About the Real Estate Transfer Tax Calculator
Most US states and many counties and cities charge a tax when real estate changes hands — called a transfer tax, deed tax, excise tax or documentary stamp tax. It is calculated on the sale price and paid at closing, and depending on local custom and the contract it falls on the seller, the buyer or both. This calculator estimates it so you can budget for closing or a net sale figure.
Built-in schedules cover Florida documentary stamps ($0.70 per $100, or $0.60 plus a $0.45 surtax in Miami-Dade for property other than single-family homes), Washington’s graduated real estate excise tax using the thresholds in force for 2026 sales, New York State’s $2 per $500 tax plus the 1% mansion tax on homes of $1 million or more, and Pennsylvania’s 1% state realty transfer tax. For any other state, pick "Other / custom" and enter the combined rate.
Local transfer taxes vary by county and city, so add your local rate in the local field (for example the local REET in Washington or the municipal and school-district tax in Pennsylvania). New York City has its own transfer tax and graduated supplemental mansion tax that are not modelled here.
With the default inputs, the total transfer tax is $2,800.00. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the real estate transfer tax calculator
- 1Choose the state (or Miami-Dade County in Florida).
- 2Enter the sale price.
- 3Answer the property-type question that appears for Miami-Dade or New York.
- 4Add any county, city or school-district transfer tax as a local rate.
- 5Read the total transfer tax and effective rate to include in closing costs.
Formula and method
Florida charges documentary stamp tax of 70 cents on each $100 or portion of the price; in Miami-Dade the rate is 60 cents plus a 45-cent surtax that does not apply to single-family homes. New York State charges $2 for each $500 or fraction, plus a buyer-paid 1% mansion tax when a residence sells for $1 million or more. Washington’s REET is marginal: for 2026 it is 1.1% of the portion up to $525,000, 1.28% up to $1,525,000, 2.75% up to $3,025,000 and 3% above. Pennsylvania’s state realty transfer tax is 1% of the value.
Any local rate you enter is multiplied by the full price and added on top. Exemptions (such as transfers between spouses or certain first-time buyer programmes) and special assessed-value rules are not modelled.
- price
- Sale price (consideration) of the property
- ⌈x⌉
- Rounded up to the next whole unit ($100 or $500 portion)
- local rate
- Combined county, city or school-district transfer tax rate
Worked examples
$400,000 home in Florida
Florida charges $0.70 on each $100 of the price. A $400,000 sale is 4,000 units of $100, so documentary stamp tax is 4,000 × $0.70 = $2,800.
Miami-Dade condo at $350,050
The price is 3,501 units of $100 (the final $50 counts as a full unit). Miami-Dade charges $0.60 per unit ($2,100.60) plus the $0.45 surtax ($1,575.45) because a condo is not a single-family home, totalling $3,676.05.
$800,000 sale in Washington with 0.5% local REET
The first $525,000 is taxed at 1.1% ($5,775) and the remaining $275,000 at 1.28% ($3,520), so state REET is $9,295. A 0.5% local REET adds $4,000, for $13,295.
$1.2M house in New York State
The base tax is $2 for each $500: 2,400 × $2 = $4,800, normally paid by the seller. Because the residence sells for over $1 million, the buyer also pays the 1% mansion tax of $12,000.
$300,000 home in Pennsylvania with 1% local tax
Pennsylvania’s 1% state tax is $3,000. With a combined 1% local tax the total is $6,000, or 2% of the price.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays real estate transfer tax?+
It depends on state law, local custom and the contract. Sellers typically pay Florida documentary stamps on the deed and the New York base tax, while New York’s mansion tax is paid by the buyer. Buyer and seller can negotiate a different split in the purchase agreement.
How is Florida documentary stamp tax calculated?+
Divide the price by $100, round up to the next whole number, and multiply by $0.70. In Miami-Dade the rate is $0.60 per $100, plus a $0.45 surtax unless the property is a single-family home. Separate stamp tax also applies to a new mortgage note.
What is the New York mansion tax?+
It is an additional 1% tax on the full price of a residence sold for $1 million or more, paid by the buyer. In New York City, residences of $2 million or more also pay a supplemental tax of 0.25% to 2.9%, so the combined buyer-paid rate rises in steps from 1.25% to 3.9%.
Is transfer tax deductible?+
For a home seller, transfer tax paid is a selling expense that reduces the amount realized, which lowers any capital gain. For a buyer it is added to the cost basis. It is not deductible as a property tax on Schedule A.
Which states have no real estate transfer tax?+
Several states, including Texas, Idaho, Missouri and Oregon outside Washington County, do not levy a general state transfer tax, though recording fees still apply. Check your county recorder for local charges.
Tax results are estimates based on published rules and simplified assumptions. They are not tax advice — check official guidance or a tax professional for your situation.