Transfer Tax on a $250,000 Home in Illinois
The Illinois transfer tax on a $250,000 purchase is $250 ($0.50 per $500 of price or fraction (0.1%)). In Cook County the total is $375.
Nearby prices
| Purchase price | State tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $150 | $150 |
| $200,000 | $200 | $200 |
| $250,000 | $250 | $250 |
| $300,000 | $300 | $300 |
| $350,000 | $350 | $350 |
| $400,000 | $400 | $400 |
| $450,000 | $450 | $450 |
| $500,000 | $500 | $500 |
| $600,000 | $600 | $600 |
| $700,000 | $700 | $700 |
| $800,000 | $800 | $800 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
Transfer tax calculator
Who pays
In Illinois the seller pays the transfer tax by statute or custom, so it usually reduces the seller's proceeds rather than adding to the buyer's closing costs. No statute assigns liability, but because the seller/grantor must deliver a recordable deed and the recorder will not record without stamps affixed, the seller customarily purchases the state and county stamps (Fannie Mae v. Hamer, No. 12 C 50230, 2013 WL 591979 (N.D. Ill. 2013), applying Illinois law). Source
With a local surcharge
- Cook County $375
- City of Chicago $2,875
- DuPage County $375
- Varies $1,000
- Lake County $375
- Madison County $375
- St. Clair County $375
- Will County $375
- Winnebago County $375
Frequently asked questions
How much is the transfer tax on a $250,000 house in Illinois?
$250: the state rate is $0.50 per $500 of price or fraction (0.1%). In Cook County and City of Chicago a local tax is added on top.
Who pays it?
In Illinois the seller pays the transfer tax by statute or custom, so it usually reduces the seller's proceeds rather than adding to the buyer's closing costs. No statute assigns liability, but because the seller/grantor must deliver a recordable deed and the recorder will not record without stamps affixed, the seller customarily purchases the state and county stamps (Fannie Mae v. Hamer, No. 12 C 50230, 2013 WL 591979 (N.D. Ill. 2013), applying Illinois law). Source
Sources
Rates as the statute or revenue department publishes them, checked 2026-09-22. Figures are computed from those rates and rounded to the dollar; exemptions for first-time buyers or principal residences are noted where they exist and are not applied. All sources.
Illinois transfer tax overview → Title insurance on a $250,000 home in Illinois →
Figures are computed from the statute cited above and rounded to the dollar. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.
Illinois transfer tax