Transfer tax calculator
Estimate the Illinois, Cook County, and city or suburb real property transfer tax on a home sale, and see how the bill splits between buyer and seller. This is a free planning tool, not legal, tax, or title advice.
A calculator is a starting point. Get a full picture with a direct review of payoff, taxes, title, condition, and timing.
Enter the sale price and location. The estimate rounds price up to the next 500 dollar increment, the way the tax is assessed.
Reviewed and updated June 2026
| Tax | Per $500 | Per $1,000 | Usually paid by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois state | $0.50 | $1.00 | Seller |
| Cook County | $0.25 | $0.50 | Seller |
| Chicago city, buyer share | $3.75 | $7.50 | Buyer |
| Chicago city, seller share (CTA) | $1.50 | $3.00 | Seller |
Chicago city transfer tax totals $5.25 per $500, which is $10.50 per $1,000. Suburbs set their own municipal rate, which can differ from the city split.
Read the seller pays, buyer pays, and total rows together, because who pays which stamp is set by state law and local ordinance, not by negotiation alone.
| Municipality | Per $1,000 | Usually paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Oak Park | $8.00 | Seller |
| Berwyn | $10.00 | Seller |
| Cicero | $10.00 | Seller |
| Skokie | $3.00 | Seller |
| Naperville | $3.00 | Buyer |
| Aurora | $3.00 | Seller |
| Des Plaines | $2.00 | Seller |
| Chicago Heights | $4.00 | Seller |
| Country Club Hills | $5.00 | Seller |
| Bellwood | $5.00 | Seller |
| Evanston | $5.00 and up, graduated | Seller |
| Elgin | None | n/a |
Municipal rates change by local ordinance and some suburbs use a graduated rate by price. Confirm the current rate with the municipality before closing.
A real property transfer tax is charged when a deed is recorded. In the Chicago area there are up to three layers. Illinois charges a state tax of 0.50 dollars per 500 dollars of price, Cook County adds 0.25 dollars per 500 dollars, and inside the City of Chicago the city tax adds 5.25 dollars per 500 dollars, split so the buyer pays 3.75 dollars and the seller pays 1.50 dollars toward the transit portion.
The tax is calculated on each 500 dollars of price, or fraction of 500 dollars, so the price is effectively rounded up before the rate is applied. Who pays each portion can be negotiated in the contract, and certain transfers may qualify for an exemption. Outside the city, the state and county tax still apply and each suburb sets its own municipal rate, which is why the location dropdown changes the result.
In Chicago the buyer pays the city portion of 3.75 dollars per 500 dollars and the seller pays the CTA portion of 1.50 dollars per 500 dollars, plus the Illinois state tax of 0.50 dollars and the Cook County tax of 0.25 dollars per 500 dollars, which are typically seller paid. Parties can agree otherwise by contract.
The Chicago city real property transfer tax is 5.25 dollars per 500 dollars of price, which is 10.50 dollars per 1,000 dollars, split as 3.75 dollars buyer and 1.50 dollars seller. With state and county tax added, a Chicago sale carries roughly 12 dollars per 1,000 dollars before any exemptions.
Yes. Outside the city the Illinois and Cook County tax still apply, but each municipality sets its own additional transfer tax and may assign it to the buyer or the seller. Oak Park, Berwyn, and Cicero are among the higher suburban rates, while some towns charge nothing. Confirm the local rate before closing.
Some transfers can qualify for an exemption, such as certain transfers between spouses, to a living trust, by court order, or below a minimum value. Exemptions are specific and must be documented on the declaration. Confirm eligibility with your attorney or title company.
No. It is a free planning tool that estimates standard rates and does not capture every municipal rate or exemption. Use the City of Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois Department of Revenue resources and your closing professionals for the binding figures.
In the City of Chicago both sides pay. The buyer pays the larger city stamp at 3.75 dollars per 500 dollars of price, and the seller pays a 1.50 per 500 city stamp plus the Illinois state and Cook County stamps.
Many do. Towns such as Oak Park, Berwyn, Cicero, and Evanston add a municipal transfer tax with its own rate and its own payer, and some require the stamp to be purchased in person with a paid water bill before closing. Confirm the rate and process with the municipality.
This calculator is general information for Chicago-area owners, buyers, and investors. It is not legal, tax, lending, appraisal, or brokerage advice, and rates or rules can change. Verify figures with the appropriate professionals before money moves or documents are signed. Municipal transfer tax rates change by ordinance and some are graduated by price, so confirm the current local rate with the municipality.