Pennsylvania transfer tax calculator
State realty transfer tax of 1% plus local taxes of usually 1% (0.5% municipality and 0.5% school district), with higher local rates in some places: Philadelphia 3.278% local, Pittsburgh 4% local.
Reviewed October 15, 2026. The math is shown line by line.
Pennsylvania transfer tax on a $255,000 sale
- State realty transfer tax, buyer halfbuyer pays$1,275$255,000 × 1% = $2,550, half of it $1,275
- State realty transfer tax, seller halfseller pays$1,275$255,000 × 1% = $2,550, half of it $1,275
- Local realty transfer tax (usual rate), buyer halfbuyer pays$1,275$255,000 × 1% = $2,550, half of it $1,275
- Local realty transfer tax (usual rate), seller halfseller pays$1,275$255,000 × 1% = $2,550, half of it $1,275
- buyer pays
- $2,550
- seller pays
- $2,550
- Total transfer tax
- $5,100
Statutory transfer taxes on a $255,000 sale, as of the reviewed date. Who pays is custom and contract outside the statute’s primary liability. Local taxes described above are not in this figure unless listed as a line. Recording fees, title and attorney charges are separate.
The rule behind the numbers
- Transfer tax
- State realty transfer tax of 1% plus local taxes of usually 1% (0.5% municipality and 0.5% school district), with higher local rates in some places: Philadelphia 3.278% local, Pittsburgh 4% local. Source: pa.gov
- Who customarily pays
- Customarily split equally between buyer and seller. Source: pa.gov
- Local transfer taxes
- Every municipality and school district may levy. The Department of Revenue publishes the local rates by municipality. Source: pa.gov
Sources
Ike Mortgage LLC. NMLS ID pending. For licensing information, go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org. Nothing on this page is a loan payment, rate, term or down payment, and nothing here is a Loan Estimate.