Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax: What Agents Need to Know
If you've closed more than a handful of Pennsylvania deals, you've watched a buyer or seller stare at the settlement statement, find the "transfer tax" line, and ask some version of the same question: why is this number so big, and who actually has to pay it? The answer is never as simple as clients expect, because Pennsylvania's realty transfer tax isn't one tax — it's a state tax plus a local tax plus, in some municipalities, a school district tax, all stacked on the same transaction and all due when the deed gets recorded.
For most agents, "1% state and 1% local, split 50/50" is the mental shortcut. That shortcut is fine for the majority of Pennsylvania suburban transactions. It's also wrong often enough to cause real problems — in Philadelphia, in Pittsburgh, in Reading, in a growing list of municipalities that have raised their local rates, and in any transaction involving an exemption, a Common Level Ratio calculation, or a non-standard conveyance.
This post is the working agent's guide to Pennsylvania realty transfer tax. How the tax is structured, what the current rates actually look like across the state, who pays it, when it's due, what's exempt, and where agents most often get tripped up. Written from the perspective of a transaction coordination firm that processes Pennsylvania files every week.
The Basic Structure
Pennsylvania realty transfer tax is imposed at the state level at a flat rate of 1% on the value of real estate transferred by deed, long-term lease, or other writing. The Commonwealth's 1% is the floor — every taxable transfer in Pennsylvania pays that 1%, and it doesn't change based on county or municipality.
On top of the state's 1%, local governments can impose their own realty transfer tax. For most Pennsylvania municipalities, the local rate is also 1%, typically split between the municipality and the school district. That gets you the familiar "2% total" number most agents quote — 1% state, 1% local.
But local rates are not uniform. They are set by ordinance, and they vary. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, and a growing list of other cities have local rates substantially higher than 1%. A few municipalities have slightly lower effective splits between the municipality and school district. And as of January 1, 2026, Allentown joined the list of cities with above-standard rates. Assuming 2% across the board is the single biggest source of transfer tax surprises at the closing table.
The tax is collected by the county Recorder of Deeds at the time of recording. The Recorder remits the state's 1% to the Department of Revenue and distributes the local portion according to the local ordinance (typically splitting it between the municipality and the school district where the property sits).
Current Rates Across Pennsylvania
Here's where the shortcut breaks down. A rough tour of rates around the Commonwealth as of 2026:
Standard 2% municipalities. Most of Pennsylvania — the bulk of Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, York, Dauphin, and other counties outside the major cities — uses the standard structure: 1% state + 1% local = 2% total. On a $500,000 sale, that's $10,000 in transfer tax, typically split 50/50 between buyer and seller.
Philadelphia. As of July 1, 2025, Philadelphia's total realty transfer tax rate is 4.578% — 3.578% to the City and 1% to the Commonwealth. The City's portion was raised from 3.278% to 3.578% as part of Mayor Parker's HOME housing initiative. On a $500,000 Philadelphia sale, that's $22,890 in transfer tax — more than double what the same sale would generate in a suburb.
Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh's total rate is 5% — 4% local (City plus Pittsburgh Public Schools plus the Pittsburgh Land Bank) and 1% state. Same $500,000 sale: $25,000 in transfer tax. Pittsburgh is, per dollar of purchase price, the most expensive market in Pennsylvania for this tax.
Reading. The City of Reading in Berks County also has a 5% total rate (4% local + 1% state), matching Pittsburgh.
Allentown. Effective January 1, 2026, Allentown's total realty transfer tax rate rose from 2% to 2.5% — the City's portion increased by 0.5 percentage points, with the Commonwealth's 1% unchanged. Critically, the rate that applies is determined by when the document is submitted for recording with the Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds, not by the settlement date. Any Allentown deed submitted on or after January 2, 2026 is assessed at the new 2.5% rate regardless of when the parties signed.
Other outliers. Various smaller municipalities across Pennsylvania have local rates that depart from the standard 1% — sometimes slightly higher, occasionally lower. Some school districts have negotiated different splits with their municipalities. Before quoting a number to a client, it's worth verifying the exact rate for the specific municipality. The County Recorder of Deeds or the PA Department of Revenue website is the definitive source.
The takeaway: "2%" is a suburban default, not a universal truth. Any agent working in or across city lines should know the exact rate for every municipality they touch.
