Updated July 2026 · Written by James Armel, licensed Maryland Realtor (License #676208) and active investor in Southern Maryland
In Maryland, sellers pay two types of taxes at closing that most people don’t fully understand until they’re sitting at the settlement table: transfer taxes and recordation taxes. The amounts vary significantly by county — and on a $450,000 home, the difference between the cheapest and most expensive county can be over $3,000 out of your pocket.
This guide breaks down exactly what sellers pay in each Southern Maryland county, based on verified current rates — not the outdated figures you’ll find on most real estate blogs.
What Is the Maryland Transfer Tax?
The Maryland state transfer tax is a fee charged every time real property changes hands. The current rate is 0.5% of the sale price, and by Maryland custom it is split equally between buyer and seller — meaning each party typically pays 0.25% of the sale price.
One important exception: if the buyer is a first-time Maryland homebuyer, the total state transfer tax drops to 0.25% — and the seller pays all of it. This is different from the standard split, so if your buyer is purchasing their first home in Maryland, expect to pay a slightly higher share.
On top of the state transfer tax, most Maryland counties charge their own county transfer tax. Rates range from zero (Calvert County) to 1.4% (Prince George’s County). The county transfer tax is also typically split 50/50 between buyer and seller unless the contract specifies otherwise.
What Is the Maryland Recordation Tax?
The recordation tax is a separate charge for recording the deed with the county. Unlike transfer taxes, the recordation tax is traditionally paid by the buyer, not the seller. However, this can be negotiated in the contract — and in a competitive market where sellers are offering buyer incentives, you may end up contributing to this cost as part of seller-paid closing costs.
Recordation tax rates are expressed as a dollar amount per $1,000 of sale price and vary by county. In Southern Maryland, rates range from $5.50 to $10 per thousand.
Transfer and Recordation Tax Rates by County (2025–2026)
Here are the verified current rates for all six Southern Maryland counties and Howard County. All rates are per $1,000 of the sale price unless noted. Transfer tax rates shown are the full rate — the seller’s share by Maryland custom is half.
| County | Recordation Tax | County Transfer Tax (full) | State Transfer Tax (full) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles County | $10.00 per $1,000 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Calvert County | $10.00 per $1,000 | None | 0.5% |
| St. Mary’s County | $8.00 per $1,000 | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Prince George’s County | $5.50 per $1,000 | 1.4% | 0.5% |
| Anne Arundel County | $7.00 per $1,000 | 1.0% (1.5% if ≥$1M) | 0.5% |
| Howard County | $5.00 per $1,000 | 1.25% | 0.5% |
Source: Capitol Title Group rate chart, verified July 2026. Rates are subject to change — confirm with your settlement attorney before closing.
Transfer and Recordation Tax by County — What You’ll Actually Pay
The table above shows the rates; the sections below translate those numbers into real dollar figures for each county based on a typical Southern Maryland sale price. By convention, sellers pay half the recordation tax, half the county transfer tax, and half the state transfer tax at closing (unless negotiated otherwise in the contract).
Charles County Transfer and Recordation Tax
Rates: Recordation $10.00 per $1,000 | County transfer tax 0.5% (full rate) | State transfer tax 0.5%
On a $400,000 sale: The total transfer and recordation taxes come to approximately $8,000. By custom, the seller’s share is roughly $4,000 — split between recordation ($2,000), county transfer ($1,000), and state transfer ($1,000). Charles County’s combined rate is on the lower end for Maryland, partly because the county transfer tax is just 0.5%.
Note: No county-level exemptions for sellers. First-time homebuyers may receive a partial state transfer tax exemption on the buyer’s side.
Calvert County Transfer and Recordation Tax
Rates: Recordation $10.00 per $1,000 | No county transfer tax | State transfer tax 0.5%
On a $400,000 sale: Calvert County is one of the most seller-friendly in Maryland — there is no county transfer tax, so sellers avoid that cost entirely. The seller’s share of recordation ($2,000) plus state transfer ($1,000) comes to approximately $3,000 total. This is meaningfully lower than most Maryland counties.
