Pennsylvania Deed Transfer Tax (2022 Guide)

Written by Bill MacDonaldFebruary 7th, 20232 minute read

Jump to section: How much it costs | Who pays? | Special exemptions | Transfer tax rates by PA county

Pennsylvania Deed Transfer Tax.

The Pennsylvania deed transfer tax (or tax stamp) is one of the closing costs you'll have to pay if you're buying a home in PA. It's effectively a sales tax on real estate transactions.

This guide covers the general rules and guidelines for PA deed transfer taxes. We've also listed out all of the Pennsylvania counties and their respective transfer tax rates below.

How much do PA deed transfer taxes cost?

The PA deed transfer tax is generally about 2% of the final sales price, which consists of two different sets of fees:

  • The state of Pennsylvania charges 1% of the sales price
  • The locality charges a second fee usually totaling about 1%, which is split between the municipality and school district

The PA deed transfer tax on a $500,000 purchase would come to $2,500, assuming a 2% total transfer tax rate.

Most of the PA transfer tax revenue goes into Pennsylvania's General Fund, but 15% is allocated to the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund.[1]

🏡 Quick Tip: How to save on closing costs in Pennsylvania

  • Find your realtor through Clever Real Estate's free agent matching service. You get matched with top local agents AND up cash back on your purchase.
  • Ask your agent about sellers assist. FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans permit the seller to cover up to a certain percentage of your closing costs.
  • Explore low down payment loan options. You may be able to put down as little as 3% or even 0%, depending on your needs and circumstances.
  • Look for no- or low-fee mortgages. Some loan programs don't charge origination other lender fees, which can save you a lot of money at closing.
  • See if you're eligible for federal or state home buying grants. First-time and low-income buyers may qualify for down payment and/or closing cost assistance.

Who pays the PA deed transfer tax at closing?

The buyer and seller customarily split the PA deed transfer tax down the middle; the buyer pays 1% and the seller pays 1%.

But this 50/50 arrangement isn't set in stone and can vary depending on the terms of the sale, as stipulated in the sales contract.

PA deed transfer tax exclusions and exemptions

Refinance transactions in PA are NOT subject to the PA deed transfer tax. As the name implies, the PA deed transfer tax only applies on property transfers (i.e., sales), when ownership actually changes.

Pennsylvania DOES NOT have a mortgage tax or revenue stamps. But you will be subject to other closing costs, like title fees and loan fees.

Some real estate transfers are exempt from realty transfer tax, including:

  • Property transfers among family members.
  • Changes in ownership between religious organizations.
  • Transfers to shareholders or business partners.
  • Sales to or from nonprofit industrial development agencies.
  • Transfers of deeds to burial sites.
  • Certain transfers involving ownership of real estate companies and farms.
  • Properties passed by testate or interstate succession.

Pennsylvania deed transfer tax rates by county (2022)


Local Tax
School Tax
Pennsylvania
Total
Adams County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Allegheny County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
• Bellevue Borough
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
• Bethel Park Municipality
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
• Greentree Borough
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
• Hampton Township
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
• McCandles Township
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
• Mckeesport City
1.50%
0.50%
1.00%
3.00%
• Monroeville Municipality
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
• Mt. Lebanon Municipality
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
• Mt. Oliver Borough
1.00%
1.00%
1.00%
3.00%
• O’hara Township
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
• Penn Hills Municipality
1.50%
0.50%
1.00%
3.00%
• Pine Township
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
• Pittsburgh, City Of
3.00%
1.00%
1.00%
5.00%
Pittsburgh increased in realty transfer taxes from 4.5 percent to 5% effective January 1 2020
• Upper St. Clair Township
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
• West Deer Township
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
• Whitehall Borough
0.750%
0.50%
1.00%
2.25%
Armstrong County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Beaver County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Bedford County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Berks County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
• City Of Reading
School District Is Included In 4%
4.00%

1.00%
5.00%
Blair County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Bradford County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Bucks County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Butler County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Cambria County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Cameron County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Carbon County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Centre County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
• Ferguson Township
1.25%
0.50%
1.00%
2.75%
• State College Borough
1.50%
0.50%
1.00%
3.00%
• Taylor Township
.050%
0.000
1.00%
1.50%
Chester County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
• City Of Coatesville
1.50%
0.50%
1.00%
3.00%
• Tredyffrin Township
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
Clarion County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Clearfield County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Clinton County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
• Colebrook Township
0.000
0.50%
1.00%
1.50%
• East Kating Township
0.000
0.50%
1.00%
1.50%
Columbia County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Crawford County -
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
• Borough Of Edinboro
1.00%
.500
1.00%
2.50%
Cumberland County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Dauphin County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Delaware County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
• Radnor Township
0.75%
0.75%
1.00%
2.50%
• Upper Providence Township
1.50%
0.50%
1.00%
3.00%
Elk County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Erie County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Fayette County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Forest County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Franklin County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Fulton County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Greene County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Huntingdon County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Indiana County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Jefferson County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Juniata County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Lackawanna County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
• City Of Scranton
2.80%
0.50%
1.00%
4.30%
Lancaster County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Lawrence County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Lebanon County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Lehigh County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Luzerne County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
• City Of Pittson
2.25%
included
1.00%
3.50%
• City Of Wilkes Barre
2.00%
0.50%
1.00%
3.50%
• Kingston Borough
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
• Hazleton City
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
Lycoming County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Mckean County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Mercer County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
• City of Farrell
2.00%
0.0%
1.00%
3.00%
• City of Hermitage
2.00%
0.0%
1.00%
3.00%
• City of Sharon
1.50%
0.0%
1.00%
2.50%
• City of Sheakleyville Boro
0.00%
0.0%
1.00%
1.00%
Mifflin County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Monroe County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Montgomery County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Montour County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
North Hampton County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Northumberland County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Perry County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Philadelphia County




• City Of Philadelphia
* School District Is Included In 3%
3.278%

1.00%
4.278%
Pike County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Potter County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Schuylkill County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Snyder County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Somerset County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
• Wellersburg Borough
0.50%
- 0 -
1.00%
1.50%
Sullivan County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Susquehanna County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Tioga County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Union County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Venango County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Warren County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Washington County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
• Peters Township
1.00%
0.50%
1.00%
2.50%
Wayne County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Westmoreland County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
Wyoming County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%
York County
0.50%
0.50%
1.00%
2.00%

Related articles

ARTICLE SOURCES
[1]

Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. "Realty Transfer Tax." Accessed August 26, 2022.