United States · Transfer Tax
Montana has no real estate transfer tax — the deed records free of any state or county tax. Closing costs are recording fees, title insurance, and lender charges, typically a few hundred dollars on a $450,000 ranch or townhome. Montana's property tax is moderate, but the state's recent influx of out-of-state buyers is driven partly by the absence of transfer taxes and a light regulatory load. The check for buyers is confirming the county's recording fee, which varies a little by county.
Preset rates are indicative reference values only. Confirm current rates and any reliefs with your local tax authority.
Jurisdiction comparison at $450,000.00
Montana pays $0.00 (0%) vs Montana at $0.00 (0%).
No state transfer tax; recording fees and title insurance only. Bands below are the standard residential buyer schedule used by the calculator.
| Property value | Rate |
|---|---|
| All values | Flat 0% of the full value |
Indicative figures compiled August 2026 — official source: Montana Department of Revenue. Rates are typically indexed or revised each financial year.
A USD 450,000.00 purchase in Montana attracts about USD 0.00 in transfer tax at the standard indicative rates — an effective rate of 0%. Recording fees run $30–100; title insurance is standard. That makes the all-in cash requirement USD 450,000.00 before you factor in any deposit, legal work, or moving costs. Adjust the price in the calculator to model your own number.
No state transfer tax; recording fees and title insurance only. Rates change with legislation and vary by buyer circumstances, so treat these as planning figures and confirm the current rate with Montana Department of Revenue before you commit.
At the indicative rates above, a USD 450,000.00 property attracts about USD 0.00 in transfer tax — an effective rate of 0%. Recording fees run $30–100; title insurance is standard.. The calculator above lets you change the price and see the result instantly.
There is no general first-time buyer exemption in Montana at the standard indicative rates. No state or county transfer tax. Check current eligibility rules with Montana 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: transfer tax rates change with legislation and vary by buyer circumstances. These are indicative planning figures, not tax advice — confirm every number with Montana Department of Revenue or a qualified local professional.
