United States · Deed Excise Tax
Massachusetts collects a deed excise tax of $2.28 per $500 of the sale price — 0.456% — and about half of its cities and towns add a community preservation surcharge of up to $0.50 per $500, taking the local total to roughly 0.55%. On a $600,000 home that is $2,736 to $3,336 of transfer tax, split between buyer and seller by local convention. The state tax applies to the full price with no bands and no first-time buyer exemption.
Preset rates are indicative reference values only. Confirm current rates and any reliefs with your local tax authority.
Jurisdiction comparison at $600,000.00
Massachusetts pays $2,736.00 (0.46%) vs Massachusetts at $2,736.00 (0.46%).
Deed excise tax of $2.28 per $500 (0.456%) plus up to $0.50 per $500 (0.1%) community-preservation surcharge in many cities and towns. Bands below are the standard residential buyer schedule used by the calculator.
| Property value | Rate |
|---|---|
| All values | Flat 0.456% of the full value |
Indicative figures compiled August 2026 — official source: Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Rates are typically indexed or revised each financial year.
A USD 600,000.00 purchase in Massachusetts attracts about USD 2,736.00 in deed excise tax at the standard indicative rates — an effective rate of 0.46%. Recording fees run $75–175; Massachusetts closings are lawyer-driven, adding legal fees. That makes the all-in cash requirement USD 602,736.00 before you factor in any deposit, legal work, or moving costs. Adjust the price in the calculator to model your own number.
Deed excise tax of $2.28 per $500 (0.456%) plus up to $0.50 per $500 (0.1%) community-preservation surcharge in many cities and towns. Rates change with legislation and vary by buyer circumstances, so treat these as planning figures and confirm the current rate with Massachusetts Department of Revenue before you commit.
At the indicative rates above, a USD 600,000.00 property attracts about USD 2,736.00 in deed excise tax — an effective rate of 0.46%. Recording fees run $75–175; Massachusetts closings are lawyer-driven, adding legal fees.. The calculator above lets you change the price and see the result instantly.
There is no general first-time buyer exemption in Massachusetts at the standard indicative rates. State rate 0.456% applies to the full price. Check current eligibility rules with Massachusetts Department of Revenue.
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.
Last reviewed: . Learn more about Nirmal Lashkari and LashkariProperties.
Disclaimer: deed excise tax rates change with legislation and vary by buyer circumstances. These are indicative planning figures, not tax advice — confirm every number with Massachusetts Department of Revenue or a qualified local professional.
