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Illinois Real Estate Transfer Tax Calculator
What transfer taxes are due on this Illinois sale, and who pays them? Every piece below can be linked to, so it opens in a window on your reader's screen, current as of the record. No form to fill in.
2026 law · Reviewed September 19, 2026 · The full page, with methodology and sources · the terms · All tools
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The price and the municipality in; the state, county, and municipal tax, who pays each, and each side's total out. In a frame it carries no cookies, no tracking, and a visible link back to the methodology. Your site has to allow frames; most do. The link that opens it in a small window is on the professionals page.
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- In plain words.
- When a home changes hands in Illinois, the state and the county each take a small tax on the price, paid through stamps when the deed is recorded. Some towns add a tax of their own, and each town decides its rate and whether the buyer or the seller pays it. This tool takes the price and the municipality and shows each layer, who pays it, and the totals for each side of the closing table.
- Why it matters.
- The municipal layer is the one that surprises people. Chicago's alone is more than ten times the state's, and in some suburbs the buyer pays it, in others the seller.
- An example.
- A $500,000 home in Chicago: $500 to the state and $250 to the county from the seller by custom, $3,750 of city tax from the buyer, and $1,500 of CTA tax from the seller, $6,000 in all.
- Where it stops.
- It taxes the whole price, so it leaves out a mortgage the buyer takes over, the exemptions for transfers under $100 and the like, and the stamps, inspections, and final water bills a village may also require. Who pays the state and county tax is custom, not law. A few home rule cities outside the ordinance database show state and county only.
The facts
Six quotable sentences on the Illinois real estate transfer tax, 2026.
The button shows exactly what your reader sees when they click the link. Paste the link where a link goes; it opens this list in a small window, always current as of the record, with the attribution and a link to the full page. Nothing to copy out, nothing to update later.
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- Illinois charges a transfer tax when a deed is recorded: 50 cents for every $500 of the price, or any part of $500, so $1 on each $1,000 (35 ILCS 200/31-10). Every county adds 25 cents per $500, another 50 cents per $1,000 (55 ILCS 5/5-1031).
- Neither the state nor the county law says who pays. By custom the seller pays both, through stamps the county recorder sells, and a contract can shift them.
- Only a home rule municipality can add its own transfer tax, and only after a referendum that states the rate and who pays (65 ILCS 5/8-3-19). 72 Illinois municipalities levy one, at rates from $0.50 to $10 per $1,000 and a few flat fees; 200 more Chicago-area towns are confirmed as charging none.
- Chicago's is the largest in dollars: $3.75 per $500 from the buyer, the city portion, and $1.50 per $500 from the seller, the CTA portion. On a $500,000 home that is $3,750 from the buyer and $1,500 from the seller, on top of $750 of state and county tax.
- The same $500,000 sale in Naperville costs the buyer $1,500 in village tax; in Oak Park the seller pays $4,000; in a village with no transfer tax the only cost is the $750 the seller pays the state and county.
- The tax is figured on the price in the transfer declaration, the PTAX-203 or its online MyDec form, which a seller and a buyer both sign. Transfers for less than $100, deeds that secure or release a debt, tax deeds, and deeds to a lender in foreclosure are exempt (35 ILCS 200/31-45).
Municipal transfer taxes, 2026
Every municipal transfer tax on the list, its rate, the party the ordinance makes liable, and the page it was read from. The state's $0.50 and the county's $0.25 per $500 apply everywhere.
