlling interest being transferred. Conneticut's controlling interest transfer tax rate is 1.11%.
Municipalities in Connecticut also charge a municipal conveyance tax, with some cities and towns allowed to charge a higher transfer tax than others. There are 19 municipalities in Connecticut that are allowed to charge a municipal transfer tax rate higher than 0.25%, and they are able to do so due to a manufacturing plant that is located within that municipality. These eligible municipalities may charge a tax of up to 0.5% in addition to the state transfer tax.
Connecticut Transfer Tax Rates
| City | Additional City Transfer Tax | Total Transfer Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Bloomfield | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| Bridgeport | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| Bristol | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| East Hartford | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| Groton | 0.25% | 1.00% - 2.50% |
| Hamden | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| Hartford | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| Meriden | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| Middletown | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| New Britain | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| New Haven | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| New London | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| Norwalk | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| Norwich | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| Southington | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| Stamford | 0.35% up for $1 million 0.50% over $1 million | 1.10% - 2.75% |
| Thomaston | 0.25% | 1.00% - 2.50% |
| Waterbury | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| Windham | 0.50% | 1.25% - 2.75% |
| All Other Areas | 0.25% | 1.00% - 2.50% |
The State of Delaware transfer tax rate is 2.50%. Most counties also charge a county transfer tax rate of 1.50% for a combined transfer tax rate of 4.00%. Some areas do not have a county or local transfer tax rate. In those areas, the state transfer tax rate would be 3.00%. This includes Arden, Ardentown, and Ardencroft in New Castle County, which are villages with a single-tax system.
First-time home buyers in Delaware may receive a tax credit that reduces their transfer tax rate by 0.5%, up to a reduction of $2,000 on the first $400,000 of property value. If the transfer tax was split evenly between the buyer and seller (2% each), then a first-time home buyer would pay a transfer tax rate of only 1.50% for both state and county transfer taxes.
The District of Columbia charges two taxes when a property is transferred: a city recordation tax and a city transfer tax. The city recordation tax, also known as the deed recordation tax, is paid by the buyer. The city transfer tax, or the deed transfer tax, is paid by the seller as part of their seller closing costs. The tax rate for both taxes is 1.10% if the purchase price or assessed value is less than $400,000, and 1.45% on the entire amount for prices or values that are $400,000 or more.
This means the combined transfer tax rate in Washington D.C. would be 2.20% for properties less than $400,000 and 2.95% for properties over $400,000. First-time home buyers in Washington D.C. can have their recordation tax rate reduced to just 0.725%. To qualify, the purchase price must be less than $647,000. Household income limits also apply, ranging from $154,000 for single-buyers to $174,780 for couples.
Hawaii transfer tax depends on the property value and on the status of the property. If the property will be used as a primary residence, it qualifies for a homeowner's exemption and will have a reduced transfer tax rate that ranges from 0.1% to 1.0%. Properties that won't be a primary residence, such as second homes and vacation homes, will have a higher transfer tax rate that ranges from 0.15% to 1.25%.
Hawaii Transfer Tax Rates
| Property Value | Transfer Tax Rate (Primary Residence) | Transfer Tax Rate (Non-Primary Residence) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $600,000 | 0.10% | 0.15% |
| $600,000 to less than $1 million | 0.20% | 0.25% |
| $1 million to less than $2 million | 0.30% | 0.40% |
| $2 million to less than $4 million | 0.50% | 0.60% |
| $4 million to less than $6 million | 0.70% | 0.85% |
| $6 million to less than $10 million | 0.90% | 1.10% |
| $10 million or more | 1.00% | 1.25% |
The transfer tax rate in Illinois is 0.10% for all counties, including Cook County. Properties transferred within the City of Chicago will be charged supplemental transfer taxes. The City of Chicago transfer tax rate is 1.05% while the Cook County transfer tax rate is 0.05%. This means that the combined transfer tax rate in Chicago is 1.20%, while the rest of Illinois has a transfer tax rate of 0.10%.
Iowa charges a transfer tax of 0.16%, with the first $500 property value being exempt from the state’s transfer tax.
