State guide · WA
Transfer tax in Washington
Washington charges roughly 1.10% when a home changes hands — about $6,600 on a median-priced home, customarily paid by seller.
Rate
1.10%
On a median home
$6,600
Customarily paid by
Seller
Graduated real estate excise tax (REET): 1.1% up to about $525K, stepping to 3% above roughly $3M, plus local REET (commonly 0.25-0.5%).
Transfer taxes are one line of the larger closing bill. For the full picture in Washington — title, escrow, attorney conventions, and typical buyer costs — see our Washington closing costs guide, or estimate your own bottom line with the seller net proceeds calculator.
How Washington compares
| Rank | State | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| #5 | New Hampshire | 1.50% |
| #6 | Vermont | 1.45% |
| #7 | Washington | 1.10% |
| #8 | Connecticut | 1.00% |
| #9 | New Jersey | 1.00% |
Common questions
Does Washington have a real estate transfer tax?
Yes. Graduated real estate excise tax (REET): 1.1% up to about $525K, stepping to 3% above roughly $3M, plus local REET (commonly 0.25-0.5%). On a median-priced Washington home (about $600,000), that's roughly $6,600.
Who pays the transfer tax in Washington?
Seller. 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 Washington? 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.