Every layer that applies to a Philadelphia sale, added up.
Verified September 21, 2026 · city ordinance and state source checked
The ordinance and the actual bill do not match. Philadelphia raised its city rate from 3.278 to 3.578 percent on July 1, 2025. Guides written before that date show a 4.278 percent total, which is now wrong. Even the city’s own payment instructions still mention the old 3.278 percent figure further down the page.
Advertisement
Who pays in Philadelphia
Buyer and seller are jointly and severally liable. The usual practice is an even split.
What catches people out
At 4.578 percent Philadelphia is one of the two most expensive cities in the country for this. On a $300,000 home that is $13,734. Transfers between family members are exempt.