Real Estate Transfer Tax Calculator — Deed, Recording & Excise Taxes
Use this real estate transfer tax calculator to estimate deed transfer tax, mortgage recording taxes, documentary fees, and excise taxes on a home purchase. Select your state — New York pages model Nassau and Westchester recording tax rates — then enter sale price and down payment to see itemized closing tax line items from configured local rules.
Home Purchase Details
Estimated Closing Taxes
Total Transfer & Recording Taxes
$0
Methodology and limitations
Last reviewed:
Methodology
Applies configured transfer, recording, documentary, and excise tax rates from the mortgage geo data layer to sale price and loan amount inputs.
Limitations
Planning estimate only. Tiered city taxes, negotiated splits, and title-specific fees may differ from configured benchmarks.
Official sources
How Transfer Tax Estimates Work
Use this real estate transfer tax calculator to estimate deed transfer tax, mortgage recording taxes, documentary fees, and excise taxes on a home purchase. Select your state — New York pages model Nassau and Westchester recording tax rates — then enter sale price and down payment to see itemized closing tax line items from configured local rules.
Method used
This calculator applies configured transfer, recording, documentary, and excise tax rates from the mortgage geo data layer to your sale price and loan amount. Taxes that apply to consideration use the purchase price; taxes tied to financing use the loan balance after your down payment.
Loan amount = sale price × (1 − down payment %); tax line = applicable rate × sale price or loan amount
Practical example
Example: on a $400,000 purchase with 20% down in Georgia, deed transfer tax at 0.1% adds $400 on the sale price while intangible recording tax at 0.3% adds $960 on the $320,000 loan. In New York's MCTD, mortgage recording tax applies to the loan only — not the full price.
- $400,000 sale price
- 20% down payment ($320,000 loan)
- Location selected from state or county geo rules
The output itemizes each configured closing tax — transfer, recording, documentary, or excise — and shows a total before title insurance, escrow, and lender fees.
Assumptions
- Rates come from configured geo JSON tax rules, not live county clerk tables.
- Tiered city taxes, mansion taxes, and negotiated splits may differ from flat-rate models.
- Results are planning estimates for cash-to-close — not tax or legal advice.
What this includes
- Sale-price taxes (deed transfer, documentary stamp, excise, city conveyance).
- Loan-amount taxes (mortgage recording, intangible recording) where configured.
- Itemized line labels and total closing tax estimate.
What this excludes
- Title insurance, escrow fees, appraisal, inspection, prepaid escrow, lender origination.
- Annual property tax, homeowners insurance, and monthly PITI amortization.
- Transaction-specific exemptions, refunds, and seller-paid credit allocations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a real estate transfer tax?
A real estate transfer tax is a one-time tax or fee charged when property ownership changes hands. States and counties use different names — transfer tax, documentary stamp tax, excise tax, intangible recording tax, or mortgage recording tax — but the purpose is similar: raise revenue on real estate transactions. The tax may apply to the sale price, loan amount, or both depending on local law. This calculator models configured state and county tax rules so you can plan cash-to-close before making an offer.
Which states charge mortgage recording taxes?
Several states, especially in the Northeast, charge mortgage recording or intangible taxes on the loan amount in addition to transfer taxes on the sale price. New York, Georgia, Florida, and Maryland are common examples where buyers see separate recording or intangible line items at closing. Rates vary by county and city — Nassau and Westchester in New York, for example, use different mortgage recording tax totals than upstate counties. Select your state in the calculator to see the configured estimate for your scenario.
Are transfer taxes paid by the buyer or seller?
Who pays depends on state law, county custom, and the purchase contract. In some markets the seller pays the deed transfer tax while the buyer pays recording taxes on the mortgage. In others, costs are split or negotiated. This calculator shows the tax amounts that apply under configured rules; your closing disclosure and purchase contract determine how those costs are allocated between buyer and seller at settlement.
How do I estimate transfer tax on a $400,000 home?
Enter $400,000 as the sale price and your planned down payment percentage. The calculator derives the loan amount and applies configured transfer, recording, documentary, and excise tax rates for the selected state or county. For example, a state with a 0.1% documentary fee on sale price adds $400, while a 1% mortgage recording tax on an $320,000 loan adds $3,200. Always verify final figures on your Loan Estimate and Closing Disclosure from your lender and title company.
Does this calculator include property tax or title insurance?
No. This tool focuses on transfer, recording, excise, and similar transaction taxes modeled in our geo tax data. Annual property tax, homeowners insurance, lender title policy, settlement agent fees, and prepaid escrow items are separate closing costs. Use the Property Tax Calculator for annual tax estimates and the Mortgage Calculator for full PITI and amortization planning alongside this transfer tax estimate.