Maryland real estate transfer tax
Maryland's transfer tax is 0.5%, customarily split-paid. Here's how it works, what it costs at common price points, and the statute behind it.
Maryland charges a 0.5% state transfer tax (reduced to 0.25% when the buyer is a first-time Maryland homebuyer, in which case the seller pays it), plus county transfer tax (0.5%–1.5% by county) and the state recordation tax ($2.50–$5.00 per $500). Combined, Maryland's recording burden is among the steeper ones; customs on who pays vary by county.
What it costs at common prices
| Sale price | State transfer tax |
|---|---|
| $200,000 | $1,000 |
| $400,000 | $2,000 |
| $600,000 | $3,000 |
| $800,000 | $4,000 |
State-level only; county and city taxes may add to these figures.
Look up your transfer tax
Estimated transfer tax
$2,800
Rate: 0.7% · Customarily seller-paid
- Who customarily pays
- seller
- Statute
- Fla. Stat. § 201.02
Florida levies documentary stamp tax on the deed at $0.70 per $100 of price (0.70%) in every county except Miami-Dade. Miami-Dade charges $0.60 per $100 (0.60%) plus a $0.45/$100 surtax on non-single-family transfers. By custom the seller pays the deed stamps; the buyer pays the separate doc-stamp + intangible tax on the mortgage.
Frequently asked questions
What is the real estate transfer tax in Maryland?
Maryland's transfer tax is 0.5% of the sale price, customarily split-paid. Maryland charges a 0.5% state transfer tax (reduced to 0.25% when the buyer is a first-time Maryland homebuyer, in which case the seller pays it), plus county transfer tax (0.5%–1.5% by county) and the state recordation tax ($2.50–$5.00 per $500). Combined, Maryland's recording burden is among the steeper ones; customs on who pays vary by county.
Who pays the transfer tax in Maryland?
In Maryland the transfer tax is customarily split-paid, though it's negotiable in the purchase contract.
How is Maryland's transfer tax calculated?
Multiply the sale price by 0.5%. For example, on a $400,000 home that's about $2,000. Maryland charges a 0.5% state transfer tax (reduced to 0.25% when the buyer is a first-time Maryland homebuyer, in which case the seller pays it), plus county transfer tax (0.5%–1.5% by county) and the state recordation tax ($2.50–$5.00 per $500). Combined, Maryland's recording burden is among the steeper ones; customs on who pays vary by county.