Connecticut Conveyance Tax: What Sellers Pay, and Why

If you're selling a home in Connecticut, you pay the conveyance tax at closing. It's a two-part tax, state and municipal, charged as a percentage of your sale price. For most residential sales the combined rate lands around 1% of the price, though the exact number depends on your sale price and which town you're in.

Here's how it breaks down, and where it fits among everything else you'll pay to sell your house.

What is the Connecticut conveyance tax?

The conveyance tax is a tax on the transfer of real property, collected when the deed is recorded with the town. It has a state portion and a municipal portion, and both are calculated as a percentage of the sale price.

It's separate from your real estate agent's commission, your attorney's fee, and your mortgage payoff. It's a tax, not a service fee, and Connecticut law puts the obligation on the seller. It's one piece of the bigger picture of what it costs to sell a house in Connecticut.

State vs. municipal: the two pieces

The state conveyance tax is tiered by sale price:

• 0.75% on the first $800,000
• 1.25% on the portion from $800,000 to $2,500,000
• 2.25% on the portion above $2,500,000

These rates are current as of July 22, 2026. The brackets are set by statute and can change when the legislature amends them, so confirm the current figures with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services or your closing attorney before relying on them.

Most residential sales in Connecticut fall entirely in that first bracket, so the state piece alone is 0.75% for the typical home sale.

The municipal conveyance tax goes to the town where the property sits. The standard rate is 0.25%. Eighteen Connecticut towns and cities charge 0.50% instead, including Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury, and Norwalk. Stamford uses its own schedule: 0.35% on consideration under $1,000,000, and 0.50% on the portion at or above $1,000,000. Your attorney confirms the exact rate for your town as part of closing the file.

Add the two pieces together and, for most residential sales, total conveyance tax runs close to 1% of the sale price.

When and how the tax is paid

Conveyance tax is paid as part of the closing. It comes out of your proceeds and is remitted when the deed is recorded at the town clerk's office. You won't get a separate bill. It shows up as a line item on your closing settlement statement, and your attorney handles the calculation and the payment.

Because it's tied to recording the deed, it only applies when ownership actually transfers. A refinance doesn't trigger conveyance tax; there's no new deed and no change in ownership.

How it fits into total seller closing costs

Conveyance tax is one line among several on a seller's closing statement, and rarely the biggest one. For most sellers the real estate commission (commonly 5–6% of the sale price) is the largest single cost. Conveyance tax, at roughly 1% combined, sits below it, alongside the mortgage payoff, the attorney's fee, and any prorated property taxes.

If you're estimating your net proceeds before listing, this is one of the numbers worth having in hand early, rather than discovering it on the settlement statement.

Exemptions exist — ask about yours

Connecticut law carves certain transfers out of the conveyance tax. This isn't a tax that applies to every deed recorded in the state. The specifics depend on the type of transfer and the parties involved. If you think your sale might qualify, raise it with your closing attorney before closing day rather than assuming either way.

Common Questions

Who pays conveyance tax in CT?

The seller, as part of closing. It's deducted from the seller's proceeds at the closing table.

How much is conveyance tax in CT?

For most residential sales, the combined state and municipal conveyance tax runs close to 1% of the sale price. The exact figure depends on your price (the state tax has three brackets) and your town's municipal rate.

Is there a Connecticut "mansion tax"?

Connecticut doesn't have a standalone mansion tax, but the top tier of the state conveyance tax is often called one. The rate steps up on the portion of a sale price above $800,000 and again to 2.25% on the portion above $2,500,000, rather than applying a flat higher rate to the whole sale. That top tier, added by Public Act 19-117, comes with its own offset: a seller who pays it and stays a Connecticut resident may claim a refundable credit against Connecticut personal income tax, up to one third of the amount per year over three years, beginning with the third tax year after the sale. How that plays out on a specific return is a question for a tax professional.

Does the buyer ever pay conveyance tax in CT?

The statutory obligation is the seller's, but the parties can agree otherwise in the contract, and it does happen. There's also a practical reason a buyer should care: unpaid conveyance tax becomes a lien on the property, so it's something the closing attorneys confirm is paid and remitted at the closing.

Are there exemptions from CT conveyance tax?

Yes, certain transfers are exempt under Connecticut law. Whether a specific sale qualifies depends on the facts of the transfer. Ask your closing attorney if you think yours might.

Is conveyance tax deductible?

That depends on your individual tax situation, and it's a question for a tax professional or CPA rather than a real estate attorney. This article is general information, not tax advice.

Conveyance tax is a fixed, predictable cost of selling in Connecticut. Knowing the state and municipal pieces ahead of time means no surprise on your settlement statement. If you're preparing to sell and want a clear read on your total closing costs, or want to talk through your closing, reach out.