Taxes when buying a house in Georgia

A Georgia buyer with a mortgage pays the intangible recording tax: $1.50 for every $500 of the loan, capped at $25,000. A cash buyer pays nothing. The transfer tax on the deed is the seller's.

Purchase price

State

Down payment

Loan amount: $320,000. Some states tax the mortgage, so the loan size changes the result there. Paying cash? Enter 100.

Estimated taxes when you buyGeorgia · Rates verified November 2026

Pay to the order ofState and county tax offices$960

Nine hundred sixty and 00/100 dollars

On a $400,000 purchase with a $320,000 loan

Taxes the buyer pays
Intangible recording tax$1.50 per $500 of the loan	$960
Total buyer taxes	$960

Taxes only. Lender fees, title insurance, flat recording fees and prepaid property tax are separate closing costs.

What a Georgia home buyer is taxed on

Buyer's taxes: Intangible recording tax: $1.50 per $500 of the loan, charged on the loan amount.
Transfer tax: The seller is liable. The Department of Revenue notes that buyers and sellers often agree for the buyer to pay instead.
Sales tax: None. A home is real estate, and sales tax does not apply to it.
Official source: Georgia Department of Revenue, Informational Bulletin 2025-02
Last verified: November 2026

Georgia buyer taxes at common prices

Purchase price	Loan with 20% down	Buyer's taxes
$150,000	$120,000	$360
$250,000	$200,000	$600
$400,000	$320,000	$960
$600,000	$480,000	$1,440
$1,000,000	$800,000	$2,400

Questions Georgia buyers ask

Do buyers pay transfer tax in Georgia?

The seller is liable. The Department of Revenue notes that buyers and sellers often agree for the buyer to pay instead.

Is there a mortgage tax in Georgia?

Yes. Georgia's intangible recording tax is $1.50 per $500 of the loan, up to $25,000. It applies to loans that run longer than 62 months, which covers ordinary 15 and 30 year mortgages.

Is there sales tax when you buy a house in Georgia?

No. Sales tax applies to goods and some services, and a house is real estate, which no state taxes that way. The one-time taxes a Georgia buyer does pay are listed on this page.

How much tax does a buyer pay at closing in Georgia?

On a $400,000 home bought with 20% down, a Georgia buyer pays about $960 in state and local taxes: $960 in intangible recording tax. Lender fees, title insurance and prepaid property tax come on top.

Selling in Georgia? Use the Georgia transfer tax calculator.