State guide · IA
Transfer tax in Iowa
Iowa charges roughly 0.16% when a home changes hands — about $368 on a median-priced home, customarily paid by seller.
Rate
0.16%
On a median home
$368
Customarily paid by
Seller
Transfer tax of $0.80 per $500 (0.16%) above the first $500.
Transfer taxes are one line of the larger closing bill. For the full picture in Iowa — title, escrow, attorney conventions, and typical buyer costs — see our Iowa closing costs guide, or estimate your own bottom line with the seller net proceeds calculator.
How Iowa compares
| Rank | State | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| #25 | Nebraska | 0.23% |
| #26 | North Carolina | 0.20% |
| #27 | Iowa | 0.16% |
| #28 | Hawaii | 0.15% |
| #29 | Illinois | 0.15% |
Common questions
Does Iowa have a real estate transfer tax?
Yes. Transfer tax of $0.80 per $500 (0.16%) above the first $500. On a median-priced Iowa home (about $230,000), that's roughly $368.
Who pays the transfer tax in Iowa?
Seller. Like every closing cost, this is custom rather than law — the purchase contract can assign it to either side, and in competitive negotiations it sometimes moves.
Selling in Iowa? See what you'd keep
Sale price minus commissions, payoff, and taxes like this one — the number that actually lands in your account.
Open the net proceeds calculatorRates are representative combined state and typical local figures compiled from public sources and rounded for readability; graduated schedules, exemptions, and city add-ons can change your number. Confirm with your closing agent or county recorder. Median home values are approximate.