Illinois Real Estate Transfer Tax
Figures verified November 12, 2026 against Illinois Department of Revenue, real estate transfer tax · Update log
Short answer
Illinois's real estate transfer tax is $0.50 per $500 state + $0.25 county; Chicago adds 1.05%. By custom the seller pays the state and county tax. In Chicago the buyer pays the city's $3.75 per $500 and the seller pays the $1.50 per $500 CTA portion. On a $500,000 home in Illinois outside Chicago, it comes to about $750. An executor's deed handing an inherited house to an heir owes none.
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Illinois transfer tax calculator
Enter the sale price to see each tax, who pays it, and the total. Amounts like 650k or 2.5m work.
Illinois, Outside Chicago
Transfer tax: $750 (0.15% of the price)
- Illinois state transfer taxSeller$500
- County transfer taxSeller$250
- Seller pays
- $750
- Buyer pays
- $0
Giving the house to an heir instead of selling it? The executor's deed to an heir is exempt here. How it works in Illinois
An estimate from the rates on our Illinois page. The title company or closing attorney works out the final figure; recording fees and the agent's commission aren't included.
Illinois transfer tax rates
| Tax | Rate | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois state transfer tax | $0.50 per $500 (0.1%) | Seller |
| County transfer tax | $0.25 per $500 (0.05%) | Seller |
| Tax | Rate | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago real property transfer tax | $3.75 per $500 (0.75%) | Buyer |
| Chicago CTA portion | $1.50 per $500 (0.3%) | Seller |
A town with its own transfer tax (enter the rate): Evanston, Oak Park and some other home-rule towns charge their own tax. Enter it as a percentage.
Who pays the transfer tax in Illinois?
By custom the seller pays the state and county tax. In Chicago the buyer pays the city's $3.75 per $500 and the seller pays the $1.50 per $500 CTA portion.
Whatever the custom, the purchase contract can shift the tax to the other side, so check it before you agree a price. The closing agent collects the tax from the sale money and pays it when the deed is recorded.
Selling an inherited house in Illinois
An inherited house reaches the heirs in one of three ways, and the transfer tax depends on which:
- The executor deeds the house to the heirs. Deeds where the actual price is under $100 are exempt (35 ILCS 200/31-45(e)), so an executor's deed handing the house to an heir owes no transfer tax. You still file the PTAX-203 declaration (MyDec in most counties) and cite the exemption.
- The house passes outside probate, to a surviving joint owner or under a transfer-on-death deed. There is no sale and no new deed from the estate, so no transfer tax; the new owner records a death certificate or affidavit.
- The executor sells the house. When the executor sells the house to an outside buyer, the transfer tax is due as on any sale. The estate pays the seller's share out of the sale proceeds, and the closing agent usually collects it.
The heirs or the estate also owe income tax only on any rise in value after the death, because the house gets a stepped-up basis. The seller's transfer tax counts as a selling expense and lowers that gain. See what's left for each heir in the inherited house net proceeds calculator.
Illinois also has an estate tax on large estates, separate from the transfer tax. See Illinois estate tax.
Forms, deadline and other rules
- Form: PTAX-203 Illinois Real Estate Transfer Declaration.
Optional: get help filing
Get a flat-fee quote for the estate's tax returns
The final Form 1040, the estate's Form 1041 and any state return are the parts executors most often hand off. Leave your email and the rough estate size, and a CPA or Enrolled Agent who prepares estate returns will reply with a fixed price. Free, and no obligation.
Transfer taxes in other states
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Or compare them all in the 50-state table.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the transfer tax in Illinois?
Real estate transfer tax: $0.50 per $500 state + $0.25 county; Chicago adds 1.05%. On a $500,000 home in Illinois outside Chicago, that comes to about $750 in total.
Who pays the transfer tax in Illinois, the buyer or the seller?
By custom the seller pays the state and county tax. In Chicago the buyer pays the city's $3.75 per $500 and the seller pays the $1.50 per $500 CTA portion.
Do you pay transfer tax when you inherit a house in Illinois?
Deeds where the actual price is under $100 are exempt (35 ILCS 200/31-45(e)), so an executor's deed handing the house to an heir owes no transfer tax. You still file the PTAX-203 declaration (MyDec in most counties) and cite the exemption.
Does an estate pay transfer tax when it sells a house in Illinois?
When the executor sells the house to an outside buyer, the transfer tax is due as on any sale. The estate pays the seller's share out of the sale proceeds, and the closing agent usually collects it.
Is transfer tax deductible?
Not as a tax deduction, but the seller's share counts as a selling expense: it lowers the amount realized, and so the taxable gain on the sale. The buyer's share is added to the buyer's cost basis.
Sources
This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.