Who Pays — And Who Is Actually Responsible
This is one of the more misunderstood parts of Pennsylvania realty transfer tax. The customary practice in most Pennsylvania residential transactions is for the buyer and seller to split the tax 50/50. This is the convention, not the law. Nothing in Pennsylvania law requires either party to pay any particular portion — the statute says both grantor and grantee are jointly and severally liable for the full amount.
"Joint and several" is the legal language that matters. Practically, it means both parties are on the hook for 100% of the tax until it's paid. If the agreed split is 50/50 and somehow only the seller's half gets paid at closing, the Commonwealth and the municipality can pursue the buyer for the unpaid half — and will, if the tax isn't paid in full. This is why title companies and closing attorneys treat transfer tax as a hard requirement at the table rather than a negotiable line item.
The 50/50 split is allocated in the agreement of sale. Whatever the agreement specifies controls how the tax is prorated between the parties on the settlement statement. In tough markets or specific negotiating situations, it's common to see:
Seller pays 100% — often used as a buyer incentive in slower markets, or to close a negotiation gap without dropping the price.
Buyer pays 100% — rarer but not unheard of, particularly in competitive markets or in new construction deals where the builder has standardized its paperwork.
Negotiated splits — 60/40, 70/30, or other allocations agreed during offer negotiations.
Because the tax is a real cost that shifts with the municipality, agents writing offers on a Philadelphia or Pittsburgh property should think carefully about transfer tax allocation. A 50/50 split of a 4.578% or 5% tax is a materially different closing cost than a 50/50 split of a 2% tax, and that difference belongs in the negotiation, not as an afterthought at the settlement table.
When the Tax Is Due
Realty transfer tax is due when the deed is presented for recording, which is generally the same day as settlement or shortly after. In practice:
The tax is calculated at closing and collected by the title company or closing agent.
It's remitted to the county Recorder of Deeds when the deed is submitted for recording.
The Recorder won't accept the deed for recording without either the tax being paid or a properly executed Statement of Value claiming an exemption.
Pennsylvania statute requires the tax to be paid within 30 days of the transfer. In ordinary residential transactions, this happens automatically at closing. It becomes an issue primarily in deed transfers that happen outside of a standard sale — intra-family transfers, transfers into or out of trusts, transfers involving unrecorded contracts — where the parties sometimes try to record the deed later and miss the 30-day window.
Late payment is expensive. Pennsylvania can assess up to 50% of the unpaid tax as a penalty, plus interest. The Philadelphia Department of Revenue applies similar penalties on the City portion. This is not an area where "we'll get to it later" works.
The Common Level Ratio (and Why It Matters)
Here's the piece that tends to confuse agents most: realty transfer tax isn't always based on the sale price.
When a property is sold in a bona fide arm's-length transaction, the tax is calculated on the actual consideration paid (the sale price plus any assumed debt). That's the straightforward case, and it covers almost all normal residential sales.
But when there's no sale price — gifts, transfers for nominal consideration ("$1 and other good and valuable consideration"), long-term leases, foreclosures, transfers between related entities — the tax is calculated on the computed value of the property. Computed value is the county's assessed value multiplied by the Common Level Ratio (CLR) factor for that county.
The CLR factor is published annually by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and adjusts for the fact that county assessments are often outdated relative to actual market values. A county with a CLR factor of 2.5 has assessments that are running at roughly 40% of true market value, so the factor "grosses up" the assessed value to approximate fair market value.
The CLR factor matters for transfer tax anytime the transaction isn't a simple arm's-length sale. It's why "$1 deeds" between non-exempt parties still generate transfer tax — the tax is calculated on the computed value, not the $1 stated consideration.
The current CLR factors apply to documents accepted from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, and new factors will be published for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Agents working on anything other than a clean arm's-length sale should ask the title company or closing attorney to confirm how the tax is being calculated — the answer is sometimes higher than the parties expect.
Exemptions: Family, Government, and a Handful of Others
Pennsylvania realty transfer tax includes a list of statutory exemptions. These aren't secret loopholes — they're established exclusions in 61 Pa. Code § 91.193 and related provisions, and they cover a fairly narrow set of transfers. The major categories:
Family transfers. Transfers between certain family members are exempt from state transfer tax. The list includes: spouses, parents and children (including adopted), grandparents and grandchildren, siblings (including half-siblings), step-parents and step-children, and former spouses if the real estate was acquired during the marriage. Transfers between aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews are not exempt, nor are transfers between cousins.
