Iowa Transfer Tax Calculator

Published on July 11th, 2025

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Iowa Transfer Tax Calculator: What to Expect

This simple calculator can help home sellers in Iowa estimate their transfer taxes. To get a ballpark idea of the transfer fees you might pay in the Hawkeye State, enter your home’s estimated selling price above.

Need a selling price? Try HomeLight’s free Home Value Estimator to see what your house might be worth. To receive a more accurate listing price, contact a top Iowa real estate agent and request a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), a report that will compare your home against nearby listed and recently sold properties.

A top real estate agent can provide you with a Seller’s Net Sheet that breaks down all the costs of selling your home, along with an estimate of the proceeds you can expect. Use HomeLight’s free Agent Match platform to find a trusted local agent with excellent reviews and a proven track record.

How the Iowa Transfer Tax is Calculated

Iowa’s transfer tax, known as a Real Estate Transfer Tax, is calculated at $0.80 for every $500 of the property’s sale price, with the first $500 exempt from tax.

Revenue is distributed as follows: 65% to the general fund, 30% to the housing trust fund, and 5% to the shelter assistance fund.

For example, if you sold your home for $231,000 (Iowa’s median home price), you could expect to pay approximately $368.80 in Iowa transfer taxes.

»Learn more: Understanding Iowa’s Real Estate Transfer

See the bigger home sale picture: To see what your entire home sale might cost, try HomeLight’s Iowa Seller Closing Cost Calculator. You’ll also get a preliminary look at your estimated net proceeds.

Does the Seller Always Pay the Iowa Transfer Tax?

While it’s customary for the seller to pay the Iowa Real Estate Transfer Tax, this can sometimes be negotiated between the buyer and seller during closing.

Some sellers might be eligible for exemptions on transfer taxes, depending on their location. Common exemptions include:

Deeds where the United States or the state is the grantor or grantee
Deeds intended to secure a debt or obligation, except those included in the sale
Deeds that correct or modify a deed previously recorded
Deeds between husband and wife, or parent and child
Deeds executed between former spouses
Deeds transferring easements
Deeds executed by public officials performing official duties

Make Buying and Selling Easier: Most Iowa sellers are also buyers looking to purchase a new home. With HomeLight’s Buy Before You Sell program, you can make a non-contingent offer on your new home and only move once. Watch this short video to learn more.

More Resources to Plan Your Iowa Home Sale

Here are some additional tools to help you plan your Iowa home sale:

Sell fast without paying fees or commissions: Get a cash offer today.

With HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform, you can receive a no-obligation, all-cash offer for your Iowa home in 24 hours. If you accept the offer, you can close in as few as 10 days. Answer a few questions about your Iowa home to get started. Along with your cash offer, you’ll also receive an expert estimate of what a top Iowa agent might be able to get for your home. Receive both selling options with one tool.

As you look ahead to your next home purchase, here are some helpful buyer tools:

At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.