Iowa real estate transfer tax
Iowa's transfer tax is 0.16%, customarily seller-paid. Here's how it works, what it costs at common price points, and the statute behind it.
Estimated — not yet source-verified.Estimated — not yet source-verified. This figure is a knowledge estimate we have not yet confirmed against the official source, so this page is not indexed. Treat it as a rough guide only and verify with the state revenue department or county recorder.
Iowa's real estate transfer tax is $1.60 per $1,000 of value (0.16%) on the amount exceeding $500; seller pays. Recording fee is approximately $20: $7 for the first page + $5 per additional page + $5 county auditor certification.
How Iowa compares nationally
0.16%, #26 of 51 nationally, matching the median at $400,000. This is a data-derived comparison against the 51 source-verified state and DC transfer-tax records, with no invented rates for null-tax states.
- Rate rank
- #26 of 51
- highest state transfer-tax rate first
- Tax at $400,000
- $640
- median-state tax $640
- Dataset date
- June 2026
- source-linked record
Iowa transfer-tax data: official source linked on this page, review date not provided.
What it costs at common prices
| Sale price | State transfer tax |
|---|---|
| $200,000 | $320 |
| $400,000 | $640 |
| $600,000 | $960 |
| $800,000 | $1,280 |
State-level only; county and city taxes may add to these figures.
Look up your transfer tax
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Frequently asked questions
What is the real estate transfer tax in Iowa?
Iowa's transfer tax is 0.16% of the sale price, customarily seller-paid. Iowa's real estate transfer tax is $1.60 per $1,000 of value (0.16%) on the amount exceeding $500; seller pays. Recording fee is approximately $20: $7 for the first page + $5 per additional page + $5 county auditor certification.
Who pays the transfer tax in Iowa?
In Iowa the transfer tax is customarily seller-paid, though it's negotiable in the purchase contract.
How is Iowa's transfer tax calculated?
Multiply the sale price by 0.16%. For example, on a $400,000 home that's about $640. Iowa's real estate transfer tax is $1.60 per $1,000 of value (0.16%) on the amount exceeding $500; seller pays. Recording fee is approximately $20: $7 for the first page + $5 per additional page + $5 county auditor certification.
Closest transfer-tax comparisons
These links are selected by nearby verified transfer-tax rates, not by a static related list.