Transfers by will or intestate succession. Property that passes through inheritance is exempt. Note the distinction: inheriting a property is exempt; buying a property out of an estate from multiple heirs is not.
Transfers to/from governmental entities. Transfers involving the federal, state, or local government (or their agencies) are generally exempt from transfer tax on the government side of the transaction. The private party may or may not be exempt depending on direction of transfer.
Religious and nonprofit transfers. Transfers involving certain religious organizations and qualifying nonprofits — particularly nonprofit industrial development authorities and certain nonprofit housing organizations — are exempt under specific conditions.
Deeds in lieu of foreclosure to a mortgage holder. Transfers to the holder of a bona fide mortgage in default, made in lieu of foreclosure, are exempt.
Corrective and confirmatory deeds. Deeds that simply correct an error in a prior recorded deed (misspelled name, incorrect legal description) or confirm an existing ownership interest are not taxable.
Transfers to revocable living trusts. Transfers from a person to a revocable living trust where the person is the grantor are generally exempt.
Mergers, certain entity transfers, and some REIT transactions. Transfers between certain related corporate entities, under specific ownership and holding period requirements, are exempt.
Important caveats for agents:
Philadelphia's exemption list is similar but not identical to the state's. Philadelphia has its own transfer tax ordinance and separately lists its own exemptions. A transfer can be exempt from state transfer tax but still owe Philadelphia transfer tax, or vice versa. Step-parent/step-child transfers, for example, are exempt at the state level but require attention to Philadelphia's specific rules.
All exemptions require documentation. To claim an exemption, the parties must complete a Statement of Value (REV-183) and submit it with the deed. The Recorder will not accept an exemption claim without the paperwork. If the claimed exemption is invalid, the Department of Revenue can later assess the tax plus interest and penalties.
Exemptions are interpreted strictly. If the relationship or transaction doesn't precisely fit a statutory exemption, the tax is owed. This is not an area for creative interpretation.
One-year clawback on certain family transfers. If property is transferred under a family exemption and then transferred again within one year to a non-family member, the second transfer is taxed as if the original owner had sold directly to the ultimate buyer. This rule exists specifically to prevent people from using family exemptions to launder taxable sales.
When in doubt, the REV-183 Statement of Value form gets attached, the closing attorney advises on whether an exemption applies, and if there's ambiguity, the tax gets paid. Claiming an exemption that doesn't hold up is worse than just paying the tax in the first place.
What Agents Most Commonly Get Wrong
In rough order of frequency, the mistakes we see coordinators catch on Pennsylvania files:
1. Quoting the Wrong Rate
The number one problem. An agent tells a buyer the transfer tax on a $400,000 purchase will be "about $4,000, split with the seller, so plan on $2,000." The property is actually in Philadelphia. The real transfer tax is $18,312, and the buyer's 50/50 share is $9,156. That's a $7,000 surprise at the closing table — the kind of number that causes clients to question everything else their agent has told them.
The fix: verify the exact municipal rate before quoting a transfer tax estimate to any client. In Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, Allentown, or any market where you're not certain of the rate, confirm with the County Recorder of Deeds before the conversation with the client.
2. Treating "Who Pays" as Fixed
Agents sometimes tell clients the split is "always 50/50" as if it's a rule rather than a convention. It's not a rule. The agreement of sale controls the split, and the split can be negotiated. In slower markets, getting a seller to absorb more of the transfer tax is often easier than getting an equivalent price reduction, and the dollar impact on the buyer's closing costs can be significant — especially in high-rate cities.
3. Missing the Recording-Date Timing on Rate Changes
This is a 2026 story. The Allentown increase took effect based on when the deed is submitted for recording, not when the parties settled. Deals that closed on December 30, 2025 but had deeds submitted for recording on January 2, 2026 got assessed at the new 2.5% rate. Any agent closing in a market with a pending rate change needs to understand exactly when the new rate triggers and make sure the title company's recording timing is aligned with the parties' expectations.
4. Assuming "$1 Deeds" Avoid Transfer Tax
A common misconception — including among some clients who have "heard about this from a friend." Transferring a property for $1 or other nominal consideration does not eliminate the transfer tax. Unless the transfer qualifies for a statutory exemption (family relationship, etc.), the tax is calculated on the computed value (assessed value × CLR factor), not on the stated consideration. Agents should be very careful with any transaction where a party wants to use a dollar deed — loop in the closing attorney early.
