One-time deed tax
Real estate transfer tax by state
Compare nine verified ordinary-transfer models. The prepared statutory value, confirmed property-use category, rounding rule and payer can change the closing amount. State amounts and local taxes are shown separately where supported.
Updated Editorial policy
States covered
- Georgia transfer tax calculatorGeorgia charges $1 for the first $1,000 or fraction, then 10 cents for each additional $100 or fraction. The seller is legally liable, although the contract can assign payment to the buyer.
- Michigan transfer tax calculatorMichigan charges two transfer taxes on the same sale: a state tax and a county tax. The seller is liable for the state tax.
- Illinois transfer tax calculatorIllinois charges 50 cents per $500 at state level. Counties and many municipalities add their own transfer taxes on top, and Chicago’s is far larger than the state’s.
- Kentucky transfer tax calculatorKentucky charges the grantor 50 cents per $500, and counts any mortgage or lien on the property as part of the value rather than deducting it.
- Delaware transfer tax calculatorDelaware apportions the standard state tax equally between buyer and seller. Local tax and an approved first-time buyer reduction can change the final amounts.
- New Hampshire transfer tax calculatorNew Hampshire charges the buyer and seller separately: $0.75 per $100 or fraction of taxable consideration for each party.
- South Carolina transfer tax calculatorSouth Carolina’s deed recording fee is $1.85 per $500 or fraction of statutory value. It is a transaction fee, separate from annual property tax.
- Vermont transfer tax calculatorVermont’s transfer result depends on the approved property-use category and financing. The Clean Water surcharge is a separate component.
- Colorado transfer tax calculatorOnce a Colorado deed’s consideration tops $500, the state documentary fee is 1¢ for each whole $100, plus 1¢ more when the leftover is over $50. Local transfer taxes are separate.
Read the deed value before calculating
Annual property tax uses the taxable values and levy rates on an assessment notice. A deed transfer tax or documentary fee is a separate transaction charge. Its statutory base may include liens, permit a specific mortgage exclusion, or use a value other than the cash paid at closing. The annual tax calculator cannot answer a transfer-tax query.
Illinois permits a qualifying mortgage exclusion; Kentucky includes liens in its statutory value. Colorado calculates a state documentary fee using a major fraction of $100, while Michigan uses each $500 or fraction. Vermont separates principal-residence and nonprincipal-residential categories and adds a Clean Water surcharge.
Three things that change the number
Rounding. Several states charge a fixed amount per $500 of value "or fraction of $500". That phrase means the base rounds up to the next whole increment, so a sale at $270,250 is taxed on the same number of increments as one at $270,500. Calculators that simply multiply price by a percentage will be a little low.
Who pays. This varies by state and is sometimes fixed by statute rather than by negotiation. Michigan makes the seller liable for the state tax. Delaware splits its tax equally between the two sides. Vermont ordinarily makes the transferee liable, subject to an agreement otherwise. Use the payer rule cited on the relevant page and the approved closing documents.
Local add-ons. A state rate is often only part of the bill. Counties and municipalities may levy their own transfer tax on the same sale, and in some cities the local charge is larger than the state one. Each page below says whether local taxes are included in its figure.
Rates, thresholds and ordinary transaction scope were reviewed against the linked primary sources on October 1, 2026. Special transfers and unconfirmed local charges need the recording office’s determination.
Updated by the Property Tax Calculator Editorial Team. Report a correction