Taxes when buying a house in Michigan
Michigan does not tax the buyer on a home purchase or on the mortgage. The transfer tax ($8.60 per $1,000 (0.86%)) is usually paid by the seller.
What a Michigan home buyer is taxed on
- Buyer's taxes
- None on the purchase or the mortgage.
- Transfer tax
- The seller pays both the state and the county tax.
- Sales tax
- None. A home is real estate, and sales tax does not apply to it.
- Official source
- Alger County Register of Deeds (MCL 207.504 and 207.525)
- Last verified
Michigan buyer taxes at common prices
| Purchase price | Loan with 20% down | Buyer's taxes |
|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $120,000 | $0 |
| $250,000 | $200,000 | $0 |
| $400,000 | $320,000 | $0 |
| $600,000 | $480,000 | $0 |
| $1,000,000 | $800,000 | $0 |
Questions Michigan buyers ask
Do buyers pay transfer tax in Michigan?
The seller pays both the state and the county tax.
Is there a mortgage tax in Michigan?
No. Michigan does not tax the recording of a mortgage. The county charges only a flat fee to record it.
Is there sales tax when you buy a house in Michigan?
No. Sales tax applies to goods and some services, and a house is real estate, which no state taxes that way.
How much tax does a buyer pay at closing in Michigan?
Usually none. On a $400,000 home a Michigan buyer owes no state or local tax on the purchase itself. Closing costs still include lender fees, title insurance and prepaid property tax.
Selling in Michigan? Use the Michigan transfer tax calculator.
Buyer taxes in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming