Washington transfer tax
Official source data 2026-10-01
On a $400,000 residential purchase in Washington
$4,400
modeled deed & transfer taxes
State marginal residential REET tiers; local REET is separately entered. Agricultural and timberland classifications are excluded.
Check the tax on your price.
Where the tax goes.
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Base deed / transfer taxes | $4,400 |
| Selected local deed taxes | $0 |
| Buyer statutory surcharges | $0 |
| Seller statutory surcharges | $0 |
| Total modeled transfer taxes | $4,400 |
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.
Washington rules and assumptions.
Transfer-tax scope
State marginal residential REET tiers; local REET is separately entered. Agricultural and timberland classifications are excluded.
Settlement & title
Ask the settlement provider which services it is licensed to perform and which require an attorney. This editable allowance does not determine whether an attorney is required for your transaction.
Washington's insurance guide describes the seller usually paying the owner policy, while lender coverage protects the loan. Confirm the contract allocation and quote each required policy. The title allowance can be assigned to buyer, seller or both.
Recording fees
King County's document-recording guidance is a local example. Confirm current charges, each instrument and any multiple-title fees with the property county recorder. Real-estate excise tax is already modeled separately.
Good questions. Clear answers.
How much are closing costs in Washington?
For the entered $400,000 price, this scenario produces $9,450 of buyer costs and $24,900 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 $89,450 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 $375,100. Capital-gains tax, repair credits and other liens are excluded.
Check the source.
Data as of 2026-10-01. Retrieved .
- dor.wa.gov / real-estate-excise-tax
- www.consumerfinance.gov / closing-disclosure As of 2026-10-02
- www.consumerfinance.gov / loan-estimate As of 2026-10-02
- www.insurance.wa.gov / title-insurance As of 2026-10-02
- kingcounty.gov / document-recording As of 2026-10-02