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Michigan transfer tax calculator

Michigan charges the seller a transfer tax on every deed: $3.75 per $500 to the state and $0.55 per $500 to the county — $8.60 per $1,000 of sale price. On a $350,000 sale that is $3,010 off the top, and it is the single largest line on most Michigan net sheets after the commission.

By Cyrus Wheeler, Broker/Owner · Updated · Michigan Dept. of Treasury 2025 Total Rates

Seller Tool

What is the transfer tax on your sale?

The tax is computed on the sale price rounded up to the next $500, so a $350,100 sale is taxed as $350,500. Most calculators skip that step and come out a few dollars light.

If it was, and the home did not gain assessed value while you owned it, the state portion may be refundable. The check below runs automatically.
State equalized value, from the notice the assessor mails each February — not taxable value.
If today's SEV is the same or lower, you likely qualify for a refund of the state portion under MCL 207.526(u).
Total transfer tax
—
—
Taxable value (rounded up to $500)—
State tax ($3.75 per $500)—
County tax ($0.55 per $500)—
Possible refund: —
Who pays: the statute puts both taxes on the seller (MCL 207.505 and MCL 207.526), and that is how every standard Michigan purchase agreement is written. It is negotiable in principle, but a buyer agreeing to pay it is rare enough to be worth flagging to your lender, because it changes the cash-to-close.

Get a full net sheet for this sale

Transfer tax is one line. We'll run commission, payoff, prorated taxes and title for a specific Metro Detroit address and send the real net number within the hour.

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Common questions

How much is transfer tax in Michigan?

$8.60 per $1,000 of sale price — $3.75 per $500 to the state under MCL 207.526 and $0.55 per $500 to the county under MCL 207.505. On a $350,000 sale that is $3,010. Both taxes are computed on the price rounded up to the next $500.

Who pays transfer tax in Michigan, the buyer or the seller?

The seller. Both statutes place the tax on the seller or grantor, and every standard Michigan purchase agreement follows that. It can be negotiated, but a buyer paying it is unusual and changes their cash to close.

Does Wayne County charge a higher transfer tax?

No. Michigan law lets a county over two million residents levy $0.75 per $500, but Wayne County has been under that threshold since the 2020 census, so it charges the standard $0.55 per $500 like every other Michigan county.

Can I get the Michigan transfer tax back?

Sometimes. Under MCL 207.526(u) the state portion is refundable when the home carried the Principal Residence Exemption, the sale was arm's-length, and the SEV at sale was no higher than the SEV when you acquired it. File Michigan Treasury Form 2796 within four years and fifteen days of closing. The county portion is not refundable.

Is transfer tax the same as property tax?

No. Transfer tax is a one-time charge on the deed when a property changes hands. Property tax is the annual bill computed from taxable value and your local millage.

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This year's bill from official 2025 millage for your exact district.

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