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| Municipality | Rate | Who pays | Ordinance | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Addison | $2.50 per $1,000 | Buyer | Addison Village Code Art. VII, Sec. 8-23 | March 14, 2017 |
| Alsip | $3.50 per $1,000, at least $100 | Seller | Alsip Code of Ordinances Article VI, Sec. 18-100 | March 14, 2017 |
| Aurora | $3 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | Aurora Code Article X, Sec. 44-211 | September 19, 2026 |
| Bartlett | $3 per $1,000 | Seller | Bartlett Municipal Code 12-1-1 | March 14, 2017 |
| Bedford Park | $50 flat | Seller | Bedford Park Mun. Code 5-21-1 | March 20, 2017 |
| Bellwood | $5 per $1,000 | Seller | Bellwood Mun. Code Title III Ch. 35-110 | March 4, 2025 |
| Berwyn | $10 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | Berwyn Code of Ordinances Sec. 888.001 | September 19, 2026 |
| Bolingbrook | $7.50 per $1,000 (the price to the next $500) | Split evenly | Bolingbrook Ord. 91-025 | September 19, 2026 |
| Buffalo Grove | $3 per $1,000 | Seller | Buffalo Grove Mun. Code 3.44.080 | September 19, 2026 |
| Burbank | $5 per $1,000, at least $100 | Seller | Burbank Mun. Code Article X, Sec. 14-107 | March 4, 2025 |
| Burnham | $5 per $1,000 | Buyer | Burnham Mun. Code Article X, Sec. 86-341 | March 4, 2025 |
| Calumet City | $8 to $16 per $1,000, by price | Split evenly | Calumet City Code Ch. 82 Art. X | September 19, 2026 |
| Calumet Park | $5 per $1,000 | Buyer | Village Code Title IX, Ch. 96.45 | March 4, 2025 |
| Carol Stream | $3 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | Carol Stream Mun. Code Sec. 5-10-1 | September 19, 2026 |
| Channahon | $3 per $1,000 | Buyer | Channon Mun. Code Title III, Section 37.76 | March 14, 2017 |
| Chicago | $3.75 per $500 from the buyer and $1.50 per $500 from the seller | Each side its own portion | Municipal Code of Chicago Ch. 3-33 | September 19, 2026 |
| Chicago Heights | $4 per $1,000 | Seller | Chicago Heights MIS. 92.98, 92.46 | March 4, 2025 |
| Cicero | $10 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | Cicero Village Code Article VII, Sec. 90-221 | September 19, 2026 |
| Country Club Hills | $5 per $1,000, at least $50 | Seller | Village Code 8.9.01 | March 4, 2025 |
| Countryside | $50 flat | Seller | Countryside Mun. Code 3-10-1 | March 20, 2017 |
| Des Plaines | $2 per $1,000 (the price to the next $500) | Seller | Des Plaines Mun. Code 15-7-1 | September 19, 2026 |
| Dolton | $5 per $1,000 | Seller | — | March 4, 2025 |
| East Hazel Crest | $25 flat | Buyer | East Hazel Crest Mun. Code Sec. 19-161 | March 4, 2025 |
| Elk Grove Village | $3 per $1,000 | Seller | Elk Grove Village Code 3-2-5 | March 20, 2017 |
| Elmhurst | $1.50 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | Elmhurst City Code Sec. 11.01 | September 19, 2026 |
| Elmwood Park | $5 per $1,000, at least $35 | Seller | Elmwood Park Village Code 41A-1 | March 4, 2025 |
| Evanston | $5 to $9 per $1,000, by price | Seller | Evanston City Code 3-25-1 | September 19, 2026 |
| Evergreen Park | $5 per $1,000, at least $100 | Seller | Evergreen Park Mun. Code Ch. 11 Div. 3 Sec. 11-61 | March 20, 2017 |
| Freeport | $2 per $500 or part of it | Seller | Freeport Ord. 92-21 | March 4, 2025 |
| Glen Ellyn | $3 per $1,000 | Seller | Village Code 3-42-1 | March 4, 2025 |
| Glendale Heights | $3 per $1,000 or part of it, at least $25 | Seller | Glendale Heights Ord. 94-48 | November 14, 2017 |
| Glenwood | $5 per $1,000 | Seller | Glenwood Village Code Article X, Sec. 94-291 | March 4, 2025 |
| Hanover Park | $1.50 per $500 or part of it | Seller | Hanover Park Code of Ordinances, Article VII, Sec. 94-167 | March 4, 2025 |
| Harvey | $5 per $1,000 | Split evenly | Harvey Ord. 2963 | February 7, 2011 |
| Harwood Heights | $10 per $1,000 | Buyer | Harwood Heights Ord. 96-03 | September 19, 2026 |
| Highland Park | $5 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | Code of Ordinances Title IX, Article X Ch. 97.1000 | September 19, 2026 |
| Highwood (Fort Sheridan area only) | $5 per $1,000 | Seller | Highwood Ord. 98-0-16 | February 7, 2011 |
| Hillside | $3.75 per $500 | Buyer | Hillside Code of Ordinances Article XII, Sec. 82-351 | March 20, 2017 |
| Hoffman Estates | $3 per $1,000 | Seller | Hoffman Estates Ord. 1884-1987 | September 19, 2026 |
| Joliet | $3 per $1,000 | Seller | Joliet Mun. Code Sec. 28-251 | September 19, 2026 |
