Oregon Real Estate Transfer Tax
Figures verified November 12, 2026 against Washington County, transfer tax exemptions · Update log
Short answer
Oregon's Washington County transfer tax is $1 per $1,000 (0.1%), and only in Washington County. Only Washington County charges one; the buyer and seller are both liable, and the contract decides. An executor's deed handing an inherited house to an heir owes none.
Free calculator
Oregon transfer tax calculator
Enter the sale price to see each tax, who pays it, and the total. Amounts like 650k or 2.5m work.
No transfer tax on this sale.
Giving the house to an heir instead of selling it? The executor's deed to an heir is exempt here. How it works in Oregon
An estimate from the rates on our Oregon page. The title company or closing attorney works out the final figure; recording fees and the agent's commission aren't included.
Oregon transfer tax rates
| Tax | Rate | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington County transfer tax | $1 per $1,000 (0.1%) | Set by the contract |
Who pays the transfer tax in Oregon?
Only Washington County charges one; the buyer and seller are both liable, and the contract decides.
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 Oregon
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. Washington County exempts transfers by gift, devise or inheritance; the rest of Oregon has no transfer tax.
- 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.
Oregon also has an estate tax on large estates, separate from the transfer tax. See Oregon estate tax.
Forms, deadline and other rules
- When it's paid: Washington County: within 15 days of recording.
- Oregon's constitution has barred new real estate transfer taxes since 2012, which is why only Washington County's older tax survives.
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 · Illinois · 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 · 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 Oregon?
Washington County transfer tax: $1 per $1,000 (0.1%), and only in Washington County.
Who pays the transfer tax in Oregon, the buyer or the seller?
Only Washington County charges one; the buyer and seller are both liable, and the contract decides.
Do you pay transfer tax when you inherit a house in Oregon?
Washington County exempts transfers by gift, devise or inheritance; the rest of Oregon has no transfer tax.
Does an estate pay transfer tax when it sells a house in Oregon?
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.