US Home Sales Tax

Massachusetts transfer tax calculator

Massachusetts charges a deeds excise of $2.28 for every $500 of the sale price, rounded up to the next $500. Barnstable County on Cape Cod charges $3.24 per $500.

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

Estimated net proceedsMassachusetts ยท Rates verified November 2026
Pay to the order ofYou, the seller$372,176

Three hundred seventy-two thousand one hundred seventy-six and 00/100 dollars

$400,000 sale, less $27,824 in costs and payoff

Itemised estimate
Sale price$400,000
Agent commission-$22,000
Transfer taxRate: $4.56 per $1,000 (0.456%). Usually paid by the seller.-$1,824
Other closing costs-$4,000
Mortgage payoff$0
You keep$372,176

How transfer tax works in Massachusetts

Rate
$4.56 per $1,000 (0.456%)
Who usually pays
The seller, by custom. The tax stamps are bought when the deed is recorded.
Local taxes
Only Barnstable County differs. Its rate is $6.48 per $1,000 because the county adds its own excise.
Official source
Massachusetts General Laws chapter 64D, section 1
Last verified

Massachusetts transfer tax at common sale prices

Sale priceTotal transfer taxSeller's usual shareSeller keeps before mortgage payoff
$150,000$684$684$139,566
$250,000$1,140$1,140$232,610
$400,000$1,824$1,824$372,176
$600,000$2,736$2,736$558,264
$1,000,000$4,560$4,560$930,440

Assumes a 5.5% agent commission and 1% in other closing costs, at the "All counties except Barnstable" rate. Change any figure in the calculator above.

Local rates in Massachusetts

CountyTotal tax on a $400,000 saleSeller's usual share
All counties except Barnstable$1,824$1,824
Barnstable County (Cape Cod)$2,592$2,592

Questions Massachusetts sellers ask

How much is transfer tax in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts charges $4.56 per $1,000 (0.456%). On a $400,000 sale the total comes to $1,824, and the seller's usual share is $1,824.

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

The seller, by custom. The tax stamps are bought when the deed is recorded.

Are there local transfer taxes in Massachusetts?

Only Barnstable County differs. Its rate is $6.48 per $1,000 because the county adds its own excise.

How do I estimate my net proceeds in Massachusetts?

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 Massachusetts seller keeps about $372,176 before paying off the mortgage.

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

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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