There is no state transfer tax in Louisiana. However, New Orleans charges a flat fee of $325 as a documentary tax for transfers within the city. The documentary tax also applies to mortgages. If the mortgage amount is less than $9,000, then a lower documentary tax may apply. For example, a loan amount of under $3,000 will only be charged a New Orleans documentary tax of $75.
Three different transfer taxes apply in Maryland: the state transfer tax, county transfer tax, and the recordation tax. Maryland's state transfer tax rate is 0.5%. First-time home buyers in Maryland will only need to pay a transfer tax rate of 0.25%.
The county transfer tax rate can range from 0.5% to as high as 1.50%, however, some counties charge no transfer tax such as Carroll County and Frederick County. All counties also charge a recordation tax that ranges from an additional 0.5% to 1.4%. Baltimore City has the highest transfer tax rates in Maryland, with a tax rate of 3.0%.
Maryland Transfer Tax Rates
| County | Recordation Tax | County Transfer Tax | State Transfer Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anne Arundel | 0.7% | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Baltimore City | 1.0% | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| Baltimore County | 0.5% | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| Carroll County | 1.0% | 0% | 0.5% |
| Charles County | 1.0% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Frederick County | 1.2% | 0% | 0.5% |
| Harford County | 0.66% | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Howard County | 0.5% | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Montgomery County | 0.89% (less than $500,000) 1.35% ($500,000 or more) | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Prince George's County | 0.55% | 1.4% | 0.5% |
The Massachusetts real estate transfer excise tax is currently $2.58 per $500 value transferred, which is a 0.456% tax rate. There is currently no Boston transfer tax, however, the City of Boston proposed a new transfer tax in January 2022. If passed, this new transfer tax would be 2.0% for amounts over $2 million, while the first $2 million will be exempt. This means that homes under $2 million will still have no Boston transfer tax applied in addition to the state’s 0.456% transfer tax.
Barnstable County, which includes parts of Cape Cod, has a higher transfer tax due to an additional county excise tax. The current state and county transfer tax in Barnstable County is 0.648%.
The state transfer tax in Michigan is 0.75%, while the county transfer tax in Michigan is 0.11%. This adds up to a total transfer tax rate of 0.86%.
Michigan's Real Estate Transfer Tax Act 134 of 1966 limits the transfer tax that counties can collect. Counties with a population of less than 2 million cannot have a transfer tax rate higher than 0.11%. Counties with a population of 2 million or more can have a transfer tax rate as high as 0.15%. However, as of 2022, there are no counties in Michigan with a population over 2,000,000. Wayne County, which includes Detroit, has a population of just under 1.8 million. The population of Wayne County was last above 2 million back in 2004, according to Data Commons.
Transfer tax in Minnesota is called a deed tax. For 2022, the deed tax rate in Minnesota is 0.33% for all counties. Hennepin County (Minneapolis) and Ramsey County (St. Paul) both charge an additional transfer tax of 0.01% as an Environmental Response Fund Tax.
Minnesota also charges a mortgage registry tax on the amount of your mortgage loan balance. Minnesota's mortgage registration tax rate is 0.24% in Hennepin County and Ramsey County including the 0.01% ERF Tax, and 0.23% in all other Minnesota counties. Mortgages taken by or given by religious organizations and educational institutions in Minnesota are still required to pay the state's mortgage registry tax.
Minnesota Transfer Tax Rates
| Transfer Tax | |
|---|---|
| Hennepin County | 0.34% |
| Ramsey County | 0.34% |
| All Other Counties | 0.33% |
| Mortgage Registry Tax | |
| Hennepin County | 0.24% |
| Ramsey County | 0.24% |
| All Other Counties | 0.23% |
Transfer tax in the State of Nevada is called Real Property Transfer Tax (RPTT). There are two base transfer tax rates in Nevada that are based on the county's population:
- 0.13% (which is $0.65 per $500 value) in counties with a population of less than 700,000
- 0.25% (which is $1.25 per $500 value) in counties with a population of 700,000 or more
Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, Boulder City, Henderson, and Mesquite, is the only county in Nevada in which the higher base transfer tax rate applies. The funds from the higher transfer tax rate goes towards the Clark County School District.