5. Confusing State and Philadelphia Exemptions
A transfer that qualifies for a state exemption doesn't automatically qualify for a Philadelphia exemption, and vice versa. Step-parent/step-child transfers are exempt at the state level but require specific treatment in Philadelphia. Transfers involving life partners have different treatment under Philadelphia and state rules. In Philadelphia transactions involving any exemption claim, the closing attorney needs to verify both the state and city treatment.
6. Not Thinking About Transfer Tax in Offer Strategy
In high-rate markets, transfer tax is a meaningful line item that deserves strategic attention during negotiation. A seller who agrees to pay 100% of transfer tax on a $600,000 Philadelphia sale is effectively giving up $27,468 — a real concession that can be leveraged in exchange for other terms. Agents who treat transfer tax as just a closing-day expense miss opportunities to use it as a negotiation lever.
7. Miscalculating the Tax on Assumed Debt
Transfer tax applies to the sale price plus any assumed debt. Most residential transactions don't involve the buyer assuming the seller's mortgage (the buyer is getting new financing and the seller is paying off the old one), so this doesn't come up. But in deals where the buyer does assume an existing loan — occasionally seen in FHA/VA assumable mortgages, and more commonly in commercial or investment transactions — the transfer tax is calculated on the sale price plus the assumed debt balance. Agents who don't flag this for the closing attorney can end up with underestimated closing costs.
8. Not Tracking Exemption Documentation
When an exemption is claimed, the REV-183 Statement of Value needs to be completed correctly, signed, and submitted with the deed. Agents who handle intra-family transfers sometimes forget to coordinate this, and the Recorder rejects the recording. It's a fixable problem, but it delays the transfer and can cascade into other issues if the recording timing matters (e.g., for tax year treatment, lien clearing, or a subsequent transaction).
9. Forgetting That Transfer Tax Isn't Deductible
Clients sometimes ask whether they can deduct the transfer tax on their income taxes. The answer is no — realty transfer tax is not deductible on personal income tax returns. For a seller, however, the portion they paid can be added to the cost basis of the property (or netted against the sale price), which may reduce capital gains. Agents aren't tax advisors, but knowing the rough contours of this question helps avoid misinforming clients on the phone.
10. Not Coordinating Multi-Municipality Scenarios
Rare but real: a single parcel that sits across municipal lines, a transaction involving multiple adjacent parcels in different municipalities, a tax-parcel-split scenario. Each municipality's transfer tax applies to the portion of the transfer within its boundaries. The closing attorney handles the allocation, but the agent needs to raise the complication early enough for it to be handled cleanly — not discover it the day before settlement.
Rate Changes Are Political — and Continuing
One pattern worth noting for any agent practicing in Pennsylvania over the long term: realty transfer tax rates at the local level are not static. Philadelphia's rate went up in July 2025. Allentown's rate went up in January 2026. Other Pennsylvania municipalities have raised their rates in recent years, often tied to housing-funding initiatives or general revenue needs.
The pattern is that municipalities under budget pressure — or with new housing priorities — increasingly turn to realty transfer tax as a revenue tool. An agent practicing in a market for a decade will likely see one or more rate changes over that span.
The practical implication: don't assume the rate you learned when you got your license is still the rate today. Verify. When a client asks about transfer tax, pull up the current rate from a primary source (the County Recorder, the municipality, the PA Department of Revenue) rather than reciting from memory.
What Good TC Support Looks Like on Transfer Tax
For agents using a transaction coordinator, transfer tax is one of the line items where a TC earns their fee by paying attention to small details that have large consequences. Solid TC support on transfer tax looks like:
Verified rate confirmation. The exact municipal transfer tax rate confirmed against a primary source (County Recorder, municipality, or PA Department of Revenue) at the start of the file, not assumed from memory.
Accurate settlement-statement review. The TC reviews the preliminary CD or ALTA statement and verifies that the transfer tax calculation matches the actual rate and the agreed split. Errors in transfer tax math show up more often than people realize, and they're easier to catch before closing than after.
Exemption documentation. If an exemption is claimed, the TC ensures the REV-183 Statement of Value is prepared, signed, and ready for recording along with the deed.
