Seller · Wayne and the Philadelphia suburbs, PA

Pennsylvania Realty Transfer Tax: Rates for Wayne and Nearby Towns

Draft prepared November 13, 2026

Transfer tax is one of the biggest costs at closing, and it is easy to guess wrong. The rate depends on the township or borough, not the mailing address. A Wayne address can sit in Radnor, Tredyffrin or Easttown Township, and those rates are not the same. This guide lists the rates we checked on official county and township sites on November 13, 2026. Rates can change, so confirm yours with your settlement company before closing.

What is the realty transfer tax?

It is a tax paid when a deed records a sale. The state rate is 1% of the value of the real estate. Local governments add their own share. In this area, that local share is split between the township or borough and the school district.

The tax is based on the value of the home in the sale, not on the yearly property tax assessment.

What is the transfer tax rate in Wayne, PA?

Wayne is not one town government. Check which township the home is in, then use that rate.

Radnor Township (Delaware County): 1.5% local plus 1% state, 2.5% total.
Tredyffrin Township (Chester County): 1% township plus 0.5% Tredyffrin/Easttown School District plus 1% state, 2.5% total.
Easttown Township (Chester County): 1% local plus 1% state, 2% total.

What are the rates in nearby towns?

Totals below include the 1% state share. Use the municipality on the deed or tax record, not the ZIP code.

Berwyn and Devon: usually Easttown Township (2%) or Tredyffrin Township (2.5%). Check the address.
Paoli: may be in Tredyffrin Township (2.5%) or Willistown Township (2%). Check the address.
Malvern Borough: 2.5%. Willistown Township: 2%.
Phoenixville Borough and West Chester Borough: 2%.
Media Borough, Haverford Township (Havertown) and Newtown Township (Newtown Square): 2%.
Collegeville Borough: 2% (0.5% borough, 0.5% Perkiomen Valley School District, 1% state).
Norristown: 2%, based on Montgomery County's stated total.

Who pays the transfer tax, buyer or seller?

Your agreement of sale decides how the tax is split. Splitting it evenly is common, but it is a term you can negotiate, just like price and closing date.

Under state rules, the buyer and seller are both responsible to the state if the tax goes unpaid. That is why the settlement company collects it at closing.

How much is it on a sample sale?

This is only math, not a price estimate. On a $600,000 sale in Radnor Township, 2.5% is $15,000. If buyer and seller split it evenly, each pays $7,500. In a 2% town, the same sale has $12,000 in transfer tax, or $6,000 each when split evenly.

Your actual amount depends on the final price, the agreement of sale and any credits. Ask your settlement company for the exact figure.

When might a transfer not owe the state tax?

The state excludes some family transfers. Examples in the Department of Revenue rules include transfers:

Between spouses.
Between a parent or grandparent and a child or grandchild.
Between siblings.
Between former spouses, when both spouses or either spouse acquired the home before or during the marriage.

How do I confirm the rate before closing?

Find the municipality on the county property record for the exact address.
Check the county Recorder of Deeds transfer tax page for that county.
Ask your settlement company to confirm the rate and the split on your settlement estimate.
For questions about exclusions, call the municipality, school district or county, as the Department of Revenue suggests, or ask a real estate attorney.

Takeaway

Look up the township or borough first, then the rate. Near Wayne, the difference between 2% and 2.5% can be thousands of dollars, so put the right number on your estimate before you sign.

Sources

Ask Saiid Zamani about your next move