State guide · DC
Transfer tax in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. charges roughly 2.20% when a home changes hands — about $14,080 on a median-priced home, customarily paid by split: seller pays transfer, buyer pays recordation.
Rate
2.20%
On a median home
$14,080
Customarily paid by
Split:
Deed transfer tax of 1.1% (1.45% at $400K+) paid by the seller, plus a matching deed recordation tax paid by the buyer — roughly 2.2-2.9% combined.
Transfer taxes are one line of the larger closing bill. For the full picture in Washington, D.C. — title, escrow, attorney conventions, and typical buyer costs — see our Washington, D.C. closing costs guide, or estimate your own bottom line with the seller net proceeds calculator.
How Washington, D.C. compares
| Rank | State | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Delaware | 4.00% |
| #2 | Washington, D.C. | 2.20% |
| #3 | Pennsylvania | 2.00% |
| #4 | Maryland | 1.50% |
Common questions
Does Washington, D.C. have a real estate transfer tax?
Yes. Deed transfer tax of 1.1% (1.45% at $400K+) paid by the seller, plus a matching deed recordation tax paid by the buyer — roughly 2.2-2.9% combined. On a median-priced Washington, D.C. home (about $640,000), that's roughly $14,080.
Who pays the transfer tax in Washington, D.C.?
Split: seller pays transfer, buyer pays recordation. 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, D.C.? 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.