St. Mary’s County Transfer and Recordation Tax
Rates: Recordation $8.00 per $1,000 | County transfer tax 1.0% (full rate) | State transfer tax 0.5%
On a $400,000 sale: The seller’s share is approximately $5,600 — recordation ($1,600), county transfer ($2,000), and state transfer ($1,000). There is a $300 owner-occupant credit applied to the buyer’s side. St. Mary’s sits in the middle of the pack for Maryland counties.
Prince George’s County Transfer and Recordation Tax
Rates: Recordation $5.50 per $1,000 | County transfer tax 1.4% (full rate) | State transfer tax 0.5%
On a $400,000 sale: PG County has the highest county transfer tax of the Southern Maryland counties at 1.4%. The seller’s share comes to approximately $5,900 — recordation ($1,100), county transfer ($2,800), and state transfer ($1,000). One important detail: if the loan amount exceeds the sale price (as can happen with VA loans), PG County computes transfer tax on the loan amount, not just the sale price.
Anne Arundel County Transfer and Recordation Tax
Rates: Recordation $7.00 per $1,000 | County transfer tax 1.0% (1.5% if sale price ≥ $1,000,000) | State transfer tax 0.5%
On a $400,000 sale: The seller’s share is approximately $5,400 — recordation ($1,400), county transfer ($2,000), and state transfer ($1,000). For luxury properties at or above $1 million, the county transfer tax jumps to 1.5%, adding roughly $2,500 to the seller’s cost on a $1M sale. Anne Arundel’s recordation tax of $7/1000 is moderate for Maryland.
Howard County Transfer and Recordation Tax
Rates: Recordation $5.00 per $1,000 | County transfer tax 1.25% (full rate) | State transfer tax 0.5%
On a $400,000 sale: Howard County has the lowest recordation tax of our service area counties, but a meaningful county transfer tax. The seller’s share is approximately $5,500 — recordation ($1,000), county transfer ($2,500), and state transfer ($1,000). Howard County is attractive for sellers in part because of the low recordation rate.
Baltimore County Transfer and Recordation Tax
Rates: Recordation $5.00 per $1,000 | County transfer tax 1.5% (full rate) | State transfer tax 0.5%
On a $400,000 sale: Baltimore County has the highest county transfer tax of the counties covered here at 1.5%. The seller’s share comes to approximately $6,000 — recordation ($1,000), county transfer ($3,000), and state transfer ($1,000). There is a $22,000 exemption for residential/occupied properties applied to the buyer’s side of the county transfer tax. Source: Baltimore County Government — Deed Transfer and Recordation.
Harford County Transfer and Recordation Tax
Rates: Recordation $6.60 per $1,000 | County transfer tax 1.0% (full rate) | State transfer tax 0.5%
On a $400,000 sale: The seller’s share is approximately $5,320 — recordation ($1,320), county transfer ($2,000), and state transfer ($1,000). Buyers in Harford County can benefit from a $30,000 exemption on their principal residence, which reduces the buyer’s side of the county transfer tax. Source: Harford County Government — Transfer, Recordation Tax.
Maryland Transfer & Recordation Tax Calculator
Enter your sale price and county to see your estimated transfer and recordation taxes. Rates verified from Capitol Title Group, July 2026. Sellers typically pay county transfer tax and state transfer tax; recordation tax is often split or negotiated.
