State guide · MA
Transfer tax in Massachusetts
Massachusetts charges roughly 0.46% when a home changes hands — about $2,964 on a median-priced home, customarily paid by seller.
Rate
0.46%
On a median home
$2,964
Customarily paid by
Seller
Deed excise of $2.28 per $500 (0.456%; slightly higher in Barnstable County).
Transfer taxes are one line of the larger closing bill. For the full picture in Massachusetts — title, escrow, attorney conventions, and typical buyer costs — see our Massachusetts closing costs guide, or estimate your own bottom line with the seller net proceeds calculator.
How Massachusetts compares
| Rank | State | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| #12 | Nevada | 0.51% |
| #13 | Rhode Island | 0.46% |
| #14 | Massachusetts | 0.46% |
| #15 | Maine | 0.44% |
| #16 | New York | 0.40% |
Common questions
Does Massachusetts have a real estate transfer tax?
Yes. Deed excise of $2.28 per $500 (0.456%; slightly higher in Barnstable County). On a median-priced Massachusetts home (about $650,000), that's roughly $2,964.
Who pays the transfer tax in Massachusetts?
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 Massachusetts? 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.