North Carolina transfer tax
Official source data 2026-10-01
On a $400,000 residential purchase in North Carolina
$800
modeled deed & transfer taxes
State base deed tax only; local taxes, exemptions and mortgage taxes are not automatically included.
Check the tax on your price.
Where the tax goes.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base deed / transfer taxes | $800 |
| Selected local deed taxes | $0 |
| Buyer statutory surcharges | $0 |
| Seller statutory surcharges | $0 |
| Total modeled transfer taxes | $800 |
The buyer and seller can negotiate many expenses. This calculation excludes lender credits, seller concessions, prorated rent, HOA charges, inspections, repairs, and any mortgage taxes not in the stated deed-tax scope.
North Carolina rules and assumptions.
Transfer-tax scope
State base deed tax only; local taxes, exemptions and mortgage taxes are not automatically included.
Settlement & title
Budget for the necessary lawyer-provided legal services. State Bar Opinion 2002-1 allows nonlawyers to perform limited signing and fund-disbursement tasks; it does not require a lawyer to be physically present for every clerical step.
Read the official legal-services guidance
North Carolina's insurance department explains owner and lender title policies. Obtain the premium and endorsement quote separately from the lawyer-provided title/closing work described above; a lender policy alone does not insure the owner.
Recording fees
G.S. 161-10 has different page allowances for ordinary instruments and mortgages/deeds of trust, plus indexing and multiple-instrument charges. Confirm the register's total and keep deed excise tax separate.
Good questions. Clear answers.
How much are closing costs in North Carolina?
For the entered $400,000 price, this scenario produces $9,750 of buyer costs and $21,300 of seller costs. The fees are adjustable allowances; only the cited taxes follow the selected statutory scope.
Who pays the transfer tax?
The default allocation follows the state scenario shown above. The closing-cost tool lets you change the contractual deed-tax allocation; statutory buyer or seller surcharges retain their separate payer.
Is the down payment a closing cost?
It is not a service fee. This tool shows $80,000 as the down payment and $89,750 as total estimated buyer cash to close.
Are the title and attorney fees official state rates?
The defaults are planning allowances, not published title-policy quotes. Enter the applicable insurance or title-guaranty quote and the closing professional’s quote. Policy type, endorsements, loan size and reissue discounts can change the cost. Set the title payer to match your contract; use the additional buyer amount for coverage excluded from the percentage allowance.
How do I calculate seller net proceeds?
Subtract seller closing costs and the entered mortgage payoff from the sale price. Here that gives $378,700. Capital-gains tax, repair credits and other liens are excluded.
Check the source.
Data as of 2026-10-01. Retrieved .
- www.ncleg.gov / GS_105-228.30.html
- www.consumerfinance.gov / closing-disclosure As of 2026-10-02
- www.consumerfinance.gov / loan-estimate As of 2026-10-02
- www.ncbar.gov / authorized-practice-advisory-opinion-2002-1 As of 2026-10-02
- www.ncdoi.gov / title-insurance As of 2026-10-02
- www.ncleg.gov / GS_161-10.html As of 2026-10-02