An additional state-wide transfer tax of 0.26% applies to all counties and goes towards the State General Fund. Churchill County and Washoe County also charge an additional transfer tax levy under the Local Government Tax Act of 1991.
Nevada Transfer Tax Rates
| County | Transfer Tax Rate (State + County) |
|---|---|
| Churchill County | 0.41% |
| Clark County | 0.51% |
| Washoe County | 0.41% |
| All Other Counties | 0.39% |
Ohio's transfer tax rate is 0.10%. Counties can also charge an additional transfer tax of up to 0.3%.
Ohio Transfer Tax Rates
| County | Additional County Transfer Tax | Total Transfer Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin | 0.20% | 0.30% |
| Cuyahoga | 0.30% | 0.40% |
| Hamilton | 0.30% | 0.40% |
| Summit | 0.30% | 0.40% |
| Montgomery | 0.20% | 0.30% |
| Lucas | 0.30% | 0.40% |
| Stark | 0.30% | 0.40% |
| Lorain | 0.30% | 0.40% |
| Warren | 0.20% | 0.30% |
There is no state transfer tax in Oregon. The exception to this is Washington County, which charges a county transfer tax of 0.1%. New transfer taxes are prohibited in Oregon as of 1997. Washington County's transfer tax has been grandfathered in.
Tennessee’s transfer tax rate is 0.37%. Mortgage borrowers will also need to pay an additional mortgage tax. In Tennessee, the mortgage recordation tax is 0.115% of the amount borrowed, with the first $2,000 being exempt from this tax.
Vermont charges both a property transfer tax and a clean water surcharge depending on the type of property and the property value. The property transfer tax can range from 0% to 1.25%, while the clean water surcharge is 0.2% on select property values. Homes purchased using a VT Housing and Conservation Trust Fund, VT Housing Finance Agency, or USDA loan are eligible for reduced transfer taxes.
In Vermont, the standard transfer tax for home buyers is 1.45% of the property value. However, if the property will be your primary residence, you only have to pay 0.5% on the first $100,000 and 1.45% on the remaining amount. This transfer tax exemption is available for all eligible residents of Vermont.
Vermont Transfer Tax Rates
| Property Value | Property Transfer Tax | Clean Water Surcharge | Total Transfer Tax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not Principal Residence | - | 1.25% | 0.20% | 1.45% |
| Principal Residence | Less Than $100,000 | 0.50% | 0% | 0.50% |
| More Than $100,000 | 1.25% | 0.20% | 1.45% | |
| Principal Residence Purchased with VHFA, VCTF, or USDA Assistance | Less Than $110,000 | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| $110,000 to $200,000 | 1.25% | 0% | 1.25% | |
| More Than $200,000 | 1.25% | 0.20% | 1.45% |
The State of Washington introduced a tiered transfer tax in 2020 to replace the previous flat rate tax. This new real estate excise tax (REET) depends on the sale price of the property. The state transfer tax rate ranges from 1.1% to 3.0%. Sellers are responsible for paying transfer tax in Washington, however, buyers are responsible if the seller doesn’t pay.
| Sale Price | State Transfer Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| $500,000 or less | 1.10% |
| $500,000.01 - $1,500,000 | 1.28% |
| $1,500,000.01 - $3,000,000 | 2.75% |
| $3,000,000.01 or more | 3.00% |
Source: Washington Department of Revenue
In addition to the state transfer tax, local transfer taxes may apply depending on your county and city or town. Local transfer tax in Washington is usually either 0.25% or 0.50%. For example, the local transfer tax in Seattle is 0.50%. This is on top of the state’s transfer tax.
Two counties in Washington State have a local transfer tax that is greater than 0.50%. The City of Asotin, in Asotin County, has a local transfer tax of 0.75%.
San Juan County, which includes Friday Harbor and Unincorporated Areas of the county, has a total local transfer tax rate of 2.00%. This makes it the highest transfer tax rate in the state. 0.50% is for San Juan County Capital Projects, 0.50% is for San Juan County Housing, and 1.00% is for the Conservation Land Bank, which purchases land in San Juan County for preservation and public use. While sellers are responsible for transfer tax in Washington State, buyers of properties purchased within San Juan County are responsible for paying the 1% real estate excise tax towards the Conservation Land Bank.