Recording timing awareness. When a rate change is pending (as with Allentown in early 2026), the TC tracks the recording submission timing carefully to ensure the deed is recorded under the expected rate.
Communication with clients. Through the agent, the TC ensures clients understand what transfer tax is, how it's calculated for their specific transaction, and why the number is what it is — before they see it on the settlement statement for the first time.
A good TC catches the "wait, shouldn't that be higher?" or "wait, why are we paying the whole thing?" moment three days before closing instead of at the closing table.
The Bottom Line
Pennsylvania realty transfer tax is one of the most consistent sources of closing-day surprises for buyers and sellers, and it's almost always preventable. The tax itself is not complicated in concept — a state 1% plus a local rate that varies by municipality, due at recording, payable by whoever the agreement of sale specifies. The problems come from assuming a rate that's wrong, forgetting that the split is negotiable, mishandling exemption documentation, or ignoring timing around rate changes.
For agents, the operational discipline is simple: verify the rate, don't quote from memory; treat transfer tax as a negotiable cost during offer writing; flag any non-standard conveyance to the closing attorney early; and make sure clients see the number in advance, not for the first time at the table.
For Pennsylvania-heavy practices, transfer tax is one of the places where getting the details right separates professional operations from improvisational ones. Agents who manage it well barely notice it. Agents who manage it poorly end up in awkward conversations with clients who feel blindsided by a five-figure line item they thought was going to be half that.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pennsylvania realty transfer tax rate?
The state rate is 1% on the value of real estate transferred by deed, long-term lease, or other writing. Local municipalities typically add another 1%, usually split between the municipality and the school district, for a total of 2% in most of Pennsylvania. Certain cities have higher local rates — Philadelphia's total is 4.578%, Pittsburgh's and Reading's are 5%, and Allentown's rose to 2.5% effective January 1, 2026.
Who pays the Pennsylvania realty transfer tax, buyer or seller?
Both parties are jointly and severally liable for the full tax under Pennsylvania law, meaning either can be held responsible for the entire amount. In practice, the agreement of sale specifies how the tax is allocated. The typical convention in residential transactions is a 50/50 split between buyer and seller, but this is negotiable and sometimes shifts — sellers occasionally pay 100% as a buyer incentive in slow markets, or the parties agree to non-equal splits based on other negotiated terms.
When is realty transfer tax paid?
The tax is due when the deed is presented for recording with the County Recorder of Deeds. In standard residential transactions, it's collected at closing and paid by the title company or closing attorney as part of the recording process. Pennsylvania statute requires payment within 30 days of the transfer. Late payment can trigger penalties of up to 50% of the unpaid tax, plus interest.
What transfers are exempt from Pennsylvania realty transfer tax?
The main exempt categories are transfers between certain family members (spouses, parents/children, grandparents/grandchildren, siblings, step-parents/step-children, former spouses under specific conditions), transfers by will or intestate succession, transfers to/from governmental entities, transfers to revocable living trusts by the settlor, corrective or confirmatory deeds, deeds in lieu of foreclosure to mortgage holders, and certain transfers involving religious organizations and qualifying nonprofits. All exemption claims require a completed Statement of Value (REV-183) filed with the deed. Transfers between aunts/uncles and nieces/nephews, or between cousins, are not exempt.
Does Philadelphia have its own transfer tax?
Yes. Philadelphia imposes a separate City realty transfer tax on top of the state's 1%. As of July 1, 2025, the Philadelphia City portion is 3.578%, bringing the total Philadelphia realty transfer tax to 4.578%. The City's rate was raised to fund the Housing Opportunities Made Easy (HOME) initiative. Philadelphia also maintains its own list of exemptions, which is similar to but not identical to the state's — a transaction can be exempt from state transfer tax but still owe Philadelphia transfer tax, or vice versa.
Why is Pittsburgh's transfer tax so high?
Pittsburgh's total realty transfer tax rate is 5% — 1% state plus 4% local (allocated among the City, the Pittsburgh Public Schools, and the Pittsburgh Land Bank). It's the highest combined rate of any major Pennsylvania city. Reading, in Berks County, has the same 5% total rate. In both cases, the municipalities have used their local transfer tax authority to set rates well above the standard 1% local rate.
What is the Common Level Ratio and when does it apply?