Maryland Transfer Tax Calculator
What Does a Seller Actually Pay? Real Dollar Examples
To make this concrete, here is what a seller would pay in transfer taxes on a $450,000 sale in each county, assuming the standard 50/50 split on both state and county transfer taxes:
| County | Seller State Transfer Tax | Seller County Transfer Tax | Total Seller Transfer Taxes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles County | $1,125 | $1,125 | $2,250 |
| Calvert County | $1,125 | $0 | $1,125 |
| St. Mary’s County | $1,125 | $2,250 | $3,375 (minus $300 owner-occupant credit) |
| Prince George’s County | $1,125 | $3,150 | $4,275 |
| Anne Arundel County | $1,125 | $2,250 | $3,375 |
| Howard County | $1,125 | $2,813 | $3,938 |
Calvert County sellers have the lowest transfer tax burden of any Southern Maryland county. No county transfer tax means you save over $1,000 compared to Charles County and over $3,000 compared to Prince George’s County on the same sale price.
Keep in mind: transfer taxes are only one piece of your total closing costs. Commission, title fees, settlement fees, and any outstanding liens or taxes also come out of your proceeds. For a complete picture of what you will walk away with, use our free Maryland closing cost calculator.
Who Pays What — and Can It Be Negotiated?
Maryland has a strong custom around how transfer taxes are divided, but it is just that — a custom, not a law. The actual split is determined by the contract of sale.
In a standard Maryland transaction, the seller pays half of both the state and county transfer tax, and the buyer pays the recordation tax plus the other half of the transfer taxes. But in a buyer’s market, sellers sometimes offer to pay a portion of the buyer’s closing costs — which can include some or all of the recordation tax — to make the deal work. In a hot seller’s market, buyers occasionally cover more than their standard share to win a competitive offer.
The bottom line: your net proceeds depend on what is in your specific contract. Before you accept an offer or make a counteroffer, run the numbers. A seller net sheet — which your agent should provide — lays out exactly what you will pay and what you will pocket.
👉 How much will I net when I sell my Southern Maryland home?
How Transfer Taxes Fit Into Your Total Closing Costs
Transfer taxes are a significant line item but not the largest one. For most Southern Maryland sellers, the full picture of closing costs looks like this:
- Agent commission: Typically the largest cost — negotiated, not fixed by law.
- Transfer taxes (state + county, seller share): $1,125 to $4,275 on a $450K sale depending on county.
- Title and settlement fees: Typically $300 to $600 for the seller’s portion.
- Maryland recordation tax: Traditionally a buyer cost, but can be negotiated.
- Outstanding property taxes or HOA fees: Prorated to your closing date.
- Any seller-paid buyer credits: Negotiated in the contract.
The full cost of selling a house in Southern Maryland guide walks through every line item with real numbers by county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays the transfer tax in Maryland, the buyer or the seller?
By Maryland custom, both parties split the transfer tax 50/50. The seller pays half the state transfer tax (0.25%) and half the county transfer tax. The recordation tax is traditionally the buyer’s cost. All of this can be negotiated in the contract of sale.
Which Southern Maryland county has the lowest transfer tax for sellers?
Calvert County — by a wide margin. There is no county transfer tax in Calvert, so sellers only pay their share of the state transfer tax (0.25% of the sale price). On a $450,000 sale that is $1,125 vs. $4,275 in Prince George’s County.
Do first-time homebuyers affect the seller’s transfer tax?
Yes. If your buyer is a first-time Maryland homebuyer, the state transfer tax rate drops to 0.25% total — but the seller pays all of it instead of splitting it. On a $450,000 sale the seller pays $1,125 (same amount as a standard split), so the practical impact on your proceeds is usually minimal.
Are transfer taxes and recordation taxes the same thing?
No — they are two separate charges. Transfer tax is a tax on the transfer of ownership. Recordation tax is a fee for recording the deed with the county. They are collected at the same closing but calculated differently and distributed differently between buyer and seller.
How do I find out exactly what I will pay in transfer taxes?
The most accurate way is to have your agent run a seller net sheet before you list. It plugs in your specific sale price, county, loan payoff, and any other variables to show your projected net proceeds line by line. Call me at (301) 751-9318 and I will run one for you — no obligation.
Disclaimer: Transfer and recordation tax rates are subject to change by state and county governments. The figures in this post reflect rates as of 2026. Always confirm current rates with your title company or Maryland attorney before closing.
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