Real estate title glossary
What is real estate transfer tax?
Also called: deed tax, realty transfer tax
Definition
A real estate transfer tax is a state or local tax charged when real property changes hands, usually a percentage of the price, paid when the deed is recorded.
Rates and who pays vary widely: Florida charges documentary stamp tax on deeds, New York State and New York City both tax transfers, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia combine state and local rates, and some states have no transfer tax at all.
How it shows up in a title search
Where the tax is paid at recording, the stamp or return usually shows the price, which is how a sale price ends up in the public record.
Guides that go deeper
- Florida Documentary Stamp Tax: Rates, Who Pays, Exemptions and How to Calculate ItFlorida taxes deeds at 70 cents per $100 of consideration (60 cents plus a surtax in Miami-Dade) and mortgages at 35 cents. How to calculate it and what is exempt.
- Estimated Closing Costs for Seller: What You Pay and How Taxes Differ by StateEstimated closing costs for seller: loan payoff, transfer taxes, title and recording fees. Florida taxes deeds at 70 cents per $100; NY and PA compared.
- How Much Does a Title Search Cost? Fees, Report Prices and the Real Cost of Doing It YourselfWhat a title search costs in 2026: statutory clerk fees, what independent reports charge, the hidden cost of searching yourself, and the fastest way to get one.
Related terms
Source: The Florida Senate, Fla. Stat. 201.02 Documentary stamp tax on deeds. Plain-English summary of general US usage; state law varies, and this is not legal advice.