United States · Documentary Stamp Tax
Florida's transfer cost is a documentary stamp tax rather than a banded duty: the state charges $0.70 per $100 of the sale price, and roughly half of Florida counties add a surtax of up to $0.45 per $100. On a $400,000 home the state tax is $2,800, and a county with the full surtax adds another $1,800. The state tax applies to the full price, so it scales linearly — there is no first-time buyer exemption, and both buyer and seller typically split the stamp by negotiation.
Preset rates are indicative reference values only. Confirm current rates and any reliefs with your local tax authority.
Jurisdiction comparison at $400,000.00
Florida pays $2,800.00 (0.7%) vs Florida at $2,800.00 (0.7%).
State documentary stamp tax of $0.70 per $100 (0.7%) plus county surtaxes of up to $0.45 per $100 in some counties. Bands below are the standard residential buyer schedule used by the calculator.
| Property value | Rate |
|---|---|
| All values | Flat 0.7% of the full value |
Indicative figures compiled August 2026 — official source: Florida Department of Revenue. Rates are typically indexed or revised each financial year.
A USD 400,000.00 purchase in Florida attracts about USD 2,800.00 in documentary stamp tax at the standard indicative rates — an effective rate of 0.7%. Recording fees run roughly $30–120; title insurance is the larger closing cost in Florida because of its unique abstract and title search system. That makes the all-in cash requirement USD 402,800.00 before you factor in any deposit, legal work, or moving costs. Adjust the price in the calculator to model your own number.
State documentary stamp tax of $0.70 per $100 (0.7%) plus county surtaxes of up to $0.45 per $100 in some counties. Rates change with legislation and vary by buyer circumstances, so treat these as planning figures and confirm the current rate with Florida Department of Revenue before you commit.
At the indicative rates above, a USD 400,000.00 property attracts about USD 2,800.00 in documentary stamp tax — an effective rate of 0.7%. Recording fees run roughly $30–120; title insurance is the larger closing cost in Florida because of its unique abstract and title search system.. The calculator above lets you change the price and see the result instantly.
State rate 0.7% applies to the full sale price. Eligibility rules change frequently and vary by buyer type, so verify your situation with Florida Department of Revenue or a conveyancer.
The buyer pays the tax in essentially every case in this market. It is payable in full before or at settlement and cannot normally be added to a mortgage, so it must be part of your cash budget alongside the deposit.
How we calculate: the calculator applies the official band schedule marginally — each rate applies only to the slice of the price inside its band, exactly as the revenue authority does. Worked examples are computed with the same function.
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Disclaimer: documentary stamp tax rates change with legislation and vary by buyer circumstances. These are indicative planning figures, not tax advice — confirm every number with Florida Department of Revenue or a qualified local professional.