The Common Level Ratio (CLR) factor is published annually by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and adjusts for the gap between county assessed values and actual market values. It's used to calculate the "computed value" of real estate for transfer tax purposes when there's no arm's-length sale price — gifts, nominal-consideration deeds ("$1 deeds"), long-term leases, foreclosures, and certain related-party transfers. For a typical arm's-length residential sale, CLR doesn't come into play because the tax is calculated on the actual sale price. When CLR does apply, the computed value equals the county assessed value multiplied by the CLR factor for that county.
Is realty transfer tax deductible on income taxes?
No. Pennsylvania realty transfer tax is not deductible on personal federal or state income tax returns. For sellers, however, the portion of transfer tax they pay can typically be included in the cost basis of the property or netted against the sale price, which may reduce capital gains exposure. Buyers may be able to add their share of transfer tax to the basis of the property they're acquiring, which becomes relevant when they eventually sell. This is tax territory, not real estate territory — specific guidance should come from a tax professional.
Can transfer tax be avoided with a "$1 deed"?
Not unless the transfer independently qualifies for a statutory exemption. Pennsylvania calculates transfer tax on the real value of the property, not the stated consideration. A deed that transfers property for "$1 and other valuable consideration" is subject to transfer tax based on the computed value (assessed value × CLR factor) unless the parties qualify for an exemption like a family transfer. Attempting to avoid transfer tax with a nominal-consideration deed is a common misconception and routinely results in assessed tax, interest, and penalties when the Department of Revenue reviews the filing.
What happens if realty transfer tax is underpaid or not paid?
The County Recorder will not accept a deed for recording without either payment of the tax in full or a properly executed Statement of Value claiming an exemption. If tax is later assessed as owed — for example, because a claimed exemption was invalid, or the stated consideration was below the true value — the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (for the state portion) and the local taxing authority (for the local portion) can assess the tax plus interest, plus penalties up to 50% of the unpaid amount. The parties to the transaction are jointly and severally liable, so either party can be pursued for the full amount.
How can a transaction coordinator help with Pennsylvania transfer tax?
A transaction coordinator provides verified rate confirmation against primary sources, review of the settlement statement for calculation accuracy, preparation and tracking of Statement of Value forms for exemption claims, recording-timing coordination around pending rate changes, and proactive client communication so the transfer tax figure is understood well before closing. For Pennsylvania-heavy practices — especially those with Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or multi-municipality exposure — a TC who knows the state's transfer tax rules is meaningfully more valuable than a generic coordinator. The rigor required to get transfer tax right across dozens of municipalities with different rates, exemptions, and timing rules is exactly the kind of detail a dedicated TC handles cleanly.
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Sources
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Realty Transfer Tax. Retrieved from https://www.pa.gov/agencies/revenue/resources/tax-types-and-information/realty-transfer-tax
City of Philadelphia Department of Revenue. Realty Transfer Tax. Retrieved from https://www.phila.gov/services/payments-assistance-taxes/taxes/property-and-real-estate-taxes/realty-transfer-tax/
City of Philadelphia. Philly's Realty Transfer Tax rate is now 4.578%. Retrieved from https://www.phila.gov/2025-07-28-phillys-realty-transfer-tax-rate-is-now-4-578/
City of Allentown. Realty Transfer Tax Increase To Go Into Effect January 1, 2026. Retrieved from https://www.allentownpa.gov
Bucks County, PA. Transfer Tax. Retrieved from https://www.buckscounty.gov/613/Transfer-Tax
Montgomery County, PA. Realty Transfer Tax. Retrieved from https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/2710/Realty-Transfer-Tax
Pennsylvania Code. 61 Pa. Code Chapter 91 (Realty Transfer Tax). Retrieved from https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov
National Association of REALTORS®. What the NAR Settlement Means for Home Buyers and Sellers. Retrieved from https://www.nar.realtor/the-facts/what-the-nar-settlement-means-for-home-buyers-and-sellers
Disclaimer: This post is general information about Pennsylvania realty transfer tax based on public sources and common practice, not legal or tax advice. Pennsylvania realty transfer tax rules include specific statutory, regulatory, and municipal requirements, and interpretation of exemptions and valuation can vary by fact pattern. Any agent or party with a specific question about transfer tax calculation, exemption eligibility, or a particular transaction should consult a licensed Pennsylvania real estate attorney or qualified tax professional. Rates cited are current as of April 2026 and are subject to change by the Commonwealth or any individual municipality.
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