Taxes when buying a house in Maryland

A Maryland buyer usually pays half of three taxes: the 0.5% state transfer tax, the county transfer tax and the county recordation tax. A first-time Maryland homebuyer normally pays none of them, because the law then puts them on the seller.

Purchase price

State

County

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 buyMaryland · Rates verified November 2026

Pay to the order ofState and county tax offices$4,780

Four thousand seven hundred eighty and 00/100 dollars

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

Taxes the buyer pays
Transfer and recordation taxes, buyer's half0.5% state, 1% county, recordation from $4.45 per $500	$4,780
Total buyer taxes	$4,780

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

What a Maryland home buyer is taxed on

Buyer's taxes: Transfer tax: 0.5% state, plus county transfer and recordation taxes. Buyer and seller split the transfer and recordation taxes evenly by default. When the buyer is a first-time Maryland homebuyer, the state rate drops to 0.25% and the seller normally pays all three taxes.
Transfer tax: Buyer and seller split the transfer and recordation taxes evenly by default. When the buyer is a first-time Maryland homebuyer, the state rate drops to 0.25% and the seller normally pays all three taxes.
Sales tax: None. A home is real estate, and sales tax does not apply to it.
Official source: Maryland Department of Legislative Services, county tax rates
Last verified: November 2026

First-time Maryland homebuyers: the seller pays all of the state transfer tax, and all of the recordation and county transfer tax unless the contract says otherwise.
The even split is the default in state law. A contract can change it.

Maryland buyer taxes at common prices

Purchase price	Loan with 20% down	Buyer's taxes
$150,000	$120,000	$1,792.50
$250,000	$200,000	$2,987.50
$400,000	$320,000	$4,780
$600,000	$480,000	$7,400
$1,000,000	$800,000	$14,625

At the "Montgomery County" rate. Other locations are in the next table.

Buyer taxes by location in Maryland

County	Buyer's taxes on a $400,000 home
Montgomery County	$4,780
Prince George's County	$4,900
Baltimore County	$5,000
Baltimore City	$6,000
Anne Arundel County	$4,400
Howard County	$4,500
Frederick County	$3,800

Questions Maryland buyers ask

Do buyers pay transfer tax in Maryland?

Buyer and seller split the transfer and recordation taxes evenly by default. When the buyer is a first-time Maryland homebuyer, the state rate drops to 0.25% and the seller normally pays all three taxes.

Is there a mortgage tax in Maryland?

Not on an ordinary purchase. Recordation tax is charged on the purchase price, and the purchase loan is not taxed again when it is recorded within 30 days of the deed.

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

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 Maryland buyer does pay are listed on this page.

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

On a $400,000 home bought with 20% down, a Maryland buyer pays about $4,780 in state and local taxes: $4,780 in transfer and recordation taxes, buyer's half. Lender fees, title insurance and prepaid property tax come on top.

Selling in Maryland? Use the Maryland transfer tax calculator.