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Iowa transfer tax

Iowa charges a real estate transfer tax of $0.80 per $500 of price above the first $500, about 0.16%. The seller (grantor) is liable by statute. Counties collect it and keep 17.25%, but the rate is uniform statewide.

Iowa counties and cities do not add a separate transfer tax. The county recorder collects the state tax and the county keeps 17.25% of it.

Highest totals in Iowa on a $400,000 sale

Adair County$639Adams County$639Allamakee County$639Appanoose County$639Audubon County$639Benton County$639Black Hawk County$639Boone County$639Bremer County$639Buchanan County$639

Find your county

PlaceCountyTotal rateTax on $400,000
Adair County0.16%$639
Adams County0.16%$639
Allamakee County0.16%$639
Appanoose County0.16%$639
Audubon County0.16%$639
Benton County0.16%$639
Black Hawk County0.16%$639
Boone County0.16%$639
Bremer County0.16%$639
Buchanan County0.16%$639
Buena Vista County0.16%$639
Butler County0.16%$639
Calhoun County0.16%$639
Carroll County0.16%$639
Cass County0.16%$639
Cedar County0.16%$639
Cerro Gordo County0.16%$639
Cherokee County0.16%$639
Chickasaw County0.16%$639
Clarke County0.16%$639
Clay County0.16%$639
Clayton County0.16%$639
Clinton County0.16%$639
Crawford County0.16%$639
Dallas County0.16%$639
Davis County0.16%$639
Decatur County0.16%$639
Delaware County0.16%$639
Des Moines County0.16%$639
Dickinson County0.16%$639
Dubuque County0.16%$639
Emmet County0.16%$639
Fayette County0.16%$639
Floyd County0.16%$639
Franklin County0.16%$639
Fremont County0.16%$639
Greene County0.16%$639
Grundy County0.16%$639
Guthrie County0.16%$639
Hamilton County0.16%$639
Hancock County0.16%$639
Hardin County0.16%$639
Harrison County0.16%$639
Henry County0.16%$639
Howard County0.16%$639
Humboldt County0.16%$639
Ida County0.16%$639
Iowa County0.16%$639
Jackson County0.16%$639
Jasper County0.16%$639
Jefferson County0.16%$639
Johnson County0.16%$639
Jones County0.16%$639
Keokuk County0.16%$639
Kossuth County0.16%$639
Lee County0.16%$639
Linn County0.16%$639
Louisa County0.16%$639
Lucas County0.16%$639
Lyon County0.16%$639
Madison County0.16%$639
Mahaska County0.16%$639
Marion County0.16%$639
Marshall County0.16%$639
Mills County0.16%$639
Mitchell County0.16%$639
Monona County0.16%$639
Monroe County0.16%$639
Montgomery County0.16%$639
Muscatine County0.16%$639
O'Brien County0.16%$639
Osceola County0.16%$639
Page County0.16%$639
Palo Alto County0.16%$639
Plymouth County0.16%$639
Pocahontas County0.16%$639
Polk County0.16%$639
Pottawattamie County0.16%$639
Poweshiek County0.16%$639
Ringgold County0.16%$639
Sac County0.16%$639
Scott County0.16%$639
Shelby County0.16%$639
Sioux County0.16%$639
Story County0.16%$639
Tama County0.16%$639
Taylor County0.16%$639
Union County0.16%$639
Van Buren County0.16%$639
Wapello County0.16%$639
Warren County0.16%$639
Washington County0.16%$639
Wayne County0.16%$639
Webster County0.16%$639
Winnebago County0.16%$639
Winneshiek County0.16%$639
Woodbury County0.16%$639
Worth County0.16%$639
Wright County0.16%$639

Total includes the state tax. Click a column to sort.

Iowa state transfer tax calculator

Total transfer tax$6390.16% of the price
TaxRateWho paysAmount
Iowa real estate transfer taxState0.16% above a thresholdSeller$639.20
Total transfer tax (0.16% of the price)$639.20
Seller pays$639.20
Buyer pays$0.00

"Who pays" is the customary or legal default; your purchase contract can move it.

Transfer tax in Iowa by home price

$0$1K$3K$4K$5K $0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M
Total transfer tax by sale price. Jumps are price tiers where a higher rate applies to the whole price.
Sale priceTotal taxEffective rateSellerBuyer
$250,000$3990.16%$399$0
$400,000$6390.16%$639$0
$600,000$9590.16%$959$0
$800,000$1,2790.16%$1,279$0
$1,000,000$1,5990.16%$1,599$0
$1,500,000$2,3990.16%$2,399$0
$2,500,000$3,9990.16%$3,999$0
$5,000,000$7,9990.16%$7,999$0

Negotiable amounts are shown half to each side.

Selling in Iowa?

Transfer tax is usually the second-biggest closing cost after the agent's commission. Comparing agents' fees often saves more than any exemption.

Compare top local agents →

Common exemptions

Questions

How is the Iowa transfer tax calculated?

$0.80 for each $500 (or fraction) of price above $500. A $250,000 sale owes 499 × $0.80 = $399.20.

Who pays transfer tax in Iowa?

The seller (grantor) is liable under Iowa Code 428A.3, and the seller usually pays it at closing.

Does Iowa have local transfer taxes?

No. Only the state tax applies; the county keeps a share of what it collects.

How much is transfer tax on a $500,000 house in Iowa?

The state part is $799.

Sources

Last checked October 13, 2026. Rates in effect for residential sales; commercial, leasehold and entity transfers can differ. Always confirm with your title company or closing attorney before closing.