Baltimore City Transfer Tax
Baltimore City charges marginal brackets: 2.5% up to $1,000,000, 3.25% above $1,000,000 on top of the Maryland state tax (0.5% of the purchase price). On a $446,900 home that is $13,408 in total. Combined recordation tax (1.0%, or 1.15% including a yield-tax surcharge above $1,000,000) plus local transfer tax (1.5%, or 2.1% including the surcharge above $1,000,000) = 2.5% combined under $1,000,000 and 3.25% at or above. The first $22,000 of an owner-occupied purchase is exempt from recordation and local transfer tax with an owner-occupancy affidavit (not modeled in these tiers). Baltimore City's own Department of Finance page states a different generic figure. This summary is from a dated law-firm table compared with Lexology. Confirm the rates against the city code or the Department of Finance.
Baltimore City transfer tax by purchase price
| Purchase price | State tax | Baltimore City | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $750 | $3,750 | $4,500 |
| $200,000 | $1,000 | $5,000 | $6,000 |
| $250,000 | $1,250 | $6,250 | $7,500 |
| $300,000 | $1,500 | $7,500 | $9,000 |
| $350,000 | $1,750 | $8,750 | $10,500 |
| $400,000 | $2,000 | $10,000 | $12,000 |
| $450,000 | $2,250 | $11,250 | $13,500 |
| $500,000 | $2,500 | $12,500 | $15,000 |
| $600,000 | $3,000 | $15,000 | $18,000 |
| $700,000 | $3,500 | $17,500 | $21,000 |
| $800,000 | $4,000 | $20,000 | $24,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,000 | $25,000 | $30,000 |
Transfer tax calculator
Who pays
Negotiable. Combined recordation tax (1.0%, or 1.15% including a yield-tax surcharge above $1,000,000) plus local transfer tax (1.5%, or 2.1% including the surcharge above $1,000,000) = 2.5% combined under $1,000,000 and 3.25% at or above. The first $22,000 of an owner-occupied purchase is exempt from recordation and local transfer tax with an owner-occupancy affidavit (not modeled in these tiers). Baltimore City's own Department of Finance page states a different generic figure. This summary is from a dated law-firm table compared with Lexology. Confirm the rates against the city code or the Department of Finance.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the transfer tax in Baltimore City?
Baltimore City charges marginal brackets: 2.5% up to $1,000,000, 3.25% above $1,000,000, on top of the Maryland state tax, so a $446,900 home pays $13,408 in total ($2,235 state, $11,173 local).
Who pays the Baltimore City transfer tax?
Negotiable. Combined recordation tax (1.0%, or 1.15% including a yield-tax surcharge above $1,000,000) plus local transfer tax (1.5%, or 2.1% including the surcharge above $1,000,000) = 2.5% combined under $1,000,000 and 3.25% at or above. The first $22,000 of an owner-occupied purchase is exempt from recordation and local transfer tax with an owner-occupancy affidavit (not modeled in these tiers). Baltimore City's own Department of Finance page states a different generic figure. This summary is from a dated law-firm table compared with Lexology. Confirm the rates against the city code or the Department of Finance.
Sources
- Maryland Tax-Property Article 13-203
- Who pays
- Gordon Feinblatt LLC, Recordation and Transfer Tax Rates in Maryland Explained (as of 10/1/2025)
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.
Maryland transfer tax overview → All Maryland buyer closing costs →
Figures are computed from the statutes and ordinances cited above and rounded to the dollar. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.
Maryland transfer tax