Illinois Transfer Tax Calculator – State + Chicago, Split

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Illinois Transfer Tax Calculator

Estimate the Illinois real estate transfer tax on any sale — the state tax of $1.00 per $1,000 (0.10%), Chicago's additional $3.00 per $1,000 city tax, and the customary 50/50 buyer–seller split shown on one screen. Instant, free, and calculated entirely in your browser.

✓ State + Chicago Rates · ✓ 50/50 Split View · ✓ Step-by-Step Math

🏛️ IL Transfer Tax Estimator

🔧 JS ⏳ · Input — · Result — · Engine ⏳

Sale / purchase price ($)

Location Illinois — state tax only Chicago — state + city tax

Show customary 50/50 buyer–seller split

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TOTAL TRANSFER TAX

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State tax

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City tax

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Per $1,000

Buyer pays (customary)

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Seller pays (customary)

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🧮 Calculation Breakdown

⚠️ Custom practice varies by county and negotiation — the 50/50 split is the common Chicago-area convention, not a legal rule. Verify final figures with your closing attorney or the Illinois Department of Revenue.

Illinois Transfer Tax Rates Explained

Tax layer	Rate	Effective rate	Who customarily pays
Illinois state transfer tax	$1.00 per $1,000 ($0.50 per $500)	0.10% of price	Customarily split 50/50
Chicago city transfer tax (additional)	$3.00 per $1,000 ($1.50 per $500)	0.30% of price	Customarily split 50/50
Chicago total (state + city)	$4.00 per $1,000	0.40% of price	Customarily split 50/50

On a $350,000 home outside Chicago: $350,000 ÷ $1,000 × $1.00 = $350 state transfer tax. The same home in Chicago adds the city tax: $350,000 ÷ $1,000 × $3.00 = $1,050 city tax, for a combined $1,400 — which is why the Location selector matters. Some other Illinois municipalities levy their own additional transfer taxes; check your specific city or village. First-time buyers: Illinois also offers exemptions in limited cases (certain government and nonprofit transactions) — confirm eligibility with your attorney.

How Is the Illinois Transfer Tax Calculated? — The Formula

Transfer Tax = (Sale Price ÷ 1,000) × Rate per $1,000

The state charges $1.00 per $1,000 of the sale price (equivalently $0.50 per $500 — the same 0.10%). Chicago layers $3.00 per $1,000 on top. By long-standing custom in the Chicago area, the state portion is split evenly between buyer and seller at closing — but the split is negotiable and written into the contract, not mandated by statute. This calculator shows both the total and the customary 50/50 division so neither side is surprised at the closing table.

Why Use This Illinois Transfer Tax Calculator?

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Chicago Included

One toggle adds the city's $3.00-per-$1,000 tax — the step most simple calculators skip.

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50/50 Split View

See the customary buyer and seller halves side by side — know your share before closing.

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Full Breakdown

State tax, city tax, effective per-$1,000 cost and every calculation step shown.

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100% Private

Your property price never leaves your browser — nothing sent, stored, or logged.

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Instant & Offline

Results update on every keystroke — recalculate offers anywhere, even without signal.

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Unlimited & Free

Compare as many properties and scenarios as you like — no account, no limits.

Popular Use Cases

• 🏠 Buyers estimating total closing costs before making an offer
• 💼 Sellers calculating net proceeds after the customary transfer tax share
• 🏙️ Chicago buyers and sellers combining state and city taxes accurately
• 📊 Investors comparing after-tax costs across multiple Illinois properties
• 🎓 First-time buyers learning what transfer tax is and who pays it
• 🧾 Agents preparing quick estimates for listing appointments

Pro Tips for Illinois Transfer Taxes

• The split is custom, not law: Illinois statute imposes the tax; who writes the check is decided by contract. The 50/50 convention is common in the Chicago area — but everything is negotiable, and some downstate counties follow different practices.
• Chicago is a two-tax city: many calculators show only the state $1.00/$1,000 and quietly ignore the city's $3.00/$1,000 — a 4× understatement for Chicago properties. Always select the Chicago option.
• Transfer tax ≠ estate tax: Illinois also has a separate estate tax on larger estates. Selling a home triggers transfer tax; inheriting one may involve estate tax. They are different taxes with different calculators — don't mix the numbers.
• Exemptions exist: certain transfers (some government, nonprofit and specific family situations) may be exempt from part or all of the tax. The IDOR and your closing attorney can confirm.
• Budget the per-$1,000 shortcut: roughly $1 per thousand dollars of price statewide, $4 per thousand in Chicago — an easy mental estimate before the precise calculation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Illinois charges $1.00 per $1,000 of the sale price (0.10%). Divide the price by 1,000 and multiply by the rate — a $350,000 sale owes $350 in state transfer tax. Chicago adds its own $3.00 per $1,000, bringing the combined rate to $4.00 per $1,000 inside the city.

By longstanding custom — especially in the Chicago area — the state transfer tax is split 50/50 between buyer and seller. However, this is a contractual convention, not a statutory requirement: the purchase agreement decides who pays, and the split is negotiable.

Chicago property sales pay the Illinois state transfer tax ($1.00 per $1,000) plus the city's own real property transfer tax ($3.00 per $1,000) — a combined $4.00 per $1,000, or 0.40% of the sale price. A $400,000 Chicago condo carries about $1,600 in combined transfer taxes.

No — they are completely different taxes. Transfer tax applies when real estate changes hands in a sale. The Illinois estate tax applies to the value of a deceased person's estate above an exemption amount, regardless of whether property is sold. This calculator covers transfer tax only.

Yes — limited categories, including certain transfers between government bodies, qualifying nonprofit organizations, and some specific family or corrective deed situations. Exemption rules are detailed and fact-specific, so confirm eligibility with your closing attorney or the Illinois Department of Revenue rather than assuming.

Some Illinois municipalities levy their own additional transfer taxes or stamp fees on top of the state tax. This calculator covers the two most common layers — state and Chicago. If you're buying elsewhere, ask your attorney or village hall whether a local tax applies and at what rate.

At closing. The transfer tax declaration and payment are typically handled through the closing agent as part of the settlement process, and the tax stamps or electronic declaration are required before the deed can be recorded.

The rates used here ($1.00 and $3.00 per $1,000) reflect the long-standing standard Illinois and Chicago transfer tax structure. However, tax law changes and local ordinances vary — always verify current rates with the Illinois Department of Revenue, the City of Chicago, or your closing attorney before relying on any figure in a transaction.