{"id":58098,"date":"2025-05-15T15:46:44","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T22:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=58098"},"modified":"2025-05-15T15:55:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-15T22:55:47","slug":"aurora-transfer-tax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/aurora-transfer-tax\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Aurora\u2019s Transfer Tax: A Quick Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you are selling a home in Aurora, you may be curious about transfer taxes. Real estate transfer taxes are fees levied by local governments when a real property, such as a home, changes ownership.<\/p>\n<p>Aurora property owners have to be aware of the Aurora transfer tax, and this guide will serve as a helpful tool to help demystify how this tax works and what you can expect to pay when selling your home.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, we will explain possible transfer tax exemptions you might qualify for and how paying your Aurora transfer tax can impact your capital gains earnings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"geo-cta widget-cta widget-cta--content     widget-cta--dark widget-cta--dark-blue-gradient\">\n    <div class=\"widget-element--content\">\n        <div class=\"widget-element--content-header\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"homelight logo\" class=\"widget-element--logo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ccprototypev5\/images\/logo-small-cta.png\" width=\"106\" height=\"25\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n        \n                <h3 class=\"cta-headline widget--bold\">Connect with a Top Agent to Help Maximize Value<\/h3>\n                        <p>Even rockstar agents can&#8217;t make your tax liability disappear, but HomeLight data shows that the top 5% of agents across the U.S. help clients sell their home for as much as 10% more than the average real estate agent, helping offset the tax bill.<\/p>\n        \n                <div class=\"widget-element--buttons\">\n            <a data-type=\"In Content CTA\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/find-agent\/quiz\/seller?#\/qaas=0\/\" class=\"cta-click-track widget-element--button\">Find Agent<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"section--1\" data-toc-header=\"What are transfer taxes?\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>What are transfer taxes?<\/h2>\n<p>Real estate transfer taxes are charged by state or local governments when property ownership is transferred from one individual to another. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/one-stops\/real-estate-competition\/realestateglossary.pdf\">Federal Trade Commission<\/a>, these taxes are due when the title to a property, essentially the document that confirms your legal ownership, is officially passed to a new owner. This can occur through sales, inheritance, or gifting of property.<\/p>\n<p>The amount owed in transfer taxes can vary widely based on the property&#8217;s location.<\/p>\n<p>Different states, counties, and cities can establish their own rates and regulations for these taxes. Transfer taxes primarily serve as a means for local and state governments to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/real-estate-transfer-tax\/\">generate revenue<\/a>, funding various public services and infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--2\" data-toc-header=\"Who pays for transfer taxes?\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>Who pays for transfer taxes?<\/h2>\n<p>Now that you know what a real estate transfer tax is, you might be curious about who is on the hook for it. The buyer, the seller, or somewhere in between?<\/p>\n<p>Like most things related to real estate, it depends! Different cities, states, and municipalities have their own rules governing the liability of transfer taxes, and Aurora is no different.<\/p>\n<p>Typically, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aurora.il.us\/Government-and-Engagement\/Finance\/Revenue-Collection\/Real-Estate-Transfer-Tax\/Ordinance#:~:text=Except%20for%20a%20sheriff%2C%20judicial,unless%20otherwise%20negotiated%20by%20contract%3B\">the Aurora transfer tax<\/a> is the responsibility of the seller (or grantor). However, this can be negotiated in the terms of the sales contract. It\u2019s also important to note that it is illegal for the buyer (or grantee) to accept the property transfer if the transfer tax has not been paid.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn about the Aurora transfer tax: Understand how it affects your property sale and learn about possible exemptions. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":358,"featured_media":58100,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[322,341],"tags":[1821,979,1302,977],"class_list":["post-58098","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-logistics","category-closing","tag-aurora-transfer-tax","tag-real-estate-transfer-tax","tag-selling-a-house-in-chicago-metro-area","tag-transfer-tax"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast 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