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Transfer tax by state on a $400,000 home
State plus typical local taxes on a $400,000 purchase with 10% down. Highest first; click a state for its rules, sources and more prices.
| State | Taxes | % of price | Usually paid by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $16,000 | 4% | Split by law |
| District of Columbia | $11,600 | 2.9% | Buyer / Seller |
| Pennsylvania | $8,000 | 2% | Split by law |
| Washington | $6,400 | 1.6% | Seller |
| New Hampshire | $6,000 | 1.5% | Buyer / Seller |
| Florida | $4,780 | 1.2% | Contract / custom / Buyer |
| Connecticut | $4,000 | 1% | Seller |
| Vermont | $3,940 | 0.99% | Buyer |
| Michigan | $3,440 | 0.86% | Seller |
| New Jersey | $3,215 | 0.8% | Seller |
| Rhode Island | $3,000 | 0.75% | Seller |
| Nevada | $2,040 | 0.51% | Contract / custom |
| Maryland | $2,000 | 0.5% | Contract / custom |
| Tennessee | $1,892 | 0.47% | Contract / custom / Buyer |
| Massachusetts | $1,824 | 0.46% | Seller |
| Maine | $1,760 | 0.44% | Split by law |
| Virginia | $1,733 | 0.43% | Buyer / Seller |
| New York | $1,600 | 0.4% | Seller / Buyer |
| Georgia | $1,480 | 0.37% | Seller / Buyer |
| South Carolina | $1,480 | 0.37% | Contract / custom |
| Nebraska | $1,328 | 0.33% | Contract / custom |
| Arkansas | $1,320 | 0.33% | Split by law |
| Minnesota | $1,320 | 0.33% | Contract / custom |
| West Virginia | $1,320 | 0.33% | Contract / custom |
| Ohio | $1,200 | 0.3% | Contract / custom |
| Wisconsin | $1,200 | 0.3% | Seller |
| North Carolina | $800 | 0.2% | Seller |
| Iowa | $639 | 0.16% | Contract / custom |
| Illinois | $600 | 0.15% | Seller |
| Oklahoma | $600 | 0.15% | Contract / custom |
| California | $440 | 0.11% | Contract / custom |
| Alabama | $400 | 0.1% | Contract / custom |
| Hawaii | $400 | 0.1% | Contract / custom |
| Kentucky | $400 | 0.1% | Seller |
| South Dakota | $400 | 0.1% | Seller |
| Colorado | $40 | 0.01% | Buyer |
| Alaska | None | 0% | — |
| Arizona | None | 0% | — |
| Idaho | None | 0% | — |
| Indiana | None | 0% | — |
| Kansas | None | 0% | — |
| Louisiana | None | 0% | — |
| Mississippi | None | 0% | — |
| Missouri | None | 0% | — |
| Montana | None | 0% | — |
| New Mexico | None | 0% | — |
| North Dakota | None | 0% | — |
| Oregon | None | 0% | — |
| Texas | None | 0% | — |
| Utah | None | 0% | — |
| Wyoming | None | 0% | — |
Local taxes vary by city and county; where a state has a common local rate it's included (for example Delaware 1.5%, Pennsylvania 1%, Washington 0.5%). Full table with a CSV: real estate transfer tax by state.
How transfer taxes are calculated
- Flat rate: a percent of the price. Delaware charges 2.5% at the state level plus a local tax, so a $400,000 home pays $16,000 in total.
- Graduated (like income tax): higher rates apply only to the part of the price above each threshold. Washington's REET runs 1.1%–3% (graduated); $400,000 costs $6,400 with a 0.5% local tax.
- By price bracket: crossing a threshold changes the rate on the whole price. New York's 1% "mansion tax" starts at $1 million, so a $1.2 million home pays $12,000 on top of the $4,800 state transfer tax.
- On the mortgage: a few states tax the loan too — Florida's note stamps and intangible tax, Georgia's intangible tax, Tennessee's mortgage tax — so a bigger down payment means a smaller tax.
Read the full explainer: closing costs and transfer taxes — who pays what, state by state.
The rest of your closing costs
Taxes are only part of the bill. The "other closing costs" field (2% by default) stands in for lender origination and points, appraisal, title search and title insurance, settlement or attorney fees, prepaid interest and the first deposits into escrow for property tax and insurance. Freddie Mac puts total closing costs at about 2%–5% of the price. Replace the estimate with the numbers on your Loan Estimate, and compare it with the Closing Disclosure you get three days before closing.
Next steps: see your monthly payment with the mortgage calculator, check how much house you can afford, or compare FHA and VA loans.
Closing cost calculators by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Assumptions
- Transfer and recording taxes use each state's published rates; exemptions (first-time buyer, senior, affordable housing) aren't applied unless noted.
- Who pays a tax can be changed by the purchase contract; "either" means local custom or the contract decides.
- Other closing costs (lender, title, appraisal, prepaid items) vary widely — use your Loan Estimate for real numbers.
- Tax rates: claude: each state checked against its revenue department, statute or county recorder (checked 2026-10-23). Each state page lists its sources.
Frequently asked questions
How much are closing costs?+
Usually about 2% to 5% of the price, counting lender fees, title insurance, appraisal, prepaid interest and escrow, and any transfer or recording taxes (Freddie Mac's estimate). On a $400,000 home that's roughly $8,000 to $20,000. Your lender's Loan Estimate lists your real numbers within three business days of applying.
What is a real estate transfer tax?+
A tax a state, county or city charges when a property's deed changes hands, usually a percent of the sale price. Some states call it a deed tax, documentary stamp tax, conveyance tax or excise tax. A few states also tax the mortgage itself (Florida, Georgia, Tennessee).
Which state has the highest transfer tax?+
On a $400,000 home, Delaware ($16,000), District of Columbia ($11,600), Pennsylvania ($8,000), Washington ($6,400), New Hampshire ($6,000) charge the most, counting typical local add-ons. Delaware's combined 4% is the highest common rate in the country.
Which states have no transfer tax?+
15 states have no state-level real estate transfer tax: Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Wyoming. Some of their cities or counties still charge recording fees or a local tax.
Does the buyer or seller pay the transfer tax?+
It depends on the state and the contract. By law or custom the seller pays in many states (New Jersey, Connecticut, Washington, Michigan), the buyer pays in others (New York's mansion tax, Florida's mortgage taxes, DC recordation tax), and some split it (Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maine). The purchase contract can change who pays, so it's negotiable.
Are transfer taxes tax-deductible?+
Not as a yearly deduction. A buyer adds transfer taxes they paid to the home's cost basis, and a seller subtracts them from the amount realized on the sale, which lowers any capital gain (IRS Publication 523 and 530).
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Uses 2026 rules and limits. Last reviewed October 23, 2026. Calculator version 1.0.0. Sources: Freddie Mac (via industry summaries) — closing costs typically 2%–5% of the purchase price. Results are estimates for educational purposes, not financial, tax or lending advice. How we check our numbers. Embed this calculator on your site for free.