State guide · PA
Transfer tax in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania charges roughly 2.00% when a home changes hands — about $5,400 on a median-priced home, customarily paid by split 50/50 between buyer and seller by custom.
Rate
2.00%
On a median home
$5,400
Customarily paid by
Split
State tax of 1% plus local taxes typically 1% (Philadelphia's combined rate is about 4.28%, among the nation's highest).
Transfer taxes are one line of the larger closing bill. For the full picture in Pennsylvania — title, escrow, attorney conventions, and typical buyer costs — see our Pennsylvania closing costs guide, or estimate your own bottom line with the seller net proceeds calculator.
How Pennsylvania compares
| Rank | State | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Delaware | 4.00% |
| #2 | Washington, D.C. | 2.20% |
| #3 | Pennsylvania | 2.00% |
| #4 | Maryland | 1.50% |
| #5 | New Hampshire | 1.50% |
Common questions
Does Pennsylvania have a real estate transfer tax?
Yes. State tax of 1% plus local taxes typically 1% (Philadelphia's combined rate is about 4.28%, among the nation's highest). On a median-priced Pennsylvania home (about $270,000), that's roughly $5,400.
Who pays the transfer tax in Pennsylvania?
Split 50/50 between buyer and seller by custom. Like every closing cost, this is custom rather than law — the purchase contract can assign it to either side, and in competitive negotiations it sometimes moves.
Selling in Pennsylvania? See what you'd keep
Sale price minus commissions, payoff, and taxes like this one — the number that actually lands in your account.
Open the net proceeds calculatorRates are representative combined state and typical local figures compiled from public sources and rounded for readability; graduated schedules, exemptions, and city add-ons can change your number. Confirm with your closing agent or county recorder. Median home values are approximate.