| Lake Forest | $4 per $1,000 | Buyer | — | September 19, 2026 |
| Lincolnshire | $3 per $1,000 | Buyer | Lincolnshire Village Code 3-1-6 | March 4, 2025 |
| Markham | $100 flat | Seller | Markham Ord. 06-0-1857 | March 4, 2025 |
| Maywood | $4 per $1,000 | Seller | Maywood Ord. Co-89-9 | March 4, 2025 |
| McCook | $5 per $1,000, at least $100 | Seller | Village Code Article IV, Sec. 74-81 | March 8, 2017 |
| Mettawa | $5 per $1,000 | Buyer | Village Code Section 19.201 | March 8, 2017 |
| Morton Grove | $3 per $1,000 | Seller | Village Code 1-10B-2 | March 4, 2025 |
| Mount Prospect | $3 per $1,000 or part of it | Buyer | Mount Prospect Village Code 8.801 | September 19, 2026 |
| Naperville | $1.50 per $500 or part of it | Buyer | Village Code 3-1-8 | September 19, 2026 |
| Niles | $3 per $1,000 | Buyer | Village Code Sec. 94-28 | March 4, 2025 |
| North Chicago | $5 per $1,000 or part of it | Buyer | North Chicago Ord. 6-15 | September 19, 2026 |
| Northlake | $250 flat | Seller | — | February 14, 2017 |
| Oak Lawn | $5 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | Oak Lawn Ord. 81-36-81 | April 1, 2021 |
| Oak Park | $8 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | Oak Park Ord. 1983-0-77 | September 19, 2026 |
| Oswego | $3 per $1,000 | Buyer | Oswego Ordinance No. 22-54 | March 6, 2023 |
| Park Forest | $5 per $1,000 | Seller | Park Forest Ord. No. 1575 | March 4, 2025 |
| Park Ridge | $2 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | Park Ridge Code of Ordinances 2-18-1 | September 19, 2026 |
| Peoria | $2.50 per $1,000 | Seller | Article X, Sec. 27-226 | March 4, 2025 |
| River Forest | $1 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | Village Code 11-2-2 | September 19, 2026 |
| Robbins | $100 flat | Seller | — | March 8, 2017 |
| Rolling Meadows | $3 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | Rolling Meadows Code of Ordinances 102-91 | March 4, 2025 |
| Romeoville | $1.75 per $500 | Buyer | Romeoville Ord. 04-0170 | March 4, 2025 |
| Schaumburg | $1 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | Village Code Title 3, Chapter 36 | September 19, 2026 |
| Skokie | $3 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | Village Code Section 98-75 | September 19, 2026 |
| Stickney | $5 per $1,000 | Seller | Stickney Mun. Code Ch. 78-121 | March 4, 2025 |
| Stone Park | $2 per $500 | Seller | Village Code Section 35.100 | March 4, 2025 |
| Streamwood | $3 per $1,000 | Seller | Streamwood Mun. Code 3-11-2 | March 14, 2017 |
| Sycamore | $5 per $1,000 | Buyer | Sycamore Mun. Code 3-20-1 | March 14, 2017 |
| University Park | $1 per $1,000 or part of it | Seller | University Park Ord. 755 | September 19, 2026 |
| Wheaton | $2.50 per $1,000 | Buyer | Wheaton Municipal Code Sec. 66-181 | September 19, 2026 |
| Wilmette | $3 per $1,000 or part of it | Buyer | Wilmette Mun. code Sec.9-15 | September 19, 2026 |
| Woodridge | $2.50 per $1,000 | Seller | Woodridge Ord. 80-10 | February 14, 2017 |
Cite and link.
The clean address, a citation generated from the record so it can never carry a stale review date, and an address for every section so you can point a reader at the exact table or method.
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- Link
- https://consideratecapital.com/tools/illinois-real-estate-transfer-tax
- Citation
- Considerate Capital, "Illinois Real Estate Transfer Tax Calculator," reviewed September 19, 2026, https://consideratecapital.com/tools/illinois-real-estate-transfer-tax.
Link to a section
- The calculator https://consideratecapital.com/tools/illinois-real-estate-transfer-tax#calculator
- The facts https://consideratecapital.com/tools/illinois-real-estate-transfer-tax#facts
- The municipal rates https://consideratecapital.com/tools/illinois-real-estate-transfer-tax#key-numbers
- How the tax works https://consideratecapital.com/tools/illinois-real-estate-transfer-tax#how-it-works
- Methodology https://consideratecapital.com/tools/illinois-real-estate-transfer-tax#methodology
- Sources https://consideratecapital.com/tools/illinois-real-estate-transfer-tax#sources
- Revision history https://consideratecapital.com/tools/illinois-real-estate-transfer-tax#revision-history
Everything here reads from one reviewed record, so a copied piece carries its year and its review date. When the law moves, the embed updates by itself; a copied table or chart keeps the year in its caption. Corrections are welcome through the contact page.