Massachusetts Transfer Tax: How Much It Is and Who Pays
Massachusetts's Deeds Excise Tax is 0.456% of the purchase price: $2,943 on a $645,400 home. Cities and counties add their own; Barnstable County (Cape Cod & Islands Land Bank)'s brings the total there to $7,380.
Massachusetts transfer tax by purchase price
| Purchase price | State tax | Total |
|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $684 | $684 |
| $200,000 | $912 | $912 |
| $250,000 | $1,140 | $1,140 |
| $300,000 | $1,368 | $1,368 |
| $350,000 | $1,596 | $1,596 |
| $400,000 | $1,824 | $1,824 |
| $450,000 | $2,052 | $2,052 |
| $500,000 | $2,280 | $2,280 |
| $600,000 | $2,736 | $2,736 |
| $700,000 | $3,192 | $3,192 |
| $800,000 | $3,648 | $3,648 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,560 | $4,560 |
Transfer tax calculator
Who pays
In Massachusetts 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. Stamps are affixed to the deed by the grantor at the registry of deeds by statutory structure and standard practice; negotiable in the purchase and sale agreement. Source
City and county transfer taxes in Massachusetts
These stack on the state tax. Open a jurisdiction for the combined figure at every price.
| Jurisdiction | Local rate | Total on a $645,400 home |
|---|---|---|
| Barnstable County (Cape Cod & Islands Land Bank) | 0.688% of the purchase price | $7,380 |
| Nantucket (Nantucket Islands Land Bank) | 2% of the purchase price | $15,851 |
Frequently asked questions
How much is the transfer tax in Massachusetts?
The state rate is 0.456% of the purchase price, which is $2,943 on a $645,400 home; Barnstable County (Cape Cod & Islands Land Bank) and Nantucket (Nantucket Islands Land Bank) add a local tax on top.
Who pays the transfer tax in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts 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. Stamps are affixed to the deed by the grantor at the registry of deeds by statutory structure and standard practice; negotiable in the purchase and sale agreement. Source
Is there a mortgage or recordation tax too?
No. Massachusetts taxes the deed only; recording the mortgage costs a flat recording fee, not a percentage.
Are there exemptions?
No statewide first-time-buyer exemption from the deeds excise tax identified in c.64D; the Barnstable and Nantucket land bank fees carry their own first-time-buyer/low-income exemptions administered locally (not modeled here).
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.
All Massachusetts buyer closing costs → Massachusetts title insurance cost →
Figures are computed from the statute cited above and rounded to the dollar. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.
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