Transfer Tax Calculator

Enter the price and rate to estimate the transfer tax.

Result

How it is calculated

The tool applies one flat percentage to the sale price: tax = price × rate ÷ 100. The rate is entered as a percentage, so 1.1 means 1.1%. You then choose who pays: the buyer (the default), the seller, or an even split, which gives each side tax ÷ 2. It also shows the buyer's total cost, price + the buyer's share. Price and rate cannot be negative. The tool uses a single rate that you provide: it does not know any state's, county's or country's rate, does not apply tiered rates, exemptions or minimum thresholds, and does not add other closing costs. Rules on who pays and how it is calculated differ by place, so check the local rule before relying on the figures.

Worked example

A property sells for 350,000 and the transfer tax rate is 1.1%, split equally. Step 1: tax = 350,000 × 1.1 ÷ 100 = $3,850.00. Step 2: even split, so buyer and seller each pay 3,850 ÷ 2 = $1,925.00. Step 3: the buyer's total cost is 350,000 + 1,925 = $351,925.00. If the seller paid it all, the buyer's cost would stay at $350,000.00.

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Common mistakes

  • Entering the rate as a decimal (0.011) when the field expects a percentage; that is read as 0.011% and gives a tax about 100 times too low.
  • Entering a per-thousand rate (for example 11 per 1,000) as 11, which is 11%; convert it to 1.1 first.
  • Assuming the buyer or seller always pays; custom and contracts differ, so check the purchase agreement.
  • Using one flat rate where the local tax is tiered or has exemptions, for example for first-time buyers or low-priced homes.
  • Treating the result as the full closing cost: it covers only this tax, not fees, insurance or other charges.

Sources

About this calculator

A real estate transfer tax (also called a conveyance tax, deed tax, or stamp duty depending on the jurisdiction) is a one-time charge levied when property ownership changes hands, typically calculated as a percentage or per-thousand-dollar rate of the sale price. Who actually pays it — buyer, seller, or a negotiated split between the two — varies by state, county, or country, and in many markets it's customary rather than legally fixed, making it a common point of negotiation in a purchase agreement.

This calculator takes the sale price and the applicable transfer tax rate, computes the total tax due, and splits it between buyer and seller according to your chosen arrangement. Home buyers and sellers estimating closing costs, real estate agents preparing net-proceeds sheets, and title and escrow companies use it to see the tax line item clearly before it shows up on the closing disclosure.

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Comments (1)

  • Editorial team

    This tool takes one flat rate, so if your area charges a state or county tax plus a city one, add the rates together before typing the total. Also check what the tax is charged on: some places tax the stated price, others a different base such as an assessed value. Where it matters, confirm both with the recording office or your closing agent. Does your area split the tax by custom or by law?

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