Selling a house in Pennsylvania or Delaware? Estimate your share of the realty transfer tax, your other selling costs and what you would walk away with, using the rates the states publish.
Prefer to talk? Call us at (215) 278-9944.
Estimates only, from rates published by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, the City of Philadelphia and the Delaware Division of Revenue, checked September 30, 2026. Your settlement statement shows the exact amounts. This is not tax or legal advice.
Rates last checked September 30, 2026. Built by ROI National, a local cash home buyer at 1310 Industrial Blvd, Suite 103, Southampton, PA, buying houses across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware since 2015.
How the realty transfer tax works in Pennsylvania and Delaware
| Where | Total rate | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania (outside Philadelphia) | 1% state plus your local rate | Buyer and seller are jointly liable; the agreement of sale sets the split |
| Philadelphia | 4.578% (3.578% city plus 1% state) | Usually split evenly, not a legal requirement |
| Delaware | 4% (2.5% state plus 1.5% county or municipal) | Split equally by default, unless the parties agree otherwise |
Pennsylvania state and local tax
Pennsylvania imposes the realty transfer tax at 1% of the property value, and both the buyer and the seller are held jointly and severally liable for it, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. Local governments add their own realty transfer tax and may share it between the municipality and the school district, so the local rate depends on where the house is.
Philadelphia’s rate
Philadelphia raised the city portion to 3.578% on July 1, 2025, for a combined rate of 4.578% with the state’s 1%, per the City of Philadelphia. The city notes the tax is usually split evenly between buyer and seller but can be collected in full from either party, and most transfers between close family members are exempt (City of Philadelphia realty transfer tax).
Delaware’s 4% transfer tax
Delaware charges 4% of the property value, a 2.5% state share and a 1.5% county or municipal share, apportioned equally between seller and buyer unless they agree to a different split, per the Delaware Division of Revenue.
What the transfer tax looks like on real sale prices
| Sale price | Philadelphia, seller half | Delaware, seller half |
|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $4,578 | $4,000 |
| $300,000 | $6,867 | $6,000 |
| $450,000 | $10,301 | $9,000 |
Outside Philadelphia, add your municipality’s local rate to the state 1% and enter it in the calculator.
Selling in New Jersey instead? Open the NJ realty transfer fee calculator
Keep more of the sale price
When you sell to ROI National, we cover all closing costs, including transfer taxes, and you pay no commissions and no repair costs. You get a cash offer in 24 to 48 hours and can close in as little as 7 days. See how it works, compare both paths with the cash vs agent calculator, or read what closing costs come out of a cash offer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the realty transfer tax in Pennsylvania?
Who pays the transfer tax when you sell a house in PA?
What is the Delaware realty transfer tax?
How do I find my local transfer tax rate in Pennsylvania?
Does ROI National pay the transfer tax?