US Home Sales Tax

Iowa transfer tax calculator

Iowa charges $0.80 for every $500 of the sale price after the first $500, which is exempt. That is about 0.16%.

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Other closing costs cover title, escrow or attorney fees and recording. One percent is a common planning figure.

Estimated net proceedsIowa ยท Rates verified November 2026
Pay to the order ofYou, the seller$373,361

Three hundred seventy-three thousand three hundred sixty and 80/100 dollars

$400,000 sale, less $26,639 in costs and payoff

Itemised estimate
Sale price$400,000
Agent commission-$22,000
Transfer taxRate: $0.80 per $500 (0.16%). Usually paid by the seller.-$639.20
Other closing costs-$4,000
Mortgage payoff$0
You keep$373,361

How transfer tax works in Iowa

Rate
$0.80 per $500 (0.16%)
Who usually pays
The seller. Iowa law puts the tax on the person who signs the deed.
Local taxes
None.
Official source
Iowa Code chapter 428A
Last verified

Iowa transfer tax at common sale prices

Sale priceTotal transfer taxSeller's usual shareSeller keeps before mortgage payoff
$150,000$239.20$239.20$140,011
$250,000$399.20$399.20$233,351
$400,000$639.20$639.20$373,361
$600,000$959.20$959.20$560,041
$1,000,000$1,599.20$1,599.20$933,401

Assumes a 5.5% agent commission and 1% in other closing costs. Change any figure in the calculator above.

Questions Iowa sellers ask

How much is transfer tax in Iowa?

Iowa charges $0.80 per $500 (0.16%). On a $400,000 sale the total comes to $639.20, and the seller's usual share is $639.20.

Who pays the transfer tax in Iowa, the buyer or the seller?

The seller. Iowa law puts the tax on the person who signs the deed.

Are there city or county transfer taxes in Iowa?

No. The rate is the same everywhere in Iowa.

How do I estimate my net proceeds in Iowa?

Start with the sale price, then subtract the agent commission, your share of the transfer tax, title and closing fees, and the balance left on your mortgage. On a $400,000 sale with a 5.5% commission and 1% in other costs, a Iowa seller keeps about $373,361 before paying off the mortgage.

Buying in Iowa instead? See taxes when buying a house in Iowa.

More on the basics: What closing costs does a seller pay?, Who pays the transfer tax, the buyer or the seller?, How to calculate net proceeds from a home sale.

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