Washington Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) Calculator
Figures verified November 12, 2026 against Washington DOR, real estate excise tax · Update log
Short answer
Washington's real estate excise tax (REET) is 1.1% to 3% state (marginal) + 0.25% to 0.5% local. The seller pays the real estate excise tax. On a $500,000 home in a city with the 0.5% local tax, it comes to about $8,005. An executor's deed handing an inherited house to an heir owes none.
Free calculator
Washington transfer tax calculator
Enter the sale price to see each tax, who pays it, and the total. Amounts like 650k or 2.5m work.
Washington's brackets change for sales from January 1, 2027.
Washington, Most cities (0.5% local)
Transfer tax: $8,005 (1.6% of the price)
- State real estate excise taxSeller. 1.1% up to $525,000, 1.28% to $1.525 million, 2.75% to $3.025 million, 3% above.$5,500
- Technology feeSeller$5
- Local real estate excise taxSeller$2,500
- Seller pays
- $8,005
- 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 Washington
An estimate from the rates on our Washington page. The title company or closing attorney works out the final figure; recording fees and the agent's commission aren't included.
Washington transfer tax rates
| Tax | Rate | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| State real estate excise taxFor closings in 2026 | 1.1% on the first $525,000; 1.28% from $525,000 to $1,525,000; 2.75% from $1,525,000 to $3,025,000; 3% above $3,025,000 | Seller |
| State real estate excise taxFor closings in 2027 | 1.1% on the first $551,000; 1.28% from $551,000 to $1,551,000; 2.75% from $1,551,000 to $3,051,000; 3% above $3,051,000 | Seller |
| Technology fee | $5 flat | Seller |
| Tax | Rate | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Local real estate excise tax | 0.5% | Seller |
| Tax | Rate | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Local real estate excise tax | 0.25% | Seller |
Who pays the transfer tax in Washington?
The seller pays the real estate excise tax.
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 Washington
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. Transfers by inheritance or devise are exempt. You still file a real estate excise tax affidavit with the exemption code when the deed is recorded.
- 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.
Washington also has an estate tax on large estates, separate from the transfer tax. See Washington estate tax.
Washington mansion tax
The state rate reaches 2.75% on the part of a price above $1.525 million and 3% above $3.025 million (2026 brackets).
Compare it with the other high-end rates, from New York City to Los Angeles and San Francisco, in the mansion tax calculator.
Forms, deadline and other rules
- Form: Real estate excise tax affidavit.
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 · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Or compare them all in the 50-state table.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the transfer tax in Washington?
Real estate excise tax (REET): 1.1% to 3% state (marginal) + 0.25% to 0.5% local. On a $500,000 home in a city with the 0.5% local tax, that comes to about $8,005 in total.
Who pays the transfer tax in Washington, the buyer or the seller?
The seller pays the real estate excise tax.
Do you pay transfer tax when you inherit a house in Washington?
Transfers by inheritance or devise are exempt. You still file a real estate excise tax affidavit with the exemption code when the deed is recorded.
Does an estate pay transfer tax when it sells a house in Washington?
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.
Does Washington have a mansion tax?
The state rate reaches 2.75% on the part of a price above $1.525 million and 3% above $3.025 million (2026 brackets).
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.