Transfer Tax on a $500,000 Home in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts transfer tax on a $500,000 purchase is $2,280 (0.456% of the purchase price). In Barnstable County (Cape Cod & Islands Land Bank) the total is $5,718.
Nearby prices
| 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
With a local surcharge
Frequently asked questions
How much is the transfer tax on a $500,000 house in Massachusetts?
$2,280: the state rate is 0.456% of the purchase price. In Barnstable County (Cape Cod & Islands Land Bank) and Nantucket (Nantucket Islands Land Bank) a local tax is added on top.
Who pays it?
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
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.
Massachusetts transfer tax overview → Title insurance on a $500,000 home in Massachusetts →
Figures are computed from the statute cited above and rounded to the dollar. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.
Massachusetts transfer tax