Real Estate Transfer Tax by State: What Sellers Owe at Closing

Transfer taxes are one of the more predictable lines on a seller's closing disclosure — and one of the most frequently underestimated. The range across states is dramatic: some states charge nothing at all, others take more than 4% of the sale price. For a FSBO seller calculating net proceeds, this is a number you need before you accept an offer, not when you review the closing statement.

Transfer taxes are called different things depending on the state: deed transfer tax, documentary stamp tax, excise tax, realty transfer tax, grantor tax. The mechanism is the same — a government levy on the legal transfer of real property. They're almost always calculated as a percentage of the sale price or the assessed value, and they're almost always paid by the seller (though state custom varies in a handful of markets).

States With No Transfer Tax

Seven states have no state-level real estate transfer tax:

Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming

Wait — that's more than seven. The actual count fluctuates slightly because some states technically have a "mortgage tax" or a county-level grantor fee that functions like a transfer tax in practice. In Texas, for example, there's no state transfer tax, but some county deed recording fees can be meaningful on higher-value properties.

If you're selling in one of these states, transfer tax won't appear on your seller's net sheet. But you still owe standard recording fees, title insurance, and any applicable local levies.

States With Low Transfer Taxes (Under 0.5%)

Most states in this range charge a flat documentary stamp or excise rate applied to the full sale price. These are significant numbers on high-value transactions even at low rates:

Arkansas: 0.33% of the purchase price
Colorado: No state transfer tax (county recording fees apply)
Illinois: 0.10% state rate, but local taxes can push Chicago transfers to over 1.5% total
Kansas: 0.26%
Minnesota: 0.33%
Nebraska: 0.225%
Oklahoma: 0.15%
Tennessee: 0.37%
Virginia: 0.25% state + 0.1% local in most jurisdictions; some cities add additional levies

States in the Mid-Range (0.5% to 1.5%)

California: No state transfer tax, but county documentary transfer taxes apply. In most California counties, the rate is $1.10 per $1,000 of value (0.11%), though cities like Los Angeles (0.45%) and San Francisco (up to 3% on sales over $10M) add their own layers. Some California cities have enacted significant additional transfer taxes in recent years — always verify local rates.

Florida: Documentary stamp tax is $0.70 per $100 of value (0.70%) in most counties. Miami-Dade charges $0.60 per $100, but Dade County also imposes a surtax that brings the effective rate above standard.

Georgia: $1 per $1,000 (0.1%) — among the lowest in the country for a state that has one.

Iowa: 0.16%

Maine: 0.44% — split between buyer and seller in Maine, so each side pays 0.22%

Maryland: State transfer tax is 0.5%, but county and recordation taxes add significantly. First-time buyers may qualify for exemptions. Total transfer costs in Maryland routinely exceed 1.5% for the seller.

Michigan: State transfer tax is $3.75 per $500 of value (0.75%) at the state level, plus a county levy of $0.55 per $500. Total is approximately 0.86%.

Nevada: $1.95 per $500 (0.39%)

New Hampshire: 1.5% — split equally between buyer and seller, so each pays 0.75%

North Carolina: 0.2% ($2 per $1,000)

Ohio: 0.1% state + county rates that vary; total is typically 0.2% to 0.3%

Oregon: No state transfer tax, but Washington County imposes a 0.1% levy and some cities have their own

South Carolina: 0.37%

Washington State: 1.28% on most sales; higher rates apply to properties over $1.5M

Wisconsin: 0.30%

States With High Transfer Taxes (Over 1.5%)

Connecticut: State rate is 0.75% for residential; for properties over $800,000, a 1.25% surcharge applies to the amount above $800,000. Local conveyance taxes add 0.25% to 0.5%.

Delaware: 1.5% state transfer tax plus 1.5% county tax for most transactions. Total is approximately 3%, typically split between buyer and seller. Delaware is one of the higher-transfer-tax states for sellers.

District of Columbia: 1.1% for sales under $399,999; 1.45% for sales over $400,000. Buyer and seller each pay this rate, meaning total transfer taxes can exceed 2.9% of the sale price split between the parties.

Hawaii: 0.1% to 1.25% depending on the sale price, with higher rates applying to luxury properties.

Massachusetts: The excise tax is $4.56 per $1,000 (0.456%) at the state level, but Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties impose an additional local fee.

New Jersey: 1% for most residential sales. Properties over $1M pay an additional 1% "mansion tax" (paid by the buyer). Sellers of properties over $1M pay an additional 0.5% to 0.9% "RTF" depending on type.

New York State: 0.4% base rate. New York City adds a significant additional transfer tax: 1% for sales under $500,000 and 1.425% for sales over $500,000. Total transfer costs in NYC on a $1M sale can approach 2% for the seller.

Pennsylvania: State transfer tax is 1%, plus a local earned income tax that typically adds another 1%. Total is generally 2%, split between buyer and seller with each side paying 1%.

Rhode Island: 0.46% base, with additional local taxes in some municipalities.

Vermont: 1.25% for properties that are the buyer's principal residence; 1.45% for other residential property. Vermont also imposes a Property Transfer Tax Return that must be filed with the state regardless of taxable amount.

Who Actually Pays the Transfer Tax?

In most states, by convention, the seller pays the transfer tax. But convention is not law — the purchase agreement can specify that buyer and seller split it, or that the buyer covers it as part of the negotiation.

In practice, sellers should include the full state and local transfer tax in their net sheet calculation. If you later negotiate for the buyer to cover part of it, that's a benefit. If you assume the buyer will cover it and they don't, it comes out of your proceeds.

For FSBO sellers, this calculation needs to happen before the listing price is set, not at the closing table. A $400,000 sale in Pennsylvania carries roughly $4,000 in seller-side transfer taxes. In Delaware, that same sale price generates approximately $6,000. That's a line item that affects your net proceeds by a meaningful amount.

What FSBO Sellers Should Do With This Information

Build your net sheet before you list. Start with your expected sale price, subtract your outstanding mortgage payoff, your flat-fee MLS cost, professional photography, any buyer closing cost concessions, and your state's transfer tax. What remains is your actual net proceed — which is the number that should drive your pricing decision, not the gross sale price.

The FSBO Complete Guide includes a full net sheet calculator and a closing cost reference that covers transfer taxes, title insurance, prorated property taxes, and closing attorney or escrow fees — so you know exactly what you're walking away with before the first buyer makes an offer.

International Note

The transfer tax concept exists in most property markets globally under different names. In the UK, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is paid by the buyer, not the seller — the opposite of the US convention. In Australia, Stamp Duty varies significantly by state and is also a buyer cost (except in some circumstances). In Canada, Land Transfer Tax is the buyer's responsibility in most provinces, though British Columbia's Property Transfer Tax has exemptions for first-time buyers. Understanding which party bears transfer taxes in your country is essential for accurate net proceed calculation on either side of the transaction.