Kentucky Real Estate Transfer Tax
Figures verified November 12, 2026 against KRS 142.050 · Update log
Short answer
Kentucky's real estate transfer tax is $0.50 per $500 (0.1%). The tax is on the seller (the grantor named in the deed) and is collected by the county clerk. On a $500,000 home, it comes to about $500.
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Kentucky transfer tax calculator
Enter the sale price to see each tax, who pays it, and the total. Amounts like 650k or 2.5m work.
Kentucky
Transfer tax: $500 (0.1% of the price)
- Kentucky real estate transfer taxSeller$500
- Seller pays
- $500
- Buyer pays
- $0
Giving the house to an heir instead of selling it? Usually no tax, because no price is paid, but check first. How it works in Kentucky
An estimate from the rates on our Kentucky page. The title company or closing attorney works out the final figure; recording fees and the agent's commission aren't included.
Kentucky transfer tax rates
| Tax | Rate | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky real estate transfer tax | $0.50 per $500 (0.1%) | Seller |
Who pays the transfer tax in Kentucky?
The tax is on the seller (the grantor named in the deed) and is collected by the county clerk.
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 Kentucky
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 of gift and for nominal consideration are among the exemptions, so an executor's deed to an heir with no price paid should owe none; the county clerk confirms it.
- 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.
Kentucky also has an inheritance tax, which is separate from the transfer tax and depends on who inherits. See Kentucky inheritance tax.
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Transfer taxes in other states
Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · 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 Kentucky?
Real estate transfer tax: $0.50 per $500 (0.1%). On a $500,000 home, that comes to about $500 in total.
Who pays the transfer tax in Kentucky, the buyer or the seller?
The tax is on the seller (the grantor named in the deed) and is collected by the county clerk.
Do you pay transfer tax when you inherit a house in Kentucky?
Deeds of gift and for nominal consideration are among the exemptions, so an executor's deed to an heir with no price paid should owe none; the county clerk confirms it.
Does an estate pay transfer tax when it sells a house in Kentucky?
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.